Unscripted Joss Byrd

Unscripted Joss Byrd by Lygia Day Peñaflor

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Authors: Lygia Day Peñaflor
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the face, that’ll be it,” Viva says. She’s very into protecting my face, not for my safety, but for the camera.
    â€œNot bit. Stung ,” I say.
    â€œCool it, Smart-mouth,” she says, giving me the eye. “And cover your wardrobe.” She tucks my napkin into my collar and spreads it across my chest as if I’m a baby about to eat mashed carrots. My wardrobe is a tank top with a picture of a rocket ship on the front. It’s already dirtied on purpose, but it’s not supposed to get dirty by mistake.
    Just as we’re getting settled, Rodney reaches across the table and snatches two of Chris’s rice pudding cups as he heads to his seat. The grown-ups ignore it, but Chris closes his eyes and curses under his breath. I feel so bad that I give him one of my puddings as soon as Rodney turns his back. Let me tell you, pudding is the last thing that Rodney needs. He’s plenty mushy around the middle, and don’t even try to tell me he put on those pounds for his character.
    â€œI got some extra potato salad. I know how much you like it, TJ.” My mother passes Terrance the bowl. She started using his nickname when we first got to the studio in Brooklyn. She likes getting chummy with people from the start. But I’d feel disrespectful calling him TJ.
    â€œAh, thank you. Bonus,” he says, mixing the potatoes with his corn. He passes me another napkin, since mine is around my neck. I grin at him. Terrance says that having meals together makes for a better movie because it makes us feel sort of like we’re a family. He’s right. This is the type of family I’d like, anyway.
    The closest I ever had to a dad was Brian Shea Towson; he played my country singer dad in Hit the Road . We ate all our lunches together, too. I liked calling him Pops, even off set, which I guess is kind of like staying in character.
    â€œGo easy there with the healthy stuff, Joss. What is that, broccoli?” Terrance inspects my tray. “If you get too tall, we’ll have to recast you.”
    Not funny. And there goes a perfectly nice lunch with my happy imaginary family. I stare at my buttered roll.
    If I could stunt my growth so I could play a child forever, believe me, I would. I’m lucky I still look young enough to play Norah. Doris says that being small in Hollywood is the pot of gold. There’re a ton of parts until the awkward age. I’m living proof of that because I keep playing younger than I am. In The Locals , Norah is meant to be ten even though I’m twelve.
    Terrance is talking to Christopher now, about the real day he tried to build the crow’s nest. “I want you to remember the excitement I felt at the beginning. That lookout was going to be my connection to the ocean, the one place I really loved. It was going to be my escape.”
    Chris is pushing his food around as he listens. He’s under a lot of pressure, but at least he gets to talk with Terrance about his part. I don’t know how Norah felt about the crow’s nest or the ocean, and I don’t know what’s really in her heart. I’ve never played a real person before. I wish I could talk to her and know that I’m doing good enough.
    â€œTerrance, when am I gonna meet the real Norah? You mailed my letter, right?” I say. Norah lives somewhere nearby. Damon helped me write a quick note asking her to visit the set. Terrance gave me her address to put on it.
    â€œDon’t be pushy, Joss,” my mother says. “Sorry.” She squeezes Terrance’s arm and leaves her hand there.
    â€œIt’s fine.” Terrance winks at me. “I did mail it, kiddo. I’d love for Norah to come. But she’s very busy, my sister. She must be out of town.” Terrance drops his fork into his not-beef-stew and then he pokes me on the nose. I don’t mind if he treats me like I’m ten when we’re on set. But I wish he wouldn’t do that

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