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"No, you won't. You won't if we say no. And that goes for the costumes. too. If you don't go to bed right now, I'll come back when you're fast asleep and shave your head bald this time," Laura Fairchild threatened. "Clean up your records, take off the costume so I can put it back, and then you go to bed. Now! Go on. Take it off quickly. or I won't get you any other things to wear when you want." she threatened.

Cinnamon nodded toward the window and we all made our way out as quietly as we could. Slowly, she lowered the window, but, about halfway down it seemed to stick. She cursed under her breath. Ice pushed on the other side and together they got it to move again.

"Move," Cinnamon urged, and we all started down the fire escape ladder.

Suddenly, the window was thrown open again. Everyone froze.

We looked up and saw Laura Fairchild. She was looking out, but she apparently did not see us. After a moment she lowered the window, and we heard the definite sound of it being locked in place.

"Does she know we were in there?" I whispered.

"Just keep moving," Cinnamon said, and we did. No one breathed until we were back in my room.

"That was close," Cinnamon said.

"Are you sure she didn't see us?" Rose asked.

"No, but I can't imagine her seeing us and not screaming at us." "That's for sure," Ice agreed.

"She locked the window. I heard her," I said. "She wants to stop anyone coming in through it."

"Maybe she was just being cautious and making sure Gerta doesn't go out."

"If it stays locked, how are we going to get back in there?" I asked.

"I don't know," Cinnamon said. "Maybe we should think twice about going back anyway."

Everyone was quiet.

"Cinnamon's right." Ice said. nodding. "That was almost it for us. We can't do anything for her anyway. It's not our problem. We're not here for that."

"But they're being pretty nasty to her. She was so hopeful, so happy when we promised to take her shopping and get her the short'nin' bread," Rose said with a smile. "That was nice when you began to sing for her. Ice."

I put on the light by my bed.

"Look at us!" Cinnamon cried.

Everyone was streaked with soot from the fire escape ladder, "Let's clean up," she said.

They all started out.

Just as they stepped into the hallway. Howard came up the stairs.

"Hey, how's the Ladies' Sewing Circle doing?" he asked. laughing.

"Fine," Cinnamon said.

I stood in the doorway. He turned to me, his smile suddenly disappearing.

"What happened to you?" he asked. "Why?"

"What's that on your face?"

"Nothing. We were fooling around with makeup," Cinnamon said quickly.

"Makeup? That doesn't look like theatrical makeup to me."

"You don't know everything about the theater yet, Howard Rockwell," Cinnamon told him. "Good night, girls," she said with emphasis.