Maria-sama ga Miteru:Volume29 Chapter6 4

The Miracle Worker. Part 4.

The curtain was lowered immediately after the koto music club's performance ended. Yumi gave Noriko-chan, who was waiting by the door, a look of gratitude, then hunched over and quickly made her way to the second-year seating area.

Yumi sat down on the seat that had been reserved for her and looked up just in time to see Tsukasa-san, microphone in hand, walk out in front of the curtain.

"I thought that, as president of the drama club, I should explain what you're about to see before we start our March performance."

Tsukasa-san was still wearing her school uniform, but it looked as though her hair and makeup were already done – her skin was prepared with dohran and her hair was held in place with several pins.

"For this performance, the drama club split into three groups, so we'll be performing three plays."

Tsukasa-san continued, explaining how they wouldn't be able to perform three plays in their entirety simply based on how long it would take. They'd chosen three scenes from well known plays, that she hoped the audience would enjoy. After making her introduction, Tsukasa-san exited to the side of the stage and the curtain was raised.

There was no set. A solitary kimono-clad girl walked on to the stage from the left. She carried a walking stick, but it didn't appear as though there was anything wrong with her legs. She stopped and wiped the sweat from her brow. Ahh, based on that she was probably on a journey. That would explain why the cuffs on her kimono were a bit higher than normal.

On the right of the stage, another girl leapt forwards. Her kimono was a tad more plain than the first girl's and she jogged across the stage to stop in front of the traveling girl.

"Momoko-san, Momoko-san. Those millet dumplings you have at your waist, won't you give me one?"

There was scattered laughter around the auditorium. For those audience members who had been watching, trying to figure out what play it was from, this line revealed that it was 'Momotarou.'

"Okay. I'll give you one. But you have to join me in my battle against the demons, Inuko-san."

"I'll accompany you."

It seems that this Momoko-san was a lady who knew no fear. She recruited Saruko-san and Kiji-san to join her too, and they were about to head off to the island of the demons.

– Then the curtain fell. Still, since it didn't look like they were going to have sets, the curtain stayed closed for about ten seconds before being raised again and the next play started. There were two people onstage, dressed like boys. And a number of chairs.

"Campanella."

One of the characters said, turning to the other. The penny dropped immediately because of the unusual name. It was 'Night on the Galactic Railroad.' They had sectioned off the heron catching scene. By omitting the sorrowful finale it left a whimsical, dream-like impression. Despite the joyous nature of the scene, Yumi's chest tightened when she remembered where Campanella really was at this point.

Touko still hadn't made an appearance yet. The final play must be her scene with Tsukasa-san.

The curtain raised for the final time in the drama club's performance.

The pair were sitting slightly to the right of center-stage. They were both wearing old-fashioned dresses and a bespectacled Tsukasa-san seemed to be cradling Touko. The only set decoration was a single pole, about a metre tall, to the left of the stage.

Tsukasa-san was manipulating one of Touko's hands into various positions, over and over.

"Water, Helen. This is water. W, a, t, e, r."

Helen. Water.

(It's 'The Miracle Worker.')

"Egg. E, g, g. That's its name."

The Miracle Worker. The miraculous story of Helen Keller, who lost her sight and hearing as a baby, and her teacher Annie Sullivan. Annie was teaching Helen sign language so that she could lead a somewhat normal life. But while Helen would learn the shapes, as though playing along with a game, she didn't understand what they meant.

Helen had grown up being pampered by her family, so would become violent whenever the mood took her. Annie tolerated none of that. The pair would eventually wear each other out, covered in scratches and bruises.

And then, the famous final scene.

Tsukasa-san dragged Touko, no, Annie dragged Helen over to the sole piece of scenery. It was the pump. As punishment for intentionally spilling some water, Annie was forcing Helen to draw water from the pump.

"Now, draw the water."

Helen looked around for her mother to save her.

"No, your mother isn't here. Draw the water!"

Helen lived in darkness. In a silent world. A rough hand guided her to the pump's handle.

(Ah.)

Even though it really was just a simple pole, it seemed as though there was a handle there when Helen reached out for it. The invisible handle went up and down. Then some water came flowing out.

Water spilled from the jug and splashed on Helen's hand. Annie used Helen's hand to spell w, a, t, e, r in sign language.

Then.

A light shone in those eyes that had never seen anything. Her mind's eye opened.

Those lips that had never uttered a single word shook. Not just her lips, it looked like her entire body was shaking. Then she erupted.

"Wah-wah."

Probing for the water, Helen signed w, a, t, e, r.

Now, she understood. That it was called water.

A brilliant light shone down upon the pair. Then the curtain fell.

The auditorium fell silent as the curtain descended. It was like the world without sound that Helen lived in.

Eventually, when the lights in the auditorium brightened, the audience members came to their senses and remembered to clap, their applause descending like raging billows.

Amongst this endless applause, Yumi rose from her feet and started walking. She sensed the curtain call occurring behind her.

"Yumi-sama..."

It was only when she arrived at the rear door that Yumi remembered Noriko-chan would be there.

"Keep this a secret from Touko, okay."

Yumi said, pointing at her tear-stained face.

(Ahh, geeze.)

Yumi had been thinking that she should get back to work now that the drama club's play was over, but she couldn't walk around with her face looking like it did now. Consequently, she had to hide for a little while.

The title of the play was 'The Miracle Worker.' Taking it literally, the one who worked the miracle was obviously Annie Sullivan. So it was only right that Annie would come out ahead. Even so.

Yumi chuckled to herself as she opened the bathroom door.

(I've got to hand it to you, Tsukasa-san.)

Yumi was profoundly envious.

(There's no way I could beat that.)

But it was in no way a resentful envy.