“It’s going so much better than the dress rehearsal,” Jessie said to Henry as she raced by him between scenes.
“I can tell,” Henry said as he brought one of the switches down to the off position.
Nancy caught Jessie’s eye and put her finger to her lips. Although she tried to look stern, she couldn’t resist giving the Aldens a big smile. Jim had told her about catching Mr. Bellamy before the show, but she had had no time to thank the Aldens. Now she stood in the wings and quickly turned the pages of her script. As stage manager, she had to make sure everyone was on stage at the right time.
When the curtain fell on the final scene, the audience clapped and cheered. Sarah and Harold each received a standing ovation. Indeed, the audience applauded so hard, Sarah and Harold came on stage three times to take their bows. The third time, Sarah received a huge bouquet of red and white roses.
Sarah, Jessie, and Melody hugged one another in the dressing room. Soon the stage doors opened. Friends and relatives streamed backstage to congratulate the performers.
Grandfather stopped into the dressing room with Joe, Alice, Mr. Bellamy, and the woman in the big coat.
“You girls were wonderful,” Grandfather told Jessie, Sarah, and Melody. They all beamed at him.
“Sarah, I’m so proud of you,” Mr. Bellamy said. He choked a little over his next words. “I was wrong to try to stop you. You’re really gifted, just like your mother.”
“Oh, Dad, I’m so happy!” Sarah threw her arms around her father and hugged him for a very long time.
“You’re going to be even happier.” Sarah’s father smiled at her as he stepped back to put his hand behind the woman in the big coat. “I’d like to introduce you to Marilyn Morris. She’s a theatrical agent from New York. She’d like you to be her client.”
“I wrote to you,” Sarah said as she shook her agent’s hand. She looked dumbfounded. “I sent you my resume and a picture.”
“So that’s what you had in that mysterious manila folder you wouldn’t let us see,” Jessie teased. Sarah nodded sheepishly.
“I wrote to Ms. Morris also,” Harold said as he came by to offer his congratulations. “I told her she needed to come and discover you.” As he finished speaking, Harold lifted off his helmet.
“You’re Andrew Tompkins, the Broadway actor! Harold’s not your name at all.” Sarah could not contain her excitement. “What are you doing here?”
“You’re the man we saw in the pizzeria!” Benny blurted out. “Everyone recognized you except me.”
“I had to take a vacation from Broadway for health reasons, but I wanted to do some acting,” Andrew explained. “I wanted to go somewhere I wouldn’t be recognized. Only Jim knew my secret, but some of you came close to guessing,” he added, smiling at the Aldens.
“I think we should all go out to celebrate,” Grandfather suggested.
“I agree,” Benny said.
“I’ll never forget this evening as long as I live,” Sarah said, looking pleased and proud.
“None of us will,” Jessie said.
“Let’s eat,” Benny added, smiling happily. |