Chapter Ten: Dancing Under the Stars
A week after the picnic, peace had settled over the village like soft sunlight.For once, no one was arguing, no animals were escaping, and Rick hadn't fallen into the river for at least five days. It was, Rama decided, a small miracle.
But peace in their village never lasted long—especially when Rick got an idea.
Rick the Director
It all started when the elders announced another festival to honor the rebuilding of the bridge. "We should perform a play!" Rick declared at the town meeting, thumping his chest. "Something inspiring! Something… dramatic!"
Nancy's hand shot up immediately. "I volunteer to be the heroine!"
Rick nodded. "And I shall direct."
Rama groaned quietly. "He can't even direct a broom."
But it was too late. Rick was already assigning roles. "James, you'll be the hero! Yuna, the heroine!"
Yuna's cheeks turned pink. James blinked. "Wait—what kind of play is this?"
Rick grinned proudly. "A love story, of course!"
The entire crowd burst into laughter.
Nancy's "Help"
Nancy, determined to stay useful, decided to handle costumes, props, and snacks.
Her first creation was a "hero's cape" that looked suspiciously like one of Rama's curtains.When Rick put it on James to test it, the curtain rod was still attached.
James staggered forward, nearly toppling over. "Nancy!" he called. "It's a bit heavy!"
"Beauty has a price!" she said proudly.
Later, she tried baking snacks for rehearsal. The cookies turned out as hard as stones.When a child accidentally dropped one, it bounced twice.
Rick picked it up and examined it. "At least they'll last through the performance," he said.
Rehearsal Chaos
The rehearsals took place every afternoon by the river.Rick would shout dramatic directions, Rama would correct his grammar, and the children would giggle in the background.
"Yuna, you must look deeply into James's eyes," Rick instructed. "Like you've just realised he's the only one who can save you from—uh—evil pirates!"
"There are no pirates in the script," Rama reminded him.
Rick waved his hand. "Artistic freedom!"
Yuna tried her best to keep a straight face, but James was already laughing.When they finally rehearsed the "hero rescues the heroine" scene, James tripped on the fake cape and both of them landed in the grass, laughing so hard they couldn't breathe.
"Perfect!" Rick shouted. "Real emotion!"
Rama buried her face in her hands. "He's going to turn this into a comedy."
Nancy chimed in, "I thought it already was!"
Opening Night
The night of the performance arrived clear and starry.Lanterns hung everywhere, villagers gathered with baskets of food, and the river glimmered beside the stage.
Rick stood backstage, whispering to himself, "Everything will go perfectly."
Rama crossed her arms. "You said the same thing before the pumpkin incident."
"Ancient history," Rick said confidently, as one of Nancy's props promptly collapsed behind him.
When the play began, Yuna and James took the stage.They were nervous at first—Yuna fidgeted with her dress, James stumbled over a line—but as the crowd cheered, something shifted.
Their laughter from rehearsals returned, soft and easy.When their characters declared their love, they forgot the script and spoke from the heart.
"I will always find you," James said.
"And I will always wait for you," Yuna replied.
For a moment, the crowd fell silent. Even Nancy looked misty-eyed. Then the children started clapping, and the whole square erupted in cheers.
Behind the Curtain
After the final bow, lanterns floated into the sky like golden birds. Rick basked in applause, declaring himself the "greatest director of all time."
Rama just shook her head, smiling. "You're lucky the curtain didn't catch fire."
Nancy handed out her rock-hard cookies again, insisting they were "crunchy by design."
Yuna and James slipped away for a quiet walk by the river. The moonlight shimmered on the water, reflecting their smiles.
"You were wonderful tonight," James said.
"You too," Yuna replied softly. "Even with the curtain still attached to your back."
He laughed, brushing a stray leaf from her hair. "If every play ends like this, I hope we never stop performing."
Yuna looked up at him, eyes bright with laughter and something warmer. "Maybe the river's watching our story now."
James smiled. "Then let's give it something worth remembering."
The stars above seemed to agree, winking over the joyful chaos of the village that had finally learned how to laugh again.