Opening Act
Silence. A frozen frame. Then—snap! My very own fingers gave a splendid twitch! I tilted forward, feeling the gentle friction of the carpet beneath my boots. Right beside me sat a fellow performer in red and white, utterly motionless. Naturally, I extended a polite gloved hand to tap its arm—curtain call, my dear compatriot! No response, yet the sheer wonder of moving on my own accord sent a jolt right to my hat. The premiere has officially commenced!