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It doesn’t matter to me either way My realdown froe to return the (now crinkled) sheet of paper to Tamika, I feel Vann’s curious eyes on me as I pass by his row on my way down the aisle to the back, where a very excited Kelsey awaits ratulatestage to audition, including Kelsey herself, I enjoy a ne of Vann as he stares blankly ahead at the back of the chair in front of hiotten

I wonder if those thoughts include me

It’s barely 5:00 PM when Tamika announces that auditions are over, there will be no callbacks, and the cast list will be posted within the next half hour, to avoid the usual torturous wait until Mondayout in the hallway outside the auditorium until decisions are finalized I sit on a bench next to the glass s that overlook the parking lot with Kelsey and her friends lounging on the floor nearby, the three of thely debate over who Frankie Lopez will play My “fun little stunt” with auditioning for the role of Danielle has the Frankie in a whole assortsley’s overbearing grandma, even to the despondent café waitress who has a scene-stealing line or two I just lean against the glass of theat aze down the hall at a certain so his sketchpad glumly

I esof her eyebrohich causes me to snort and look away “Hey, after the cast list is posted, can I go with you to Biggie’s for your shift tonight?” she asks—or begs, rather “I swear I won’t be in the way like last time”

I throw her a warning look “You know dang well Mrs Tucker is gonna have your head as well as ain”

“That was just once,” Kelsey insists defensively

It’s only twelve minutes later that the auditorium doors burst open, and a chipper-faced Tamika struts up to the bulletin board on the wall She pins the cast list in place, then waltzes innocently away as a storold At once, there’s gasps and

Kelsey, surprisingly, doesn’t so much as move from her spot, even after her two friends take off “Wouldn’t it be funny, Toby?” she asks ot the lead roles, you and I? And we had to be lovers and kiss each other onstage as Kingsley and Danielle?”

“Yeah, I think I had that nightain—hard—and I laugh

When the crowd clears enough, we vacate our spots and take a look at the list ourselves—and e read leaves us speechless, sley” is Donovan Pane Underneath, instead of the expected “Danielle”, there is “Danny” Right next to it: Toby Michaels

06 | TOBY

“Wait a sec, hon Are you tellin’ ay play for the fall show this year?”

I’ve barely been able to get a breath in Biggie’s Bites is being sla on in the back occupying three long tables and two booths We have a waiting list of i the front door The noise level is so dahts

Especially thoughts of being cast in the play “Yes,” I e to answer a wide-eyed Mrs Tucker as I feverishly wash dishes Oh, did I mention we’re shorthanded, too? “Well, not technically,” I quickly aay play”

“Now it’s a gay play” She lets out one cackle of a laugh, then shakes her head, hugging a pair of etic woman who exudes warmth everywhere, fro words Despite what a stick-up-the-butt her son Billy can be, Mrs Tucker is a downright bowl of chicken noodle soup at any time of the day “Well, this is simply the best news I’ve heard all week And you’re the lead in it! What a way to start out your senior year with a bang!”

“Yeah,” I agree, far less enthusiastically “A big ol’ bang”

“What? You’re not excited about it?”