SCENE 10

 

Lana can’t believe what is happening.  With raised, contentious voices, her parents are discussing her future.  Will she stay in Twinbrook with her mother?  Or return to Sunset Valley with her father?

When the conversation started, her mother and father made it clear to her that she could choose.  Seraphina mentions a ‘no-fault’ divorce.

Hal makes it clear they are trying to avoid a custody battle.

Lana is reeling because all she can think about is Greer.

“How can I consider staying here if there is a chance she is going to move Darren Van Ryn into this house?” Lana asks, indicating her mother and her boyfriend, the creepy school guidance counselor.  Lana remembers the clown painting in his office and shivers.

“Why is everything being dumped on me?” Her mother responds in frustration.  “I’m not a villain and neither is Darren.”

“I can’t make up my mind this instant,” Lana cries out.  She is starting to feel resentful and her anger is building in intensity.  “I like my school–”

“You like that boy!”  Her mother interrupts.

“What boy?” her father asks.

“How do you know about him?”  Lana’s lower lip starts to tremble as she feels tears of humiliation coming on.

“I’m your mother, Lana, and I’ve been very respectful of the idea that you want to keep him a secret.  Why, I don’t know.”

Lana explodes.  “You wouldn’t approve!  You don’t like anything that I want to do and you are so strict, it isn’t fair.”

Hal rises from the table.  “Lana is right, we can’t force her to decide right now.  Let her sleep on it.  But sweetheart, please remember one thing.  You are very young.  Making this decision based on a teeny-bopper romance would not be wise.”

Lana leaps from the table.  “We’re in love,” she virtually shrieks and runs to her room, sobbing.

Entering her room, Lana sees Bun Bun Bear.  She almost has an impulse to kick him, as he seems to be a cruel reminder of her once-happy childhood but she refrains and sweeps him into her arms instead.  I’m not a baby anymore.  I have a boyfriend and I DO love him very much.

She crawls into bed, her face wet with tears, her chest hitching with sobs.  At last, exhausted from crying, she falls asleep.

The next few days pass quickly.  Lana and the other students work hard every afternoon to polish the play to perfection.  In Greer’s presence she finds herself behaving cool and aloof.  He is so wrapped up in his director duties, he doesn’t seem to notice.  But when opening night arrive, she decides she must speak to him.  In a brief email, she asks him to meet her in the dressing room after the cast party.

Arriving early, Lana lays out everything she will need for the evening to go well.  Soon the dressing room fills up with excited players.  Lana works hard that first performance to get everyone in and out of their costumes.  She expertly styles the actors’ hair and applies their makeup with precision.  Choosing to stay in the dressing room throughout the night, she only enters the theater to see the curtain-call.

Then she goes out to the old amphitheater behind the school to celebrate the night’s success.

Many of the people from the audience make their way to Branham to congratulate him on his incredible portrayal of Puck, the mischievous court jester who provides much of the humor in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Molly provides entertainment to the crowd dressed like a Mod dancer on a 1960’s pop music show.  “So go Downtown, things will be great when you’re Downtown, no finer place for sure Downtown, everything’s waiting for yoooouuuuuu!”

Greer’s mother, Bridgit, approaches Lana with a welcoming smile.

“You’ve made my son so happy!” She gushes.  Lana’s stomach sinks.  She still has not settled on what she is going to say to Greer.  Will  his mother think so highly of her after tonight?

Bridgit begins a long, meandering story that Lana has trouble following.  Out of the corner of her eye, she has spotted her drama teacher, Genet Joyce, deep in conversation with Darren Van Ryn.  Lana recalls her meeting in his office again, his harsh words about the Drama Club and Ms. Joyce.  She almost wishes he would have talked her out of joining, then she would never have met Greer and wouldn’t be in the situation she is now.

Then Greer appears with a plate of cookies and offers her one.  “You haven’t eaten all night,” he says but she refuses the sweet treat.  Her nerves are too bunged up to keep anything down.

“I’m headed back to the theater now.  Are you still going to meet me?” Lana asks, her voice serious.

