The children had a delightful lunch with Mademoiselle. She served them cakes and tarts, and made wreaths for their heads. She drew pictures and told stories about her own school days.
"Draw us a picture of a theater," said Gerald.
"Do you like plays?" asked Mabel.
"Oh yes, I love them!" Mademoiselle concentrated on her drawing.
The children looked at each other and smiled.
"We'll put on a play for you tonight," said Jimmy.
"And please, may Eliza come too?" asked Kathleen.
"Of course," said Mademoiselle with a smile.
Mademoiselle stayed in the sitting room as usual. It was a good thing that she was not trying to concentrate! The children came in and out all afternoon, asking for things. May they have the sofa cushions? May they have the clothesline? Did she have any brightly colored scarves they could borrow? May they have tea in the garden because the stage was in the dining room?
At last Eliza rang the dinner bell. That was the signal for Mademoiselle to go into the dining room for the play. Several tables had been pushed together to make a stage. Rows of chairs were set out for an audience.
Mademoiselle was surprised to see seven people sitting in these chairs. "Children," she whispered through the stage curtains. "You should have asked me before you invited guests."
The children laughed. "Turn up the lights," said Mabel.
Mademoiselle looked again at the people in the audience. "Oh! They're not alive!" she cried in surprise.
And indeed they were not. Their bodies were made of pillows and rolled-up blankets. Their spines were broom handles. Their arms and legs were hockey sticks and umbrellas. They were dressed in whatever coats, hats, and gloves the children could find. And their faces were paper masks made by Gerald.
"You've made yourself an audience! Bravo!" said Mademoiselle. And she and Eliza clapped.
They sat down and the curtain opened. "Beauty and the Beast," announced a voice from backstage.
The children had spent much time making their costumes and audience. So they'd had little time to rehearse. But they had fun acting out the fairy tale.
As Beauty, Mabel wore her princess clothes. As the Beast, Gerald wore some small rugs. Jimmy and Kathleen played all the minor parts.
At the end of the second scene, everyone was backstage.
"You should give me the ring," Mabel said to Gerald.
He'd forgotten that it was in his pocket. "I'll do it in the next scene."
And he did, making the ring part of the play. He told Beauty that the ring was a magic ring. It would give her anything she wished. So to see him again, she simply had to put it on and make her wish.
At last they came to the final scene. Beauty was reunited with Beast, who was really a prince. Mademoiselle and Eliza clapped and cheered.
Mabel looked at the fake audience members. "I wish those creatures we made were alive. We'd get some real applause then."
"I'm glad they aren't alive," said Gerald. "I feel silly when I look at them."
And suddenly it happened. There was the sound of more clapping. Seven paper faces were looking eagerly up at the stage. The creatures had come alive! Mademoiselle and Eliza screamed and ran from the room.
"Give me the ring!" Gerald said to Mabel.
He put the ring on his finger and cried, "I wish those Ugly-Wuglies weren't alive!" But nothing changed.
Mabel and Gerald followed the creatures out into the hallway. "Excuse me," one said to Gerald, "can you recommend a good hotel?"