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"Jeez," Howard complained. "If this is the level of energy you people bring to the theater. I pity the audiences."

Steven sat there with a silly smile on his face, listening and observing. The way his eyes fixed on me made me nervous.

"I wouldn't worry about their level of energy, Howard," Steven said.

"Right."

"I don't know why you're complaining about us not joining you this evening. Howard," Cinnamon said as she rose. "'You've told us so many times what good company you are. You shouldn't be upset about spending time with yourself."

Steven laughed hard and slapped his knee.

'Go on, ridicule me all you like. Some day you'll wish you had spent more time with me. Cinnamon Carlson," Howard cried after her.

We followed her out, leaving him and Steven. When we were upstairs. Cinnamon turned and whispered. "Ten minutes, Honey's room. Put on sneakers and wear black."

"You're sure about this?" Ice asked one more time, "Absolutely," Cinnamon replied.

We broke up and went to change clothes. A little less than ten minutes later, they were all in my room, everyone whispering. Cinnamon went to the window, paused, and then opened it as quietly as she could.

It was a very cool night. It had rained on and off all day and the sky was still overcast. It wasn't until we were all out on the landing and Cinnamon started up the ladder that we realized the metal was wet and slippery. Ice's foot slid off a rung and she nearly fell onto Rose. She uttered a small scream, and we all froze.

"You all right?" Cinnamon called in a loud whisper. "Yes."

"Everyone take your time." Cinnamon ordered.

Once again, we started up. We moved like a dark snake, slowly climbing toward the landing above us, where the glow of the light from within spread a pool of pale white illumination over the iron, turning it into the color of faded bones. The cool air dropped a chill down my back. My teeth clicked and I

shuddered. Don't look down, I kept telling myself.

When we were all finally on the landing, we crouched and hovered close to each other, gazing into the bedroom. There was no one there, even though the lights were on, but like before, we could hear music-- the very same tune, in fact.

"What is that?" Rose asked.

"I've heard the tune before. but I can't place it," Ice said. "Anybody?"

We all shook our heads.

"It sounds like a children's song or something," Rose suggested.

"Okay," Cinnamon said. "This is it. If we don't do it now, we won't."

She opened the window and then started in. Rose put her hand on her shoulder, and she paused.

"There's no going back once we're in there. Cinnamon."

"Exactly," Cinnamon replied and entered the room.

Ice followed, and then Rose and I. The bed was a four-poster canopy. Against the pink and white pillows were two large teddy bears. They seemed to be watching us. We stood there for a moment, listening. The music continued, and then someone began to sing along.

We heard a very childlike voice.

'Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clements. You owe me five farthings, say the bells of St. Martin's.' "

Cinnamon shook her head and scrunched her nose. Ice shrugged, and the four of us moved very slowly and quietly to the doorway of the bedroom.

The singing continued.

" 'When will you pay me? say the bells of Old Bailey. When I