Anne-Marie Varga
Petoskey High School, 12th
Mr. Young
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Fate
Not to brag, but I’ve always felt that I have a future in theatre. I’m not yet ready to be the next
Kristin Chenoweth, but it’s just that theatre was meant for me. Some people may criticize that I’ve
never even auditioned for a play, which may be true. But still. A calling is a calling. I mean, I walk around
constantly wishing life were like High School Musical. How ah-mazing would it be if we all could just
break out into choreographed dances? Besides, this year was my year. Auditions for the spring musical
were coming up and I just knew I was meant to be the female lead.
“Lizzie! You ready for today’s auditions?” My best friend, Alice, bellowed from across the hall.
“Alice, I’ve told you a million times. It’s Eliza. Remember? I’m going for serious here.”
She mockingly raised her eyebrows, but the rest of the day went smoothly. By that I mean that I spent it
staring wistfully into space, fretting the end of school and the beginning of the auditions. Curse my
nerves.
“You okay?” Alice asked during lunch, while studying Biology notes.
“Golden.” I smiled, shrugging my shoulders, like it was no big deal, while inwardly screaming “KILL ME.
WHAT KIND OF FRIEND WOULD LET ME AUDITION!?!” At that moment, the great love of my life (who
doesn’t quite know it yet) approached.
“Hey Lizzie! Are you auditioning today?” Momentarily forgetting how to speak, I nodded my head.
Alice, bless her heart, chirped in, “Quinton, her name’s Eliza now.” Seriously, kill me.
Looking confused, Quinton began to turn away. “Righttt. See you at auditions, Lizz – Eliz… bye.” I glared
at Alice who was convulsing into giggles.
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You ARE ready for this, Eliza. You have a calling! How hard can singing in public be? I repeatedly calmed
myself, but the nerves persisted. Alice sat with me, waiting for auditions to start.
“You’ll do great!” She reassured me. “After all, isn’t theatre is your ‘calling’?”
“Uh… yeah, sure,” I squeaked.
“But I have to ask,” she added, “have you ever had a singing lesson?”
I pursed my lips and glowered. Alice smirked.
“Alrighhhhhht everyone! I’m soo glad that you all could join us! We’re going to have suchhh fun.” The
drama teacher, Ms. Dridston, has a habit of emphasizing at least one word in every sentence. Seriously.
Some people are just so dramatic.
She blathered about the auditions, how we were each were required to stand on stage, sing a short song
of our choosing, and read from the script.
IN FRONT OF EVERYONE.
I twitched. It’s one thing to perform for just one person. But in front of everyone? Oh gosh, they’ll all
snicker about how my navy cardigan doesn’t actually match my striped tank top (It was a stressful
morning). And Quinton! He’ll wonder “Dear God, who is this girl? I don’t even know her name.” And I
won’t get the lead in the play and I’ll he’ll never fall in love with me, and the great love of my life will be
ripped from me forever.
Alice detected my stress, and patted my leg reassuringly. Ms. Dridston believed that “chivalry should be
everywhere”, so girls auditioned first. Alice and I watched as countless girls took the stage, sang tearful
renditions of Justin Beiber and Taylor Swift, and delivered various histrionic scenes. Too soon, it was my
turn.
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Chill, Eliza, I told myself, You’ve got this.
I walked center stage, feeling blood rush to my face. You most certainly do not ‘got’ this.
Ms. Dridston smiled warmly and Alice gave me a double thumbs up. I saw Quinton, who winked at me.
OH MY GOSH HE WINKED AT ME!!!! At least I think it was a wink… maybe his eye twitched or
something…
I was still contemplating the twtich when the music began. With nothing else to do, I sang Taylor Swift’s
“You Belong With Me,” delivered my scene and shuffled offstage.
“Crushed it,” Alice said as I sat down. I couldn’t quite decipher whether or not she was sincere.
Quinton was called next. As he passed me he shot me a smile and said “Good job.” My heart melted
into butter.
Standing at center stage Quinton chose to deliver his scene first. He spoke, evoking so much emotion
and bringing such power to the stage, that I couldn’t stop my jaw from dropping. I listened in awe, and
felt that familiar longing in my chest. The way he became a whole new person, with such little effort and
with such grace, almost made my heart burst.
Yup, I totally love him.
He sang a Bob Seger melody and too quickly he had finished.
“Close your mouth,” Alice told me, lifting her hand to my chin.
With auditions completed, Mrs. Dridston stood at the microphone.
“Everyone was absolutely wonderful. Honestly, it’ll be so hard to choose parts!” She announced, “Cast
list will be posted tomorrow morning!”
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“Alice! Hurry!! We have to see the cast list!” I hastened my best friend into school.
“Oh, you’re fine. It’ll still be there in five minutes.”
We made our way down the hall. I spotted Quinton at Ms. Dridston’s room. I nudged toward Quinton
and looked at the list. Quinton, of course, nabbed the male lead. And my role was…
“THE COW?!?” I exclaimed. “I got the part of the cow?!?!”
Oh my goodness, my life is such a joke. It’s over! I’m seventeen and my life is over. Alice was consumed
with laughter, and even Quinton cracked a smile.
“I thought this was your calling?!?!” Alice chortled.
“You’re a very important cow, “Quinton added.
I silenced him with a look, but he continued grinning. “Come on,” he said, “I’ll walk you to class.” I
nodded and broke into a Cheshire cat grin.
“You know,” he began, “on the plus side, my character owns the cow. So we’ll be spending plenty of
time together…”
My heart started dancing. I so totally knew theatre was my calling.