It was a lovely day at the daycare/school. One of the attendees there is a young black-furred red-headed wolf with a very long tail by the name of Ryan. Ryan stood in front of the bathroom shuffling and moving his red hair around, trying to stand tall and proud. As he makes various poses, a little brown female squirrel passed by, rolled her eyes, and approached her big brother.
“He’s still at it,” Red the female brown squirrel said to her big brother, Zee-Zee.
“Incredible,” Zee-Zee replied sarcastically. Soon, Ryan the wolf entered the bedroom and, in a dramatic expression, recited a line to Red.
“Do not cite the Deep Magic to me, witch. I was there when it was written,” Ryan said dramatically. Red, however, giggled at Ryan.
“Cite it yourself, I don’t want to be late for daycare,” Red giggled as she skipped off, leaving Zee-Zee with Ryan.
“Why don’t you knock off the magic routine, Aslan,” Zee-Zee said with a giggle, calling him by a character’s name. Ryan shrugged his shoulders.
“I have to practice for my audition. It’s the biggest part in the school play,” Ryan replied.
“Well, keep it up, Aslan, you’ll be the first ruler of Narnia to be kicked out of his room,” Zee-Zee said with a humorous tone. Zee-Zee left his bedroom, leaving Ryan to roll his eyes.

Later, at the center’s kitchen, husband and wife squirrels, Zed and Zena, were preparing lunches. Cari, a teenaged caretaker, purple-furred hedgehog/echidna hybrid, grabbed her brown paper bag. Soon, Ryan entered the room. He stood in a dramatic pose and spoke in a deep voice.
“If the Witch knew the true meaning of sacrifice, she might have interpreted the deep magic differently,” Ryan dramatically said. He then stood upright and faced the group. “Okay, who am I supposed to be?”
“Mickey Mouse,” Cari replied sarcastically as she left.
“Mickey Mouse?!” Ryan nearly shouted. Both Zed and Zena laughed though.
“She’s only kidding, Ry. We knew you were being Aslan,” Zena said.
“You did?” Ryan asked happily.
“Sure. Good luck, your majesty, we will be rooting for you at your audition today,” Zed told Ryan. Ryan smiled.
“Thanks,” Ryan said, he then went into a dramatic pose before heading out. “I’m off, to save Narnia.”
“Hold it, Aslan,” Zena quickly called, grabbing Ryan’s attention. “It may be a never-ending winter. Better take your lunch.”
Ryan chucked as he grabbed his brown paper bag and headed out the door, leaving Zed and Zena laughing.

***

Later that day, Cari’s parents, a black echidna named Bat and a purple hedgehog named Bristy, are looking over paperwork, thinking about reconstructing their house.
“Oh, it’s beautiful, honey,” Bristy said to her husband.
“I knew you’d like it, I called it a dream home,” Bat said.
“And what did the designer say?” Bristy asked.
“When he shown me the price, he said I better stop dreaming,” Bat replied with a chuckle.
Interrupting the two, their older daughter Cari came running in the room.
“Mom, dad!” Cari said in smiles. “Guess what?”
“What?” Bristy asked instinctively.
“I got picked to be in the Narnia play!” Cari replied. Both Bat and Bristy smiled at her and hugged her. She then continued her speech. “Well, I’m not exactly in it. I mean, not as an actor.”
“What are you going to be? The wardrobe?” Bristy asked, they all giggled.
“You’re close. I’m in charge of the scenery and special effects,” Cari replied. Both Bat and Bristy were amazed at hearing that.
“Hey, now that’s quite a job,” Bat said.
“How’d you get picked for that?” Bristy asked.
“Well, I’m the only one in the daycare with the most important qualification,” Cari said.
“What qualification?” Bristy asked.
“I have parents who got engineering degrees through the military,” Cari said, beaming a smile. Both Bat and Bristy sighed, but managed to smile. “Will you two help me design the scenery?”
“Sure,” Bat said. “How about that? Graduating from Colorado Springs gets me serving in Narnia.” The trio laughed.
“Hey, how did Ryan do at the auditions?” Bristy asked. Cari shrugged her shoulders.
“Well, he must’ve done great ‘cause when I left he was all smiles,” Cari replied.

