X-Rats

Chapter 12: Beauty and the Beast

Miss. Beau did not think that putting on a Thanksgiving play was going to be as difficult as it was going. The day after pulling for the roles, the art teacher gathered the first-grade classes and the second-grade classes into the gymnasium to pass out the scripts. The first problem arose when she realized that some of the vocabulary in the script wasn't easy for these students to read, or even pronounce. So, after collecting back the scripts so she could make her edits, she let the music teacher begin to teach the first graders their song about saving the planet as well as the second graders about moving to America. Miss. Beau watched with a slight panic as most of the children didn't put in effort into paying attention and more effort into pulling each other's hair or sticking stickers onto each other. Currently, the young teacher was at a loss for how to handle the situation, ready to call it off and let Mrs. Forte just do what she always does. But, the new art teacher fought to take over the play, and she was not going to give up so quickly. She just needed to call in some reinforcements.

0

Charles was in his office, like usual, when the telephone rang. After letting it ring once more, just in case someone else was waiting for a phone call, he decided to answer it. "Charles Xavier's Home for Gifted Youngsters, this is Professor Xavier speaking."

"Hello Professor Xavier," the somewhat frazzled voice said from the other end of the line, "this is Miss. Beau from Bayville Elementary. I am putting on the Thanksgiving play with many of your students involved."

The professor nodded to himself, "Ah yes, Kitty was very excited to find out she would be playing a remarkable historical figure."

Miss. Beau's exhausted sounding laugh was heard through the phone. "I guess Pocahontas is pretty amazing. But that's not why I was calling."

"Are the children in trouble?" Charles asked, worry being the first thing on his mind. "Did they do something wrong?"

Again, a laugh was heard from the other end of the phone, "No, no one did anything to warrant them being in trouble." Miss. Beau explained. "No, I was actually calling to ask for a favor from you." There was a brief pause on the line, then the art teacher continued. "You may not be aware, but this is my first time putting on this production. And it happens to be a new play that I wrote, and I guess I did not realize exactly who my cast and crew would be. I suppose I took on more than I thought I could handle."

Another pause, seeming as though to let the professor process the information. "So, I was wondering if there was any way I could have some voluntary help while preparing for the play. Coach Peterson informed me that you have some help at the Home, and while I'm not looking for a free ride, I must confess I am in desperate need of some help. I have called ten other homes before this, and I must confess, I am begging you for any kind of help you can give me."

Charles was quiet, taking in the information. On one hand, helping this young lady would look very nice for the Home and its residents. But on the other hand, if they offered help, they would be putting themselves at more risk of exposing mutants and the children. However, if they were exposed, they could form a great relationship and begin to integrate humans and mutants peacefully into society.

"Miss. Beau, we would be happy to help you with your Thanksgiving play."

0

Logan had never seen Hank this excited in his life. Granted, the feral man only knew the fuzzy doctor for a short amount of time, but he still never saw the man this excited. "Didn't know you were into the arts big guy." Logan laughed, spooning some baby food into Jamie's mouth. Jamie clapped his hands in response, opening wide for his next bite.

The preschool gang had returned back with Ororo when Charles explained to them about Miss. Beau's proposition around the lunch table. The younger kids thought it was super cool that she wanted help from the adults in the Home, cheering on Hank when he volunteered to help.

"I have a fond spot for the classics Logan." Dr. McCoy explained, refilling his glass of juice, "I did play Macbeth in high school."

Charles smiled at his old friend, "I do not think this play will be identical to Shakespeare's classics my friend. But it will surely be an interesting production regardless."

Ororo nodded, "I just hope the young woman understands what she is getting herself into." The weather manipulating mutant sighed, "One grade of children would be a challenge all on its own, but two of them…"

"I think that's why she railed the troops." Logan added, "We've got our own hands full here. Couldn't imagine trying to wrangle them all up to put on a show."

Hank wiped his face with the napkin, "I have no doubt that I can give this young woman the assistance she is asking for."

Professor Xavier smiled, "I have full confidence in you Hank. The children have grown fond of you here and I believe that you will be able to help out Miss. Beau in her Thanksgiving production."

The furry blue mutant's smile seemed to double in size.

Friday was the first day that Dr. McCoy was going to help Miss. Beau with her production. It was a brisk Autumn day in New York, leaves changing colors and falling to the ground quiet quickly. The mutant man took in the beauty of nature during his walk into the elementary school. Normally, he would be picking up a child and bringing them home because they fell sick or bringing him to an appointment. Not today. Hank was very excited to be able to pitch in and help the young teacher with the children, especially because a number of them were under his care at the Home.

After signing in at the front desk, he followed the school's secretary to the gym where the rehearsal would be. Entering, he noticed a woman sitting at small table, head buried in a book. She had long strawberry blonde hair in a braid down her back and wore light blue overalls with a yellow sweater underneath. Hank knocked on the wall to indicate his presence, causing the woman to jump in her seat and look towards him. "Oh, you're early!" She smiled, getting up from her seat, "I'm Donatella Beau, the art teacher." Miss. Beau held out her hand for a handshake, "Please call me Ella."

"I'm Dr. Henry McCoy." He smiled, shaking her hand, "But everyone calls me Hank."

Ella smiled gratefully after shaking his hand, "I can't thank you enough for coming to help out with this." She led him over to the table, taking a seat.

Hank joined her in the empty chair, "The pleasure is mine. I do have a great appreciation for the arts."

"Is that what you have a doctorate in?" She asked, looking for one of her new scripts to give to the older man, "Something with theater perhaps?"

