CHAPTER 18

 

Wait here,” says Ms. Sherron, grabbing the sign-up sheet clipboard. “I’ll let them know you guys are waiting.”

She opens the door to the audition room. We can hear Travis Wormowitz winding up his audition.

“If we shadows have offended,

Think but this, and all is mended,

That you have but slumber’d here

While these visions did appear.

And this weak and idle theme,

No more yielding but a dream…”

The door closes, cutting off the rest of his speech.

“Wow,” says Bill. “He’s pretty good.”

I shoot him a look.

“But, you know, not as good as you’ll be, Jacky.”

On the outside, I’m smiling. Inside, I’m wondering what Bob (aka Bubblebutt) might’ve said. Would he have been more supportive? More encouraging? He’d definitely smell better than Bill because Bob would’ve dunked his head in another bucket of that Calvin Klein cologne. Bill kind of smells like French fries. The T-shirt shop where he works is next door to a hot dog and crinkle cut stand.

Then I wonder why I’m even wondering about Bob when I should be thinking about Puck and the audition I am totally unprepared for.

The door swings open again.

“Thank you, kind sirs and madams!” Wormowitz says to the adults at the table as he, dramatically, backs out of the room. “It would be such an honor to work with each and every one of you! Parting is such sweet sorrow! Adieu! Adieu! I bid you adieu!”

The door closes in front of him.

“Why’s he yammering about Mountain Dew?” asks Dan.

I shrug. I haven’t a clue.