Part 5 (1/2)

Pretty soon, Mr. Scary made the shush sign. Then he smiled at us in our costumes.

”Okay, people. It's showtime showtime!” he whispered very excited.

He did a happy thumbs-up.

We did a happy thumbs-up back.

Then, very slow ...

Mr. Scary opened the curtains ...

And our Columbus play began!

Lucille and Jose walked to the middle of the stage.

”h.e.l.lo, sailor. My name is richie Queen Isabella,” said Lucille.

Jose did a bow.

”Hola, Queen Isabella. My name is Cristobal Colon. I would like to look for a new trade route to China. Can I please have some money to sail the ocean blue?”

Lucille reached into her purse.

”Okay. Here's some money,” she said. ”But please bring back the change.”

After that, Jose bowed to Lucille again. And Lucille curtsied to Jose. And they walked off the stage.

The sailors hurried to their places.

My heart pounded and pounded inside me. On account of after the sailors came ... the s.h.i.+ps! the s.h.i.+ps!

Mr. Scary lined us up to go onstage.

”Good luck, you three!” he whispered.

THEN WOWIE WOW WOW!.

IT WAS TIME!.

I swallowed very hard.

Then me and May and Sheldon sailed right onto the stage. And we started to say our lines.

”I am the Pinta Pinta. And I am the fastest fastest s.h.i.+p,” I said. s.h.i.+p,” I said.

”I am the Santa Maria Santa Maria. And I'm the biggest biggest s.h.i.+p,” said May. s.h.i.+p,” said May.

Then Sheldon started to say his line, too. Only too bad for him. 'Cause just then, Roger did another loud sneeze. And you could hear it everywhere.

Sheldon scrunched his face very disgusted and looked back at him.

”I am the Nina Nina. And Roger should wash his hands,” he said.

Me and May looked surprised at that line. But Mr. Scary whispered to keep on going. keep on going.

Jose walked out and said his next words.

”Ah! Three fine s.h.i.+ps! Just what I need to sail the ocean blue. Tomorrow we will begin our journey.”

After that, s.h.i.+rley walked out with a big sign. It said: OKAY ... NOW IT'S TOMORROW.

The audience did a chuckle. Only I don't know why.

Then Camille and Chenille stretched their ocean waves across the floor.

And hurray, hurray!

All of us s.h.i.+ps began to sail to Roger!

There was a curvy line on the floor of the stage for us to follow.

We were supposed to sail side by side very perfect.

Only just as I thought!

Pretty soon, May tried to squeeze in front of me!

And that was just plain wrong. On account of the Santa Maria Santa Maria was was not not the fastest s.h.i.+p. And you the fastest s.h.i.+p. And you can't change history can't change history!

That is how come I had to speed up a teensy bit.

Only too bad for me.

Because when I speeded up, I accidentally nudged May's s.h.i.+p in her side.

And then BAM! BAM!

She nudged me back ... hard. hard. On purpose, I mean! On purpose, I mean!

And CRAs.h.!.+ CRAs.h.!.+

The Pinta Pinta fell right off my shoulders! And I tripped over my s.h.i.+p! And I fell right smack on the floor! fell right off my shoulders! And I tripped over my s.h.i.+p! And I fell right smack on the floor!