Emergency McKormick family meeting now in session,” Joey announced in true lawyer fashion. His love for the profession had begun when he initiated McKormick family meetings over two decades before. Trials were held over who ate the last Popsicle in the freezer, who forgot to flush, and who was spying out the window when the girls were getting good-night kisses on the porch. The tradition had waned in the last few years, but Kara’s dilemma brought all her siblings over and Joey’s gavel back on the table.
“Kara, please rise.” Joey motioned in a mock judge-like manner.
“Joey, this is serious.”
“This is the most serious McKormick case to date.” Joey’s hands emphasized his words. “New York or Orlando. Broadway or TV. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the fate of a teenage girl is in your hands.”
“Enough, Judge Joseph.” Kara grabbed one of her mother’s sandwiches and stuffed it in his mouth. “All right, here’s the deal. You all know I’m in the top ten to audition for a show in Orlando.”
“That’s right, sweetie.” Ma handed Joey a napkin.
“And I’m supposed to get on a plane for Orlando this afternoon.”
“Yes, so let’s move this along.” Sam looked at his watch. “All in favor of Kara staying in New York, raise your hand.”
“Sam.” Kara shoved her brother’s hand down. “You need to know all the facts.”
“Go ahead.” Sam folded his arms and sat on the couch. “But I already know I’d rather have you fifty miles away than a thousand miles away.”
“Sammy, this isn’t about what you want.” Mary looked at Kara and smiled. “This is a big deal. Come on, Kara. Give us the details on each of the opportunities.”
“Mr. Sands is a Broadway producer, and he is casting a new musical that will star a teenage girl.”
“The magnificent Kara McKormick.” Sam clapped.
She glared at him until he stopped applauding. “Anyway, he’s having auditions for this part on TV, with people voting each week for their favorite. At the end of six weeks, America will choose the star of the show, kind of like on The Book of Love.”
“And when do those auditions start?” Mary asked.
“They start Monday with twenty girls,” Kara said. “There are two weeks of rehearsals, and then the show starts.”
“The show starts in two weeks, and they’re just calling you now?” ever-practical Patrick asked.
“No, a girl got hurt and dropped out, and they called me because I’m already here in New York.”
“Hey, that’s what happened with the guy on the dancing show,” Mary said. “And he ended up winning. Remember? ”
“That’s true. I forgot about him.”
“Which will be you.” Sam winked at Kara. Kara was not amused.
Mary leaned forward. “But the Orlando auditions are for a TV show, and the winner will be chosen by . . . ?”
“I don’t know, exactly.” Kara shrugged. “One of the directors, I guess.”
“But not us?”
“No, those auditions won’t air until right before the show premieres in October. The star will already be chosen.”
Joey tossed his gavel from one hand to another. “So, why have these auditions in July if the show doesn’t start until October?”
Sam rolled his eyes at his brother. “Because, genius, they prerecord those shows.”
“How did I know they weren’t live? She did say it was like a teen version of Saturday Night Live. Emphasis on the live.”
“Yous both need to be quiet.” Pop waved the boys back down to their seats. “The point is both of these are great opportunities for Kara, but they are at the exact same time and neither will let her do both. It’s gotta be one or the other.”
Patrick, an accountant, held up a hand. “You got twenty girls competing for one spot here in New York, and only ten in Orlando. Your odds are better in Orlando.”
“But the New York auditions are won or lost by viewers, and Kara already has fans,” Mary said. “She made it to the top three in The Book of Love. All the folks who voted for that will be voting for this one too.”
“All of them?” Patrick asked.
“You know what I’m saying.”
“I know, but it’s still twice as many competitors.”
“Stop!” Ma rarely raised her voice, but when she did, her kids got quiet and listened. “This isn’t about the odds. Kara can win this one or that one, doesn’t matter about numbers or fans. Kara, you gotta choose the one you want.”
“Ma’s right,” Joey said. “When you were describing the two shows, your eyes lit up when you talked about Orlando.”
“They did,” Mary agreed.
“But what if I’d have a better chance at winning the show here?”
“Which would you regret more?” Sam held Kara’s hand.
“I’d regret not going for the show in Orlando.”
“Then there’s your answer.”
“But—”
“No ‘buts,’ ” Ma said. “We had enough of those. The Buts and the Ands, remember me telling you about that? ”
The siblings all smiled.
“You wanna be on TV, then you should try to be on TV.” Pop stood behind the couch and rubbed Kara’s shoulders. “Go for it.”
Kara looked around the room. “You sure?”
“Of course not.” Patrick laughed. “But you have to take risks every once in a while.”
“So the jury is unanimous with its verdict?” Joey asked.
Her brothers and sisters each picked up a pillow and threw it at his face.
“Well then,” Joey mumbled under the pile of pillows, “court is adjourned.”