Mrs. Seymour came down and got the next three performers.

“Where are the first three?” Vijay wondered. “What happened to them?”

“I think you can go out and sit in the back of the audience after you’re done,” Derek said. “Hey, we’d better get in costume, huh?”

“For sure!” said Vijay, glad to have something to do except worry.

They grabbed their backpacks and headed for the boys’ room. There, Derek changed into his outfit—warm-up gear with cool stripes down the shirtsleeves and pant legs, all in black, silver, and gold.

Vijay stepped out of the stall where he had gone to change.

“Wow!” Derek gasped. “Awesome, Vij!”

“You think so? Me too!” Vijay looked like a Bollywood superstar. He wore a red spangled jacket, bright blue pants, and sneakers that were painted gold. On top of it, he sported huge sunglasses, with a silver star over each eye!

“Okay!” Derek said. “Let’s go get ’em!” They went back into the cafeteria, drawing stares from the other performers who were still waiting their turn.

Sure, they both looked good. But time was passing by, and still no Sam. It was already 7:35, and the second hand kept on circling round and round, round and round.

Where was he?

Now Derek was starting to get spooked out for real. He’d been sure Sam wouldn’t back out of his commitment. But Vijay was right—neither of them knew Sam that well. Anything was possible.…

Numbers seven through nine were called, then ten through twelve.

“Mrs. Seymour?” Derek finally asked. “Um, we’re missing one of our performers.”

“Well, now is a fine time to tell me,” she said huffily. “You and Vijay are the only ones listed on the program.… ”

“Yes, but we have a surprise guest star,” Vijay said. “And he’s not here!”

“Can’t you go on without him?”

“No!” Vijay said. “It’s not possible!”

“Well, you still have a little time,” she said. “Who is this mystery guest, may I ask?”

“Sam Rockman,” Derek said.

“Oh! Why didn’t you say so?” she asked. “Sam’s been sitting backstage for the past hour—he’s in costume and makeup and didn’t want anyone to see what he looked like before the show!”

Derek and Vijay looked at each other, a flood of relief coursing through them. “Makeup?” Vijay repeated. “He didn’t say anything about makeup.… ”

“Well, be prepared,” she told them. “I had quite a shock myself when I saw him!”

It was as if new life had been injected into both the boys. Derek suddenly couldn’t sit still. He started doing stretches, bouncing up and down, spinning around once or twice, doing a little moonwalking.

Vijay, too, was all motion. It was practically deserted down here now, with twelve of the contestants already gone.

Mrs. Seymour appeared again. “Thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen,” she announced. “Come with me, please.”