Page 65 of Inside Out
“I would not wish any companion in the world but you.”
~William Shakespeare
“Hashtag keeper! What? I’m notthatold.”
~Romeo Bradley
It wasn’t like me to bury my head in the sand and not tackle touchy subjects head-on. I guess some would say my head was engaged elsewhere, and they weren’t wrong. Who the hell could blame me? There wasn’t one thing about Julius I didn’t adore. I lived for his smiles and found ways to earn one every chance I got. His laughter was a gift that sent ripples of joy throughout my body. And his brain? There was nothing sexier on this planet than an intelligent man, and he was one of the smartest I’d had the privilege to know. Speaking of sexy, I discovered pleasure in ways I never knew existed. Julius made me feel twenty-eight again too.
It was no wonder a week had passed without me realizing it, and auditions for the school play were upon us without me having a conversation with three precocious and wickedly talented teens.
“Are you nervous?” Julius had asked me at lunch.
“Yeah,” I admitted. “This play is their baby. How could I even think about asking them not to audition for the roles?”
“’Cause you’re Dr. Mean Ass,” Julius quipped then chuckled when I groaned. “I’m just teasing you. You haven’t decided to exclude them from performing in the play. You’ve decided to have a discussion with them about what is fair to everyone who wants to participate. You’re doing the right thing.” I knew he was right, but doing the right thing was seldom easy.
Imagine my surprise when Clara, Ellie, and Curtis showed up before auditions and asked to have a chat with Julius and me.
“Are you three ready for tonight?” I asked.
“It doesn’t seem real to me,” Clara asked.
“Me either,” Curtis admitted.
“I keep thinking my alarm is going to wake me up any second now,” Ellie added. “This play means more to us than we can possibly express.”
“We know,” Julius told Ellie. “We could feel it when we read the words you wrote.”
“Because this means the world to us,” Clara said, “we want the best possible cast to perform the roles we created.”
Here we go,I thought.
“We decided that we’re too close to the characters we created to perform them,” Curtis said. “I know that sounds weird to you, doesn’t it?”
Relief washed over me. “Not at all. Many writers don’t act out their own roles. Many directors have never acted.”
“I’m a musician who can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” Julius told them. “I can write melodies all day long, but I can’t write lyrics.”
“It takes all types of talent to put on any kind of production,” I told the kids. “I’m impressed that you’re willing to step aside and put the play first. That couldn’t have been an easy decision.”
“We’re not exactly stepping away entirely, or at least, we hope not,” Ellie said. “We’d like to assist you with the production.”
“Oh?” I asked, raising a brow. “What did you have in mind?”
“I would really like to assist Mr. Shepherd and Mrs. Hoffenburger with the music,” Curtis replied, looking at Julius with hopeful eyes.
“I’d love that, Curtis,” Julius said.
“I’d be way too bossy as a director’s assistant,” Clara said, “so I’d really like to help with costumes, props, and setting scenes.”
“I think you’d do a great job at that,” I told Clara then looked at Ellie. “Does that mean you’re stuck with me?”
She giggled. “It’s probably the other way around, Dr. B. I’m not looking to tell you how to direct the play. I just want to help however I can.”
“I’m grateful to have your assistance,” I assured her. “I think I’m going to require more from the three of you though.” They exchanged looks between them but silently waited for me to continue. “I would like your input during auditions.” Clara’s eyes widened excitedly, Ellie did a little dance in place, and Curtis beamed his approval through his smile. I held up my hand to regain their attention. “I’m still going to have the final say, but I want to hear your opinions.”
“Dr. Bradley, that’s just…” Clara’s words trailed off as emotion swelled inside her.