Sarah~

"Watch out!" the crazy kid on the skateboard screams as he careens straight for my green bicycle. Panicking, I skid on some gravel, and collide head-on into a green lamp post. I tip over sideways, and crash onto the road, my bike on top of me, and my violin and bag below.I feel a shoot of pain as some rocks tear my arm, and a pedal hits my eye, which starts to swell up. I lay there for a second, the realize that I'm literally lying in the middle of the road.

My eye...

I push the bike off me, and get up, grabbing my violin and bag as I go. Wincing, I push my bike back over to the lamp post, and throw my bag into the basket on the handle bars. I am just about ready to head home, when a piece of paper blows into my face. Surprised, I bend down to pick it up, and the words, ‘Mableton Talent Show’ leap off the page. I could try out!

Oh no. It says on the sheet that I today is the day for auditions. If I don’t get to the theatre today, I won’t be able to try out for the talent show. But if auditions run late, and I’m not home by 8:00, I won’t be home in time for mom to get home from the late shift.

I can risk it.

I grab my violin, strap it to my back, and push the bike onto the curb, and begin pedaling in the direction of the old theatre. Ach. The wind, blowing against my face, stings my eye, and I take on hand off the handlebars to block the wind, but a little bit in front of the eye, that way I don’t limit my vision. If I can get to the theatre on time, maybe I can make it in time for auditions. Brown buildings whizz by, and I see the sun sink lower in the sky…

Now. For a song. I know I don’t have much to work with, but unknown to my family, I’ve been practicing Lindsey Stirling’s ‘Shadows’, which could work. I even have a bit of a dance choreographed, and the backup track downloaded onto my computer. Oh! And maybe if I have time to film before, I could film my shadow dancing, and project it. It’s a bit last minute but…

I slam on the brakes hard as the Walk sign at the crossroads in front of me turns to the red hand. “Fizz!” I groan, which is my replacement for other… unsavory words. If I don’t stop getting so distracted, I won’t stay alive, much less get to the theatre on time. The light turns green, and I sprint my bike across the crosswalk, and hustle to the theatre.

When I get to the Mableton Theatre, I hop off my bicycle, and place it in the bike rack outside the theatre. Grabbing my bag from the basket, I adjust the straps on my violin case, and open the door. It is just about to close when I notice a orange-haired boy wheeling a wheelchair quickly, trying to get to the door before it closes. I grab it, and hold it open for the boy, who gives me a friendly, “Thanks,” as he rolls through the door.

He’s super cute.

“You’re welcome,” I say, feeling self-conscious of the huge bruise that must be spreading over my eye. Great moment to get a shiner, Sarah. “I’m Sarah. What’s your name?”

“Toad,” he says, “What happened to you? Your eye looks pretty banged up.”

Oh great. He noticed. “Someone crashed into my bike. Nice to meet you. Is Toad your real name?”

“Of course not!” he laughs, but not a mean ‘you’re-so-wrong’ laugh. It’s a kind laugh, as if I made a really funny joke. Like how my dad used to laugh whenever I did something stupid. “It’s a cool nickname.”

“Oh, right. So, why are you here?”

“Talent show auditions. I play flute. You ask a lot of questions, you know that?” he says.

I laugh a little. “I know that. My dad says…” Oh, fizz. I didn’t mean to say that. “Well, you know.”

“I don’t,” he says earnestly. “So you play violin?”

“How did you know that?!” I say incredulously.

“The… case. You know, on your back?”

Oh, right. I must have seemed like an idiot just then. Why can’t I ever react well around really cute boys? Okay, fine, this is my first time acting like this, but Toad is supercute. “Oh, yeah. Forgot about that.”

He smiles. “Well, good luck, Sarah.”

“You too!” He remembered my name. I feel like I just had a heart attack just then. And why Mom says I’m good around people, I don’t know.

Looking down at the paper, I decide to go find Peter Caminski. I sorta know him from school, so he shouldn’t be too hard to find.

I walk into the auditorium, only to see that there are a lot of kids there. Some I’ve seen, some I don’t even know who they are. I see Peter, but before I have time to ask him I I can use a practice room to film a shadow, he marks me down on a clipboard, and ushers me into a line.

Oh, well. I don’t need a ‘shadow.’ I can do this. I have the music memorized, and nothing could possibly go wrong. I’m going to let the music guide my actions.

I just hope it’s enough.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Whew! So that turned out longer than I expected. Sorry If I used Toad too much, Bluebird, and sorry that I posted pretty late, Rose bud.

