Ben zipped out of the dressing room. It was opening night, and he couldn't wait to get onstage. His parents were back in town for the show, and of course, Uncle Bert and Sid were in the audience too. But right now he had to put his crown on.
He found Winnie running around, checking props and costumes. "Can you help me with my crown?" he asked.
"Sure." While Winnie pinned Ben's crown in place, Mog came out of the dressing room.
"Wow! You look like the real Mac—" Mog slapped his hand over his mouth. "Phew, that was close!"
Jen's voice came over the loudspeaker. "Ten minutes to places. Ms. Lafang wants all cast and crew onstage now."
As the cast gathered in a large circle, Winnie beamed. "Everyone looks amazing!"
"Why, thank you!" Sonia spun around and fixed her hat.
"You don't look too bad either, Ben," Lucy said as Victoria joined the circle.
"I am so proud of you monsters," Victoria began. "You've worked hard, and it's been my honor to direct you. Now go out there and act your monstrous hearts out." She threw her arms up in the air. "Break a leg!"
"What?" Mog cried. "I don't want to break a leg—or even a claw!"
Victoria laughed. "I don't mean it literally, Mog. It's just how we theater people say good luck."
Ben slapped his forehead. "Not another superstition!"
"This is more like a tradition or an expression," Victoria explained. "The side curtains are called the legs. You break them when you walk onstage. Now, on with the show!"
"Three cheers for Victoria Lafang!" a fish monster cried.
"Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!" the cast and crew shouted.
"Places, everyone!" Jen announced over the loudspeaker.
Monsters scattered as actors dashed to their places, and the backstage crew ran to run the lights, sound, and scenery.
Ben stepped into the wings to wait for his cue. As the lights went down onstage, the audience grew hushed and quiet.
Ben's heart was thumping loudly, and his palms were sweaty. "I'm so nervous," he thought as the curtain went up. "But there's no place I'd rather be."
Onstage, Ben lay dying, Mog's sword sticking out of his chest.
"'I will not yield!'" Ben gasped, and then fell back, dead. The audience broke into wild applause as the curtain dropped.
Mog helped Ben up, patting him on the back as they lined up for their bows.
"We did it!" Ben handed Mog's sword back to him.
"And we were great." Mog grinned. "Ms. Lafang should put us in her next Hollyweird movie."
The curtain opened, and the cast took their bows to thunderous clapping, hooting, and shouting. "Bravo! Bravo!" the audience called.
After two more bows, Ben gestured for Ms. Lafang to join them onstage. Winnie presented her with an enormous bouquet of dead black roses.
"How beautiful!" Ms. Lafang said, blowing kisses to the cast and audience. "Thank you, all!"
And then at last, the curtain dropped.
During the cast party, monsters and their families filled the cafeteria. Music played as monsters danced up a storm. Zombies stood near the snack table, drooling.
Jen poured some punch. "What a great performance," she said.
Ozzy sighed. "The play was great. But I still wish the curse had been real."
Another ghoul patted him on the back. "Oh well. Maybe next time."
Ben grinned at Winnie as the two of them danced together.
"You should be proud, Ben," Winnie said. "The play was a monster hit!"
"Yeah, it was amazing. I—"
"Ben!" Sonia called as the three witches surrounded him.
Ben groaned. "What did I do now?"
"Nothing." Jade smiled. "We just wanted to say . . . congratulations!"
"Turns out you're a pretty good actor." Lucy flipped her hair, and before Ben could reply, the witches danced away.
Winnie and Ben started laughing when Uncle Bert danced over.
"Ben, my boy, you made me proud!" Uncle Bert had a tear in one eye. "I knew you could do it!"
"Thanks, Uncle Bert," Ben said. "You were right about the superstitions. They only become real when we believe in them. I'm really glad I didn't quit the play."
"I'm glad too," Victoria said, joining them. "If you had, Bert and I wouldn't be having this reunion."
"Reunion?" Ben said.
Victoria nodded, confirming what Ben had suspected. "I haven't seen Bertie since our Monster Academy days. I used to have the biggest crush on your uncle."
Uncle Bert blushed as Victoria hooked her arm through his. "Now," she said, "let's go discuss when you're going to visit me in Hollyweird."
"Aw, they're in love," Winnie said as she watched the couple walk away. "What a happy ending!"
Ben grinned. "As the title of another Quakespeare play says, 'All's well that ends well'!"