Alex
Me : (Standing with back against wall in hallway, willing myself to breathe, breathe, breathe.)
Scott : Hey, Shakespeare? You OK?
Me : (Don’t freak out. Don’t. Freak. Out.) Sorry. I’m just freaking out because I realized I lost half of my favorite necklace. It’s kind of a good-luck charm. And then when Mr. Cannon didn’t call me back . . .
Scott : That doesn’t mean you didn’t get the part. Cannon isn’t even done auditioning. He doesn’t even know himself yet. Nothing’s decided.
Me : (Snapping.) Don’t you get it? (Calm down! Be nice!) He doesn’t even have to think it over. He knew right away exactly who he wanted for callbacks — Stevie, not me. Who can compete with that voice? What was I thinking, going out there in my pajamas with dripping wet hair? I must be nuts. There’s only one word for me. Starts with L, ends with O-S-E-R.
Scott : You were great up there today. You nailed it. I know you were all super-scared, but it was good. And funny.
Me : (You’re just saying that ’cause you like me.) You’re just saying that.
Scott : No way. I mean it.
Me : You mean it? Really?
Scott : Look, I’m out here in the hall with you, aren’t I?
Me : So?
Scott : So, I’m not in there. (Nods toward theater.)
Me : So . . .
Scott : Duh. I didn’t get a callback either.
Me : Oh, sorry! I’m such a jerk face! I was only thinking about myself, and I forgot —
Scott : No biggie. Don’t sweat it. I really screwed up a couple times on the cold read and had to start over. Maybe I should have tried out for Dauntless, like you said.
Me : How come?
Scott : He’s a doof; I’m a doof . . .
Me : Not you, too. What a pair, huh? (Squeezing out a hunk of wet hair.)
Scott : Hey, got an umbrella? You’re dripping on me!
Me : (Doing it again, on purpose this time.) Well, don’t worry. You’re going to make a great Sir Harry.
Scott : Thanks. (Stares at floor.)
Me : (Glancing toward door.) What do you think they’re doing in there? I mean, what is my sister doing in there? Besides stealing not just my shirt but maybe the lead away from me!
Scott : OK, Princess Freakerella. You have got to get a grip. How could Mr. C not pick you?
Me : Um, because I can’t sing?
Scott : Yes, you can. Stop saying that. You’re fine. And besides, who else is brave enough to get up there in pink pj’s? (Grinning, teasing.)
Me : (Punches Scott on arm.) Thanks a lot.
Scott : OK, how about this? For real. (Looking mischievous.) The opening scene is the swamp princess all dripping wet, right? So . . . Mr. C already knows you look cute wet.
Me : (Turning ten shades of red. Enter Stevie. Saved by the door!)
Stevie : ( Sees Alex in pj’s.) Hey. Sorry it took so long — I see it’s past your bedtime.
Me : Ha, ha. Very funny.
Scott : (Grinning at Stevie’s joke.) Hey, Steven. You sang great in there today. Seriously.
Me : (Frowning.) What happened in there anyway? After we left, I mean.
Stevie : Singing. Lots more singing. You know, Me-me-my-mo-moo and all that.
Me : Well, anyway, Dad’s probably here to pick us up. But I have to go get my clothes and stuff. I left them backstage.
Scott : I gotta get going, too. Bye, you guys. Later, Alex.
Me : See you tomorrow. (Goes back inside theater. Walks down aisle to stage and climbs stairs.)
Mr. Cannon : Good job today, Alex.
Me : (Shielding eyes to look out into audience.) Oh! Mr. Cannon. I didn’t see you there. I thought everybody was gone.
Mr. Cannon : Just gathering up my things. Making a few final notes so I won’t forget.
Me : I forgot my stuff. I’ll just grab it — can’t exactly go home in my pj’s, you know. (Laughs nervously and disappears behind stage.)
Me : Got it! (Comes down off stage.) You didn’t by any chance find a silver charm, like one of the drama masks? Or did anybody turn one in? It’s kind of important.
Mr. Cannon : Nope, sorry, but I’ll keep an eye out.
Me : Thanks.