Greer nods and sets the plate down.  “Let’s walk together,” he suggests, and gently reaches for her hand.

Together they enter the now quiet performance space.  Greer seems to sense the gravity of Lana’s mood and neither speak as they descend the stairway leading to the dressing room.  Lana’s heart feels as if it has climbed into her throat and lodged there, making it impossible to speak.

Opening the door, they survey the room and are only met by racks of costumes.  Lana is relieved that at last she is alone with Greer and now she can speak with him candidly.

“Lana, you look so pretty tonight.”  Greer starts to embrace her but Lana pulls away.  Her boyfriend looks especially handsome as well but she did not come here to exchange sweet nothings.

“Greer, I have something to tell you,” she begins.  She starts to feel a little choked up but suppresses the oncoming tears.  She needs to be strong.

“My parents are getting a divorce,” she says and then proceeds to tell him everything that has taken place.  She starts with finding her mother in the arms of Darren Van Ryn and ends with the decision she is now facing.  Greer looks crestfallen.

d“Please don’t be sad for me, Greer.  Don’t be sad for us, ” she says in a tremulous whisper.  She strokes his clean-shaven cheek and he reaches up and takes her hand.

“I am sad,” he answers.  “I don’t want you to leave me.”

“But,” he continues. “I don’t want you to make this decision based on what has happened between us.”

Lana is a little taken aback.  Her relationship with Greer is the most important factor in her decision, or so she thought.

“You know I made some very bad decisions because I thought I was in love,” Greer reminds her.

“If you stay here and Darren Van Ryn moves in with your mother, you’ll be resentful.  That resentment may be aimed at me.  I don’t want that scenario to take place, Lana.  I don’t want you to end up thinking you made a mistake” Greer explains.

“Staying with you isn’t a mistake but…”Lana falters.  She knows that he is right.

“I love my Daddy so much!” Lana declares.  “I love my mother, too.  I don’t want to go back to an all-girls school, I like Twinbrook High.  I love the Drama Club and I love you, Greer.  But the thought of that horrible man living in my house is too much to bear.”

“Lana, I think you have made your decision,” Greer says quietly.

“Do you understand?” Lana pleads.  Greer nods.  She leans forward and gives him a quick kiss.  “Thank you.  I thought you would be so angry.”

“I want the best for you, beautiful girl,” he answers, kissing her back long and passionately.  They return to the party and later, reluctantly, say goodnight.

Lana’s father decides they will stay in town for the last two performances of Lana’s play.  He recognizes how important it is to his daughter.  But when Monday arrives, he is up early, loading Lana’s suitcases into the car.  With a heavy heart and a confused mind, she walks to the car, wondering for the hundredth time if she has made the right choice.  Then she hears a familiar sound.

It is the sputtering engine of Greer’s ancient vehicle.  He parks in front of the house and crosses the lawn determinedly to where she is standing.  Lana self-consciously reaches up and pats her hair.  It has grown out somewhat but Greer has never seen her without her extensions.

“I wanted to say goodbye,” he says.

“You’re supposed to be in school,” Lana chides him but she is thrilled he has skipped out to come and see her off.

“I need to ask you something.  It’s really important…well, to me it is and I hope it will be to you, too.  I”m going to ask you this question and you don’t have to answer me now.  I want you to think about it, okay?”  Greer’s voice is filled with earnest.  Lana nods, unsure of what is coming next.  Greer takes a deep breath and in a rush of words says, “Will you come home next spring and go to Prom with me?”

For a moment, Lana is speechless.  She thought that by leaving, she was effectively ending their relationship.  But here is Greer in front of her, effectively asking for an extension.

“Don’t answer me now,” he repeats.  “Think about it, okay?”  She nods again.

“One more question,” Greer asks.

“Greer, I’ve got to go,” Lana impresses on him.

“Will  you kiss me again?”  Lana demurs and their lips meet tenderly.

They are interrupted by the loud sound of Hal clearing his throat.

“The least you could do is introduce yourself, young man,” Hal chastises Greer.

