Day 1 - Part 3

(William’s perspective)

It was time for the dance portion of the talent review. I was glad we were starting with this. I had taken two years of dance classes of all kinds. It wasn’t for any specific reason other than being single affords more time for things like that. The music began and I took Helen’s hand. She mentioned something about leading, but once the music began everything became automatic for me. She didn’t seem to mind once we had started.

I enjoyed dancing while I could, but soon enough it was time for the singing. I was glad now that I had told her my karaoke story. At least she would understand why I was suddenly trembling and pale. She grabbed my arm and told me that I could do it. I appreciated the attempt at comforting me, but I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.

“I’ll go first,” she said. I knew she was putting off my turn so that I had time to compose myself. I was trying to psych myself up to go when she began to sing. As her voice began to fill the room, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked. It was the most incredible sound I had ever heard. There are good singers, there are great singers, and then there is Helen. We were all captivated from the first note to the very last. Her five minutes blew by and it was soon my turn again — although I did get a small reprieve until the applause died down. She came back and looked me in they eyes.

“You can do this, William. I know you can.”

I looked at her and said, “Helen, no one can do that.”

A soft clearing of his throat and Raoul had my attention. It was my turn. Helen stayed where she was and I spoke in a soft voice to Raoul.

“Hey, man. I can’t do this.”

“Are you an actor?”

“Well, yeah.”

“Then pretend you can do this.”

I looked at him. He had no sympathy in his eyes.

“Everyone will do this,” he said.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t.”

I could tell he was frustrated, but he wasn’t going to waste time arguing with me either. He looked at Helen and said, “You and your dad can go sit down. Toni and Jordan. Come to the stage, please.”

Helen and I returned to where we were sitting before we went on stage. Neither of us said a word.

We listened to the rest of the groups perform. I was the only one that did not sing. While no one else’s singing came close to what Helen did, Harold was probably the second best in the class. All of us sat around while Raoul looked over his notes from the singing and dancing. Finally he spoke.

“Everyone, we are almost at the end of today’s class. Before we leave, I’d like to thank you for your patience while I evaluated each team. I have videotaped each performance and will take those home to review. I will need a few days, but it is possible that by the end of the week, I may need to rework a few of the teams. I want to give everyone in the class the best chance at success, and to do that I need to match talent levels as best as possible. Tomorrow we will begin working on the scripts. If there are no questions, class is dismissed.”

With that, everyone walked back to their desks and began packing up their belongings.

“I’m sorry that I didn’t sing,” I said to Helen.

She looked at me and smiled. “It’s all right,” she said. “Maybe some other time.”

I could hear a tinge of disappointment in her voice, and I felt bad. She took her bag and headed to the door with a quick “bye.”

I picked up my items and put them in my bag and headed toward the door too.

(Helen’s perspective)

I headed toward my car. I was disappointed that William hadn’t sung, but more than that I was disappointed that I couldn’t figure out some way to help him get past his fear. With my mind elsewhere, I didn’t notice the motorcycle approaching me in the parking lot. I did notice it when had come between me and my car. Harold glared at me from the seat.

“Hey, what are you doing tonight?”

“Going home,” I said.

“Oh, don’t be lame. Hop on the back, and I’ll take you for a ride.”

Something about the way he said that sent chills up my spine and made my hair stand on end. “I really need to get home. I have other things to do today.”

“Where do you live? I’ll give you a lift.”

“I have a car.”

“I hope it still works.”

I glanced over at my car. It didn’t look like anything had been done to it, but now I was worried.

“Come on. You know you’re gonna be mine. Why fight it?”

“Hey, you forgot your pen.”

Harry and I both looked over to see William standing there with a smile and a pen in his hand.

“That isn’t m…Thanks!” I said. That’s my lucky pen. I don’t know what I would have done without it.

Harry scowled at William and asked, “How long are you going to try to ruin things for us?”

(William’s perspective)

I walked out the doors into the sunny parking lot to see Harold sitting on a motorcycle blocking Helen’s path to her car. I could see that she was uncomfortable, and Harry looked like he was enjoying himself a little too much. I pulled a pen out of my pocket and headed in their direction.

“You forgot your pen,” I said to Helen. Without missing a beat, she responded.

“Thanks! This is my lucky pen. I don’t know what I’d do without it.”

“Hey, man. How long are you going to keep showing up during my time? Class is one thing, but it’s after hours now. Give Helen a chance to hang out with a real man.”

“I’m sure she’d love to, but it looks like you’re sitting in her way. If you move, she might go hang out with a real man.”

“Oh, she’s going to hang out with a real man, real soon.”

Helen’s face made it clear that she had had enough. “Harold, I’m not going to hang out with you. I’m not going to date you, I’m not going to the prom with you, and I’d be happy to never see you again.”

“You’re only saying that because he’s here,”Harry said pointing to me. “Why don’t you take a hike, man?”

I stepped up to Harold. “Listen, man. She’s not interested. She just told you so. Hit the road.”

“Or what?”

“Or we’ve been dancing around this all day long. Step off your bike and we can clear the air over you running into me earlier today.”

He looked at me, but didn’t get off his bike. He looked at Helen and gave it a quick rev, finally leaving in a shower of gravel. The rock pinged several cars as he left. I felt a couple hit my legs. I looked over at Helen.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks for the pen.”

“Sorry if I stepped in when I shouldn’t have.”

“No,” she said. “I don’t want to deal with that guy alone. He scares me a bit.”

“Yeah. Understandable. Anyway, have a good night. See ya tomorrow.”

“Sure thing. Get some rest. Tomorrow we work on our lines.”

I chuckled. “Good thing. My lines need some work.”

I stuck around until she got her car started, and then I headed home.

(Helen’s perspective)

I pulled into the bookstore parking lot shortly after 6pm. I walked into the coffee area and sat down across from the man who was already sitting there.

“Sorry I’m late,” I said as I kissed him on the cheek.

“No problem dear. Glad to see your smiling face. How was class?”

“It was interesting to say the least. They had us pair up for the class then we were evaluated on our singing and dancing.”

“It sounds intense,” he responded. “How’s your partner?”

“He’s interesting. Older, but a nice guy. Good friend material, I think.”

“How much older?”
“He’s 39.”

“Hmm… are you okay with that?”

“I am as a friend. I wouldn’t want to date him or anything. Besides, we were sort of thrown together.”
“How’s that?”

“Well, there’s another guy in the class. This guy named Harold. He’s got it in his mind that I should be dating him. I think he things I’m the love of his life.”

“I assume you made it clear to him that you aren’t?”

“I tried, but I don’t know if he’s the kind to get it.”

“You want me to come to class and convince him?”

“Daddy, I’m 24. I have to handle some things on my own.”

“This is true. You make sure that your bank account is current and you don’t have any overdue bills. If something is going to get physical, I don’t want you trying to take him on yourself.”

“He tried to get me alone after class, but William came over and got rid of him.”

“Who’s William?”

“He’s my partner. The 39 year old.”

We finished our coffees and our conversation.

“Well, honey, you keep me posted on this Harold guy and let me know if you need me to step in.”

“I will, Dad. Thanks. I love you.”

“Back at you, kid.”

A quick hug and kiss, and I went home.