The Second Adventure Read Online Free Page A

was too exhausted to argue with her. “Let’s just do the number and get it over with.”
    â€œThis stage is too small for ‘Hakuna Matata,’ ” she decided. “Take off your head, and we’ll work on Melissa’s solo.”
    Even through the dense wet fur, Logan heard the whimpered protest from his shy friend.
    â€œI’ve picked the perfect song,” Mary Catherine went on. “‘Memory’ from the musical
Cats
. It’s one of the most famous songs in the history of Broadway, so the audience will be expecting great things.”
    â€œI can’t —” Melissa stammered. “I mean I don’t — I mean I never —”
    â€œThis is your part,” Mary Catherine said firmly.
    Something snapped inside Logan and he threw off the top half of his costume. It would have been very dramatic if he could have tossed it clear in a single swashbuckling motion instead of tunneling out like an escaping prisoner, but true actors had to be able to improvise.
    â€œYou don’t want her to sing ‘Memory’ in the Showdown,” he accused the Ta-da! captain. “You want her to sing it
here
so you can make fun of her, and then cut her from the performance.”
    Mary Catherine skewered him with laser eyes. “Well, she can’t just do
nothing
. It’s a group revue. Everyone’s supposed to take part. Those are the rules, you know.”
    â€œI can work on set design,” Melissa offered.
    At that moment, a loud yelp resounded directly above them.
    â€œThe performance center ghost!” exclaimed Athena with an anxious laugh.
    â€œNo, that’s not it,” Logan put in quickly. “A falling branch must have hit the roof.”
    The campers regarded one another nervously. None of them had ever heard a tree branch bark before.
    * * *
    The Showdown was always held outdoors. The stage was at the base of a large hill, which served as a natural grandstand for the audience. Each year the host camp was in charge of building a set and a lighting arc on the existing platform.
    Dozens of upturned eyes watched in amazement as the chandelier rolled over the top of the array and came hurtling down to the stage. A crash of shattering glass blasted from the speakers.
    The campers all gasped — and then applauded. Hunched behind her laptop on a tree stump, Melissa took a small bow. Behind her hair, her face flushed as it always did when she received any kind of attention.
    â€œWow!” Logan exclaimed, goggle-eyed. He’d always known his friend was a genius, but he’d never imagined that her tech skills could be applied to the theatre!
    â€œNot bad.” Mary Catherine didn’t look too pleased at the idea of credit going to anyone except herself. But this special effect — for their
Phantom of the Opera
number — couldn’t be ignored. “Definitely pretty good.”
    Melissa pounded the keyboard and the “chandelier” rose on its system of ropes and pulleys and disappeared behind the arc lights, poised for its next fall.
    â€œHow did you make it
sound
so real?” asked Athena breathlessly. “I mean, the chandelier’s just a wooden scenery board! I could have sworn it was glass breaking into a million pieces!”
    â€œI downloaded the clip from the Internet,” Melissa replied in a voice so soft that everyone had to strain to hear. “I also got jungle sounds for
The Lion King
, a helicopter rotor for
Miss Saigon
, and a tornado for
The Wizard of Oz
.”
    During break time, Logan and Melissa walked along Ta-da!’s “Main Street,” which featured the mess hall, pool, and camp offices.
    â€œThe Klingon gave me my part for the Charlie Brown skit,” Logan said savagely. “I’m Snoopy.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with that?” asked Melissa. “Snoopy’s one of the main characters.”
    â€œNo lines!” Logan complained. “I