“Her father’s putting up the money for the show. That basically makes him the producer. Mr. Terashita’s taken the money, so it won’t be too hard for him to have Maria ‘win’ the audition for the part. I’ll be lucky if I even get on stage. I’ll end up assistant prop master, or lighting director. You just wait and see.”

Michael said nothing. Everything Tora said was true and there was really no counter to it. Tora wouldn’t get the part she wanted, and if Maria Abruzzo was feeling especially mean, she’d probably be able to arrange it so that Tora wasn’t even part of the show. But the look on Michael’s face suggested he wasn’t about to give in so easily. “You keep rehearsing the part and who knows what could happen.”

Tora lifted her head. “Yeah, like what?”

Michael shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe you’ll just be so much better than her that they’ll have to give you the part. Or maybe if a better part comes up…or a different part, yeah, Maria will want it instead.”

“Those things aren’t going to happen and you know it.”

“Maybe she’ll get sick and you’ll have to step in at the last minute and save the show.”

Tora considered it. She had to admit, it sounded good. “How’s she going to get sick?”

“I don’t know. But I bet it could be arranged.”

“No! I don’t want to get the part like that.”

“Okay,” Michael said, pausing to think. “Maybe we could ask Noble. He’s good with plans. I bet he could come up with something.”

Tora shook her head. “I don’t need Noble’s help every time something goes wrong.” Saying the words made her feel better, if only slightly. “I’m going to get that part because I’m better for it than Maria is, and if I don’t, then I’ll be so good in the audition that everyone in school will know she only won out because of her father’s money.”

There was a smile on Michael’s face. “That’s the spirit!”

Tora took a deep breath and let out a long sigh that did wonders to strengthen her resolve. “Let’s get back to rehearsing,” she said. “I’ve got to nail this role so there’s no doubt that I’m the best one for it.”

“I’m convinced already,” said Michael.

Tora smiled.

Chapter 17