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Category:
Drama
Type: Fiction
Pages: 188
The struggles Albert experiences during university, as in a forced change in career from acting and being a stunt performer, and the loss of a potentially beautiful relationship, turn him into a writer.
Albert is in his second to last year of university, a time when most students in the department of theatre apply for conservatory training and enter into serious relationships. Albert is already a professional stunt performer, but wants desperately to be viewed as a serious actor. This year he makes a great friendship with Normando, and Jennifer, a cute girl with "girl next door" "looks", catches his eye at a time when the commercial in which he performs a stunt is a success with the local market. But something about his quiet demeanor raises concern from fellow students in the department, making him less attractive to Jennifer who, after a departmental party prefers he leaves her alone. Albert spends months working hard at resentment from not being cast in most student productions and one department production. He is granted his wish as an actor by being accepted into conservatory training in New York. But with that priviledge comes a great price. Can he meet it and regain Jennifer as a love interest?
Excerpt
He sat along the windowsill, one leg propped against the floor as he watched the traffic circulating in the distance.
Mr. Turner was at the front of the class and in a passionate discussion with four other students.
Albert held the corrected test paper, the cigar in its tube, and the letter he had received the day before. He opened it again. It was written in French.
“Hey chum,” he read quietly, “how goes things at U of O? It’s not necessary to tell you that New York is a lot of fun. A producer asked me to be an extra in his movie, but the school said no. I’m only allowed to do some stage and movie work after second year. And because of my mother, happily, I can keep going. She got a lot of money from her divorce in the last week of August. Only one week before I had to cancel form coming here.
Hey, the girls here are beautiful, incredible! Speaking about that, I was curious about knowing why Jennifer made a strange face, then came back to the lounge the day that we smoked our cigars.”
Albert looked at the tube, unaware he had been rolling it between fingers. He continued to read.
“The first time she stopped close to the door and asked if you were there. She left when I did a yes sign with my head, but I left when I saw her come back. I thought that things were going to be good with you two, until I saw her after our history exam. She didn’t tell me a lot, but I think that she liked you a lot, chum.
What?
“Yah, chum, believe me. She liked you, but she said ‘I never had the right words to tell him how I felt about him.’”
Albert remembered the strength of her hug in the locker room the year before.
“But I have the idea, chum, that everyone thought you were too weird to get to know by the way they were talking about you behind your back, and I knew that to get ahead in acting in the department, you got to be different and be accepted into method acting school. Two weirdos in the pot of life, eh?”
Albert chuckled knowing Normando had probably laughed after writing that comment.
“Anyway, Jennifer told me that she would have problems to stay in Ottawa because her family was moving during the summer. She said that she had to find a way to stay there, no matter what, and finish school. But I think that by this time, like all other guys, you got over her, eh? Like I said you should.
Well, I have to get ready. In half an hour, I got another class in ‘The Method in you: Part I.’
‘Till next time, chum.
Take care.
Your friend,
Normando… man. (The chubby Italian. Ha, ha).”
Albert popped the plastic ring from the tube, inhaled, then read the note Mr. Turner had written beside his grade, at the end of the paper.
“Albert, please see me about joining a group of alternative writers who contribute articles and stories to my publication ‘The Sunset Circle’.”
Albert stared at a couple enter and stroll through the parking lot below. The girl adjusted her scarf at what seemed like every few paces.
His attention shifted gently to the young tree. It resisted the wind trying to whisk away its red leaves.
Jennifer walked into view from the sidewalk separating the building he was in from the one across the walkway. Jennifer approached the tree, stopped and turned to face the wind. She seemed to stare in Albert’s direction.
A distant pang as Albert touched the window. He could almost feel the wedding ring acting like a tourniquet around her finger.
She started to turn, hesitated, then after several seconds, resumed her former direction, going towards the theatre department.
I am the method writer. I see the beauty and write the pain, forevermore.
He closed the tube, took his hiking bag and walked slowly to Mr. Turner.
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