“Jeremy, what if my mom won’t let me go to NYC?” she asked.
“Well, if she won’t let you go, we’ll just have to bring NYC to you,” he said. “You are going to be in this show if it kills me. They can’t let great talent like yours pass by.” he said determinedly.
“Yeah, I hope you’re right. I never thought I was that good” Kalle admitted.
“Well, people are always harder on themselves then they are on other people.” he explained. “When I was first getting started, I thought I sucked!”
“Really? You don’t have anything to worry about, Jeremy, you are awesome! I considered you my idol before I met you.” Kalle said, wishing she had NOT said that out loud.
“Wow, really? That’s really sweet of you,” he replied, smiling warmly at her.
“Yeah, I mean you dance, sing, act.....when I saw you onstage in February, I couldn’t believe my eyes!” she rambled on...and on...telling him about her whole Footloose expericence...he remained speechless until she finished.
“That’s awesome. I didn’t think I ever affected anyone like that. I mean, all the fans just go nuts and scream ‘I love you’ at the top of their lungs when I meet them....but you, are different. I know you’re sincere about all this.” Jeremy was definitely getting closer to Kalle. She was a wonderful person, and from then on he decided to not let her miss a chance at Broadway. He HAD to get her mother to say yes!
“Well, here we are again.” Kalle said with a sigh, standing outside the hotel room. She could just imagine her mother saying ‘NO’ without even hearing what Jeremy had to say. She hoped to God that she listened for once.
“Let’s get ready to rummmmbbbbleeeee...” Jeremy joked. “Is your mom really that strict?”
“Yeah, she’s hell to get along with. She doesn’t trust me very much, so usually she won’t let me do anything.” she replied sadly. She didn’t want to disappoint Jeremy after all the hard work he had done, getting her that audition and all.
“Are you ready?” she asked, her hand ready to knock on the door.
“As ready as I’ll ever be! Let’s go charm our way to NYC!” He laughed. He had a great sense of humor.
Kalle knocked on the door to her mom’s room and waited for a response.
“Kalle, is that you?” she heard her mom from the inside.
“Yeah mom, it’s me. Open up!” she called.
“Ok, just a second.” then her mom opened the door. She stood there a minute, then cautiously let her daughter and Jeremy in.
“So, how was your day at the studio?” she added with a smirk.
“Fine.” Kalle said without much enthusiasm. “Mom, Jeremy has something he’d like to tell you.”
“Ok, Jeremy, shoot.”
Jeremy gave Kalle a nervous glance and began. “Well Mrs. McGregor, at the studio today I sang with Kalle andrealized she has a great voice. I think she has the potential to succeed in the music business. I talked it over with her, and she has agreed that she wants to audition for my show, Footloose. I already have an interview and audition planned.” he said, crossing his toes inside his shoes.
“Oh really? That’s funny, because whenever I hear her sing, she sounds like crap,” her mom retorted.
“Yes, I’m serious. We ran through a number of the songs from Footloose today, and she sung them all with great expertise. To me she sounds no different from the current Ariel in our show, Jennifer Laura Thompson.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see some proof,” her mother said with another smirk.
“Ok, as I was saying...” Jeremy started in again.
“Wait--Jeremy let me say something.” Kalle cut in. “Sorry for interrupting.’’
“Oh, no problem. Go ahead Kalle,” he said, gesturing to her that she had the floor.
“Ok, Mom, LISTEN to me. Don’t pretend like you are listening, just hear me out. I went to Jeremy’s studio today just to have fun, but when we were singing, I felt at home on the stage. I love to sing, and as you can tell, the chorus program at school does NOTHING for me. I really want to see if I have what it takes to make it on Broadway. I won’t be gone for only a couple days for the interview and audition, and you OBVIOUSLY won’t miss me. Why can’t you just let me do that?” she pleaded. She was desperate now.
Suddenly Kalle’s mom got a serious look on her face. She thought for a second, and then said, “Kalle, I have to be honest with you now. You know that I’ll don’t mean the things that I say, and I realize that I always don’t give you the attention and support that you deserve. I was just joking when I said you sounded like crap. I think you have a wonderful voice and you are very talented. If you really want to do this, then I guess I can’t stop you. Just have all the arrangements ready for me to look at by next week, and I’ll let you go. I realize how important this must be to you, and I’m sorry for not believing in you sooner.” her mom said, with a look of sympathy on her face. “The truth is, I have always believed in you. I’m just so stressed out from dealing with Brett and work and your father that I am too short tempered to listen to what you have to say. I’m sorry, and I love you.”
Kalle was touched and amazed that her mom was saying this....who is this lady and what did she do with my mom??
“Mom, it’s ok, I love you too! Thank you soooooooooo much!!!” she cried, giving her mom a big hug, truly loving her for the first time in a long time. Then she looked over at a smiling Jeremy. “Jeremy, we’re going to NYC!!” she beamed.
