The Song She Sang

Chapter Two

And I walked one more block to reach our house. When I came home, my mom was already there cooking our dinner. My mom works as a property broker for one of the big companies in our city.

“Oh, you’re home. How’s school today?”

“Good. You, how's your work?”

“Great, I was able to close a deal today. That’s why we’re having steak and potatoes.”

“Oh wow! Congratulations, mum! "

As I walked toward her to kiss her. My nose got tickled.

“And the food smells so good. Where’s dad?”

“Uhm, he must be on his way home now.”

My father is an orthodontist and has his clinic. He has staff and other doctors under his office.

“I’ll just go and change. “

“Better. By the time you’re done, dad will be here.”

“Okay.”

And I went to my room. As I entered, I placed my bag and books on the chair and laid my back on my bed, and closed my eyes. Thinking of the play and imagining myself as Wendy, singing as the rope carries me up to fly. How would I look? How would I sing? Then my father came and shouted to call me.

“Olivia, I’m home. Please come down now to eat.”

“Okay, dad. In a sec.”

I hurriedly changed into my house clothes and went down to eat with them.

“Hi, dad! How are you.”

“Better now that I already saw you and your mom.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“Any bloopers at work?”

“Nothing much today, just an old lady asking for his grandson to have braces and told me she doesn’t know if his grandson can have it already. I saw the boy was too young to have one. "

“Then what?”

"I just smiled at her but she continued to tell me their story that her grandson wants a girl to notice him, but the girl has a boyfriend who has braces.”

“When I asked her grandson’s age, she started to calculate through her daughter's birth year. Her calculation lasted for several minutes that our time lasted for nothing but talk. "

We helped mom prepare the table and placed plates and cutlery while we told stories of our own day’s activity.

“And how about you, my princess, Olivia, how was your day?”

“Well, just the usual.”

“Are you sure?”

Mom asked as she placed the food one by one on our plates.

“Yeah, mom.”

“You seemed to tell me something earlier when you came.”

“You are my mom, no doubt. You definitely know me.”

Then we sat and started to pray and say grace for the food. Then my dad asked.

“So what were you about to say earlier?”

“Well, there is a play in school and I think I want to audition for a role.”

“Hey, you know what, you really should. What’s the play?”

“Peter Pan.”

“You want to be Peter Pan?”

Dad said that in his funny sarcastic way.

“Dad.”

“Captain Hook?”

And mom just laughed at my father’s facial expression and gesture. Then she patted his shoulder, telling him to be more serious.

“Uhum, so what role are you aiming for.”

“Your voice, if there'll be singing would fit Wendy.”

“Thanks, mom, I hope so. But they also said Mary would be a good one, too.”

“Yeah, that’s the mom. But you’re too beautiful for that.”

“Wow, thanks, dad.”

And my father winked at me.

“So can I audition?”

“You better, you fit that role.”

“I am not sure though, I just want to know if you’ll let me practice until such a late time and rehearse every time.”

“Do you want to try?”

“I hope I can be chosen among the auditionees.”

“Oh my, you will, my princess.”

Then we finished our dinner in elation and anticipation of the next day. That night I carefully chose my outfit for school. Something that will fit the audition, too. I chose a simple light blue dress, that will accentuate my bluish-green eyes, with a high waist A-line pleated skirt and puffy sleeves. Then I chose simple flat shoes. I placed the dress on top of my pajamas and danced, swaying around the room and in front of the mirror-like how I thought Wendy would do.

I hope my friends can stay with me while I auditioned. I grew up being with Khrystel because we live in the same vicinity, a block away. She’s a petite lady, tall as me but skinny, white, and beautiful. She has a brown blond hair color, that extends to her upper back, wavy with large curls. We became friends because we’re seatmates every time we are arranged alphabetically. And that was since grade five. We would go to school either my mom drives and we will pick her up or her mom drives and will pick me up. So as on our way home, they pick us up every time until we became high schoolers.

Amber, on the other hand, is my classmate since grade eight. We became friends when she joined me and Khrystel in a certain project and we had the highest grade in the whole level. She’s tall as well, but a little shorter than me and Khrystel. Her complexion is silkier and pearly. Her shoulder-length brunette hair stuns boys because of its shiny glow. She’s the life of the pack, the extrovert that keeps us laugh and wild at times. And she’s the most talkative even in class.

Then there’s Stephen. Our only boyfriend. He’s the nerdy type who solves all our complex math and science assignments and projects. And there was a time that we can’t solve one project and make our chemistry pass. He came to the rescue, and the rest was history. He’s tall, with the right chubbiness in their right spots. Not too handsome and charming but super intelligent. That’s why that Julia wants him by his side although he has a hunk boyfriend, they make him answer their assignments and make their projects. I just hope he wins in this love triangle.

That night, I slept with confidence and excitement of my stage play dreams. The next morning, I got excited to go to school and I didn’t wait for Khrystel anymore and went my way to school early. I’ve always wanted to be on a stage play production. This week is the start of the audition for the play. I will try to get a part of this one. Several years have passed and this year will be the year for me to sing on stage and act as the best actress of the year.

I went to the theater where the office of the arts is situated. I got the application form and fill it up. I was asked to practice a song that I will sing for the audition and some excerpt from the script to memorize as my line for the audition. I started practicing my line with Amber and Khrystel and we were all great. They made sure I can get the role. As we rehearsed, they even corrected my intonation and my facial expressions, and body movements. And when I went home, I rehearsed with a dad who was stunned by how well I delivered the lines and sang the song.

“Hey, that was wonderful. Are you ready for that role and rehearsals?”

“Might as well be serious with it. It’s my last year.”

After a day of practice, I went to my classes, then I went to the auditorium to submit the form and audition as well

“Hi! I would like to audition for the play.”

“Okay, just give me your form and wait for the director to call your name. You can sit near the front row so you can easily run to the stage when you hear your name being called.”

“Okay, thanks!”

While I sat, I watched how the audition is going. In my mind I know, I sing better than what I’ve heard so far. Then I heard my name being called

“Miss Olivia McKay, on the stage please.”

I went on the stage and I saw my crush. I was bashful a little and then I sang the part I rehearsed several times and was asked to sing. I also went to deliver the lines the character of Wendy has. As I finished, the director immediately said.

“Next! Paula Crawford please.”

And I heard the person beside him say.

“She’s not done yet.”

“We need another, she won’t fit the role.”

“Her voice is perfect for the role.”

And almost everyone now hears their conversation over the microphone.

“Her voice is just okay, but have you seen her body? She is so fat, the cord won’t even have the strength to raise her an inch from the floor.”

“Put her on another role.”

“Her face won’t even fit the role of Mary Darling, the mother of Wendy. The floor can’t take so much weight. Have you seen her face too?”

“She’s pretty.”

“If that is pretty, I don’t know how ugly would look like.”

I was hurt when I heard those words in their conversation. If I can only dig a hole and hide in there. I was too humiliated. I ran and went to the nearest female restroom and cried until I was able to compose myself. Then three ladies came inside the restroom talking about me.

"That girl that Michael didn't like, her voice was nice and beautiful. I am not sure what he didn't like about her."

"Good thing he dumped her, now you have a chance for that role and that director"

"He is really cute, and girls have eyed him since last year when he topped the English oratorical contest."

"He has been my crush since forever!"

"Girls have done so many things that would get his attention, and I think the girl earlier did the same thing that's why he didn't like her."

"He was right, she is fat and not really ugly, but the mirror in this restroom says, I am a lot prettier."

Tears rolled down my cheeks as I heard their conversation. and I am so disappointed I don"t know what to do or where to go.