I wonder what had been going on. Was there a plan to save Dother Hall?

I soooo hope so.

We went into assembly and for once everyone was talking quietly.

We fell silent as Sidone walked onto the stage, followed by Monty, Blaise Fox, and Dr. Lightowler. Gudrun came on last, with what looked like a roll of wallpaper.

I said to Vaisey, “Now is not the time for decorating.”

Sidone was dressed in sports casual. She was wearing jogging trousers and an England shirt. Her hair was poking out of a cap that had a visor but no top that Americans often wear and I don’t really know why. Perhaps their heads are hotter than ours because of global warming.

Sidone started speaking very clearly and loudly, “Girls. Last Thursday, known as Black Thursday, we were in a state of despair. Our feet were bleeding, our hearts were leaking tears, and tiny sobs were cascading from our souls.”

She came forward to the lip of the stage, then she paused. She held her fist in front of her.

“But we rally. We carry on. Because …”

And she burst into song.

“‘There’s no people like show people, we smile when we are down …’”

She started swaying, so did Monty. As she sang, we all started swaying. Swaying was catching.

“‘Everything about us is appealing, everything the censor will allow …’”

At the end she waved her hand at Gudrun.

Gudrun didn’t notice at first because she was sniffling and swaying so much, then said, “Oh yes, good yes, it’s me, oh yes, rightio.”

And tripped over a chair leg. Then she staggered on with the enormous roll of wallpaper and taped it to the back wall.

It said in big red letters:

We shall not, we shall not be moved!

Everyone went, “Hip, hip, hurray!!! For she’s a jolly good fellow …” and Flossie started a sing-along version of “Sailing, we are sailing!!!”

Sidone waited for quiet.

“The thing is, my girls, we must go on—not just for us, not just for the showbiz world but for our own community. They need us in Heckmondwhite. In Skipley. In Blubberhouses.”

We looked at each other. Yes, I think we had a good idea of how we were needed in Heckmondwhite and Skipley and Blubberhouses. And at The Blind Pig.

Sidone went on. “I want all of you to think of spreading the word: Save Dother Hall. Some of you could entertain the shoppers in Skipley with songs. Or a mime piece on the village green? Clowns juggling with tinned produce in the post office. Think of the fun, girls. Get your thinking caps on. Mr. de Courcy has a splendid idea for market day that he wants to show us.”

Monty smiled and walked offstage. He was taking off his favorite tweed jacket and undoing the buttons on his trousers. I said to the girls, “Mary Mother of God, he’s not going to do a fund-raising stripathon, is he? The village lads will tear him apart.”