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"I don't know if I'll get any sleep tonight." Rose said softly as she stood up. She looked at her hands. "Ugh." She held them up. They were black from the metal ladder. "I guess I need a shower."

"Me, too," Ice said.

She and Rose went to the door.

"Try to rest, anyway." Cinnamon said. She lingered behind after they had gone to their rooms. "What a day you've had.

Honey. I can't believe you won't collapse when your head hits the pillow."

"Me, neither."

She started for the door,

"Cinnamon?"

"Yes?"

"Why do you suppose she's taking our clothes?"

She stood there, thinking for a moment, and then looked at me and said. "She wants to be more like us, I guess."

She shrugged. "Really?"

"I don't know what else to say. Honey. I suppose we'll find out eventually. Night."

"Night," I replied in a small broken voice. She walked out and closed the door.

I turned to my window, and then I hurried to it and closed it tightly, closing the curtains as well.

Tonight, I thought. TonightI'll wrap the darkness' around me like an old friend and look for sleep to be the doorway to my escape.

The morning was suddenly something to fear.

9 Evan Investigates

If we appeared silent and secretive to Howard before. I thought he surely would believe we had committed some heinous crime when he confronted the four of us at breakfast the next day. We were that glum and quiet.

Actually, we didn't have to talk. He did most of it, raving about his day, the people from the theater he had met, going backstage at a hit play, meeting the crew, talking to actors and actresses, and then going to dinner with an agent's assistant who had already shown some interest in him.

After having overheard him and Steven the night before, we felt certain he was lying about it all.

"Why would you meet with another agent? What about Edmond Senetsky?" Cinnamon quickly asked.

"Just because we attend the Senetsky School, we don't have to sign with Edmond Senetsky," he practically whispered. "Sometimes it's better to let a few fight over you. The word gets out and producers take note. That comes in handy at casting time."

"At the moment. Howard," Cinnamon said, "I'm just concerned about getting through our first Performance Night, much less casting for Broadway shows."

"Ridiculous. It's not going to be much of an audience. All of us are having either friends or family. My parents are coming, of course,

"Mine aren't," Steven piped up. He looked at us and added. "They are very busy little beavers, and have to dam up some money in Bermuda,"

"Regardless," Howard said, rolling his eyes to indicate his impatience with Steven. "it won't be like playing before thousands. which I did at my school and twice for the community theater."

"All week long. Laura Fairchild has been announcing the names of people attending. They are not just family and friends," I said.

"Besides, Madame Senetsky says an audience of two can make you just as nervous as thousands," Rose added. "She told me that just last week, matter of fact. She also said if you're not nervous, you won't do well, remember?"

"That's just an excuse people who get nervous use. Believe me, it's an old wives' tale," Howard claimed, waving it off.