Chapter 8

It was printed on yellow paper, and when Tora caught sight of it everything else on the bulletin board seemed to vanish.

DRAMA NIGHT AUDITIONS
AFTER SCHOOL NEXT MONDAY
IN THE AUDITORIUM

There were three short plays listed that Principal Terashita wanted to put on this year. Each of the plays was about twenty minutes long with four or five different roles. That meant the chances were good that Tora could get a lead role in at least one, as well as a smaller part in one of the others. Principal Terashita had talked about the plays he’d selected and the one Tora was most interested in was Red Carnations a romantic play about a young man and woman troubled by a case of mistaken identity. In the end the two resolve their problems, realize they are in fact looking for each other, and best of all…the play ends with a romantic and heartfelt kiss.

“What’s up?” said a voice behind Tora, as she lingered in front of the flyer, considering the possibilities.

“It’s the auditions for the school play,” she said, turning around to see Michael Martin standing behind her.

“I can see that,” he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Have you decided which play you want to star in?”

Tora smiled at him. Michael Martin always seemed to know just the right thing to say. He was teasing her, but not making fun of her aspirations. After hearing about the upcoming auditions, she’d talked about nothing else for weeks, describing each play in detail and making suggestions about the casting of each role from the group of students who usually came out for the drama club.

“Red Carnations,” she said.

“I thought so.”

There was a crowd around the bulletin board now, as more students became aware that the audition notice had been posted.

“You think I’d do well in it?”

“You’d be good in any of the plays…but you’d be great in that one.”

“You really think so?” Tora asked, fishing for a compliment.

“Yeah, I do.”

Tora resisted the urge to grin. She really liked Michael Martin, and she knew he liked her, too. As a result, he was likely to say anything to make her happy. “Thanks. But you’re just saying that.”

Michael shook his head. “No I’m not. In fact, I was thinking about trying out for the male lead in Red Carnations, so I’d be able to act in it with you.”

Tora’s eyes widened and a great big smile spread across her face. “That would be so cool!” she said.

“You have to get the part first,” said a female voice.