| Chapter 26: "1-800-HOSPITAL" |
| Over the next few weeks, the guys continue touring the US with the Go For It! Crew, but always talk to the girls or see them when possible. The ten kids make plans to go out together on Halloween, and go to a party at a teen club in downtown NY. They agree to meet at Meagan’s house at 4:30… Meagan looks in the hall mirror at her costume- Barbie. (Amy “helped” her with that one) The front door swings open and in walks Anna. Anna- Hey there…my, you’re looking blonder than usual. Meagan- Yeah, I know. At least this is Halloween and no one sees you like this…well, besides everyone at the club, and the guys…Man, I hate Malibu Barbie. Why did I let Amy do this to me? Anna- Well, when you live right next to the girl, she’s bound to have some influence on you. Poor thing. Meagan- Well, Anna, I like the dress…you look like a table cloth… Anna- I am Dorothy. You know, from the Wizard of Oz? Meagan- Sure…who’s Frankie, the Tin Man? (She laughs) Anna- No, he’s Toto. Meagan stops laughing, looking at Anna like she’s crazy. Suddenly, the door opens again and in walks an orange, furry beast. Amy- Helllllllo, everybody! Anna- Who the hell are you supposed to be? Amy- I’m Zoe from Sesame Street! And Jesse’s Elmo! Meagan- (sarcastically) How cute… Amy- So, Meg, where’s Ken? Meagan- MATT will be here shortly. And he isn’t happy about the bright green bow tie and cummerbund… Amy- Oh. Well, he said that I could put together the outfit. After all, what does Matt know about Great-Date Ken? Hey Anna, what is Frankie? Anna- (smiling) He’s my Toto… Amy- (thinking for a minute) Oh, the dog. Isn’t he a little big for that basket you’re carrying? Anna and Meagan roll their eyes. Meagan- I don’t think Anna was actually planning on putting him in there… Amy- Oh, good. That would be uncomfortable. Say, do you have some orange cover-up? Face paint maybe? Meagan- No, actually. I enjoy my natural skin tone. Amy- Anna? Anna- I forgot it at home. Along with my big, orange, furry jumpsuit. Amy- Bummer… Just then, the door opens again, and in walk Tory and Melissa. Anna- Well, if it isn’t Sleeping Beauty… Tory- I know, don’t I look GORGEOUS? Meagan- Whatever… Melissa- Um, hello? What about me? Like my costume? Anna- What are you, exactly? Melissa- (fluffing her fake blonde curls) I am Little Bo Peep! Tory- Couldn’t you tell by the staff? Anna and Meagan laugh quietly. Amy- And Greg’s her sheep! Melissa- Exactly! And uh…Amy, what are you? Amy- Zoe! Melissa- (making a face) Oh, riiight… A few seconds later, the doorbell rings. Meagan walks over and opens it. There stands Ken, Prince Charming, Toto, Elmo, and a sheep. The girls burst out laughing. Meagan- Matt, how much gel is in your hair?? Matt- (stepping inside) I dunno, Chris did it. I feel like Ken though…plastic hair and all… Meagan- Hopefully not all…(she winks) Tory- Chris, you look so cute in tights!! Oh my god…I LOVE it!!! Chris- Thanks. But no one can see my hair under this stupid plume. Tory- Oh, you look cute anyway. I love you in purple! Anna- Frankie, oh my god, you’re adorable! Frankie- Anna, next year, I choose what we dress up as, kapeesh? Melissa- Why, Greg, your wool bodysuit is to die for! Greg stares at her, too humiliated to speak. Amy- Jesse! I LOVE the red fuzzy jumpsuit!!! Jesse- Thanks!! I love the orange, too! Amy- Man, we are just like Elmo and Zoe…too bad they’re brother and sister. Jesse- They are? Amy- Yeah, I think…? Meagan- Well, I say we get going. We want to get there before 6:00. Amy- Yeah, cause we can only get free pina colodas till eight! Chris- What the hell are we waiting for then? Let’s go!! *** At 5:15, the five couples arrive at the doors to the teen club: Jammerz. As they approach the door, Jesse stares at the sign in awe. Jesse- Wow…they named a club after