Mishka looked back at her grandmother who was still engrossed in her television show.
"If I cop out of movie night to go out again, Grandma will really complain. On the other hand, if I don't take this chance of joining the dance group tonight I will miss out on a chance to see Bruce's house before Saturday," she told herself.
"How do I sneak out without being dishonest, though? Dad will get upset if it looks as if Grandma's complaints are well-founded," she told herself.
"I sort of know the place and I think I've met the owner," she remarked to Freddy over the phone.
"No, you don't say!" Freddy exclaimed. "So, why didn't you say anything?" he asked.
"Oh, I quite forgot last night during dance class. I haven't seen the inside of the mansion yet and I met the owner only briefly in the woods," Mishka replied.
"Oh, that sounds so exciting! You met in the woods? That's incredible!" Freddy exclaimed.
"Now, when are you gonna give me the details? And when are you gonna come and see the interior of this mansion? Aren't you curious, girl?" Freddy asked in a tone of disbelief.
"I'm excited enough to come right away, but then I will be out for two nights in a row. It's hard to get up early in the morning," Mishka responded.
"You're practically an heiress and a millionaire, but you're getting up so early, just like a slave, I don't get it," Freddy remarked on his end of the line.
"You just might be missing out on life, girl. What if this opportunity never comes again? I tell you, these people know how to party big time," he continued in an elated tone of voice.
"I sort of promised to pop in, but I didn't mean gate-crashing on a party," Mishka replied. "He will see me and think I'm easy and forward," she continued even though she was burning with curiosity to see the inside of the mansion and to see how Bruce threw a party.
"So, if you don't want him to know that it's you who's here then just put on an animal face mask. Most of us are wearing one," Freddy suggested.
"You're wearing masks? That's really interesting," Mishka responded in surprise. She was now really curious about going to the party.
"Some guests are and others aren't. I'm not, but some of the dancers are wearing masks," Freddy replied.
"So, what time did it all start? Won't I stand out as a late-comer and how do I enter at the gates?" Mishka asked as she moved into the hallway, away from the TV room.
"Don't worry. If you wanna come then that's all that's needed. Just arrive and call me and I will tell the guards that another dancer is arriving. They're rather laid-back, don't worry," Freddy remarked in a relaxed tone of voice.
Mishka wished that she could sometimes be as easy-going as him.
"Now, do I leave my Grandma to watch TV on her own or do I sneak out quickly?" she asked over the phone.
"You're thinking about watching TV with your grandma after what I've just mentioned? Let Grandma watch TV alone tonight. I swear to you that she had her days of doing something like this as well. Don't worry about her. Let her enjoy herself in front of the TV while you give yourself a chance for something different?" Freddy suggested in an incredulous tone.
"Okay, I will call you when I'm at the mansion's gates," Mishka responded.
She then walked down the hallway and up the stairs quickly. Myrtle did not even notice her talking on the phone for such a long time.
"Now, where are my costume masks? I really don't wanna have to go down to the dance studio to look for an animal mask," Mishka muttered to herself as she searched through her accessory cupboard frantically.
"Let me not have to ask Milla to help me either, because then everyone will know that I'm up to something," Mishka continued to mutter as she searched.
"Ah there! A vixen mask!" she sang softly.
She fitted the mask on and it matched her light coloured hair well.
"Now I suppose I will need a dress to go with that! Why did I forget that a mask also means dressing up?" she asked herself, moaning in despair.
"Now they will know that I planned on going out. I better find a dress quickly, anyway," she told herself as she searched through her ample wardrobe.
"I should really not be having a problem with going out after I've decided to show Grandma how grown-up and independent I am," she muttered with a pout.
"Are there! A red pantsuit will do just as well!" Mishka told herself when her eyes rested on the vivid outfit.
"With a mask on I don't have to worry about what anyone thinks about my outfit. I must just get myself there now," she continued as she got out of her work clothes quickly.
"I will shower before I go to bed," she muttered as she changed her clothes.
She then took out a big white handbag and placed the mask and her cell phone inside it before pinning up her hair.
"Now I shouldn't run into anyone on my way out or I will be forced to tell a lie," she told herself as she switched off her bedroom light and closed the door behind herself.
As she walked down the hallway downstairs, Mishka tried to justify her situation.
"I can't tell Gillian about tonight because I promised her Mom not to involve her with Bruce. Also, I can't stay home obediently after I vowed to teach my grandmother a lesson.
So, I'm doing this for my future freedom as well as to have myself a good time in a very unusual house that's throwing a spectacular party," she whispered to herself as she walked along with swift steps.
"Oh, are you going out again tonight?" Mishka heard just as she was about to turn out to the side door.
She turned around to face Grace the cook, who was staring at her outfit with big eyes.
"Yes, I just got a call from the dance group. We're having another workout tonight," she replied, hoping that it would satisfy Grace's curiosity and that Grace would soon forget about the incident.
Tonight was movie night for the staff as well, so they binged on videos in the staff room together, so Grace would quickly forget about her.
"Should I wait up for you?" Grace asked as she began to turn around with the big bowl of popcorn that she was carrying.
"I don't think it will be necessary. I'm taking a key along, but I'm coming back quickly. I don't think I'll be out for long," Mishka replied.
"So, then you will probably find your Grandma also still up because she began to watch a new series which is gonna play long tonight," Grace remarked with an indulgent smile.
"Oh, is that what she's watching?" Mishka responded in surprise. "No wonder she's so engrossed in the show," she added.
"Yes, she said it's all about witches, spells and romance, but I'm not interested in that stuff," Grace remarked with a slight shudder as she turned around to walk on towards the staff room.
"A show about witches?" Mishka mumbled as she was left standing alone in the hallway with a curious frown on her brow.