We find Anais in the basement of the mall, sitting in the food court. She’s staring at her phone and doesn’t notice us until we sit down across from her.
“The word is out,” she says, turning her phone around to show us her Twitter feed. “People are already talking about Pop Quiz being canceled.”
“That was quick,” I say.
“It doesn’t take long for news to spread,” says Satri. “Besides, we have fans, remember?”
“That’s the thing,” says Anais. “I don’t understand why they decided to cancel now. We’re popular, aren’t we?”
“Actually, our ratings have been going down,” I say. “I think it has something to do with the Internet.”
They both look at me like I’ve sprouted a third eye in the middle of my forehead.
“What are you talking about?” asks Anais.
“Uh, well,” I stumble. “It’s just that everyone watches stuff online now. Nobody really watches TV much anymore.”
“But how do you know that has anything to do with Pop Quiz?” says Satri.
“Well, I kind of overheard a conversation between Bill and Barbara Kale, the producer,” I admit. “A few days before the wrap party.”
“That’s crazy!” says Satri. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I only heard part of the conversation. I was hoping I just misunderstood.”
“What exactly did you hear?” asks Anais.
“They were talking about budgets,” I say. “Barbara Kale said, ‘Traditional TV is dead,’ or something like that.”
“It is true, when you think about it,” says Satri. “I don’t really watch TV much anymore. I use Netflix or YouTube or whatever for my favorite shows. Like WowKids.”
“I love WowKids,” says Anais.
“Who doesn’t?” asks Satri.
We sit in silence for a few moments.
“Let’s get out of here,” says Anais, standing up from the table.
“Wait a minute,” says Satri. “The mall was your idea.”
“I can’t just sit around like this,” she says. “I feel like we need to do something.”
She turns and begins walking toward the escalator. I glance at Satri.
“You’re the one who wanted to hang out with her,” he says.
“Are you coming or not?” I ask him as I grab my backpack.
“Oh man,” he says, grumbling. “I really wanted an Orange Julius.”
We follow Anais through the main level of the mall. A group of girls a couple of years younger than us push through the doors at the main entrance. They’re giggling and laughing excitedly.
“Oh hey,” says one of the girls. “Those guys are in Pop Quiz.”
The group turns to stare, more curious than excited.
“Is it true?” one of them asks. “Has Pop Quiz been canceled?”
“Yeah,” says Anais. “It’s a bummer.”
Another girl shrugs. “I guess so. It’s been on TV, like, forever though. I don’t know anyone who watches it anymore.”
“So I guess you don’t want my autograph?” asks Satri.
“I mean, no offense or whatever,” the girl says. “I don’t watch anything on TV anymore. I just, like, watch stuff on my phone and whatever.”
“Come on,” says another girl. “Let’s go. I need to buy lip gloss.”
The group scurries away into the mall.
“Well, that was fun,” says Satri.
“It’s so weird,” says Anais. “I’ve been acting since I was a kid. Now we’re just supposed to go back to the real world?”
“There’s got to be something we can do,” I say.
“Like what?” asks Satri. “We’re not even in high school yet. How are we supposed to fix anything?”
“Besides,” says Anais. “You heard those girls. Nobody watches us anymore.”
“Well, I care about this show, and I know I’m not the only one,” I say. “I’m going to do what I can to keep it on the air.”
“If nobody is watching TV anymore,” says Satri, “then what’s the point?”
“Maybe that’s it!” says Anais. We both turn to look at her.
“If the problem is that nobody watches Pop Quiz on TV anymore,” she says, “maybe we should forget about TV and try to get it online instead.”
“You mean like WowKids?” asks Satri.
“Exactly,” she says. “They do that show all by themselves, in their basements and backyards. They upload it for free, and they have, like, a zillion viewers.”
I think about this for a second. “It kind of makes sense,” I say. “I could make a video of the three of us right now and put it online in three minutes. Why can’t we do the same thing with Pop Quiz?”
“You guys might be on to something,” says Satri.
“So what do we do now?” I ask.
“We go see Bill,” says Anais.