I wonder how Jamie is with these people. Is she commanding? Do they listen to her? She’s probably usually the one to take the lead, judging by the way Dawn checks in with me every few minutes with her eyes. I hang against the wall throughout the “performance” until Dawn physically yanks me off and out onto the living room floor.

She puts on an English accent. “Yes, I’ll have a six-inch redcoat with mustard and olives.”

I look at her and back at the other teammates nervously.

“Hello?” Dawn says in a flustered British way.

I put on my own sad version of a British accent. “Um, I don’t work here. I’m waiting for the manager because apparently they don’t serve,” I use air quotes, “‘Lobsters’ … I’m not a lobster, I’m clearly a human man.” I gulp, staring nervously into Dawn’s eyes.

Aaron jumps out off the wall. “Howdy, y’all, I’m the manager here. How can I help you folks?” He looks to Dawn. “Oh dang. George, you better get out here, we gotta another two. How many times I gotta tell y’all we don’t serve no Brits?” The purple-haired woman comes into the scene, presumably to play George.

“Why not?” I ask, fake-annoyed.

“Taxation without representation,” Aaron exclaims.

Dawn rolls her eyes. “It’s been three hundred years, man. You won, make me a sandwich.”

A smile breaks across my face, but I tamper it down, trying not to break “character.” I let Dawn lead the scene and follow along. It’s actually a little fun.

By the end of the Gerald (this is what Dawn calls the performance, I don’t know why), it’s apparent that the team is baffled by my behavior; they’re all shooting me bewildered looks.

When practice is over, I sit with my head hung on the couch as everyone puts on their shoes and trickles out. I can feel the disappointment radiating off of each individual person as they say goodbye to me.

“I’m sorry,” I tell them over and over. “I’m just having an off day.”

These people must feed off Jamie like they feed off Dawn when she’s performing. I’d imagine the team is much stronger when there are two powerhouses to bounce off of.

Nerves snap at my stomach as Dawn closes the door behind the last team member. She spins around with crossed arms and a stern expression.

“Okay, Jame, speak. What the hell is going on? The most active member of the team does nothing her first practice back? You didn’t even join the group game? You looked like you’ve never seen a Gerald before, let alone performed in one!”