Greer is quick to put out his hand and the two firmly shake.

“I’m Greer.  I only came here to say goodbye to Lana but it is nice to meet you, Sir.”

“I’m Hal and it is nice to meet you, too.  I’m afraid we have to leave now, we have a long drive ahead of us.”

Lana reluctantly climbs in her father’s sports sedan.  Looking out the window, she sees Greer waving and she lifts her hand and waves back, then leans back in the seat with a loud, dejected sigh.

“Come on, Lana.  Your mother expects you to visit her on occasion.  You might see him again.”

She shrugs.  “Can we just not talk right now, Daddy?”  Leaning forward, she presses the power button on the radio.  She closes her eyes and drifts off, feeling so tired from the stress of the last week.

The arrival of the car in the driveway wakens Lana.  She looks up at her old house and feels the first twinge of happiness that she has felt in a long time.  She goes to her room and puts Bun Bun on the floor, then looks around.  The room looks almost babyish to her, for the last few months have brought on a maturity she did not have the last time she stood in this room.

Stretching out on her worn quilt, she considers everything that has happened while she was away.  Her mind wanders to Greer and his proposal.  It was so tempting to tell him yes, of course she would return to Twinbrook for the Prom.  But that was several months away.  She didn’t want to be rash, so much could change in their time apart.

After some consideration, she slides off her bed and walks to her desk.  Her laptop sits, waiting to become the conduit between her and the boy she already misses terribly.  Lana is torn.  She does not want to make a promise she cannot keep.  And if she agrees to accompany him, does it create an understanding between them that the relationship still exists?

She lifts the top of the computer and turns it on.  The familiar chime sounds, alerting her the computer is powered up and waiting for her next command.  Opening her email, she takes a deep breath, enters Greer’s address and begins typing.

SCENE 9

“Okay, you are going to come into the center of the stage,” Greer calls out to Frankie and Colby, the youngest actors in his production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’  Lana watches from a seat at the rear of the performance space, trying to determine if the gossamer wings she has  carefully crafted will be seen clearly by the audience.

Lana enjoys watching Greer direct the little thespians but she can see they are growing weary of the rehearsal.  Greer has a tendency to use big words that the children rarely comprehend.

“Colby, could you skip and dance a bit? A fairy should be ebullient!”  The little girl nods but Lana can tell by the look on her face she has no idea what ebullient means.  Lana doesn’t even know what it means but Greer forges on, oblivious.  “I think we might get you a drum or a tambourine, Frankie, some kind of a whimsical instrument to play.”

Greer next summons Seneca and Horatio onstage.  She is playing Titania, the beautiful reigning Queen of the forest and all its magical creatures.  He is her estranged partner, Oberon, the King.  Lana is pleased that her makeup skills are passing muster under the hot, bright spotlights.

In a quiet, encouraging manner, Greer makes some suggestions.  Then he leaves the stage and allows Seneca and Horatio to practice some of their complicated lines.  It is incredibly difficult for the young actors to deliver Shakespeare’s words with just the right nuance but they valiantly give it their best effort.  “Don’t forget to project,” Greer reminds the performers and they raise the volume of their voices accordingly.

Colby and Frankie are restlessly fidgeting.  “What am I supposed to do while they are talking?” the girl asks.

“Yeah, we’re just standing here, it’s boring!”  the boy complains.

Greer returns to the stage but before he can speak, Seneca comes up with some ideas.  “Colby, how about we get some silk flowers and you can string on a necklace?”  The child nods with little enthusiasm.  “Frankie, my brother has a set of marbles, would you like to play with those?”  He shrugs, his interest in the situation nearly non-existent.

At last the rehearsal is drawing to a close.  Greer gathers the band of actors around to give them some final notes.  The two children seem so tired.  Lana listens to her boyfriend for a moment and then interrupts, in an exasperated tone.  “Greer, I think Frankie and Colby have done enough today!”  Greer is surprised by Lana’s outburst of annoyance but concedes and dismisses everyone.

