05 Stage Fright

5 Stage Fright “ Why do you need a boy who's a brilliant reader?" Annie asked the man. “ Because I have just lost two fairies! ” he said. He pointed at Jack. “ You can read both! ” And you are nuts, thought Jack. “ Well, bye, see you around, " he said. He nudged Annie to move along. “ Wait, wait, " she said. She turned to the man. “ What do you mean, my brother can read both fairies? Read them where?”

“ Two boy actors didn't show up today to play fairies, " said the man. “ But your brother reads with such expression! He can save us all! ” Jack stared. Was this guy saying what he thought he was saying? “ You mean you want Jack to be in your play?" said Annie. “ Indeed! ” said the man, “ There are three thousand people here today, waiting to see the play I have written! We cannot disappoint them, can we?" “ Three thousand?" said Jack. “ Yes! " said the man. “ And one of them is the most important person in the world! ” “ No. No way. I can't do that, " said Jack. He had never liked being onstage. He always got stage fright. “ Wait, wait, Jack, " said Annie. She turned to the man. “ You need two fairies, right?”

“ Yes, " said the man. “ Well . . . " Annie tilted her head. Her voice went up. “ I can read, too. ” “ Yes! Let Annie do it, " said Jack. “ She's a great reader, She can be both fairies! ” “ Ah, but of course Annie cannot go onstage, " the man said kindly. “ Why not?" asked Annie. The man raised his eyebrows. “ Surely you know it's against the law for girls to go on the stage, " he said. “ Boys must play all the girls parts. ” “ But that's not fair! " said Annie. “ Indeed, 'tis not. But we cannot change the law now, " said the man. He turned to Jack, “ So, Jack? Will you join our players?” “ No thanks, " said Jack. He tried to walk off, but Annie grabbed his arm.

“ Wait, I think I know what Jack wants, ” she said to the man. “ He will only be in your play if I can be in it, too. ” “ No, that's not what I want, Annie, " Jack said under his breath. “ But, Jack, it would be so much fun, " she whispered, “ And there's nothing to be afraid of. You get to read your part. You don't have to memorize it. ” Jack could tell that Annie really, really wanted to be in the play. And it was definitely a way to keep her mind off the bear. “ Uh, okay, " he said, sighing. He looked at the man. “ I'll be in your play-if Annie can be in it, too. ” The man looked at Annie. She smiled eagerly at him. The man smiled back.

“ Why not?” he said. “ But Annie will have to pretend to be a boy. She can tuck up her hair, and we'll call her Andy. " “ Yay, thanks! ” said Annie with a grin. A trumpet blasted inside the theater. “ Hark, the play begins! " the man said. He took Jack and Annie by the hand. “ My name is Will, by the way, " he said. “ Come along, Jack and Andy! Be as swift as shadows! ”