When I was in the seventh grade, I weasled out of speech class to transfer to Drama class. The counselor asked why. She said I would still have to stand in front of people and open my mouth to talk. Big difference though. In speech class, you have to stand up and give a speech. In Drama class you are a character, somebody entirely different than yourself. I told her that. So I got transferred. I loved it. My teacher was Mrs. Meek. And she decided to put on a really big scaled Christmas play. In class, we all read for different roles--except for me. The only part she let me read for was "Nuna, a small, lame slavegirl". I was cast in that role--which was really the starring role. I had to go barefoot for the role. In December and on a rainy night that was cold. We rehearsed and rehearsed until I could mumble the lines in my sleep. I had a crush on a fellow castmate who played Master Barshan, owner of a caravan, otherwise known as Cliff Garstang. I remember the night of the play we chased each other around the back of the stage. Now that was fun. The whole premise around this play is that it takes place at the Inn where Joseph and Mary were turned away. The birth of Jesus has a profound effect upon all of the guests--especially Nuna who is accused of steeling Queen Octavia's amulet. She gets in all kind of trouble until baby Jesus is born. Then everybody changes their tune and the lost amulet is found. Nuna is sent with the gifts to give baby Jesus in the manger. The amulet is one of the gifts. And when the Christ Child touchs Nuna on the arm, she isn't lame anymore. She is able to walk normal once more. The widowed queen adopts her and it's all happy ever after kind of stuff. I remember we did the play three different times. One time for all the parents, one time for the 7th graders, and one time for the 8th graders. I loved it. I told myself I wanted to be an actress after that. Well, here I am...not an actress but a writer. Maybe someday I'll get my 15 minutes of fame, but I doubt it. Don't really need it now anyway. I like writing too much. If I can write as good a play as A Star Song is, I'll be happy.
May we all be as lame and misunderstood as Nuna! Sometimes our best moments come after years of heartache and exhaustion. At least I hope that's how it is, ha ha. The writer's life is one of hope and railyard. You have to keep knocking those long nails into the ground. Someday that darn train will follow your tracks, pick you up when you least expect it. A fun memory, Penni!
A page-turning novel about a relationship between best friends that is interrupted because of betrayal , deceit, sexual promiscuity and pregnancy happens!
A page-turning novel about a relationship between best friends that is interrupted because of betrayal , deceit, sexual promiscuity and pregnancy happens!
