They held another meeting. Harper proposed two performances, one at six-thirty and another at eight. The children worried about exhaustion but realized it would allow families to attend without crowding the courtyard. Kieran offered to run a ten-minute reset between shows. Sachi would monitor the battery lights. Tamsin agreed to serve hot drinks during the break, provided the performers did not block the bakery door.

Two performances meant twice the chances for something to go wrong. It also meant twice the chances for people to witness the children telling the story themselves.

The decision passed unanimously, though Ari insisted everybody eat something before six.

CHAPTER EIGHT: WHEN THE LIGHTS FOUND THE CITY

At five-thirty the first guests began arriving. Some were parents carrying folding chairs; others were regular bakery customers who had seen the hand-painted sign outside. A few were strangers drawn by the promise of free theater. Harper greeted them by the entrance and counted the audience carefully. When the sixtieth person entered, she placed a sign across the walkway explaining that the next performance would begin at eight.

Several families grumbled. She apologized and offered to reserve seats for the second show. She did not squeeze anyone into the alley or place chairs where the exit needed to remain clear. The children had spent too much time learning to build things safely for Harper to ignore that lesson when adults demanded a better view.

At six, Tamsin emerged with trays of small sandwiches. The smell of warm bread drifted through the courtyard. The children sat on wooden crates, eating quickly, nervousness making them unusually quiet. Harper knelt beside Nell, who kept checking the little bird tied to her wrist.

‘Are you frightened?’ Harper asked.

‘A little.’

‘Me too.’

Nell looked at her. ‘Of what?’

‘That you’ll think I’m taking over again.’

‘You keep asking us. That’s better.’

‘And of the show going wrong.’

Nell shrugged. ‘It probably will. That’s what rehearsals are for. And we already rehearsed.’

Harper laughed softly. The girl had more faith in an imperfect process than many adults Harper knew.

At six-twenty, Julian appeared at the courtyard entrance with a woman in a tailored coat. He did not attempt to enter. The woman spoke briefly to Tamsin and showed her a flyer from Brightline. Tamsin returned to Harper, uneasy.

‘Julian says they’re inviting visitors to walk through here after their opening. He wants to know whether we can accommodate a group of fifty.’

‘No,’ Harper said. ‘We’re already full.’

‘He knows that.’

Harper walked toward the entrance. Julian greeted her courteously.

‘We thought your young performers might appreciate additional audience members,’ he said.