JACK'S ROSE
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rose sat on the plush couch in Gretchen's dressing
room, thread wrapped around her finger, the needle stuck in the top of the
spool laying on the cushion beside her, as she had been for almost an hour. She
leapt up once more at the sound of footsteps in the hall and rushed to the
door. Rose looked out, searching for the actress, but saw no sign of her. She
sighed and resumed her position on the couch.
Her mind was reeling. She couldn't believe
they were coming! She could not wait. It was only nine days until they arrived.
Each day, Rose grew more and more anxious and excited. Fear welled inside her
as well. Would they resent her? Hold anger against her? Would her Nathan
recognize her?
Rose quickly stood as Susan and her brother
burst into the room.
"Where is Gretchen? Have you not seen
her, Rose? She's nowhere to be found! The show begins in thirty minutes, and
our lead actress is nowhere to be found! What to do? What to do?" he asked
frantically. "Susan!" His sister jumped. "Are you at a loss for
ideas? At a time like this?"
Rose tried her best to hide her laughter. He
looked so comical when he was stressed or angered.
But it was no laughing matter.
Rose could hear the musicians tuning their
instruments and the pre-show chatter coming from the audience. She frowned.
"Actually, Michael, I do have an idea."
Susan turned to Rose. "Rose can do it." Rose's eyes grew wide.
"No...no...I don't know the lines,
Susan," Rose hissed.
"Yes, you do. I heard you last night,
Rose. You were reciting the entire play."
"I can't, Susan."
"Come on, Rosie! We don't have any other
choices! You have to!" Susan pleaded. Rose looked at her friend.
"Susan—"
"Rose..."
"Ugh! All right! All right! I'll do
it!" Rose threw her arms up in the air in defeat.
"Well, good, then. Let's get you
ready!"
Michael turned away and left Susan to prepare
Rose for her debut performance.
*****
Susan stood to the side of the curtains,
watching as her friend danced about the stage, the lines pouring out of her.
Gretchen's mother had been an actress and her mother had been an actress before
that, and yet she still did not have the skill and passion this amateur held.
Michael stood on the other side of the stage, his nails in his mouth. Susan
turned away and bit her lip, trying desperately not to laugh at her brother.
And she knew Rose had found her new place
among the theater family.