Mr. Cannon : Your sister, Stevie? I remember
Me : (Standing with back against wall in hallway, willing myself to breathe, breathe, breathe.)
Scott : Hey, Shakespeare? You OK?
Me : (Don’t freak out. Don’t. Freak. Out.) Sorry. I’m just freaking out because I realized I lost half of my favorite necklace. It’s kind of a good-luck charm. And then when Mr. Cannon didn’t call me back . . .
Scott : That doesn’t mean you didn’t get the part. Cannon isn’t even done auditioning. He doesn’t even know himself yet. Nothing’s decided.
Me : (Snapping.) Don’t you get it? (Calm down! Be nice!) He doesn’t even have to think it over. He knew right away exactly who he wanted for callbacks — Stevie, not me. Who can compete with that voice? What was I thinking, going out there in my pajamas with dripping wet hair? I must be nuts. There’s only one word for me. Starts with L, ends with O-S-E-R.
Scott : You were great up there today. You nailed it. I know you were all super-scared, but it was good. And funny.
Me : (You’re just saying that ’cause you like me.) You’re just saying that.
Scott : No way. I mean it.
Me : You mean it? Really?
Scott : Look, I’m out here in the hall with you, aren’t I?
Me : So?
Scott : So, I’m not in there. (Nods toward theater.)
Me : So . . .
Scott : Duh. I didn’t get a callback either.
Me : Oh, sorry! I’m such a jerk face! I was only thinking about myself, and I forgot —
Scott : No biggie. Don’t sweat it. I really screwed up a couple times on the cold read and had to start over. Maybe I should have tried out for Dauntless, like you said.
Me : How come?
Scott : He’s a doof; I’m a doof . . .
Me : Not you, too. What a pair, huh? (Squeezing out a hunk of wet hair.)
Scott : Hey, got an umbrella? You’re dripping on me!
Me : (Doing it again, on purpose this time.) Well, don’t worry. You’re going to make a great Sir Harry.
Scott : Thanks. (Stares at floor.)
Me : (Glancing toward door.) What do you think they’re doing in there? I mean, what is my sister doing in there? Besides stealing not just my shirt but maybe the lead away from me!
Scott : OK, Princess Freakerella. You have got to get a grip. How could Mr. C not pick you?
Me : Um, because I can’t sing?
Scott : Yes, you can. Stop saying that. You’re fine. And besides, who else is brave enough to get up there in pink pj’s? (Grinning, teasing.)
Me : (Punches Scott on arm.) Thanks a lot.
Scott : OK, how about this? For real. (Looking mischievous.) The opening scene is the swamp princess all dripping wet, right? So . . . Mr. C already knows you look cute wet.
Me : (Turning ten shades of red. Enter Stevie. Saved by the door!)
Stevie : ( Sees Alex in pj’s.) Hey. Sorry it took so long — I see it’s past your bedtime.
Me : Ha, ha. Very funny.
Scott : (Grinning at Stevie’s joke.) Hey, Steven. You sang great in there today. Seriously.
Me : (Frowning.) What happened in there anyway? After we left, I mean.
Stevie : Singing. Lots more singing. You know, Me-me-my-mo-moo and all that.
Me : Well, anyway, Dad’s probably here to pick us up. But I have to go get my clothes and stuff. I left them backstage.
Scott : I gotta get going, too. Bye, you guys. Later, Alex.
Me : See you tomorrow. (Goes back inside theater. Walks down aisle to stage and climbs stairs.)
Mr. Cannon : Good job today, Alex.
Me : (Shielding eyes to look out into audience.) Oh! Mr. Cannon. I didn’t see you there. I thought everybody was gone.
Mr. Cannon : Just gathering up my things. Making a few final notes so I won’t forget.
Me : I forgot my stuff. I’ll just grab it — can’t exactly go home in my pj’s, you know. (Laughs nervously and disappears behind stage.)
Me : Got it! (Comes down off stage.) You didn’t by any chance find a silver charm, like one of the drama masks? Or did anybody turn one in? It’s kind of important.
Mr. Cannon : Nope, sorry, but I’ll keep an eye out.
Me : Thanks.
Mr. Cannon : Your sister, Stevie? I remember
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