Read Online Best Friends by Ann M. Martin - Free Book Online

on so they could be adjusted before the true dress rehearsal in May. Min and Gigi were going to attend, since they were on the costume committee, so Liz Durbin and Rick O’Bannen would run Needle and Thread that day. Flora was helping with the costumes as well, and since Nikki had been chosen to draw the picture that would be on the cover of the play program, she also wanted to attend the rehearsal.
    When Min and Ruby and Flora arrived at Camden Falls Elementary that morning, Ruby drew in her breath. “Look at all the cars in the parking lot!” she exclaimed. “It looks like the whole world is here!”
    â€œIt takes a lot of people to put on a production like this,” said Min. “There’s the refreshment stand and the program and the music, not to mention the costumes and scenery and, of course, the actors.”
    For just a moment, Ruby felt like a very small part of the play, and she was reminded of nights when she would lie in bed and think about how big the universe was and how small she was compared to infinity. But then she told herself that she was Ruby J. Northrop and she was the star of the production and undoubtedly the most important person at CFE that day.
    Ruby put a little skip in her step. “Come on!” she cried. “We have a lot to do.” She ran ahead of Min and Flora and flung open the front door of the school. Ruby had every intention of proving to the world that she was a professional actor and that the production of The Witches of Camden Falls was more than just a school play.
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    Fifteen minutes later, Ruby was seated in the auditorium with Min, Flora, and Nikki, who had ridden her bicycle to school. The auditorium was crowded with people, and Mrs. Gillipetti was struggling to make herself heard above the din. After clapping her hands and calling “Attention!” to no avail, she whispered something to Harry Lang, who ran to the stage, put his pinky fingers in his mouth, and let out a piercing “ Fweeeeee! ”
    Everyone fell silent, and Mrs. Gillipetti said, “Thank you. This is going to be a busy day, so let’s get to work.”
    Ruby jumped to her feet, ready for Scene One, but the next words out of Mrs. Gillipetti’s mouth were, “I’d like to start with reports from the committee heads.”
    Reports from the committee heads? thought Ruby. What about getting the rehearsal under way? But she took her seat again and tried not to wiggle as first one person, then another stood and gave a brief report.
    Harry Lang’s mother said that volunteers were needed to bake cookies and snacks that could be sold at the refreshment stand, and that other volunteers were needed to provide food for the cast party.
    One of Stephanie Ford’s dads reported that the programs wouldn’t be going to the printer for two more weeks, so there was still time to buy ad space.
    Then Mrs. Gillipetti called on the head of the flower committee, and a parent Ruby didn’t recognize stood and said, “Jarita’s Flowers has agreed to be the florist for the play. Anyone who wishes to send flowers to a member of the cast or crew should call Jarita’s a day in advance. The bouquets, with cards attached, will be delivered here, to school, before each performance. The presentation of the bouquets will take place after the curtain call. We’ll announce this in the school paper as well as the town paper next month.”
    Ruby’s mind, which had wandered during the talk of snacks and ad space, snapped back to attention at the mention of flowers. Now, that sounded professional. She had seen beautiful leading ladies on television receive bouquets of flowers from fans or husbands or parents and thought this very glamorous. Ruby imagined herself onstage in a filmy red dress and red high-heeled shoes (which, she recognized, might be teetery when walking across the stage, but she skipped over that detail), leaning down to accept an