Read Online Campbell Wood by Al Sarrantonio - Free Book Online
Authors: Al Sarrantonio
Tags: Horror
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on, throwing up yellow light from the waxed floor of the stage.
At that moment, Kaymie felt the same thrill she always felt when she saw a lit stage. There was something about it that was magic. There was even a particular smell about it—a waxy, slightly hot but at the same time cool odor like no other in the world. In the couple of productions she had been in in her old school, she had never had a lead, but she had always been happy just to be out on stage, no matter how small the part. When the curtain went up the world went away, and there were only the shiny boards below, the lights above, and the words to be spoken. Though she sometimes had trouble with the words, the rest of it always cast a spell on her.
Ms. McGreary said from the front of the stage, "I think we'll start with the part of Oberon. Jim and Bill, you come up here, and we'll see who can handle it best."
Two boys, one with dark and the other with light brown hair, trudged up the steps. One was only slightly less clumsy with the lines than the other, and finally Ms. McGreary , in an understanding voice, chose Bill, and Jim was given a lesser part.
Kaymie waited as other students went up, reading for part after part. Ms. McGreary , with the same kind tone, chose one over the others and soothed egos by immediately assigning other parts. Kaymie was curious to see who she would be reading with. There didn't seem to be too many girls left.
After two fifth graders were appointed scene-changers unless someone had to drop out, Ms. McGreary suddenly said, "I guess we're all set, then. Rehearsal begins next Thursday afternoon, same time. I'll expect you at least to have some of your lines memorized perfectly by then."
She began to walk to the back of the stage when Kaymie spoke up.
"Ms. McGreary , what about Queen Titania ? We haven't read for that part yet." She looked around for support, but once again the others were only looking at her blankly.
Ms. McGreary stopped. "Oh, you've got the part, Kaymie," she said. "No one else is going to read for it."
Kaymie was both elated and stunned.
"No one else wants to try out for it?"
Ms. McGreary shook her head, giving what looked like another forced smile. "It's all yours, Kaymie."
"Don't you even want me to read through it?"
"I've heard your voice in class, and there's nothing wrong with it. I think you'll do fine."
Kaymie was clutching her paperback copy of the play so tightly that the binding was cracking. What was going on here? Was she some sort of leper, to be given whatever she wanted as long as she stayed away? This was even worse than in class; there her shunning had seemed merely impersonal, here it was obviously deliberate.
She was getting upset. Ms. McGreary looked as if she was struggling with herself. She abruptly walked down the steps and put an arm around Kaymie. Kaymie felt the arm on her; it was trembling.
"Kaymie, what's wrong?"
"Why are you treating me like this?" she answered. She was nearly crying, and she could feel her eyes burning, filling with tears. "What's wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you," Ms. McGreary said. She knelt down and looked into Kaymie's face. Kaymie saw a mixture of panic and concern there; then there was only concern. Ms. McGreary's arm stopped trembling, and she held Kaymie by the shoulders more firmly.
"Would you like to read a little for us?" she asked softly.
"I don't know," Kaymie answered.
"Read just a little," Ms. McGreary said, and she pushed Kaymie gently toward the stage.
Kaymie walked up the steps slowly. She looked up, and saw the soft spotlights above her bending their light down to bathe her. She was standing in the center of the stage, and there was complete silence. Ms. McGreary's face had an expectant look on it.
Kaymie looked down at the crumpled paperback in her hand, and started to open it but then stopped, closing it again. She knew her lines. She had studied for two weeks, hoping to win this part, and she knew the dialogue
At that moment, Kaymie felt the same thrill she always felt when she saw a lit stage. There was something about it that was magic. There was even a particular smell about it—a waxy, slightly hot but at the same time cool odor like no other in the world. In the couple of productions she had been in in her old school, she had never had a lead, but she had always been happy just to be out on stage, no matter how small the part. When the curtain went up the world went away, and there were only the shiny boards below, the lights above, and the words to be spoken. Though she sometimes had trouble with the words, the rest of it always cast a spell on her.
Ms. McGreary said from the front of the stage, "I think we'll start with the part of Oberon. Jim and Bill, you come up here, and we'll see who can handle it best."
Two boys, one with dark and the other with light brown hair, trudged up the steps. One was only slightly less clumsy with the lines than the other, and finally Ms. McGreary , in an understanding voice, chose Bill, and Jim was given a lesser part.
Kaymie waited as other students went up, reading for part after part. Ms. McGreary , with the same kind tone, chose one over the others and soothed egos by immediately assigning other parts. Kaymie was curious to see who she would be reading with. There didn't seem to be too many girls left.
After two fifth graders were appointed scene-changers unless someone had to drop out, Ms. McGreary suddenly said, "I guess we're all set, then. Rehearsal begins next Thursday afternoon, same time. I'll expect you at least to have some of your lines memorized perfectly by then."
She began to walk to the back of the stage when Kaymie spoke up.
"Ms. McGreary , what about Queen Titania ? We haven't read for that part yet." She looked around for support, but once again the others were only looking at her blankly.
Ms. McGreary stopped. "Oh, you've got the part, Kaymie," she said. "No one else is going to read for it."
Kaymie was both elated and stunned.
"No one else wants to try out for it?"
Ms. McGreary shook her head, giving what looked like another forced smile. "It's all yours, Kaymie."
"Don't you even want me to read through it?"
"I've heard your voice in class, and there's nothing wrong with it. I think you'll do fine."
Kaymie was clutching her paperback copy of the play so tightly that the binding was cracking. What was going on here? Was she some sort of leper, to be given whatever she wanted as long as she stayed away? This was even worse than in class; there her shunning had seemed merely impersonal, here it was obviously deliberate.
She was getting upset. Ms. McGreary looked as if she was struggling with herself. She abruptly walked down the steps and put an arm around Kaymie. Kaymie felt the arm on her; it was trembling.
"Kaymie, what's wrong?"
"Why are you treating me like this?" she answered. She was nearly crying, and she could feel her eyes burning, filling with tears. "What's wrong with me?"
"There's nothing wrong with you," Ms. McGreary said. She knelt down and looked into Kaymie's face. Kaymie saw a mixture of panic and concern there; then there was only concern. Ms. McGreary's arm stopped trembling, and she held Kaymie by the shoulders more firmly.
"Would you like to read a little for us?" she asked softly.
"I don't know," Kaymie answered.
"Read just a little," Ms. McGreary said, and she pushed Kaymie gently toward the stage.
Kaymie walked up the steps slowly. She looked up, and saw the soft spotlights above her bending their light down to bathe her. She was standing in the center of the stage, and there was complete silence. Ms. McGreary's face had an expectant look on it.
Kaymie looked down at the crumpled paperback in her hand, and started to open it but then stopped, closing it again. She knew her lines. She had studied for two weeks, hoping to win this part, and she knew the dialogue
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