***

However, Ryan was only half-smiles as he entered the large house. As he entered, he passed by Zed and Zena cooking in the kitchen.
“Hi, Ryan,” Zena said.
“Hey,” Ryan replied in a mumble. Both squirrels knew something was up.
“Hey, wait a minute, why the long face?” Zena asked concerned.
“Yeah, I’ve seen you look happier the day before report cards,” Zed added.
“Did the audition go well?” Zena asked.
“It went fine,” Ryan mumbled. “Ms. Vanilla said I was terrific.”
“Oh, thank goodness! For a minute there I thought you didn’t get the part,” Zena said.
“I didn’t. Ms. Vanilla said lots of guys can play Aslan. She wanted me to take the harder part,” Ryan replied. The two squirrels smiled.
“Well, that’s a compliment. What’s the part?” Zed asked.
“Maugrim, Captain of the White Witch’s Secret Police,” Ryan replied with a solemn tone in his voice. “It’s a smaller part, and Maugrim even has to die at the end.”
“Well, it’s better than dying at the beginning,” Zed replied.
“Right,” Zena added, smiling. Ryan, however, shook his head in disappointment.
“Well, I’m not going to do it. I’m quitting the play,” Ryan said quickly before turning heal and leaving. Zed and Zena’s smiles turned into concerned frowns. Zena quickly left the stove and followed Ryan out of the kitchen.
“Ryan,” Zena called. “Ryan, that’s not like you.” She caught up to Ryan in the daycare playroom, which has already been emptied out for the day. “You never quit anything before.”
“But I wanted to be Aslan,” Ryan said, almost whining as he sat down on the kiddie table.
“Oh, Ry, everybody can’t be Aslan,” Zena calmly replied. “Remember that time on your paintball team. You wanted to be the sniper but the team leader needed you as the door-breacher. Did you quit?”
“No,” Ryan replied slowly.
“Well, it’s the same with Ms. Vanilla. She needs her best players in the right parts,” Zena smiled brightly. “She must think you could be a very good Maugrim.” Ryan finally smiled.
“I guess I could.”
“Unless you think the part is too hard for you,” Zena said with a smirk. Ryan stood up quickly.
“Are you kidding? I can do it easy!” Ryan replied quickly. He then stood in a dramatic pose and recited a line. “Come in, fortunate favorite of the queen – or else not to fortunate.”
“That’s the spirit, Maugrim!” Zena said happily. “You go do your homework and I’ll keep an eye out in Narnia.” Zena saluted and went back into the kitchen. Ryan was happy again as he left.

***

Outside, in the back yard, the whole family is working on scenery set dressing. Most of the pieces are made out of wood and cardboard. Cari is holding a clipboard with a list of the scenery sets she needs to complete. Kit the squirrel is paining a large cardboard cloud which is suspended on a large saw horse, which the young black echidna named Chris is painting something in the corner.
“Is that the way you want the clouds, Cari?” Kit asked.
“That’s good, dark and winter gloomy,” Cari replied. She then turned to her baby brother Chris. “What are you painting, Chris?”
“I’m paining the moon,” Chris replied.
“I already did the moon,” Kit replied while painting the cloud.
“I’m fixing it up,” Chris said. He then stood up and turned the flat circle to show everyone. The ‘moon’ was all yellow with a happy face on it. Cari bit her lip, trying not to laugh.
“What did you do that for?” Cari asked.
“I think everybody should have a nice day, even in Narnia,” Chris said, beaming a cute smile.
Cari shrugged her shoulders and moved on. She approached her brother Josh who was working on a series of water waves and icebergs.
“Josh, how’s it going?” Cari said to them. Josh stood up, holding a nail gun and wearing a hardware belt.
“How’s it look?” Josh asked.
“Great, but aren’t the waves kind of high? Because when the humans are on the icy waterfall, you won’t be able to see them,” Cari said, concerned.
“Then there’s only one thing to do, either we raise the humans or let it be forever-winter in Narnia,” Josh replied with a chuckle. Cari laughed as well.
Cari then turned her attention to her two parents who were sitting at a large table assembling and painting props.
“Hi, mom. Hi, dad,” Cari said to the two.
“Hey, honey,” Bat said as he stood up, holding a wand-like device that was clear like a crystal. “What do you think of the queen’s turn-to-stone wand?”
“It looks exactly like how to book described it,” Cari said happily to her father.
“Yeah, well, not exactly. This wand has something that even the real queen didn’t have,” Bat said. Cari looked confused.
“What?” Cari asked.
“Lightsaber effects!” Bat said as he pressed his thumb on a button. The wand then glowed bright blue followed by a ‘Star Wars’ sound effect. Cari couldn’t help but laugh.

