ly taken up by rehearsals, singing, finishing touches, costuming, and words of would-be inspiration from our directors.Opening night. I was dressed in a skirt, blouse, and apron. I sat in the small music room just offstage, trying to remember all of my cues, lines, and expressions. All right, I was supposed to tilt my head up to the lights, project my voice, and if I dropped a line, improvise within my character... I had learned a phenomenal amount of things within a only a few months, and I hoped I wouldn't forget anything. I tried not to touch my face as I went through lines, because the makeup that was caked on my face seemed to smudge quite easily. The age lines that were drawn in to make me appear older were just slightly smudged already. My train of thought stopped momentarily as a door opened, and in walked Lucas, dressed in his costume also. Smiling, he walked over to me and held out a white carnation."Break a leg.""Um, thanks," I stammered as I grasped the flower, "you too."He turned around and left. I placed the carnation nearby my backpack, and wondered why I anyone would wish me to break a leg.A few minutes later, calm and cool, I walked toward the stage, entering from the main door. I walked halfway across the gymnasium, which had been completely rearranged and decorated in black for this play. I walked up the three steps to the stage. I turned to face the audience. And I saw them. The whole town, sitting there, watching me. I swear a sweat drop rolled down my jaw line, and all of the lines that I had worked so hard to remember flew right out the window. I didn't know what to say. It was if the weight of the world had been placed squarely on my head. In that split second that I lost all of my composure, just as fast, I regained it. I shook it off. The lines came flooding back, and I resumed my character. I threw my whole heart and soul into my performance. Adrenaline was rushing through my blood, and I...
