Mr. Davis makes an announcement over the loudspeaker the next morning. “Will everyone who auditioned for Little Shop of Horrors report to the auditorium during seventh period? Late passes will be given out. Our meeting will be brief.”
I spend the whole day nervous about the play. Meanwhile, by the time I get to my locker at the end of the day, YouTube notifications have blown up my phone. Over three thousand views for “Daphne Definitely Doesn’t Do Sports.” And 1,500 views for school lunch! Wow!
Those kind of numbers will have you thinking that you’re hot stuff. Especially when they leave comments like:
“You’re so cool, Daphne!”
“Keep the vlogs coming!”
And the best one yet:
“I wish you went to my school.”
John catches me looking at my own video for like the fiftieth time. “Someone’s obsessed,” he says.
There’s a yank in my stomach. I turn the screen off and slip my phone into my knapsack. “No, not at all,” I say. Then I add, “She’s OK, I guess.”
“She’s hilarious. Actually, I think you kinda look like her.” He flashes me a smile so wide that his dimple sinks deep into his cheek.
And then my stomach starts doing this little wave thing again.
“How do you think you did in the audition?” he asks.
“Ha!” I laugh. “I was probably the worst one up on that stage.”
John shakes his head. “Nope! I think you’re in!”
Just then I see Rachael and company at the popular table, smack in the middle of the cafeteria where everyone can notice her. She must feel me staring. And I don’t know why I am. But I half-wave, half-smile, like some helpless puppy waiting for my fur-ever family to Pick me! Pick me!
For a split second, it looks like she wants to return the smile, rescue me from the entrapment of dorkdom, crown me equally as popular as her. But then, her whole face changes. Like she remembers the number of times I kicked and bumped into her yesterday. That’s when she gives me a major eye-roll and returns her attention to those who matter most: her loyal subjects.
The seventh-period bell rings, and we head to the auditorium.
Mr. Fingerlin is in the hallway as we walk by. “Annabelle, you tried out for the play?” He’s totally excited. “It’s great to see you settling in so fast.”
I flash a fake smile and mutter to myself, “Not sure how settled I am just yet.”
John asks, “If you’re not into drama, why’d you try out?”
I almost say “my therapist,” but then I stop myself. Because what if he thinks it’s weird that I go to therapy? But saying “my mom made me do it” would be just as embarrassing, so I just go with, “I wanted to try something new.”
At least it’s half true.
“What are you into, then? I mean… since drama is new to you?”
“Computers. I’m a techie.”
“Yes, I remember your first day when I caught your backpack and your MacBook almost fell out.”
“And that’s why I don’t want to bring it anymore,” I joke.
Mr. Davis is waiting in the auditorium with tons of boxes on the stage. “Settle down, everyone!” he says. “Come in and take a seat.” He pulls out a sheet of paper. “I’m happy to report that everyone did a great job yesterday — all thirty-one of you.”
Everyone starts clapping and cheering.
“And because I think that drama is an art form all students should experience, I have decided to include all of you in the play.”
Everybody jumps up and claps. I stand up too, slowly realizing that holy goodness, I’m in a play. And suddenly, I don’t know how to feel. Happy? “Lit”? Scared? Or all of the above?
D. Final answer.
John leans over and says, “Told you Mr. Davis was cool like that!”
“OK, take a seat. Now, running a dramatic production isn’t only about acting on a stage. There’s choreography, set design, lighting, music, understudies, tickets, and so much more. That said, some of you will do double duty. Some will be more behind the scenes, which is just as important. And with the play premiering on Halloween, we’ll need to get to work right away! Are we ready to find out who our cast is for Little Shop of Horrors?”
We all start shouting again. And I don’t know why, but I realize I want to hear my name called. I want it so badly, I stop breathing as Mr. Davis talks.
He begins by announcing the production crew: “Running sound, music, and lighting will be Ruby Valentin, Matthew Davis, and Navdeep Singh.”
Navdeep turns to me, John, and Clairna and slaps us all high fives.
Still not breathing.
“For set design, we have… Nicholas Rocco… Clairna Joseph…
Suffocating in five, four, three…
“and Annabelle Louis.”
Clairna yelps and gives me a hug. I, Annabelle Louis, will design the set for Little Shop of Horrors! Mom and Dad are going to lose their minds!
Then Mr. Davis moves on to announce the acting roles. The roles of Crystal, Ronette, and Chiffon go to three of Rachael’s friends, loyal subjects numbers one, two, and three. Mr. Mushnik will be played by Raheem Hannibal, and Bryan Tucker will play Orin, the dentist.
“Playing the lead of Seymour Krelborn is Johnathan Lopez!”
John squeezes my hand so hard I think he’ll crush my bones.
“And the understudy for Seymour will be Navdeep Singh!”
Navdeep and John bump fists.
“And finally for our female lead, Audrey.”
Everyone gets really quiet as the tension builds, even though we already know who it is.…
“Rachael Myers!” Mr. Davis yells, and the crowd goes wild. “And the understudy for the role of Audrey… goes to Annabelle Louis!”
I’m sorry. What did he just say?
Silence. Then one clap (from John). Then another (Navdeep) and another (Clairna). And a few more claps, followed by whispers of: “Oh, that’s the girl from Germany!”
Someone hand me a spatula to scoop my mouth off the floor! Did Mr. Davis really just choose me to be an understudy? For Audrey? I was awful yesterday!
Rachael turns around and says, “Congrats.” But there’s that eye-roll thing again.
I’m trying to stop the tears from welling up. I’m happy for Rachael (even with her rolling eyes), and scared for me, but can I also say, happy for me too?
That’s when I realize that I’d been lying to myself. That I don’t do drama. That I don’t like it… or sports… or anything, really, that involves school. But here I am, jumping up and down in my seat, happy, and not fake-happy, but real, live, I’m-going-to-be-in-a-play happy!
Could it be that maybe, just maybe, I’m starting to like this thing called drama?
And cue inner dialogue battle!
Annabelle: NOPE!
Daphne: LIAR!