Stage Fright!

Backstage, where all was dark and quiet, Beaky,
who had still not managed to get the prompt's light
to work, was hopping around trying to change out of
her spirit outfit into her Bob Cratchit jacket and
trousers.
Poor Beaky!
She never liked to feel things were slipping out of
her control. And worse was to come.
She tripped!
As she fell she reached out to grab something -
anything! - to save herself. She snatched at the black
backstage curtain which hid her from the stage and
the audience. The curtain fell to the ground and
Beaky, to her horror realised she was no longer
backstage but on stage. Still hopping about, with
trousers half on and half off, she was suddenly in the
spotlight, the audience staring at her. She flushed
bright red with embarrassment and hopped faster
and faster trying to keep her balance and trying
desperately to get the trousers on. But it was no good.
In front of everyone she fell over. Everything was
literally collapsing around her! Tears pricked her eyes.
But then a miraculous thing happened.
Grandpa Albert started to chuckle. The children
on the front row started to giggle. Then the whole
audience burst into laughter.
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