have Baron?"
"You didn't let me have Baron, I took him!" she snarled.
Zombie attention in the cafeteria shifted to me and Sybil, arguing.
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"Mmmmm." A stoner zombie rose from his seat and started in our direction.
"Put this in your purse and leave it there," I said, handing her back the iPod.
She looked around at the zombies rising from then seats, their attention on us. Then without a word she took the iPod and put it away.
It dawned on me then that Sybil was losing touch. I'd need to keep an eye on her before she destroyed my perfect semester.
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Chapter Twenty - two
"Mr. Pennyfield is on his way," Principal Taft said.
We were standing in the rear of the auditorium. The lights had been lowered and the seats were filled with zombie students--a feat unto itself.
The Holiday Pageant was usually the biggest event of the winter season. This year the Winter Dance would be the big event, but with Taft's supervisor set to attend, the pageant had to be special.
Taft fidgeted nervously. "How are we looking?" What he was really asking was. When Pennyfield arrives are The zombies going to eat him?
"Everything's fine, sir," I replied confidently, hoping my tone didn't betray my true feelings. "Keep him outside until the music begins. And both of you should stand by the door to get the full effect." What I was really saying was. You should stand by the door in case you have to run.
He nodded. "Yes. We don't want to miss the full effect."
A short time later, with Sybil, Baron, and Milton in place,
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I lowered the house lights, turned up the stage lights, and pushed the button starting the music.
The opening strains of Michael Jackson's 'Thriller" drifted into the auditorium. The curtain drew back as I slowly upped the stage lights on an eerie setting, a cemetery at Christmas. There was plastic snow on the floor, and wreaths on the cardboard headstones. Sybil and Baron appeared on stage, Baron doing an imitation of Michael Jackson mixed with a touch of James Bond--of course. They began acting out the "Thriller" video I'd found on YouTube.
With the dance number under way, I slipped from the control room and joined Taft and Mr. Pennyfield at the rear of the auditorium. Upon seeing Pennyfield the first thing I thought of was a mouse. He was small in stature, with twitchy features, and tiny eyes that wouldn't keep still.
"There she is," Taft said proudly as I walked up. "Mr. Penny-field, meet Margot Johnson, the brains behind our little Christmas extravaganza."
I smiled and shook his hand, keeping a cautious eye on the activity onstage. Over in a corner stood Mrs. Mars. She smiled and nodded to us, but made no attempt to come over. I was surprised to see her there. Mrs. Mars didn't seem like the Holiday Pageant type.
A low moan drifted up from the sea of student onlookers.
"What's that?" asked Pennyfield, his eyes darting about.
"That's the way these kids show their appreciation," Taft said with a practiced chuckle. "Mmmmm," he mimicked. "It's the new hot thing. Don't they moan like that in all your schools?"
"Oh, yes. Yes, of course they do," Pennyfield replied, not wanting to appear out of touch. "Kids. It's so hard to keep up with them these days."
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"Mmmm," I said, and smiled. Taft was playing him like a fiddle.
Onstage Baron and Sybil continued acting out the video. Now came the tough part. The monsters.
From the wings, zombies began shambling onto the stage.
"This is a rather odd song for the holidays," Pennyfield said suddenly.
Taft shot me a sideways glance. Do something!
"Well...," I said, trying to buy some time. "I consider the holidays a perfect time to honor those who came before us."
"Ahh. So, those are spirits coming to greet the holiday revelers?" asked Pennyfield.
"Yup. You got it."
Pennyfield nodded appreciatively. Taft and I both breathed sighs of relief.
I glanced at the stage and imagined Baron, Sybil, and the zombies all doing the "Thriller" choreography matching the video step for step. In truth, Sybil and Baron were doing their best to stay out of the grasp of the slow-moving zombies.
The moaning from the audience grew louder and more intense. Then, suddenly and without warning, the zombies in the audience began to rise from their seats.
"What's happening?" whispered Taft as student zombies began making their way to the stage.
"Ms. Johnson!" Penny field said, his voice rising.
"Umm, I can explain, sir," I said as every zombie in the house made for Baron and Sybil.
He held up a finger, shushing me.