Weather report #4

The sunshine of hope and reunion and friendship is filling the skies, but it still doesn't wash away the darkness of some of our character's backstories...

So the auditions are going great, friendships are in the fragile stages of first meetings, but suddenly...two siblings who haven't seen each other for years recognize each other and the auditiions turn topsy-turvy. Guys, I need to tell Peter's story sometime (maybe y'all are so curious you request it and delay auditions?), BUT I'm supposed to be working on my Alexander Hamilton biography (yes, I chose the topic, how did you guess?) right now as today is a school day, so I don't have time to type up something that long. So keep going with your storylines, everything looks GREAT! I came up with Peter's backstory in the shower this morning, and it's pretty darn good even if I *borrowed* some bits of the plot from another popular story and turned it around backwards so it wouldn't be recognizable. Make sense? No? Okay. I'll get back to my biography then :P  

Violet~

Today I pulled a prank on Peter and Toad. It was a classic, trip on the string water falls on you. They didn't like it that much, but I couldnt help but laugh. So, I finally stopped l laughing and I asked them if I could go buy then a bite to eat because I pranked them. "Will this be another prank?" Toad asked me. "No, I am just hungry," I answered. They did the best friend "look" and decided to come.

While we walked (or wheeled) to the cafe I looked at the papers, one said "talent show at the theater! Show off your talents! Auditions next week!" As we went passed it I grabbed it and stuffed it in my pocket. "Oh! Look we are her!" I pointed out. We went in and I ordered a table, for three. "What name miss?" The host asked. "Violet," I told him. "Okay follow me," we followed behind him. He walked away after we took our seats and ate lunch. 

------------

Finally audition time! My heart beat faster and faster, while I was waiting for the auditions to open. I looked around and saw Toad. I wondered why he was there, but decided not to think about it. I turned around and saw a girl behind me. "Knock knock," I said to her. "Who's there?" She asked puzzeld. "Isabell," "Isabell who?" She asked. "Isabell not working I pushed 10 timed before knocking." I laughed at my own joke while she laughed with me (to be nice). Finally it was my turn to go audition. "Hello, my name is-" "Peter Caminski," I said bewildered. "Okay, Violet, do your stuff," At this time I did a hundred jokes and pranks to make him laugh. One prank he cracked up. Oh, man I hope that was enough to get me in.....

Mira~

I walk slowly into the theatre, my cello strapped to my back. Lots of kids are already there, warming up, looking around, talking quietly to each other. Although I am small for a fourteen year old, my short, poofy blond hair makes me stand out, as well as my huge instrument. I set it down and sit in one of the chairs next to a group of people who I don't know. There are only a few people here from my school, so they are mostly strangers. I catche snippets of their conversation, something about Peter Caminski, the person running the talent show, and his sister. Hmm. Interesting. I make myself comfortable, and wait to be called forward to audition.

OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS RPG (sorry couldn´t help myself!)

Tesha~

She was still a bit confused. Tesha guessed she should've known something was different about Anelia when she found her asleep in the lobby, especially after she spoke at first in another language. Looking at Peter now, she could sort of see the resemblance. What a coincidence that they came all the way from Poland and both ended up in Mableton.

"Okay, guys, give it up for Anelia and Tesha!" Peter says when things finally start to come down. Tesha wondered if the unexpected discovery of her brother would hinder Anelia's performance. She had faith in her partner, though. No matter how the skit turned out, Tesha hoped she'd get to know the girl more.

Acting in a play is tough as it is, but being the writer as well? Double the stress. A billion questions filled Tesha's brain, such as, What if they don't think my jokes are funny? What if it's badly written and I didn't realize until now? She took a deep breath. Looking at Anelia, she nodded, and they began.

When she said the first funny thing, the kids in the audience laughed, and it felt like one hundred pounds had been lifted off her shoulders. With every line, she gained more confidence, until she was bursting with emotion and acting better than she ever had before. Tesha even nailed the sort-of-awkward part at the end where she had to scream and hug Anelia in fright. They didn't drop a single line. At the end, they were applauded loudly. 

Tesha beamed and grabbed Anelia's hand, and they bowed together. She prayed a prayer of thanksgiving to whatever higher power there was. Peter said, "Great job, girls. Next up, Toad."

Sorry for any character control! 

Toad~

This week was getting stranger and stranger. First, his brother's secret, and then Peter's, and now, the girl. 

