Day 1 - Part 2

(William’s perspective)

We headed over to the side of the room to get to know each other better per the teacher’s instructions. As we walked, I took the time to appreciate my situation. Here I was with the most beautiful woman in the room, and it wasn’t even close. We were going to be partners for the next few weeks. I looked at her. The way her long brown hair framed her face and neck. her beautiful brown eyes…there was no way to describe here beauty with any kind of justice. Even though I wasn’t her first choice as a partner…I still couldn’t keep the crooked grin off my face.

We sat down and she asked me for my story. I told her I don’t really have a story.

“Everyone has a story, William,” she said. “Here, I’ll start.”

“You know my first name is Helen, but my friends call me by my middle name.”

“Oh? What’s your middle name?”

She smiled, “Friends only.”

That took me aback a little, but maybe I make friends a bit too easily. I could feel myself blush a little, but quickly recovered. “Ok. Fair enough. My friends call me by a special nickname. But it’s secret too, you know, until we’re friends.”

“I can wait.”

I furrowed my brow. “You’re not supposed to say that. You’re supposed to say ‘I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours.”

“Or I could have patience.”

“Ok. You win, but you should know I intend to be your friend.”

“You’re off to a good start. So are you ready for the ‘talent contest’?”

“Oh,” I replied. “Of course. Well, except for the singing part. I don’t sing.”

“What??” she asked. “Why not? Are you that bad?”

“I’m mediocre, but it’s not my talent that keeps me from bring tears to everyone’s ears. It’s the trauma. I’ll tell you the story, but you have to promise not to laugh too much. It isn’t really that funny.”

“Nothing more than a snicker — I promise.”

I gave her a sideways glance and began. “When I was in college, I went to a karaoke bar with some friends. I wasn’t too keen on singing to begin with, but after a beer or two and a couple of buddies saying they would sing with me, I decided it wouldn’t hurt anything. So halfway through the song, one of my buddies starts moving behind me. I didn’t notice until it was too late. I was pants’d. Everyone in the bar saw my paisley boxers. Since that day, I’ve refused to sing publicly.

A sound came out of Helen’s nose.

“Ok…that was a snort.”

“No way,” she grinned. “That was a snicker.”

“Nope. Everyone knows a snort when they hear one.”

“Ok. I’m sorry, but I could just picture the look on your face. Have you had counseling?”

I gave her a quick scowl and said, “My turn. Are you ready for the ‘talent contest’?”

“I think so. I’m all right with singing, and I can hold my own when dancing…”

Before she could finish, Raoul called us back together as a group.

“I hope you’ve all learned a little bit about each other. It’s probably the most truth you’re going to get out of each other the rest of the time we’re together. We are actors, after all.”

“What I need you to do now,” he continued, “Is for one of you to come up to the stage and pick up a script for you and your partner. We’ll be using it to work on our acting skills. It’s quite an inspiring screenplay, as you’ll find out. And I should know — I wrote it. While you’re getting your script, please add your name and your partner’s name to the sign-up sheet on the table. I will be using that to call you up for your debut.”

We all kind of looked at each other and hoped for the best. I went to pick up the scripts as did Harold. He was heading back as I was approaching the stage and he bumped my shoulder with his. He grabbed my arm and said, “Sorry,” in as threatening way as that word can be said.

“As you are looking over the scripts, I’m going to be calling you up one team at a time for a quick talent evaluation. I want to know what your strengths and weaknesses are,” Raoul continued.

(Helen’s perspective)

I watched William go to get the scripts and saw Harry bump into him. I couldn’t help but shiver a little. Harry was trouble, and I wanted nothing to do with him. I looked back at William. He had let the incident go. I appreciated that. I didn’t know him well yet, but I was fairly convinced that William was friendship material.

We sat and talked a little while as we waited for our turn on stage. As one team at a time auditioned, I couldn’t help but notice that there were some very talented people in the class. The more time went by, the more worried I was about embarrassing myself. I asked William what he thought.

“Well, it’s definitely possible to embarrass yourself, but I wouldn’t worry about it. I haven’t heard you sing, but I’m sure you’re great. The dancing will be a two-person deal, so as long as we can keep up with each other, it should be fine. Although I am a bit worried that I won’t pass the photogenic test.”

“Photogenic test?”

William smiled. “All actors have to pass the photogenic test, right? I mean  dancers can stand in for actors and if needed, an actor can lip-sync. It’s the face that has to be right.”

“Good point. Now I’m more nervous.”

“Don’t be. That’s one test you pass with flying colors.”

I think it was my turn to blush. I didn’t say anything, but I appreciated his encouragement.

(William’s perspective)

Helen and I talked for awhile as the other teams were completing their talent evaluations. In an effort to take our minds of the wait for our turn, I brought up the point that regardless of our talent, it was our face that would be what merited the most interest.

“Great. Now I’m even more nervous,” she responded to the idea.

“Oh, you’ve got nothing to worry about there,” I told her. “You’ll pass that test easily.”

She blushed a little and I felt like maybe I had said the wrong thing. I debated trying to correct my error, but didn’t know how. In the end, I let the awkward silence stand.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before we heard Harold and his partner, Alison, called to the stage. We hadn’t paid much attention to the others, but Helen and I both had an interest in seeing what he could do.

They began with the dance. It was clear from the beginning that he and Alison weren’t on the same page. The poor woman was trying to follow his lead, but he wasn’t leading very well. In spite of his poor leading, he seemed to be angry at his partner for their mediocre performance. I was watching him closely, and it looked at one point like he had balled one of his hands into a fist. He left it at his side, however, and it was subtle enough that I doubted whether I had actually seen it happen.

Alison’s voice was okay, but nothing exceptional. When Harold began singing, I admit that his talent surprised me. His voice was the best that we’d heard since the evaluations had begun. The group applauded his performance and he and Alison stepped down from the stage.

(Helen’s perspective)

Helen and William, you’re up!” Called Raoul.

William and I got up and headed in his direction.

“Hi, Helen, William. How are you both today? I’m going to be assessing your talent level to see which role you are best suited for in this class. I’ll want to see how well you dance, and listen to you sing. As you know, the rest of the class will be listening and watching. As with the other groups, we’ll begin with the dancing. Just give me a second to get the music ready.”

I could tell William was nervous.

I put my hand on his arm. “Don’t worry. I’m a pretty good dancer,” I reassured him. “Just let me lead and we’ll be fine.”

When the music began, William took my hands and we began to dance. It’s true I can hold my own as a dancer, but William was out of my league. The music began with a waltz, then the tempo picked up. William didn’t miss a beat. I kept wondering if he could keep it up at his age, but he barely broke a sweat.

As the music ended, the room broke out in spontaneous applause. I think it was as much out of surprise as it was appreciation. But either way, William deserved it. He can dance.

I looked over at him. As the applause died down, it was time to begin the singing part. His face had turned ashen, and I wished there was something I could do to help him. I grabbed his arm and told him that he could do it. He looked at me to thank me, but I could tell it hadn’t helped.