Narrative

I opened my eyes. My best friends standing next to me, holding their breath. I just finished singing “Anything Goes” from Anything Goes. Dustin, on my left is smiling at me, with those perfect teeth and his beautiful blue eyes gleaming. Blake, on my right, is acting as though I just knocked him out. I look out into the house, but I can’t see anything under the blinding spotlight. I can only feel Blake and Dustin’s presence. I can only see the two of them and the stage floor below me. Out of nowhere, we hear a voice, “Very good, very good. Blake you have a call back, stay in the green room till you hear the announcement. Dustin, I am sorry, but this is the end of the line for you.” It was the casting director. “No,” I give a faint whisper, I can barely make out, under Dustin’s pleading. “Please, just one more shot, that’s all I need, please!” “I’m sorry Dustin, but many young men auditioned for me today, and I have confidence in the others.” The voice of my nightmares explains. “But, ma’am, if you just give me one more chance, that is all I am asking for. Please!” “I am sorry, but your dreams are not the only ones’ that have not gone the way they were hoping.” “You don’t understand,” my voice is controlling me now. I have no idea what I am saying, “If you would just look at our past... We connect with these characters the best of anyone here!” “Please. Explain, how the two of you compare with these delinquents.” The shrill voice coughs sarcastically. I still answer honestly, “Because we are.” “Excuse me?” “We were just released from Juvie.” “And you came here?” “Yes, this was always our dream. And Blake’s too. The only way the three of us survived those eleven years, was because we had plans to come here when we got out.” “So, this was survival for you?” “Yes, and... and that can’t be taken from me, not now anyway.” Dustin is nearing tears, I have never seen him this upset. “So, please, just give me one more chance, I promise, you won’t regret it.” “I have never heard a story so touching to my heart, but you just aren’t perfect for this part.” The voice comes, clearly pretty upset with what she is saying. “Please.” I can barely here Dustin, he will never see his dream, our dream, come true. “However-” After a long pause, the voice continues, “I can see you as the male love interest.” The voice comes, almost pleading with us. “The what? But- I- What?” “The love interest. You. Be. The. Male. Lead.” She explains through our confusion. “O- okay... um... okay.” “Great, you got the part. I wouldn’t possibly be able to find anybody better. You got the Part!” “Thank you. Thank you very much!” Dustin nearly faints right there in the spotlight. He sits down so he can breath. “What about me?” I say, trying to sound a little selfless. “You have a call back.” The voice says happily. “Thank you.” I respond, with as much hope as possible. “If you could call the call backs for the part of Ana Marie please.” “Yes, ma’am.” I say helping Dustin up. “Of course.” Going into the greenroom, spotting Dustin, whom is very limp and, probably light headed at the moment I shout out. “She wants Ana Marie call backs!” Looking around the “greenroom” I notice there is absolutely no green at all. The walls are very clean and very peach. There are scattered chairs everywhere and instruments scattered. Our “greenroom” was right behind the stage, where the band played. Although, now there was a soundproof barrier in between the stage and here. I can’t hear anything from the stage. Throwing Dustin the floor next to Blake I take the seat Blake just pulled over. “Should I be hopeful or depressed?” Blake says with just as much surety as I have. “I got a call back.” I tell him unsure of how I feel about it. “I didn’t get a call back.” Dustin told him holding back a smile. “I’m sorry. I- um-” Blake had no idea what to say. “I booked the part.” Dustin had a Flynn Ryder smile going and I was sure he was going to smack his head on the drum set behind him in a full on faint. “You- you got the part?” “I got the part.” “Oh my god. You got the part. Than, why are there still call backs for ‘Cam’?” “I didn’t get the part I auditioned for.” Dustin was still explaining everything that just happened when some girl came in crying, and picked up her stuff. I don’t think she got what she was hoping for. “She want’s to see Dustin Flay.” Wailing the girl left and Dustin followed her out. “I wonder what that’s about.” Blake said in an almost questioning tone. “She probably just wants to see how well people look and sound together.” After what felt like an hour of waiting (there is no clock in the room, but it was probably only fifteen minutes), Dustin comes back in smiling, looking even happier than the day he was released. “What happened?” I practically shout as I run across the floor to him. “I know three more dreams that just came true.” he says, taunting the fact that he doesn’t need to tell us who. “That girl over there. Hey Jenna!” He pointed to a girl who waved excitedly. “And two other people I know.” “Who?” Blake asked confused. “You don’t mean-?” I