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Sheep. ‘Wow.’
    â€˜Who will direct the Opera?’ Ned asked. ‘We need someone who can handle The Grand March.’
    â€˜The Grand March,’ enthused Cate. ‘That’s when they bring in all the animals, chests of gold, drummers and dancers captured in battle. Our farm animals will want to march.’
    Duck, Sheep and Parrot looked at each other. Here was a chance.
    â€˜Wonderful,’ said Mr Bigge.
    â€˜Puppets would be better,’ said Ned.
    â€˜We shall have real animals AND dancing puppets,’ decided Cate.
    â€˜The only dancer around here is Pig,’ snorted Parrot.

    â€˜He did a wonderful belly dance at our concert,’ said Duck who would never forget Pig’s amazing twirls.
    â€˜Quite stole the show,’ said Sheep.
    â€˜Why don’t you direct it, Ned?’ said Mr Bigge.
    â€˜We’ll have a meeting. Ask volunteers to make costumes and be in the show,’ said Cate.
    â€˜Cost a fortune,’ said Ned.
    Cate smiled. ‘You didn’t buy many pencils last year Ned. There’s a bit of money left. Use that.’
    â€˜I’ll give you money, ‘said Mr Bigge. ‘But Aida must go on at the right time. I’ve got TV cameras coming.’
    Ned nodded. ‘Could we use the hayshed for making costumes and puppets and for rehearsals?’
    Ned’s thin face looked happy. He was going to direct an opera. Duck remembered how he felt when he had almost ‘directed’ the farm animals in the TV commercial. Getting people (and animals) to work together was a big job.
    â€˜Just send me the bills.’ Mr Bigge left.
    â€˜Mr Bigge has big ideas to sell his apartments,’ said Duck to Parrot and Sheep. ‘This Grand March may need our help’.

Chapter 3
    The Rehearsal

    Saturday morning was the first rehearsal.
    â€˜What’s an opera?’ asked Goat.
    â€˜A story told in song,’ explained Parrot.
    â€˜Any drumming?’ asked Goat.
    â€˜Yes. Everybody loves Aida because of the Grand March when the animals come on.’
    â€˜So, we’re going to be in it,’ said Duck.
    All the animals waited outside the hayshed. Ned was explaining how to make a paper mache elephant to a bunch of school girls. Others were trying on costumes, or painting big gold banners. People were singing loudly in groups, and stopping when Ned told them what to do.
    â€˜The Grand March has to be GRAND,’ said Ned. ‘The singing has to be loud and the puppets big.’
    â€˜Humph! Real animals out of paper,’ said Pig. ‘I don’t think so.’
    Ned talked to another group. ‘Ancient Egyptians wore coloured woollen wigs. We’ll need fifty wigs in pink, green, blue and yellow for the chorus.’
    Sheep’s eyes sparkled. ‘I could colour my wool.’
    Just then, two boys carried in two large chairs.
    â€˜What’ll we do with these, Ned?’
    â€˜Carve ducks on the legs,’ said Ned. ‘Egyptians liked to carve ducks on their furniture. The king will sit on one.’
    â€˜Two duck chairs coming up,’ said the red haired boy.
    â€˜Duck chairs!’ squawked Duck. ‘Didn’t know we were so important.’
    â€˜By the way, Ned, what’s a duck look like?’ asked the boy.
    Ned pointed. ‘There’s one standing beside you. Use him as a model.’
    Duck was scooped up and plonked on top of a ladder.
    â€˜Sit still duck, I need to copy your feathers,’ said the boy.
    Duck had a grand view of the hayshed. Tables were full of coloured material for costumes. The girls making the paper mache animals were covered in glue and water. Things didn’t seem to be going too well with the elephant head.
    â€˜Hold still, duck.’
    Duck imagined himself as a duck in ancient Egypt. He must look up Egypt on the Internet.

    â€˜Teabreak!’ called Cate.
    Ned led his helpers to the farm kitchen for sandwiches and juice. Music was