13 Always Break a Leg

CHAPTER THIRTEEN ALWAYS BREAK A LEG Probability (noun). The likelihood that something will happen. It's the odds that when you flip a coin it will be heads or tails. Or the chances of you winning in rock, paper, scissors. FIRST THING IN THE MORNING on Tuesday, I pulled out the rehearsal schedule and stuffed my backpack under a seat. "I put my glue in a sealed bag today," I said to Birdie. "Wish me luck!" "No, Kate! Take that back!" "What do you mean?" "It's bad luck to say"—she lowered her voice —"good luck in a theater. You're supposed to say break a leg." "Oh, c'mon. That's silly. There's no such thing as luck. It's all probability. If you roll two dice, there's a higher chance you'll get a seven than a two. Superstitions are plain weird. They make

people do weird stuff like hate on black cats or run into a busy street to get away from a ladder." I grabbed Birdie's arm. "So, I'm going to say good luck, just to myself—since you're so against it." Birdie clapped her hands over her ears. "Please. Stop. Now something bad is definitely going to happen. I'm really afraid." For a moment, I thought she was joking. But judging from her quivery bottom lip, she wasn't. "Look, the only bad thing that's going to happen is we're going to be late to start rehearsal." I was supposed to go over the schedule with the cast, while Mrs. Hansberry organized the backstage crew. It was part of my job. In the back of the theater, Mrs. Hansberry motioned me over. Today, she was dressed in a longish skirt and Birkenstocks with rainbow socks. Immediately, I felt too plain in my jeans and pink T-shirt. Tomorrow, I decided, I was going to dress with more flair. That would be fun. Putting my schedule on the seat, I hurried toward Mrs. Hansberry while Birdie headed to sit with the rest of the cast in the first two rows of the theater. "Here's the prop list," said Mrs. Hansberry, handing me a paper. "It's good to have props as early as possible so actors can rehearse with them."

"That makes sense." It was a long list with items like a crystal orb, an oversize dragon sandwich, blankets, and a long jump rope to tie up the unicorns. "I'm going to be at least thirty minutes with the crew. We'll be with Mr. Caldera, the facility manager, discussing some basic safety procedures. I trust that you can take care of the cast rehearsal schedule. Who needs to be where and when." "Of course! I've got it under control." Mrs. Hansberry glanced over at the first two rows where all the actors were in the process of sitting down and nodded. "Splendid. This is the only time that Mr. Caldera can meet, and I want to be respectful of his schedule." I took that as Mrs. Hansberry's polite hint that she needed to go. When I turned around, Birdie was still walking toward the first two rows of seats. That was so Birdie. She acted as if she had all day to do everything. I hurried back to my seat where I had placed the schedule. When I peered down at the sheet, I let out a small squeal. Black streaks of ink blotted out all the information. What was going on here?! Someone had used a Sharpie to cross out everything I needed to know.

This definitely wasn't some sort of dumb accident. This was on purpose.