After the players have gone to the dressing rooms, Lana and Greer find themselves alone.

“Greer, I hope you don’t mind I said what I said,” Lana is quick to remark.  She knows he has to hurry off to his job at the grocer–if he is annoyed, she doesn’t want to make it worse.

He shakes his head.  “Lana, there are things that have happened in my life that I’m not proud of.  Things I feel really insecure about.  But when I’m in this theater, I believe in myself.  I know I can direct this play, direct well…impress our audience…win that competition.  But I’m not perfect.  I’m glad you’re here to help.”

They kiss goodbye but there are no mentions of “I love you” again,  as they are both testing out the concept and they are not really sure what it entails.  Greer offers to drive her home but she declines.  The grocer is so close to the school, she does not want to make him drive out of the way and risk being late.  She walks home at a leisurely pace.  She climbs the stairs, walks in the kitchen and finds a wonderful surprise.

“Daddy!”  Lana rushes to her father.

He grabs her into a hug.  “How’s my girl?”

“I’m excited you’re here! Did you come to see the play?”  She had eagerly emailed him the schedule of performances though she doubted he could make it.  Now here he is, a week before the opening.

“Of course.  But Lana, I’m here for a very important reason.  I need to talk to you about something.  You’re mother insisted I be the one to tell you.”  His shoulders lift and fall in a protracted sign and his face becomes a mask of concern.

 “Sometimes people can say they’re in love and they can think they’re in love,” he begins but his words fade away and he sighs again, this time more of an aggravated huff.

Lana blushes furiously.  How did Mother find out about Greer? When did she tell my father? Lana does not hold Greer’s hand at school, or kiss him in the hallways.  She recalls vividly the sight of the guidance counselor with his arm around her mother.  Did Darren Van Ryn hear about the romance and blab the details?

Lost in her own thoughts, Lana does not realize her father has picked up where he left off.  But like an arrow through her heart, one words rings out with clarity and finality.

“And that is why we are getting a divorce.”

Mouth agape, eyes wide, Lana gasps.

Her father responds in an earnest voice.  “Lana.  Please, please try not to be upset.  I can promise you it is the best thing for your mother and I.  Things have happened–”

“I know what things, Dad.  I’m not blind,” she pronounces to her father and he becomes concerned and agitated.

“What does that mean?” Hal asks.

“Mom is dating my guidance counselor at school.  She brought him here.  I saw him.  Wait a minute, here comes Mom.”

Seraphina appears at the kitchen entryway.  For a moment, she looks wistful at the sight of her husband and daughter.  But then her face hardens and in a commanding tone, she asks “Hal, Lana, have did you make a decision?”

SCENE 8

The night before her date with Greer, Lana has tremendous difficulty sleeping.

She is plagued  by a recurring dream.  She finds herself in the town center of Twinbrook.  At a distance, she sees a figure sprawled on a park bench.  Something compels her to walk towards the bench.  She approaches with stealth for she feels fears waking the person up.

It is with great shock that she discovers it is Greer!  She reaches out to jostle him.  Just as her hand touches his shoulder, she finds herself awake in her own bed, her heart pounding furiously.

The dream is creepy yet each time she falls back asleep, it returns.   Lana finally climbs wearily out of bed.  My hair is going to take a lot of time today and I’ve got to get the picnic ready so I might as well get up early.   As she goes through her morning routine, the eerie image of her subconscious begins to fade.Lana is industrious in the kitchen, grateful now for the home economics classes from her previous school.  She fills the basket with hopes that Greer will enjoy a home-cooked meal.  Lana has loved eating at the Corner Bistro in the past.  But now she knows how unfortunate Greer’s economic circumstances are and she doesn’t want him to spend so much on their dates.Today I’m going to ask him why he won’t talk to me in Drama Class.  This thought is daunting.  What could his reason be?  Will her question upset him?The beach at Lake Murray is chilly and desolate.  Lana begins to fret and pace. Maybe a picnic wasn’t the best idea.She scans the area, looking for any sign of Greer.  In the distance she hears an aggravating but familiar sound.  It is the sputtering engine of his dilapidated car.  He parks and climbs out, waves to her, then starts jogging towards the beach.

