A little rain is coming. I am glad as it has been hot. We are under a heat dome. Not the type of dome you want to be in. A bit like ants on the anthill. Labor is more noticeable in the hot sun of summer. What took little strength in the fall requires true commitment. A good time for a vodka tonic. A time to wonder at the wonderful. Each day is like the premiere of a first-run movie. No one has seen it before, and the mystery is palpable. The story begins each morning. What will today bring? What is my role in it? How can I make someone feel valued and a part of the story? We are on stage. Our lines are given to us each morning. The performance requires a quick study. The mission of the day involves singleness of purpose. Not for the faint of heart. Conspiracy theories only slow us down. The flood lights are up, and the curtain rises. No time for dilly-dallying, we must address this chapter of what is a very short, impactful play.

‘I am hungry for some Moo and Cackel hamburgers,’ Chet exclaimed. ‘Are we going to get them on the way to Pounds Hollow or on the way home?’ Chet asked. ‘They are the highlight of the Pounds Hollow trip,’ Chet smiled. ‘Today we will see if the Creature From the Black Lagoon is at the Hollow,’ Chet advised. ‘He told me to be prepared for a big surprise,’ Chet noted. ‘The Creature told me that he graduated from Eldorado High School in his disguise of being a human, which he often wore among the humans,’ Chet noted. ‘Creature noted that he came back to EHS to be the principal of the High School in the role of principal,’ Chet laughed. ‘I told him that we all thought the Principal was a bit of a monster,’ Chet laughed.

‘Well, there is Principal Issacs on the beach with a towel over him except for his head,’ Jane said. ‘He is watching us as if he were expecting us,’ Jane continued. ‘Let’s go over and say hi to the Principal,’ Jane suggested.

Greetings and salutations, Chet, Jane, and Billy B,’ Principal said with gusto. ‘I did not have time to put on my entire costume today, but the face and hands will suffice unless someone removes the beach blanket, and it is hot in this 90-degree weather,’ Principal said with a wink. ‘I am sent from Mars to interact with the humans and learn from them,’ the Principal said with a wide grin. ‘Of course, I love the water and live under the lake at night,’ the Principal offered. ‘Soon, Mars will be sending flying saucers to colonize the Earth,’ the Principal noted. I will function as their chief advisor, accompanied by the Principal. ‘You see, the Principal is still around, but I have had him doing research at Morris Library at SIUC for information to give my colleagues, the Creature said with a toothy grin. ‘I have a place for each of you in the transition from Earth to Mars II,’ the Creature From the Black Lagoon noted…

‘Scene that is a ten-minute break, the Director said. ‘Our production of The Creature From the Black Lagoon is going to be a big success,’ the Director said…