The crowd thickened as showtime approached.

We’d claimed a spot on the lawn early, but each new arrival stole another inch of our view until all we could see were the backs of winter coats.

Dani looked around.

“The Restaurant. There.”

She pointed to a second-floor balcony overlooking the stage.

Dinner service had just ended. 

The staff didn’t seem to mind us standing outside, and for a few minutes we had the best seats in Tivoli.

Below us, families drifted between flowerbeds and glowing rides. 

Music floated up from somewhere beyond the trees. 

The roller coaster rattled past every few minutes, disappearing behind the rooftops before the screams caught up.

While we waited, I noticed

Two young men, dressed in dark hoodies wandered into the plaza below, shoving one another, climbing onto planters, laughing louder than everyone else.

Without meaning to, we stopped talking. We weren’t watching Tivoli anymore.

Then they climbed a railing and disappeared.

A moment later, we Dani them again, climbing onto the roof above the stage.

She nudged me.

“Well, that’s one way to get a better view.”

I laughed.

The two settled onto the roof, legs dangling over the edge, while more people gathered below.

Then the music started.

Three zombies shuffled onto the stage beneath the neon lights.

They danced.

More zombies joined them from the shadows.

From the balcony we could see all of it.

When the first song ended, the two “hoodlums” stood.

Without hesitation, they swung down from the rooftop into the middle of the stage.

The rooftop spectators became martial artists. 

The zombies became opponents. 

Within seconds the whole thing dissolved into choreographed fights, impossible jumps, and eventually everyone dancing under the neon lights.

I looked at Dani.

“We… may have misjudged them.”