The next morning was awkward, to say the least. Eagle stayed in his rooms, not even appearing at meals. Troll also remained in his room, his angry roars shaking the house to its foundations. Maple and Hilary took their breakfast and lunch in Hilary’s room. Betty insisted on spending the rest of the morning working on scripts, continuing with them straight through lunch.
“This is so boring!” Maple moaned. She sat at the window in Hilary’s room, watching a steady, soft rain fall. “I wonder if Miss Organ is available? I think we could use some music around here. Wanna join me, Hilary?”
Her older sister sighed and put aside the local and national newspapers she’d been reading all morning. “I could use something beautiful myself. I’ve been going through the papers for anything on Pavla or The Rivals opening. It won’t be opening until next month, and,” her voice lowered into a growl that matched Bear’s, “the only thing the papers say is about how she came over here to become a great actress and is ‘the Cinderella find of the decade.’”
Maple made a face. “Yeah, you need music, too. Come on. I’d ask Betty, but you know what she’s like when she’s writing. We probably won’t see her for hours, if not days.”
They made their way downstairs to the music room. Turned out someone else had the same idea. Mr. Rabbit played Miss Organ surprisingly well with paws. Maple smiled and hummed the song as she and Hilary came in. “Wow, nice ‘Always,’ guys. You two sound great together!”
Miss Organ’s harmonious notes sounded like the sweetest smile. “Oh, hello, Miss Maple, Miss Hilary! Doesn’t Mr. Rabbit play beautifully? He’s so gentle with my keys!” Mr. Rabbit managed to turn bright red under his short brown fur.
“He has good taste in flowers, too.” Hilary leaned over to sniff a vase of lavender and peach roses. “These are truly beautiful.”
“Aren’t they lovely?” Miss Organ’s C practically beamed. “He brought the vase this morning. I wish I could smell them, but I still know they’re pretty.”
Maple slid in next to Mr. Rabbit on the bench. “Hey, mind some company? How about somethin’ more uptempo? Considering the rain comin’ down out there, I think we could all use a reminder to ‘Button Up Your Overcoat.’”
Even Hilary couldn’t help singing along with the jaunty Broadway hit. Maple’s deep, throaty voice and Eugenia’s sweeter one mingled beautifully, especially on the “ooh oohs.” Maple and Mr. Rabbit wiggled along with the song so outrageously, Hilary couldn’t help laughing.
“Hey,” Maple giggled, “I think we’re a hit! Let’s do another one. How about ‘Happy Days are Here Again?’”
“Oooh,” Miss Organ trilled, “that one is fun! I taught Rabbit that one when it came out!”
Two heads poked in as they played the rollicking dance tune. “Hilary? Maple?” Betty smiled, carrying a notebook and pencil in her hands. Bear’s great black nose snuffled behind her. “We were writing our Bear Prince story…I was helping Bear hold the pencil…and we thought some music might make terrific inspiration.”
Bear shuffled over to the piano. “Bear like nice music.” He frowned a little, touching an ivory key with one sharp claw. “Bear could play before.” His eyes roamed sadly down to his huge clawed paws. “Not anymore.” Betty placed a comforting arm around his shoulder.
“That’s ok, Bear.” Maple flashed him her brightest smile. “You can pick the next song.”
“Uh…oh. Songs.” Bear closed his eyes, trying to think. “Bear knows songs.” Betty squeezed his paw…and when his eyes opened, they were brown, and he smiled at her. “What about pretty song? I hear it…” He closed his eyes again. Betty gave his paw another squeeze. “‘I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me.’” He looked down at her, his toothy smile wide and gentle, his amber eyes clear. She buried her head in his soft fur and green cotton shirt.
“All right, Mr. Bear!” Miss Organ squeaked. “That’s such a nice one!”
