Chapter Fourteen: Wallace the Actor:

The drama club was setting up for their meeting. They looked up when they heard the doors opened. Wallace stood in the doorway, looking around.

“Um… hi…” he said. A girl with dark brown curly hair to her shoulders and a black beret tilted her head.

“Are you here for the audition?” she asked. Wallace looked back and forth for a bit.

“I guess I am,” he said. The girl marched up to him. The top of her head came up to his chin. She put her hands on her hips.

“Take this seriously!” the girl said.

“I am,” Wallace said without blinking. The girl narrowed her deep brown eyes at him.

“Why do you want to act in this play?” she asked.

“Pardon?”  the country boy asked.

“Don’t mind her,” another boy said in the background. “Roselyn is a bit of a drama nerd.” Roselyn whipped her head around with her hands on her hips.

“Shut up, Roland!” she shouted. “You have to take this play seriously! We all do!” One of the other boys rolled their eyes. She clapped her hands above her head.

“Come on!” she shouted. “I want to graduate with a bang!”

“We get it!” Roland said. “Geez!” Wallace looked at the people in the theater.

“Um… Is this a bad time?” he asked.

“No!” the club shouted. Roselyn grabbed him by the arm. She stared at him with big, desperate eyes.

“Please don’t go!” she said. “We really need actors for our play! You’re the first one to come here today.” The room sat heavy in silence. Wallace shifted his eyes back and forth. Everyone had their eyes on him. He looked at his watch.

“Listen, I have to get to my next club soon,” he said. “What do I need to do?” Roselyn looked like she was about to fly through the roof.

“Great!” she said. “How much acting have you done?”

“Not much,” he admitted. “Do I need to feel out any paperwork?” His eyes kept going down to the watch on his wrist. This was the first day and he didn’t want to be late. Roselyn had a huge grin on her face.

“Come with me, friend,” she said. She pulled him along with her towards the stage. Roland had a form and pen ready in his hand. The girl shoved Wallace into his chair. The other boy shoved the paper and pen in front of him.

“Just sign here and here,” Roselyn said as she pointed to the blank spots on the paper. Wallace read over the form and started writing down his information. He filled out his name on the last line. The drama club cheered around him.

“You didn’t!” Roselyn shouted as she hugged him around the shoulders. Wallace nervously laughed as she chuckled in his ear.

“Uh… I have to get to class now,” he said. He tried to push her off but the leader wouldn’t let him go. She looked deep into his eyes.

“Welcome to the Drama Club, Wallace Martin,” Roselyn said. “Let’s make this play the best of the semester!” The country boy took a moment to smile.

“Yeah!” he said. He clicked the pen closed.