“So that is Ford Birmingham!” she exclaimed to Bill. “He’s so—so entirely different from my picture of him!”
“Thought you’d like him.” Bill smiled. “And I think there’s another surprise for the cast, Peggy!” He indicated the other member of the trio, who was still deep in conversation with Chuck.
“Who is he?” Peggy asked curiously. But before Bill could answer, Chuck, grinning from ear to ear, asked the cast to gather around.
“Someone here has a proposition for us,” Chuck said, introducing Mr. Eugene Vincent, the entertainment director for Lake Manor, a huge resort hotel three miles down the highway.
“If you people would be interested,” Mr. Vincent said, his plump face wreathed with good humor, “I’d like to have you play one night a week down at the Manor! It would be a wonderful addition to our program, and you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. We’d do our own sets for your plays, take care of moving your props, and transport you back and forth. All you have to do is act!” He beamed at them. “How does that sound to you?”
“It might mean that we’d be able to continue our season,” Chuck broke in anxiously. “I’m not sure yet, but the additional money might carry us through—”
“And there’s one other inducement,” Mr. Vincent added. “You’d come early for dinner on performance days, and have the recreation facilities available for your use at any time. Swimming, Ping-pong, volleyball....” He raised his eyebrows and peered at them like a genie offering infinite temptations.
They couldn’t believe their ears. After a stunned silence, Chris Hill was the first to give a mighty whoop. “Mr. Vincent,” he exclaimed, pumping his hand furiously, “I have always believed in Santa Claus, and now that you have come along, I know it’s true!” He turned to the company. “What about the rest of you? Don’t you believe in miracles?”
“You mean it’s true,” Danny said, with a perfectly blank expression. Then as it sank in he grinned, and grabbing Peggy, began to waltz about on stage.
“It’s true,” he sang, “it’s terrific, it’s fantastic, it’s the most amazing ever!”