Toad wasn't one to get crushes easy, mainly because he didn't really care how people looked, and was instead attracted to personality. He had to admit she was pretty, but that's not why he suddenly found himself sneaking glances at her as other kids auditioned. There were three reasons- one, the first thing she had done was hold the door open, which is more helpful than you'd think for someone in a wheelchair. Two, she played an instrument, which meant they had at least one thing in common. Three, he was curious if she'd actually gotten her black eye from a bike crash. Who knows- maybe it was a fight. Toad remembered his brother coming home with black eyes like that.

He laughed as one of the two girls perfoming a skit told a joke. Everyone so far had been amazing- he hoped his piece would be enough to get in. When he looked over at Sarah for what seemed like the hundredth time, she met his gaze and smiled. Good luck, she mouthed.

"Next up, Toad." he heard. Fake it till you make it, he repeated in his head. When Toad went back, though, he found stairs leading up to the stage. "Peter?" He called, rolling back out. "I, um, I can't get up there."

"Oh my gosh, sorry. Do you want to just set up out here?" He asked. Toad nodded. "Maybe we can fix up a ramp or something."

He set up his stand and took out the sheet music. Toad played a single note, adjusted it a bit for tuning, then began to play the piece.

By the end, he was out of breath. The song was full of sixteenth notes, and his fingers had to move with incredible speed- fortunately, he'd been playing basketball since he could walk, which eventually gave you good hand-eye coordination and control over your hands. Toad looked at Sarah. She gave him a thumbs up, and he smiled. He would have to talk to her again after this was over.

Then, Peter called the next name, and the auditions continued. 

~Anelia (translated from Polish)

All through the rest of the auditions, I sit, stunned. My brother. My own long-lost brother. Right here in Mableton. It is a terrible and wonderful feeling, one that I can´t quite describe. Tesha sits beside me, asking if I´m all right. What a good friend. She reminds me- no, I won´t think about Natalia. It will only make me sad. Well, now I have another problem. Where will I sleep tonight?  I wonder if Piotr´s adopted parents will let me stay with them. Well, I'll just ask him after auditions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sorry if this is short, I have to go to school now :P 

Please please TOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mira~

I watch, impressed, the people that went before me audition. Acting, singing, flute-ing - it was all amazing. Finally, the boy in the wheelchair finished up, and the next name was called. "Mira Daiza."

I take a deep breath and cross my fingers, hoping I don't mess up this time. I had ended up playing hours a day in the week leading up to the audition - it was a difficult piece, and I had only played it perfectly once. I walk up on stage and sit down in a chair, setting up my music on the stand as I do so. I slide out the endpin, grateful that I had already applied rosin to my bow earlier on and didn't have to take any longer.

Peter nods at me, smiling, and I begin.

I play better than I ever have before, my nervousness eventually disappearing into nothingness as a smile takes it's place. Though I do miss a note or two, I cover it up perfectly so that you can't tell. My fingers fly into complicated patterns on the strings, and my bow brings out the rich, smooth sounds of the cello perfectly. There's even a quick, bouncy part with pizzicato in it (when you pluck the string instead of bowing,) a nice contrast to the rest of it. Finally, I play the dramatic ending, a series of sixteenth notes in quick succession, which include the harmony of playing on two strings at once. After the final note is played, the crowd claps, and I pick up to walk offstage.

Peter stops me just for a second. "That was amazing! What piece was it?"

"Oh, um, it doesn't have a name." He looks at me for a moment, confused, and I explain. "Well, it doesn't have a name yet. I wrote it a couple months ago. I couldn't find enough music that gave cello the melody instead of the background."

He nods. "Well, good job then."

I smile and thank him, and then take my seat as the next performer goes up to audition. 

Tesha~

The anxiety she had felt earlier was finally starting to wear off. Tesha enjoyed watching the other auditions- who knew that there were so many talented kids in Mableton! She was most proud of her partner, though. Anelia had done a tremendous job.

She thought about the girl, and how much of a shock it must've been for her to find her brother. Tesha couldn't even imagine what that would be like. She thought about how they'd met, when she'd found her in the lobby of her apartment building...

"Oh!" She nearly said aloud, remembering that someone was performing, and silenced herself. Anelia needed a place to stay. Tesha might be able to help with that.

The violinist finished her piece, and everyone applauded. She turned to Anelia. Maybe the girl could worth the risk. "Hey, um, do you still need a place to stay the night?"

~~~~~

I left it open-ended so you can decide, elementgirl. Top!!!