They were finishing the lovely jazz song when Maple heard a knock on the windows. “Eagle!” She dashed to the window overlooking the garden and flung it open, letting a dripping-wet Eagle in. “What in the…” He waved a wing, sending water everywhere. “You just finished gettin’ your lunch, an’ you heard music an’ thought you’d join us?” He nodded, water dropping in rivulets off his canary yellow beak.
“I’ll get a towel.” Betty hurried out, coming back with a towel from the near-by linen closet.
“Let me do that.” Maple rubbed him all over, until his wings were dry and showed like freshly polished mahogany. “Is this the same soaked birdie who came in from the rain?” She giggled and did something like curtsying. “Why, he’s as handsome as any Prince Charming!” Bear chuckled and nudged him when he turned red under his feathers.
“We need songs for princes and princesses to dance to!” Miss Organ’s cascading keys sounded like merry giggles. “What about ‘Should I’?’”
Bear’s grin faltered. “Bear not dance. Not even before.”
“I’m not the greatest dancer, either.” Betty grabbed his big paws. “We’ll be just fine together.”
Hilary laughed as Mr. Rabbit bowed low before her. “Well, I’ve never danced with a rabbit before. There’s a first time for everything, I suppose.”
“Come on, Prince Charmin’,” Maple laughed as she took Eagle’s wings and tugged him close to her. “Let’s cut a rug!”
Hilary was surprised at how well a rabbit could dance. At least, he danced better than the other two. Bear kept stepping on Betty’s toes, and Eagle stumbled over Maple and couldn’t stay on his talons. Neither of her sisters minded in the least. She hadn’t seen any of them look so happy in ages. Her sisters were marvelous singers, with beautiful, clear voices. Bear’s big growls could occasionally be heard along with them.
“What’s going on here?” Troll’s own growls nearly knocked the vase of roses over. Mr. Rabbit just barely ran over and caught it. “I could hear the racket upstairs in my rooms!”
Hilary rolled her eyes. “They’re just having a good time. Leave them alone.” She smirked. “Or is the Master of the house too good to join the rest of us?”
“I’m not afraid! I’m a perfectly capable dancer!” He yanked Hilary into his arms. “Play something fast, Miss Organ. One of those big dance routines they’re so crazy about on Broadway.”
“I know ‘The Varsity Drag'!” tootled Miss Organ. “That seems right, with school back in session.”
Hilary was surprised at how well Troll moved on those bony claws. “You’re not bad. Better than your friends, anyway. At least you’re upright.” She frowned, looking into those almond-shaped eyes that she was still trying to place. “Are you sure you don’t know my Jeff? He just doesn’t seem to be anywhere. There’s just…something familiar about you.”
“No, I don’t.” He looked away, even as he tried to follow the steps. “I own the house. That’s all there is to it. I don’t know where he is, or anyone. I only know we’re here. I don’t know if there’s anyone else here.”
She was breathless as he swung her around. “You’re really very good.” She sighed. “Almost as good as…someone I used to know. He used to take me dancing in New York. He wasn’t Fred Astaire, but we had fun.”
Troll two-stepped across the room rather brusquely. “He sounds like quite a man.”
“Oh, he is.” She sighed. “Or was. I wish I knew where he went! He’s not in Europe. He’s not at the radio station. He didn’t take several jobs his manager originally set up for him. He’s not anywhere, and I’m…” she went on softly, “I’m worried.”
The music ended as Troll dipped her…and his voice turned soft, deep, and almost aching with sorrow. “Maybe he’s closer than you think. Maybe he’s in a place he can’t tell you or communicate with you, because…because he’s not allowed. Maybe he regrets every single thing he’s done since he left you.”
“How would you know?” She breathed as the others laughed and gathered around Miss Organ. “How could you know? You’re…”
“A troll? A monster?” His claw rubbed her hand in that oh-so-familiar way. “Maybe what you want is so much closer than you think. You just need to look.”
“I…no. I’ll just…keep looking. Yes, I’ll do that.” She couldn’t look any more. She hurried out, confused and hurt, before he could kiss her, even as the others began “Am I Blue?”
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