Author's Note: As always, I don't mean to offend anyone with my writing. This story is complete fiction.
"Summer, are you listening?"
"Hmm?"
"Summer!"
Looking up from my sheet music, I was startled to see Karen. I hadn't been paying attention. Again.
"I know you're worried about Kathy, but she's going to be fine. Her doctor said that she would be back in time for the show, and that's next Tuesday." She was looking at me like I was just some kid, like I couldn't understand how normal it is for people to break their arms. She had been giving me that look since Monday, and it was getting annoying.
"I'm fine. Really, I am."
She sighed.
"Come on, I know she'll be okay. By the way, how are your knees?"
She knew I was just changing the subject, but played along anyway. "They're fine, only skimmed. It's nothing worse than falling off a bike."
Like falling off a bike. You never forget.
Wednesday was our first full dress rehearsal. The choir had to wear red pants and white shirts. It wasn't too bad, compared to what the actors had to put up with.
"I'm not wearing them" I heard from behind me. It was probably something about those earrings Grace made.
Sure enough, a girl marched out from backstage and tore what looked like two chunks of glitter out of her earlobes. "You take them!" She shoved them into my hands and ran off.
Grace walked out from backstage a moment later, looking frazzled.
"Um, here." I handed her the two sickly green ovals.
"Are they really that bad?"
"I guess it depends on your style."
Her face fell.
"I mean, maybe she just isn't bold enough for them. Why don't you try something a little less out-there?"
"Like what?"
"Ask Karen. She likes fashion, doesn't she?" I said with the most sincere smile I could manage.
Grace walked away and relief swept over me. It was getting harder to be honest and polite at the same time.
Thursday was an entire run-through of the play. Ms. Wang started getting impatient.
"No, I need emotion," she said, stopping the chorus midway through a song. "I need some feeling! I need . . . "
" . . . to calm down," I whispered to Karen. She chuckled.
"Summer!"
"Yes?" I said, thinking she had heard me.
I guess she hadn't. "Would you mind switching places with . . . " she scanned her clipboard for a moment, " . . . Kathleen?"
I stepped back into the second row. Hm, never knew Kathy was short for Kathleen. I thought it might have been Katherine or something. Ms. Wang squinted at the new arrangements through her glasses. "Alright, let's take it from the beginning!"
Opportunities. I remembered my vow to take advantage of them. Smiling, I took a deep breath and sang.
