DAY SEVEN, PART TWO:

Ash was the one we decided should drop the letter on the bus, (which I had carefully copied down in an assumed handwriting that looked NOTHING like my own, which everyone attested to. I wrote "SCS Matchmaker's Guild" along the top of the hotel stationary). This was because she's buttery smooth and the rest of us are klutzes and because the people who would have the best reactions were on her bus. May ended up finding it, and pretty soon most of the choir knew about it. The people named were either disgusted or amused. A few people said it was really dumb, but the only one who was really upset about it was Marty. She ended up giving the paper to Mrs. Jay, and we never heard anything about it. If Mrs. Jay has any sense of humor at all, she laughed. Even if she would've gotten mad about it, she probably never would have guessed it was us, on account of how Ann, Ash, Kris and I are some of the quietest people in the choir.
Anyway, we had to get our stuff together for the concert, so we parted company. Within a few minutes Ash and I were set to go, and headed for the bus.
The concert was surreal. First of all, Mrs. Jay told us girls that we didn't have to wear the hose because it was SO muggy. That had never happened before. The girls in the front still did, but only a few of us in the back didn't take advantage of this wonderful offer.
There were three choirs. The youngest children's choir, an older choir and the elite older choir. The little kids were so cute, but most of the choir looked bored. There was a girl who looked about 11 who had the greatest expression, though. She was adorable. The older choir (that she was in) sang Putting on the Ritz. It was hilarious, because they enunciated everything so properly and had a little dance to go with it.
The other thing that was weird was the audience wouldn't stop talking! It was crazy! Mrs. Jay said that's how they show they like the music, and so did their director.
After the concert, while we were all still on stage, the kids came out to give us presents! The people in the back didn't get many, though, because the people in the front didn't pass many back. Lyssa got a big stuffed chick. It was great fun. We had dinner afterwards (which I don't really remember anything important happening at) and went back to the hotel.
When I went to get my shower I discovered that the cleaning lady had thrown out all my shampoo and stuff. I was going to just reach back into the trash can and get the little bottles out, but she squirted them out first. I showed Ash, and we both laughed. What the heck was up with that? We stayed up for a little while longer, at which point I made us both flip out about the curtains. I said that they were dark, and someone could be hiding behind them. I said it as a joke, but it kind of scared me. Ash said "If it scares you so much to have them closed, go open them." This was a reasonable enough suggestion, but I then imagined some killer dude behind the curtain.
"No." I said obstinately. "I won't. He might be there."
"Who?" Ash asked wearily.
"The killer. He's right behind the curtain; I can feel it in my bones." There was a pause.
"That's ridiculous."
"You open 'em then," I challenged.
"No. You do it. You're the one who's scared." She burrowed farther under her covers.
"You're scared."
"I am not. It's just that you're the one that's freaking us out, so you should do it," she said, trying to justify herself.
"You are scared. Anyway, it's not my fault. Mom says I have an over-active imagination. I can't help thinking there's a guy there. Or in the other curtain. He's probably looking in the window." My voice got higher as I imagined the fiend.
"Stop! We'll both go to the windows. Happy?"
"Yeah. That way he'll kill us both," I said, bitter. "Why don't you just do it. You're technically an adult."
"Come on."
I reluctantly made my way to the window, but was unable to open it. I thought I saw something move, and jumped back. I curled into a ball five feet away from the curtain. Ash hadn't opened hers either.
"This is so dumb. I know there's no guy out there, but I'm still scared. Thanks a lot, Bard."
"It isn't my fault," I said through my knees. Finally we ripped open the curtains which held no men behind them, of course. I was much more at ease now, and soon fell asleep.