Page 13 of Welcome Home to Ivy Falls

A boy in the front row who looked to be around twelve shot up his hand. ‘Is this going to be like the movie my mom made me watch? It was ancient and the animation was kind of sketch.’ The kids around him snickered.

‘No. This is going to be a shorter version made for younger actors. And I’ll have you know that both Julie Andrews, who played the nanny Mary Poppins, and Dick Van Dyke, who played Bert, won numerous awards for their roles in the movie, so it’d be good to show a little respect.’

The room went quiet and I went on.

‘I’ll call out your names and the roles you’re playing based on the recent auditions. I want you to come to the stage and fill the seats.’ I pointed to a circle of plastic chairs set up behind me.

Some kids stared with wide eyes. Others played on their phones.

I started with the character of Mary Poppins. A teen girl named Autumn popped up and moved to the stage. Next, I called out who would be playing the chimney sweep, Bert. A familiar kid with shaggy brown hair approached. Dex. A few days ago, he’d taken me out with his rogue skateboard at the P&P.

My mind flashed to that cute guy I’d dumped an entire iced latte all over. How I’d stupidly tried to dry him off in not-so-appropriate places. My heart sped up and heat filled my cheeks.

This was what I did. Let myself spiral over things I couldn’t change. I focused on my breathing and the kids who were waiting on my next directions.

Dex sauntered up the stairs and gave me a mischievous grin like he remembered the coffee disaster too.

The rest of the cast found their own chairs. I walked to a small table set stage right and grabbed a round wicker basket. ‘First rule. No phones during rehearsals. You’ll get them back when practice is over.’

The kids grumbled but willingly dumped their phones. I set the basket under the table and grabbed a stack of papers. A wayward, frizzy curl drooped over my cheek and I tucked it back behind my ear.

‘Let’s begin with an easy question. How many of you have done a musical before?’

Autumn raised her hand. ‘This is my fourth year. I played Dorothy in Oz! – last year’s production.’

‘Great. You can help me show the new kids the ropes.’

Her gaze danced over the rings on my fingers and then moved to my faded gray T-shirt.

‘What’s CEE BEE GEE BEE?’ she asked.

‘It was a legendary spot in New York where some amazing bands and musical artists used to play. They closed it down a long time ago.’

‘I heard you were an actress,’ she said eagerly. ‘Did you live there?’

That got everyone’s attention.

‘Yes. I had an apartment in Greenwich Village.’

‘Why did you come back here? This place is boooooring,’ Dex said snidely.

A few kids giggled. The others stared at me like wide-eyed barn owls.

‘Ivy Falls is where I grew up. In fact, I did a few shows in this theater myself when I was younger.’

None of them were impressed except Autumn, whose stare was now fixed on the two small gold hoops pierced through the cartilage on the top of my left ear.

‘Why don’t we get started,’ I said, moving around the circle. ‘These are your scripts. You can make notes in the margins if you want, but do not lose them. We don’t have the funding to order a ton of replacements.’

The kids started flipping through the pages.

‘We’ll start at the beginning with me voicing the intro. When you see your character’s name, you’ll read that line.’

Two boys to my left shifted anxiously in their chairs.

‘Your lines can be read simply for now. When we get more practice, you can add your own voice to it.’

Autumn raised her hand. ‘Miss Piper.’ She blushed. ‘Is it okay if we call you that?’