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school.
    Donna didn’t think. She just reached out to take Steve’s hand. “Oh, no! I hope nothing bad has happened!”
    There was a low murmur in the audience that grew louder and louder as people began to talk about the delay and the siren they’d heard. By the time the murmuring had grown to a loud buzz of excited voices, Mr. Carlson walked out on the stage.
    â€œPlease bear with us.” Mr. Carlson’s voice was shaking slightly. “There’s been an accident backstage. Our star, Tammy Peters, has broken her leg.”
    There was another murmur from the audience, and Donna exchanged worried looks with Steve. What had happened? And exactly how had Tammy broken her leg?
    Mr. Carlson held up his hands for silence. “If you’ll give us five minutes, our production will continue. Miss Rondelle Green, Tammy’s understudy, will play the lead.”
    There was a smattering of polite applause and Mr. Carlson left the stage. The loudspeakers began to play some soothing classical music, and Steve pulled Donna to her feet. “Let’s go, Donna. We’ve got to find out what happened!”
    As they rounded the corner of the school, they saw the flashing red lights of the ambulance. It was just backing away, and Steve ran to catch it.
    â€œWhat hospital?” Donna heard him shout. And then he ran back to her side again. “They’re taking her to County General. Come on. My car’s this way.”
    As she ran to keep up with Steve’s long strides, Donna felt her heart pounding hard. It wasn’t from the exertion. Donna’s heart was pounding in fear. They had to get the red shoes away from Tammy before something even more horrible happened!

Four
    S teve drove directly to the hospital, but they arrived too late to see Tammy. Her doctor told them that she was being taken to a private hospital, several hundred miles away.
    â€œWill she be all right?” Steve looked worried.
    â€œYes. She’s in stable condition and her vital signs are good.” The doctor gave Steve a comforting pat on the shoulder. “But we took an X ray and several bones in Tammy’s leg are shattered. It’s the worst break I’ve seen in a long time, and we’re not equipped to handle it here. They’re going to have to do a series of complicated surgeries to repair the bones before she can walk normally again.”
    Donna felt terribly sorry for Tammy. “How long will Tammy have to stay in the hospital?”
    â€œIt’ll be quite a while. I talked to the head surgeon by telephone. After the surgeries, she’ll need several months of physical therapy. They’re going to have to teach her to walk, all over again.”
    â€œBut will Tammy be able to graduate with us?” Steve started to frown.
    â€œI wouldn’t count on that. But the surgeon said that they have tutors on the staff. Tammy can keep up with her studies and they’ll have her ready for college in the fall.”
    Donna took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure how to ask, but they had to know. “Did Tammy take her shoes with her?”
    â€œShoes?” The doctor looked completely puzzled.
    Steve nodded. “They were red, and she wore them in the play.”
    â€œI see.” The doctor smiled. “They were part of her costume and you’re here to collect them?”
    â€œThat’s right.” Donna nodded. She was glad she didn’t have to explain about Magical Footwear and the curse of the red shoes.
    â€œTammy wasn’t wearing any shoes when I examined her, but you can check with the paramedics at the emergency room. They may have removed them.”
    It took several minutes to find the team of paramedics who’d brought Tammy to the hospital. The driver didn’t remember the shoes at all, but his partner did.
    â€œShe was wearing shoes. I think they were orange, or red.”
    Steve nodded. “That’s right. They were part