ask, understanding most of what I just took in. “Hello ‘Dominic’.” Dustin was winking at Blake. “I got the part? But- How? I didn’t even go for my call back.” Blake asks bewildered. “No one else got the call back, you did, she thought you would grow to be perfection, and you got booked.” Dustin explains. Then he looks at me. “Hey, you.” My smile began to fade, “What about me?” “You still got your call back. But you will definitely get the part one way or another.” Dusting smile was only half, “Possibly just as an understudy.” “Understudy? So, only if the girl is sick. Great. What a life! I get to live as a shadow!” I say with a little more attitude than even I intended for. “I mean, it’s still a great opportunity!” I try to some enthusiasm in my voice. “So, you need to go in there. Break a leg.” Giving me a quick hug Dustin looks over at the other girl in the corner and shouts to her “Your final call back!” “Break a leg!” Blake looks cheerful and scared at the same time. “Thanks” I mutter walking out of the room. “Wait up!” I look back at the other girl, “Hey, I’m Jen. Your competition I guess. Look, this isn’t my first audition, so I know that they want friendliness. What do you think?” Jen had extended her hand to me as she spoke. “Cool,” looking down at her hand I manage to extend my shaking hand to her. “Let’s go.” We step on to the shadow of the stage squeezing each others hands, steadying each other, we step on to the lighted stage, and look as far into the light as we can. From up stage the stage looks as though it goes forward forever.. Holding tight to me and me holding tight to her, Jen and I step centre. and let go of each others hand. In the end we decided to hook arms instead of standing isolated, we both need the standing support. “I would like you to sing a duet.” The haunting voice came from behind the light. “Um, I don’t know what we can sing.” Jen looks terrified as she whispers to me. “What are you?” I now look Jen in the eyes. “Excuse me?” “Are you a soprano, alto, bass-” “Soprano, you?” “Soprano, but my range is wide. Do you know ‘For Good?’” “Of coarse!” “I’m waiting, There will be no accompany.” The shrill voice was getting edgy. “Okay. You’re Glinda. We can do this.” I look as confident as I can. My future is on this girl, and hers on me. We are competing, and working together at the same time. In the end, it comes to talent and need. “Im limited Just look at me - Im limited And just look at you You can do all I couldn't do....” I begin the song, shaking, but confident. “I've heard it said that people come into our lives for a reason. Bringing something we must learn, and we are led to those who help us most to grow if we let them and we help them in return Well, I don't know if I believe that's true But I know I'm who I am today Because I knew you... “Like a comet pulled from orbit, as it passes a sun. Like a stream that meets a boulder, halfway through the wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you I have been changed for good” Her voice was amazing. “It well may be that we will never meet again in this lifetime. So let me say before we part, so much of me is made from what I learned from you. You'll be with me, like a handprint on my heart, and now whatever way our stories end, I know you have re-written mine, by being my friend... “Like a ship blown from its mooring, by a wind off the sea. Like a seed dropped by a sky bird, in a distant wood. Who can say if I've been changed for the better? But because I knew you” Everything was coming so naturally. “....I have been changed for good” We sang together, harmonizing perfectly. “And just to clear the air I ask forgiveness, for the things I've done you blame me for” I have never met this girl, and yet we are both nearing tears, staring into each others eyes. “....Because I knew you... I have been changed for good.” We finish in perfect harmony and give each other wicked hugs (ha ha, I’m puny). For a while there is silence, then, from behind the light, I hear the moving steps of heels on an old, run down carpet. A door creaking open, then creaking closed with an almost silent slam shut. Staring into what must be an empty house, I loose all faith. Until, I hear silent sobs behind me. However, two people silently crying, isn’t exactly silent when you are in a room meant for amazing acoustics. Turning I see Jen, face to the floor weeping (I hope she’s crying because of a memory and nothing more, but I can’t ask), bringing my eyes up I see Tara Rubin, one of my favourite casting directors of all time, looking at me, tears in her eyes. “Rose Lily,” she says, tears streaming down her face. “You got the part. Jen, you are the understudy. Congratulations!” “Thank you, thank you very much!” It’s my turn to cry. Tears of joy stream down my face. The last thing that I can remember happening before I black out, was my overjoyed best friends tackling me. It’s nice to think that this is the beginning of something good, but than I remember that this is simply the begging of a new life. I have finally been reborn, and could possibly feel better.