me… The others roll their eyes. At the door, they are stopped by a bouncer. Matt- (whispering) I hope he doesn’t ask for IDs… Chris- Oh yeah…I knew we forgot something… Bouncer- (in a deep voice) Can I see some IDs? They all look at each other. Frankie- (patting his hips) Hmm…I can’t seem to find it…if Anna here dressed me up as a kangaroo, I could have put it in my pouch…but I’m just a terrier with no pockets- The bouncer rolls his eyes, then looks at Greg. Bouncer- What about the sheep? Greg- (scratching his furry head) Well…you see, I left mine at Bo Peep’s house… Melissa- (smacking him in the head with her plastic staff) You did not! Get lost! Jesse- (cracking up) No pun intended, right? Jesse continues to laugh as the others ignore him. Chris- (pushing his over-sized plume off of his face) Do you know who we are? Bouncer- A bunch of kids looking for Mother Goose? Matt- Ok…listen, pal- The bouncer looks down at Matt with menacing eyes. Matt- Nevermind…not important. Meagan- You see, sir, these guys are part of a band- Bouncer- (laughing) Ha…like what, the Sugar Beats? Jesse- Nope, that’s only me. Amy elbows him. Frankie- We’re a band, maybe you’ve heard of us…Dream Street? Bouncer- Dream Street…those little boys that dance around on Nickelodeon? The boys lower their heads. Anna- Yep, that’s them! Bouncer- Well, why didn’t you say so?? You can get in for free! They all smile and high five, starting to walk past, as the bouncer holds out an arm. Bouncer- Only if you’ll pose for a picture! Greg- In this? You’ve gotta be kidding… Chris- Aw, sir, my hair is under the plume…and we all know my hair is the only reason people like Dream Street to begin with and- Matt- Sure, we can pose. Jesse- Anyone have a camera? *** A little later, the ten kids are partying away, talking and dancing. Matt, Meagan, Chris, Tory, Jesse, and Amy are dancing out on the floor to the “I’m Real” remix. Jesse does the robot. Amy- Jester- you have the coolest moves! Melissa, Greg, Anna, and Frankie are sitting in a booth next to the dance floor, watching the people. Frankie- Some costumes here are just atrocious… Greg- Like that huge girl dressed up as- oh shit… Melissa- What? Greg- Duck… The other three shrug and duck under the table with Greg as someone walks by. Anna- Look, Greg…you’re not James Bond, you’re a farm animal…so could we quit hiding from people? Greg- (hissing) Do you know who that was?! Melissa- John? Frankie- Uglina? Anna- Britney Spears? Greg- No. It was Nel- Just then, a head appears upside down, peering at the four beneath the table. Nelda- Well, hello there! Greg- (mumbling) Lord help us… Nelda- (sitting down on the floor) Greg, you didn’t tell me you were coming…this is so coincidence! Greg- (with a fake smile) True fate… Nelda- I love the costumes, guys. What are you two lucky girls? Anna- Dorothy. Melissa- Little Bo Peep. Nelda- Ah, two of my favorite characters! (She turns to Frankie and Greg) My…you two are hairy! (She giggles) Greg- I am a sheep, Nelda. And he’s some kind of poodle- Frankie- I’m a terrier. Toto, to be specific. (He curiously eyes her antennae) What are you supposed to be? Nelda- Oh…I’m glad you asked. I am a Dream Street Butterfly. Melissa and Anna snicker quietly. Frankie- Oh…uh, riiight… Greg- (trying not to laugh) And what exactly does a Dream Street Butterfly do? Nelda- Spreads the word on you guys, of course! The other DSB’s are on the prowl tonight too! Frankie- Oh, uh, cool…thanks, Nelda. You’re a BIG help. Greg- We love your ENORMOUS contributions to the group. Nelda- Anything I can do, I’m glad to help out my five favorite boys!!! She smiles and gets up to leave. Greg- Oh, Nelda, the ta- Nelda smacks her head on the table. Nelda- AH! (She falls back on her butt…tears forming in her beady brown eyes) Greg- Are you