Charise did not have to wait long for a response.

“I will!” AJ cried out, grabbing the microphone away. He smiled flirtatiously at Charise and called to Angela, who was working the music, “It’s number six on the red CD.”

Music began playing and AJ began singing his favorite Aerosmith song, much to the amusement and chagrin of everyone. Soon, everyone was laughing at AJ’s craziness, as he sang loudly, “Well, I got me the strangest woman, believe me this chick’s no cinch, but I tried to get her goin’…”


Charise whispered to S, Ophelia, and Emily, “I’m not surprised by his choice.”

“Me either,” Emily replied.


Two men slipped through the doors of the auditorium and waved at Charise, who indicated that they should come up on the stage. One was extremely attractive, with brown hair and blue eyes, while the other wore thick black-framed glasses and was more plain-looking. Charise briefly introduced them to the CNC crew while AJ sang.

“This is Gideon,” Charise said, indicating the more attractive man, “and Sheridon,” the man wearing glasses. “We’ve known each other practically forever.”


“So, what did we miss?” Gideon asked.

“Cassandra was her usual melodramatic self,” Ophelia replied.

Sheridon and Gideon chuckled. “So, did you sing yet?” Sheridon asked Ophelia. She shook her head. “I’m no good at singing. That’s more Charise’s thing. I don‘t think I‘m going to do it.”

Emily took a deep breath and spoke up, summoning what little courage she was able to. “What if I do it with you? Will you feel better knowing we’ll both look stupid? I’m terrible at singing too, but I’m going to sing a song. If I can get up the guts to do this, so can you, Ophelia.”

Ophelia grinned. “Sure. Let’s pick out a song and go after AJ.”


AJ finally stopped singing. Charise took the microphone. AJ stepped behind Charise and stared at her rear until S, Gideon, and Sheridon forced him to move.

“Next up, we have Ophelia and Emily performing a song that they say is exactly how they feel about society,” Charise announced.

Ophelia yelled into the microphone, “Helloooooooooo, Oakdale! Are you ready to rock?”

Emily shouted, “You all know this song, so feel free to join in at any time!”

The music began, and they started singing enthusiastically. By the time they were about halfway through, it was clear that the lyrics did indeed express their feelings about life:

“Disease's growing, it's epidemic, I'm scared that there ain't a cure, The world believes it and I'm going crazy, I cannot take any more. I'm so glad that I'll never fit in, that will never be me! Outcasts and girls with ambition, that's what I wanna see.”


When they finally finished, they received a moderate amount of applause. Tiffani snatched up a microphone. “Move, amateurs,” she said. “They want to see a real star singing.”

“As you wish,” Ophelia said. “I have to do a costume change anyways. Knock ‘em dead, Tiger.”

She and Emily glanced at each other and snickered as they left the stage.

Tiffani rolled her eyes, thinking, “What a couple of weirdoes!” Then, she nodded to Angela, indicating that she should begin the music.

Tiffani launched into a cringe worthy rendition of “Luxurious” that would have made Gwen Stefani gouge her eardrums out.


About midway through, Ophelia and Emily returned to the stage. Ophelia was dressed in a different outfit and wore dark lipstick and gaudy eyeshadow and liner. Charise looked her cousin over, laughed, and said, “You want I should call you Mrs. Valo or Mrs. Explosion?”

“Shut up, Charise,” Ophelia growled, blushing.

“After you perform, I have something funny to tell you,” Charise grinned.

“Fine.”


Mae came up on stage and handed Angela a CD. Then, she and Ophelia began singing, “She is smiling, like heaven’s down on Earth…”


After they finished, to a great deal of applause and the next performer came on, Ophelia said to Charise, “So, what did you want to tell me?”

“Remember how a few years ago, Dad took us on a trip with him, and we went to that concert? It was around Halloween…”

“That one? What about it?”

“Remember that thing I dared you to do?” Charise grinned.

Ophelia blushed. “Yeah, why?”

“I was looking on a certain website a few days ago, and… well, apparently, someone got it on video. Your hand has been immortalized for all time.” Charise noticed Ophelia’s increased blushing and added, “There’s people would love to have been in your position. So, I have to ask… did you ever find out where heaven really is?”

Ophelia rolled her eyes and muttered, “Bite me, Charise.”