“Things are getting dicey here, so I’d better go. Be on the lookout for both
“Cut!” Art called out.
Dad sat down next to me with a huge smile on his face. We were being total fanboys. I really wanted this role.
◊◊◊
“We’ll get you a video you can ‘leak,’” Joyce said, making air quotes.
“So, when do I start?” I asked.
Saul choked on something while Dad just shrugged.
“You and Aden were the last two to audition. We’ll cut down to a top three. You’re my dark horse right now. We’ve seen a couple of actors who tested well. I want to get your audition tape run through the process. I have a feeling your test numbers will be high. My issues are that you’re too young, too tall, and too athletic. I think it might be a combination of your modeling and martial arts that make you move so well. Harrison Ford was none of those things, and his acting showed that in the first movie. He did get better as he gained experience.
“All that being said, there’s a reason you were asked to be here. Your work on
“Like I told you last night, you might not get this job. I don’t think that would be the end of the world for you, because you will get roles. There are some other projects I have in mind that might, in fact, be better for you,” Joyce said.
“I hope that wasn’t you just now eliminating me from consideration,” I said.
“No. We had thousands of auditions, and the eleven other actors you’re up against all made it through that process. I’ve told all of them pretty much the same thing I’ve told you. My point is to make sure you have your expectations set so that if you don’t get the job, you won’t think you didn’t measure up.”
I thanked her for her time and waited until we got into the car.
“Did we get it?” I asked Saul.
“I think they have their minds made up, and it isn’t you,” he admitted.
“Why do you say that?” Dad asked.
“I think the video David shot was his parting gift. If he’d won the role, they would have kept it under wraps.”
I’d never seen Saul not believe he could get me a role, but I appreciated him giving an honest opinion. If this kept up, I might start liking him as a person. Of course, I would never admit that to Caryn. She had to work with him, and I think he had too much fun calling her ‘Princess.’ I’d tried it once. Let’s just say I was lucky she didn’t quit on me.
◊◊◊
Dad and I packed up to go back home. Saul and his wife planned to stay for a week for a much-needed vacation. We wanted to get back so we’d have a day to reacclimate to the time change before we had to do anything else at home—like (OMG) school. Our flight would leave London at 7 p.m., which would make it only 1 p.m. in Chicago. With an eight-hour flight, it would only be 9 p.m. when we landed back home. I hoped that since we were only here a short time, we’d be fine.
◊◊◊
Chapter 18 – A Slight Miscalculation Sunday March 6
When we came back from church, it was only the three of us: Mom, Dad, and me. We had a light lunch, and I joined Dad to watch the Bears lose another game. That was when someone buzzed from the front gate. Dad switched the TV to see who it was, and it was Coach Diamond. I met him at the front door.
“Hey, Coach, come in,” I said and took his coat.
While I hung it up, Dad greeted him, and he took a seat to watch the game.
“This isn’t a social call,” he said, getting down to business. “I’ve come to ask for a favor.”
Coach Diamond had been my offensive coordinator last fall before he took the head coaching job at Washington. He’d also coached baseball, and I’d heard he was now their head baseball coach, too. As it happens, our first baseball game was against them this Saturday at Washington.
“You need me to give you some coaching tips,” I teased.
Between Bo Harrington, Coach Mason, and me, Coach Diamond had learned a lot. Of course, he’d also taught me a lot.
“The reason I’m here is I need your help with a fundraiser. Our booster club wants to raise funds to make improvements to our facilities. In particular, we want to raise enough to get a decent weight room, similar to what you have at Lincoln High. We plan to stage a fundraiser before our game on Saturday. I wanted to see if you’d come over early and sign some pictures or whatever you Hollywood-types do.”
“What all are you planning?” Dad asked as Mom joined us.
“We thought we’d have a petting zoo, maybe some pony rides. The high school band would play, and we’d set up a food tent. All that, and David would be there to sign autographs … Oh, and then there’s the baseball game.”
“How many people do you think will show up?” Mom asked.