Dr. McCoy shook his head, "Genetics and biology." He explained, taking the stapled booklet from her.

The art teacher looked in awe, "Wow…and you're going to help me with an elementary production of the first Thanksgiving."

He laughed, "I would not offer my services if I was not committed to helping out."

Ella looked at the man, really looked at him. She would admit to her closest friends, he was handsome: dark slicked back hair, chiseled chin, complementing glasses on his face, and somewhat muscular build. Plus, highly intelligent and apparently good with children. But, this was strictly for work. "Well, why don't we go over the script? I just rewrote it last night and would like some feedback about it." The two adults walked through the script, Hank making some comments here and there about good ideas as well as some suggestions for change.

Around one o'clock, the first and second graders were filing into the gym with an egger look on some of their faces. Especially Xavier's residents that noticed the familiar man sitting with their teacher. Kitty and Amara ran up to Dr. McCoy, smiles on their faces. "Mr. Hank! What are you doin' here?!" the kindergartner asked, climbing into his open lap. "This is school!"

The man laughed, giving the little girl a hug in greeting. "Miss. Beau, invited me to assist her with the Thanksgiving play." He set Amara down on the ground next to her older friend.

"Really?!" Kitty asked, her smile growing when she saw Hank nod, "Oh good! Now you can make sure nobody messes this up!" Miss. Beau couldn't help but laugh at Kitty, covering her laughter with her mouth.

Dr. McCoy shook his head, "I'm sure everything will go on just fine Kitty. Now, why don't you both go with your friends in their lines."

Both girls listened to the doctor, waving goodbye to their Mr. Hank. Ella smiled, "You're good with them." She mused, holding the new stack of papers to hand out.

"They are good kids." Hank smiled, "I can pass these out for you if you would like to get started." He offered, holding out his hands to take the papers.

Ella smiled gratefully, already happy that he was here to help her. Clapping her hands to gain the student's attention, she gained it pretty quickly. "Alright everyone, let's get started!" The first graders made their way to the front, being shorter, and the second graders took up the rear. "Before we begin, I would like to introduce Dr. McCoy. He's going to be helping out with the play."

Most of the students said, "Hello Dr. McCoy." But the Xavier kids said, "Hi Mr. Hank!" with a grin.

He gave them all a wave, gentle smile on his face. "Dr. McCoy is going to hand out the new scripts for us to go over before Ms. Forte comes to go over the music with you all." Ella waited for the everyone to have their own script before signaling for them to all to settle down again. "We will start by Dr. McCoy and I just reading through it once, making sure everyone knows what is happening. Then, we will go through and have everyone read their own parts." The students nodded, making themselves comfortable and flipping to the first page. Hank and Ella took a seat as well, sitting at the table once more before they began reading.

0

Today's rehearsal went so much better in Miss. Beau's opinion. The script was so much better, the kids could pronounce all of the words after a little work, and they cooperated with Mrs. Forte's songs today. Hank noticed that Lance did not seem as confident about his lines as Kitty, but Kitty was almost too assertive with her lines. He wrote it down as a note, one of his many notes he took. The doctor's notes weren't criticism, but mainly about how each of the student's would read their lines or different parts that should be practiced one on one.

After the children were dismissed for the rest of the day and Mrs. Forte left, Ella slumped into her seat with a satisfied grin. "That went much better than last time." She confessed, holding up her hand for a high five.

Hank gave her one, a smile on his face too. "I'm glad, and the students seem interested in the play for sure." Ms. Beau nodded, "I do have a few notes, if you have time to go over them now."

"Sadly, I don't." the young woman frowned, "But, if you want to grab dinner soon, I'd love to go over them with you."

Dr. McCoy smiled, bigger than he thought he would have. "That sounds delightful Ella, I would love to. How about tomorrow evening?" He suggested.

"Sounds wonderful. I know a great sushi place downtown."

Logan was standing in Hank's room, Jubilee joining the men in their fashion struggle. Once the doctor returned home, he told the other adults about joining Ella Beau at a sushi place to go over notes on Saturday. The feral mutant clapped him on the shoulder in a celebration kind of way about scoring a date, while Ororo and Charles were happy for their close friend. Even though Hank was convincing himself that it was just for the play and not a date, he was a little nervous about the dinner. Somehow, the students found out about this dinner and began teasing him and questioning the man about what was happening.

He had asked Logan for help finding something to wear, and Jubilee happened to tag along them. "Something casual doc. Can't go wrong with jeans."

"But for sushi?" He asked, holding up some of his dress shirts in front of the crowd.

Jubilee shrugged, "Is it a date?" she asked.

Logan couldn't help but laugh at her innocent question. "No Jubilee, it is not a date."

"But, Amara said that if it was," She began, kicking her legs in boredom, "it would be Beauty and the Beast! So, wear blue and she wear yellow."

Hank shook his head, taking into consideration what she said. On one hand, blue was kind of his natural comfort, being blue himself. But on the other hand, he didn't want to give himself false hope about this situation. "I think I'll wear something blue then. Just to appease you girls."

Jubilee smiled wide, "I'll go tell Amara!" and with that, she ran out of the room and to the play room.

Logan watched as the younger man pulled out a light blue button up that would look nice with the khaki pants he had chosen already. "Did Miss. Beau seem to think it was supposed to be a date, Hank?" He asked, folding his arms across his chest.

"To be honest," The doctor began, "I am not sure Logan. She seems very passionate about this production, and I thought she just wanted to get together to go through notes."

The feral man shrugged, "Women are curious creatures. I'm sure she'll make her intentions clear when the time comes."