thought I heard a hint of disappointment in his voice.
“Not all bad, it’s just not what I really want to do… I believe that’s something we share?” I asked.
He chuckled. “I take it someone has told you that I write.”
I nodded. “I’d love to read some of your work sometime.”
“I can probably make that happen,” he smiled. “Until you get your big break and leave us forever, that is.” He teased, and then became suddenly serious. “I will miss you, when you leave.” He said softly.
I smiled. “You won’t have to. We can be friends, even if I don’t work here anymore.” I assured him.
He smiled back at me. “Kate…? I was wondering…”
As Max spoke, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my back pocket. I held up one finger to silence him. “I’m sorry, hold on one second. This is my agent, she may have news about the audition… Hello?”
“Kate, I have excellent news.” Marion greeted me. “I just got off the phone with Stewart Harris, the casting director for Phantom. He loves your portfolio and he’s giving you an audition slot. You need to be there at nine a.m. on Tuesday, I’ll email you the rest of the information. The other actress knows that she’s out, so you can tell people about the role.”
“Thank you so much Marion!” I beamed.
“Thank me by doing well.” She replied. “Make sure that you’re well rested and in top form Tuesday morning. Make me proud, Kate.”
“I will.” I promised her.
“Fantastic, I’ll talk to you soon.” Marion ended the call.
I looked up at Max and smiled. “I got the audition!”
“Congratulations,” he said genuinely. “Those other women won’t know what hit them when you show up. Can you tell me what role you’re auditioning for?”
“Christine, in Phantom… but it’s just the understudy role.” I said modestly.
“Phantom?” Max asked in awe. “As in Phantom of the Opera? One of the longest running shows of all time? That’s impressive, Kate, you must be phenomenal!”
“I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday.” I smiled. “I wonder if I can get the night off…”
“Already thinking about your victory party?” He teased with a smile.
“A girl can dream,” I blushed. Suddenly, I remembered that Marion’s call had interrupted Max midsentence. “I’m sorry, what were you going to ask me before Marion called?”
He shrugged. “I’ve completely forgotten. If it’s important it will come back to me… looks like someone’s getting impatient.” He said, nodding towards the doorway; I turned and saw Lisa waiting for me.
“I guess I’d better get back to work.” I sighed.
“Yeah, you’ve got to keep the bosses happy… until Tuesday at least.” Max smiled. “Seriously, congratulations Kate. I’m so proud of you.”
A customer at the other end of the bar signaled for Max; he went to take the man’s order while I returned to the dining room.
“It looks like you’re in a better mood.” Lisa observed haughtily.
“I am.” I smiled. “It’s amazing what a break can do for your mood. Why don’t you take a long one? I’ll cover your tables.”
Lisa accepted the offer and disappeared. I went back to work, all the while letting my mind wander back to the fantasy of seeing my name in lights.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want another glass of wine?” Janette asked as she poured the remainder of our first bottle into her glass.
“I’m sure,” I replied. “Marion insisted that I be well rested and at the top of my game in the morning. A wine hangover is the last thing I need.”
“Alright, that just means there’s more for me.” She laughed. “Paul brought over some pretty strong bud while you were at work. We can smoke some if you want… it will help you relax and won’t make you feel like shit in the morning.”
“That sounds fantastic.” I agreed. The plan had been for me to arrive home from Orlando’s around nine o’clock and then run my lines and songs with Janette. The
“Not all bad, it’s just not what I really want to do… I believe that’s something we share?” I asked.
He chuckled. “I take it someone has told you that I write.”
I nodded. “I’d love to read some of your work sometime.”
“I can probably make that happen,” he smiled. “Until you get your big break and leave us forever, that is.” He teased, and then became suddenly serious. “I will miss you, when you leave.” He said softly.
I smiled. “You won’t have to. We can be friends, even if I don’t work here anymore.” I assured him.
He smiled back at me. “Kate…? I was wondering…”
As Max spoke, I felt my cell phone vibrate in my back pocket. I held up one finger to silence him. “I’m sorry, hold on one second. This is my agent, she may have news about the audition… Hello?”
“Kate, I have excellent news.” Marion greeted me. “I just got off the phone with Stewart Harris, the casting director for Phantom. He loves your portfolio and he’s giving you an audition slot. You need to be there at nine a.m. on Tuesday, I’ll email you the rest of the information. The other actress knows that she’s out, so you can tell people about the role.”
“Thank you so much Marion!” I beamed.
“Thank me by doing well.” She replied. “Make sure that you’re well rested and in top form Tuesday morning. Make me proud, Kate.”
“I will.” I promised her.
“Fantastic, I’ll talk to you soon.” Marion ended the call.
I looked up at Max and smiled. “I got the audition!”
“Congratulations,” he said genuinely. “Those other women won’t know what hit them when you show up. Can you tell me what role you’re auditioning for?”
“Christine, in Phantom… but it’s just the understudy role.” I said modestly.
“Phantom?” Max asked in awe. “As in Phantom of the Opera? One of the longest running shows of all time? That’s impressive, Kate, you must be phenomenal!”
“I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday.” I smiled. “I wonder if I can get the night off…”
“Already thinking about your victory party?” He teased with a smile.
“A girl can dream,” I blushed. Suddenly, I remembered that Marion’s call had interrupted Max midsentence. “I’m sorry, what were you going to ask me before Marion called?”
He shrugged. “I’ve completely forgotten. If it’s important it will come back to me… looks like someone’s getting impatient.” He said, nodding towards the doorway; I turned and saw Lisa waiting for me.
“I guess I’d better get back to work.” I sighed.
“Yeah, you’ve got to keep the bosses happy… until Tuesday at least.” Max smiled. “Seriously, congratulations Kate. I’m so proud of you.”
A customer at the other end of the bar signaled for Max; he went to take the man’s order while I returned to the dining room.
“It looks like you’re in a better mood.” Lisa observed haughtily.
“I am.” I smiled. “It’s amazing what a break can do for your mood. Why don’t you take a long one? I’ll cover your tables.”
Lisa accepted the offer and disappeared. I went back to work, all the while letting my mind wander back to the fantasy of seeing my name in lights.
***
“Are you sure you don’t want another glass of wine?” Janette asked as she poured the remainder of our first bottle into her glass.
“I’m sure,” I replied. “Marion insisted that I be well rested and at the top of my game in the morning. A wine hangover is the last thing I need.”
“Alright, that just means there’s more for me.” She laughed. “Paul brought over some pretty strong bud while you were at work. We can smoke some if you want… it will help you relax and won’t make you feel like shit in the morning.”
“That sounds fantastic.” I agreed. The plan had been for me to arrive home from Orlando’s around nine o’clock and then run my lines and songs with Janette. The
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