ok?? Nelda looks around for a few seconds. She looks back at Greg. Nelda- Who are you? Greg shakes his head. Greg- Look, I’m sorry you hit your head, but you don’t have to take it out on me- Melissa- Greg, shut up…I think she may have a concussion. The other six walk over to the table. Jesse- Nelda! What is up, my dog?!?! Or, my insect… Amy- Who has a percussion? Meagan- A CONCUSSION, you idiot… Amy- Oh…what’s that? Melissa- A violent jarring; a shock. Also an injury to an organ, especially the brain, produced by a violent blow and followed by a temporary or prolonged loss of function. Amy- Riiight… Tory- Thank you, Webster. Chris- Who’s got a concussion?? Nelda- (freaking out) Who ARE all these people?! Greg, Melissa, Anna, and Frankie point at her. Matt- Let me check. (He holds up four fingers) Nelda, how many fingers am I holding up? Nelda- First of all, it’s Agnes…and you’ve got SIX fingers up. Matt- Yep. It’s a concussion alright. Meagan- I’ll go tell the manager… Frankie- Hmm…anyone got a phone on them? We should call the hospital…they’ll send an ambulance. Matt- Don’t be silly! She can ride with us in my- Hoh…nevermind… Chris- Yeah, I got a phone. It’s in my plume. Chris pulls off his purple feathered plume and grabs his cell phone. Chris- Shit…what’s the number??! Greg- Uh…1-800-HOSPITAL. Anna- That number doesn’t exist, freak. Melissa- I believe a normal phone number consists of eleven digits, in a one-three-three-four pattern. Frankie- Um…well…WAIT! What’s that number…remember…from the Red Cross?? Chris- The what? Frankie- Remember when we went to babysitting class?? They told us a number… Jesse- Oh YEAH! Uh…555-HELP! Matt- No…that’s Westchester’s homework hotline. Jesse- Oh… Greg- You should know…you use it everyday! Jesse- Shut up! They all start arguing about a number, while Amy thinks really hard. Suddenly… Amy- 911!!! The others look over at her. Frankie- Amy, this isn’t a time for games- Amy- 911!!! Greg- Just…be quiet, please?! Tory- No one needs your insolence. Amy- No, that’s the- Just then, Meagan comes back. Meagan- Ok, I told the manager, he called 911. Anna- 911! THAT’S the number!! “Oh yeah!” “Oops” “How could I forget?” come the replies. Amy shakes her head, scratching her orange fuzzy arm. *** Fifteen minutes later, the paramedics arrive at Jammerz. The jog in, looking around. Paramedic #1- Where’s the victim? The ten kids point at Nelda, sitting on the floor, blowing bubbles out of her nose. Paramedic #2- Holy Hannah…I say…that has to be the largest butterfly I’ve seen to date! Frankie- That’ll be the largest you’ll see in a lifetime, sir, I can assure you. Greg- Why not give the moth a free CAT scan? Paramedic #1- That may work…we’ll talk to the ER doctors. Hey, look, she even blows bubbles! Paramedic #2- Sweet! I’ll bring her home, the kids can play with her! *** At nine o’clock, the five couples make their way out to the parking lot. After Nelda left in the ambulance, they danced, drank pina colodas, and talked up a storm. Now, the guys and girls must separate. Anna- (hugging Frankie) I won’t see you till Christmas!! Frankie- Well, I’ll change that. I’ll be calling you all the time. Melissa- Greg, I’m gonna miss you, my little Sheep! Greg- I’ll miss you, Little Bo Peep! But you guys are SO touring with us. Matt- Yeah, Christmas Break, we’ll do it. Meagan- Ok, deal!! Tory- Ooh, I’m so excited! Chris- Me too, it’ll be great just chilling again like almost normal. Amy- You better write to me, Jesse McCartney! Jesse- You can bet on it! And I’ll use my new cheerleader stationary! Amy- K! The couples all hug and say their good-byes, then sadly splitting up. The girls get into Meagan’s car, while the guys get into Matt’s. They wave to each other a final time before pulling out of the parking lot and going their separate ways… |