***

In Ryan’s bedroom, the black-furred wolf was holding a thick book, which contained the script. He held it in his hands close to his face. Soon, Zee-Zee the brown-furred squirrel entered the bedroom, also holding a thick book which contained the script.
Just as Zee-Zee entered the bedroom, Ryan pounced on him from the side with a growl. Zee-Zee was on his back with Ryan on top, both still keeping their eyes on their books.
“Be still stranger, or you’ll never move again!” Ryan growled in his best acting-fierce voice, keeping his eyes on his script. “Who are you?”
“I’m Edmund,” Zee-Zee replied, almost monotone, reading from the script. “I met the queen in the woods. She told me to come back here. I’m a son of Adam.” Upon hearing that, Ryan lowered his growling and stood up off of Zee-Zee.
“My apologies, fortunate favorite of the queen – or else not so fortunate,” Ryan said.
Out of surprise, the two kids heard clapping coming from the door. Both their eyes turned as they saw Zena standing there smiling.
“That’s terrific, you were great, Captain Maugrim,” Zena said to Ryan before turning to Zee-Zee. “And you weren’t so bad either, Edmund.”
“Thanks, mom, but this son of Adam is looking for some Turkish delight himself,” Zee-Zee said as he put the script down and left the room. Zena then sat down across from Ryan.
“You know, Maugrim’s not an easy part to play, Mrs. Squirrel,” Ryan told her.
“Well, maybe that’s why Ms. Vanilla wanted you to play it,” Zena told him.
“I guess it was like you were saying, not everybody can be Aslan, some guys are better as door breachers,” Ryan said with a smile.
“And from what I’ve read, Aslan couldn’t have been a good door breacher,” Zena said.
“Why?”
“He was so big, he couldn’t fit through the door,” Zena said with a chuckle. Ryan then jump into his best acting job.
“My apologies, fortunate favorite of the queen – or else not so fortunate,” Ryan acted followed by a smile. Both Ryan and Zena hugged after that. Ryan felt confident in playing his role, but that confidence will soon wade away.

***

At the school/daycare playground, Ryan sat alone on a bench reading his script. He is soon approached by a girl.
“Hi, Ryan, what are you doing?” the girl asked kindly.
“Studying my script, I’m in the school play,” Ryan replied kindly. The girl sat next to him.
“Oh, that’s wonderful,” she said.
“I’m playing Captain Maugrim,” Ryan said. The girl’s smile, however, faded away.
“Captain Maugrim?”
“Yeah, it’s a great part.”
“Well, it is, if you like serving for an evil queen,” the girl sneered before standing up and leaving. Ryan looked at her confused, but shrugged his shoulders and continued reading the script.

***

Later that day, Ryan was walking from class-to-class when he ran into a boy. The boy happily called for him.
“Hey, Ryan, did you get the part of Aslan,” the boy asked.
“I could’ve, but Ms. Vanilla gave me a better part, a real tough part,” Ryan replied.
“Which one?”
“What’s the toughest part for a guy to play?”
“Um, the wardrobe itself?”
“No, Maugrim,” Ryan said with a smile. The boy, however, glared at him.
“Maugrim?”
“Yeah, how about that?”
“Evil wolf,” the boy sneered at Ryan before leaving. Ryan felt hurt hearing that though.

***

Later, near the end of the day, Ryan has suffered quite a few nasty remarks from his peers and even from the little kids. One little toddler ran up and past Ryan, which Ryan quickly called out to him.
“Hey, what’s the hurry?” Ryan quickly said to the pre-schooler.
“We’re going to play some games in the park, why don’t you come along,” the kid said.
“I’ll be over right after rehearsal, I’m in the school play,” Ryan told the kid.
“Yeah, what part did you get?”
“Maugrim.”
“Maugrim?” the kid then hissed meanly at Ryan, to which he rolled his eyes.
“Very funny, save me a place in the park, will you?”
“What for? So you can turn us over to the white witch, Maugrim?”
The kid trotted off, leaving a very hurt Ryan in the dust.

