... the "Intermission" slide appeared on the screen.
"Phew!", thought Muffy. "It's about time! That kitchen scene took forever! I hope the writer gets an award for it. The detailed descriptions were great. But, the clever approach to getting EVERYBODY into the kitchen was just downright peachy!"
"Everybody?", queried Bugs Pond (our hero!). "Wait a minute. We're missing somebody."
Precious immediately recognized the opportunity to be of service. She began counting the occupants of the room, and checked them off against her mental list of key players.
"PEST Control!", she exclaimed loudly, obviously referring to Erroll the hamster who was last seen out in the restaurant's dining room in a discussion with other infinitely important members of the Control Knights.
Out in the dining room, Erroll heard his name called out, and began running to the source of the sound. "Hey, where'd everybody go?", he wondered, as he passed their now vacant table.
As the curtain closed on this scene, the audience filed out to the lobby where supporting cast members awaited to serve refreshments (for a nominal fee, of course). Various conversations were being held among the audience members. Some of the more sensitive types were sobbing, hoping against hope that Octopussy wouldn't expire in the vat of 100+ proof alchohol. Others were speculating as to how Bugs Pond (our hero!) would pull it all together at the most dramatic moment, thus saving a key player in this intense drama. He was expected to do that. After all, he IS our hero, you know.
A mother became frantic when she lost sight of one of her offspring, but breathed a sigh of relief as she spotted her little tyke standing in the Kool-Aid line.
A few minutes later, the room lights flashed off and on, indicating to the milling crowd that it was time to retake their seats. Some of them literally ran back to their proper places, excited about the dramatic scene that would be continued after intermission. Others, including the Mayor of their little town, strode back in a very deliberate, yet dignified manner. He was always conscious of appearance, you see.
The auditorium lights dimmed as the last members of the audience sat down. Silence overcame the crowd as the curtains slowly parted, revealing a dimly lit room behind it. The audience breathed a sigh of relief when they recognized the room as the kitchen, as some of the conjecture during intermission discussions was that the next scene would be Octopussy's funeral procession.
The lights on the set came on full brightness, just as Erroll the hamster (aka: PEST Control) burst into the kitchen. |
