Stage Two Hullabaloo I don't know Miss I haven't seen him since rehearsals this afternoon said Dev looking worried Yes Bert had definitely been there for the run through earlier He'd played his solo brilliantly with low stomping notes that sounded just like a dancing elephant and made everyone giggle with his tall tales and fish flavored hiccups Hic Hic Hic But we're on in Mrs Allegro checked her watch turning paler still Oh my goodness we're on in five minutes We need to find him quickly She rapped her baton against the conductor's stand to get everyone's attention Listen up Quavers We're still waiting for Mr Bishop Has anyone seen him There was a flurry of head shakes and shoulder shrugs Piper chewed at her bottom lip looking worried and Ying shivered in her seat Cody tugged nervously at his lucky hat while Dev pushed his sunglasses back up his nose wondering whether to mention anything or not Bert Bishop did you say his name was asked one of the backstage helpers I'll see if he's down in the group dressing room And I'll check the restroom said another Don't worry I'm sure we'll find him in time Tick tock tick tock Less than four minutes to go All right let's have an A while we're waiting said Mrs
Where's Bert Allegro pointing to the oboes Make sure we're all in tune She was trying her best to act calm but the Quavers weren't so easily fooled They could see the worry in her eyes and the tremble in her legs Now what How could they play their set without Bert What would become of their foxtrotting elephant without his bass solo Quetlock Quavers
Stage Two Hullabaloo The children glanced over their shoulders as they tuned their instruments hoping against hope that he'd turn up in time while Cody's finger tapping grew faster and faster with each passing second Tap tappa tap tap tappy tappy tap Tick tick tick tock Two more minutes until curtain up One more minute The backstage helpers were red faced and panting when they got back shaking their heads in confusion He's not in the restroom one wheezed And no one else has seen him all afternoon another added Mrs Allegro looked like she was going to faint She picked up the Foxtrot for Elephant score and fanned her face with it But he can't just have disappeared Surely someone must know where he is Piper's fingers tightened around the head of her flute squeez ing it so tightly her knuckles turned white Ying gulped looking longingly at the abandoned library book by her feet Cody stopped tapping and went back to tugging at his hat Dev cleared his throat Er this might sound a bit strange he said But I do have one idea where Bert might be I'm not sure you're going to like it though
Where's Bert Me too admitted Cody And me said Ying I think I know what happened to him added Piper And you're definitely not going to like it She shook her head at the memory Poor Mr Bishop What a horrible thing to happen
