The Hanging Hill

18

Zack saw Judy and Monica the Company Manager near the box office, which looked like an elaborately decorated circus wagon with bank-teller windows.

Zipper barked.

“Hey, Zack!” Judy waved them over.

“Sorry we’re late. Zip and I ran into some of the actors out back.”

“Who?”

“Meghan McKenna!”

“Really?”

“Yeah!”

“Did you get her autograph?”

“Not yet.”

Judy was excited. “Well, get one for me when you do!”

The company manager beamed. “We were all so thrilled to hear that Miss McKenna, an actual Oscar nominee, would be joining the Pandemonium Players!”

There was that word again. “Pandemonium?” Zack asked.

“That’s what we call our resident acting company,” Monica explained.

“Cool,” said Zack, wondering why the janitor wanted him to beware of a bunch of actors. They seemed pretty harmless. Unless, of course, that kid Derek sneezed all over you.

Judy handed Zack a brass key. “Monica and I need to get the scripts organized for the table meeting. Why don’t you take Zipper up to the room, make sure he has water, and then meet us downstairs in rehearsal room A? We’re on the very top floor!”

“Awesome. Oh, I forgot to tell you—I also met Derek Stone.”

“Who?”

“You know, the Hollywood guy who used to be on Ring My Bell?”

Judy looked confused.

“It’s a TV show. He’s not on it anymore.”

“Oh,” said Judy. “I see. He’s one of the adults in the cast.”

“No. He’s a boy. About my age. I guess he’s playing Charlie.”

“No, Brad Doyle is playing Charlie,” said Judy. “He’s a Broadway actor from New York.”

“Uh,” said the company manager, “Derek Stone was a last-minute replacement. Signed him on yesterday.”

Now Judy seemed shocked. “Really?”

“Yes. Brad Doyle got sick. Very, very sick.”