“Okay then!” Josie stood in the middle of the stage and slipped the microphone into the stand so that she could have both hands free. “Well I must admit I’m glad I wasn’t on the judging panel as there’s no way I’d have been able to pick! Plus there was such a wonderful variety of different acts, how can you possibly compare one to another? Hopefully the various criteria we gave the judges to score will have helped. Anyway,” she grinned, “enough of my waffle! Can I have the results, please?” Mr Whittaker stood in front of the stage and held out a large, golden envelope to her. She reached down and took it gratefully then, savouring the anticipation of the near-silent audience, carefully tore it open. “And the winner is…” She slid out the card which was pink and sparkly with the golden Sidney’s logo printed across it, on the reverse of which the caretaker had written the winning act in marker pen. Josie paused, read the card then smiled approvingly. “The Amazing Pauletto and their lovely assistant Zorina!” Both girls leapt to their feet, unable to believe what they were hearing. “Come on up here, girls!” Quickly, the two T-shirt-clad school-girls scampered up the side of the hall to the front and were about to climb the steps up onto the stage when Miss Lindsay caught their eyes and mimed taking off their T-shirts. Although they did not have their costume pieces, the girls gamely disrobed and mounted the stage naked.

“Congratulations!” Josie beamed at them, posing for the official photographs as well as many from the audience, especially the girls’ parents, as she handed over the highly valuable gift-card which was their prize. “Be careful with that!” she cautioned them as she stepped back, leaving them holding it between them and displaying it to the various flashing cameras. “In fact,” she smiled warmly, “why don’t you give it back to me for safe-keeping while you go get ready? You can collect it properly after the show, along with another very special voucher I think your family won?” Paula nodded and grinned. “Now go on,” she urged, “go get ready to show us your magic act again!”

The winning duo excitedly hopped back down the steps and out the side door of the hall, through the lobby to the library. As they passed, they saw the butcher and his daughters setting up a stand, pouring crushed ice into trays so that the meat for sale could be displayed. The others on the stage either returned to their seats or, in the case of the dancers, made their way back to the library where Zoe and Paula were donning their costumes and giving their hair and makeup a very quick touch-up. The school choir were in there too, apparently waiting to go back on for some grand finale and, although they didn’t have time to ask, they also spotted Mr Parker who had earlier portrayed Rasputin, now wearing a long red coat and a white wig and beard set which looked more Gandalf than Santa Claus, applying glitter makeup to his face! By the time they got back on stage, their props were all in place again.

The house lights were lowered once more and the curtains opened, the first few notes playing in total darkness before the stage lights came on. Since there would be no shock-value this time and were simply repeating their act as something of an encore, they did not fake a fatal mishap this time but performed all the illusions through straight. The mood in the audience was joyful and buoyant and the girls on stage could feel the positive energy directed at them. If anything, their applause at the end of the act this time was even more enthusiastic than it had been the first time and they glowed with joy as they took their bows.

Once they had been given their moment in the literal spotlight, they were joined on stage by Mr Parker and the choir as well as the Sidney Six dancers and, at the urging of Hunter and Josie, all the other girls who had participated, sans their modesty shirts of course, as well as the lucky raffle winners, Miss Lindsay and the other judges. As the only ones who had actually rehearsed, Mr Parker and the choir took centre stage, Mr Parker taking ownership of the microphone as he launched into a classic Christmas hit from the 1970s, his costume suddenly making sense as it became clear he was dressed like the original lead singer of the glam-rock band who had made the song famous. The song was well-enough known that most of the others on stage could join in the chorus but it was catchy and repetitive enough that even those who were totally unfamiliar with it were able to join in by the second or third repetition. Just as with the punk rock novelty song from the beginning of the second half, by the end of the song, the whole audience was joining in.

With the show finally over for real, the girls all changed back into whatever street-clothes they had arrived in and went out to meet their parents. Those who had won the dancers were given vouchers and instructions on how to book their meals and of course the two winning girls were given the voucher which they agreed to share equally. Of course Zoe’s parents promised that Paula’s family could come over when they served up Andrea’s breast and Paula’s parents assured Zoe’s that they would be on the guest list for their private Sidney’s experience.

Wanting to make a real feast of the occasion, Zoe’s mum bought some sausages, some mince for making meat-balls and some other steaks from the butcher, some of Andrea’s and some of Becky’s, to go with the breast that she had won. All the meat sold quickly and several girls and women took the flyers that Sophie somewhat aggressively offered to anyone who looked to her like good meat.

“I kept some girl and apple sausages back.” the butcher smiled at his younger daughter, ruffling her hair as they packed the van once the evening was completely over. “I know they’re your favourite!”

“Thanks, Daddy!” she grinned at him. “You’re the best!”

“Don’t mention it!” He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “After all, we’ve got to fatten you up a bit more if you’re going to be the family’s Christmas dinner!”


THE END