***

Near the end of the day at the auditorium, Ms. Vanilla the rabbit was with a whole bunch of various children of various ages. She watched as a few of them perform on the stage in their regular clothing. One of which is Ryan the black-furred wolf, holding his script in hand. He was on top of a child of a younger age, also holding a script.
“Who are you?” Ryan growled at the human child.
“I’m Edmund,” the child replied, acting worried, “I met the queen in the woods. She told me to come back here. I’m a son of Adam.” Ryan pulled himself off of the child, still reading from the script.
“My apologies, fortunate favorite of the queen – or else not so fortunate,” Ryan said. He led the child to a set of imaginary stairs. “Right this way. Wait here.”
Vanilla smiled at their performances.
“Besides, between you and me, I may just betray the evil queen,” Ryan added. This caused confusion along the whole group, including Vanilla.
“Ryan, that’s not in the script,” Vanilla said, looking at her own script. “The scene goes as followed; Maugrim brings the queen to Edmund.” However, Ryan looked at her with pleading eyes.
“Ms. Vanilla, does Maugrim have to be a bad guy?” Ryan asked.
“What?” Vanilla asked confused.
“I mean, would it be better if Maugrim saw how evil the queen was and switched sides?” Ryan asked with a smile. Vanilla, however, was even more confused.
“Ryan, we can’t re-write C.S. Lewis’ work,” Vanilla calmly told him. “According to the original novel, Maugrim was a loyal, evil servant to the queen.”
“But maybe Lewis himself was mistaken. Who knows what the real Maugrim would have thought about the queen’s evil rule and never-ending winter. Why can’t we give Maugrim the benefit of the doubt?” Ryan tried to debate. Vanilla shook her head.
“Ryan, I think we better stick with the script,” Vanilla told him. She then stood up for the whole group to hear her. “That’s enough for today. Class dismissed until tomorrow.”
All the children got up, grabbed their backpacks, and started to leave. Just then, the girl playing Jadis the White Witch stormed up to Ryan.
“What are you trying to do? Make the queen be alone and defenseless?” she angrily said to Ryan.
“Maugrim could have decided he didn’t like her,” Ryan replied back.
“Boy, that was a pretty crummy trick,” she said, getting in Ryan’s face.
“Well, no one knows for sure.”
“When they picked you to be the nasty wolf, they really picked the right wolf!”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah!”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah!”

***

That evening, Zee-Zee was walking down the hallway when his eye caught Ryan approaching him.
“Hark, is that Captain Maugrim approaching?” Zee-Zee said humorously with drama. However, the humor stopped when he saw Ryan was holding a tissue under his nose. “Hey, Ryan, come here.”
Reluctantly, Ryan approached Zee-Zee. Zee-Zee took a hold of Ryan’s arm and brought it down, revealing Ryan’s bloody nose.
“What happened? Where did you get that bloody nose?” Zee-Zee asked.
“At rehearsal,” Ryan sadly replied.
“What were you rehearsing? The battle of Narnia?” Zee-Zee asked.
“I got into a scuffle with one of the actors,” Ryan slowly said. He then clenched his fist and spoke sternly. “I’m getting fed up with everybody teasing me, calling me evil. All those guys bullying and hissing me!” Ryan retreated to the bathroom next to him. He looked in the mirror as he tried to wipe his nose clean. Zee-Zee soon stood in the archway.
“Ryan, don’t let it get you down. It’s just a part in a play,” Zee-Zee said.
“Well, Ms. Vanilla can get someone else to play Maugrim!” Ryan growled in the mirror.
“You’re not quitting, are you?”
“You better believe it,” Ryan said, facing Zee-Zee before turning back to the mirror.
“You can’t quit, you promised all the grown-ups,” Zee-Zee pointed out, reminding him of his promise to his parents as well as to Bat and Bristy. This put a frown on Ryan’s face.
“Oh, yeah, I did, didn’t I?” Ryan said in defeat. “Okay, I won’t quit.”
“Atta boy!” Zee-Zee said proudly before turning to leave. Once Zee-Zee was gone, Ryan looked in the mirror and grew a devious grin.
“I’ve got a better idea. I’ll get myself thrown out of the play!” Ryan quietly said in the mirror.