 Greer expresses surprise and delight when he sees the checkered blanket spread across the sand.  He reaches for Lana’s hand and kisses it tenderly.  “Did you make this all for me, beautiful lady?”  Greer’s old-fashioned charm always throws her off.  She giggles and gives him a playful nudge.  Consuming the meal at a leisurely pace, they chat between bites, talking about nothing in particular.

But once they have finished, Lana knows she has to get serious.  “I thought moving to a new school and being separated from my father was going to be the end of the world,”  she begins, not really sure how to pose the question that is nagging at her.  “You’ve been a wonderful friend, you’ve made this year so much better, and sometimes I think we’re more than friends.  Except for one little thing and it is really bothering me.”

Lana takes a deep breath.  She wants to look Greer in the eye but she can’t muster her confidence.  In an almost inaudible voice, with a rush of words, she says it:  “Why won’t you speak to me in Drama Class?”  She glances up at him.  Greer is clearly distressed but he pretends to be busy packing things into the picnic basket.  “Greer, answer me,” Lana persists in a gentle voice.

He sighs.  “It is because of Genet Joyce.”

“Lana, I don’t know if you want to hear this story–” he continues but Lana cuts him off.

“I need to hear it, Greer.  Everyday my hopes are so high before Drama Class starts and then you won’t even acknowledge me, surely you must realize how much it hurts.”

He nods and takes a deep breath.  “Okay, it starts with Hester.  She was a senior and I was a sophomore but I skipped my freshman year so I was a lot younger than her.”

“I told Hester I loved her and she promised me she felt the same way.  She was leaving for college but I thought we’d keep dating anyway.”  Lana’s heart sinks.  No one wants to hear about another woman, even if it was just a girl he dated a long time ago.  Lana is surprised by the age difference and for the first time, it occurs to her that Greer’s past romantic experiences are far more sophisticated than her own.

Greer went on.  “After Hester left, she stopped calling me.  Sometimes I would see her in town if she came home to visit her family, and she would promise to make plans with me but then she always blew me off.  I didn’t know how to handle it and I…”  Greer stops and sighs again, then shakes his head.  His voice is barely above a whisper when he speaks next.  “I dropped out of school and I went to her college town.”

“Hester had joined a sorority and she lived at the sorority house.  I staked it out, trying to meet up with her.  I know now that I looked desperate and weird and pathetic.  But my feelings for Hester weren’t just love anymore.  I was obsessed and I felt like I had no control over myself.  At last, she came outside to meet me.  I could tell right away that she was mortified by my presence, she didn’t even have to say so.”

Greer’s voice is starting to get a little wobbly with emotion.  Instinctively, Lana puts her had on his arm.  He makes an effort to smile at her, and she sees his eyes are red and rimmed with tears.  “It’s okay Greer,” she says soothingly.  “You can tell me.”

He nods and wipes his eyes.  “I didn’t even let Hester speak, I just started begging her to let things go back to the way they were in high school.”

“I knew from the look on her face that what I was asking was anathema to her.  Hester started to tell me exactly what she thought of the situation.  I had never heard such painful words in my life:  immature, boring, nerdy, psycho…it was devastating.”

“She was off on a tangent.  By now, her sorority sisters were emerging from the house.  They lined up on the veranda, watching us and cheering every time Hester attacked.  For a long time, I just stood there, trying to absorb her verbal beat down.  But then I snapped.”  Greer stops again, takes another deep breath and then a choked sob escapes him.  “I’m not going to cry in front of you, Lana,”  he says.

“Greer, I need to understand what is going on,” Lana reminds him.  “If you cry, it’s okay, you have nothing to be ashamed of.”

“Oh, yeah, I do.  I went beserk that day.  I yelled things at her, called her a cradle-robber and a heartbreaker and things I won’t even repeat.  I got so crazy, they called the campus police and escorted me off the premises.”

“I made it back to Twinbrook without anyone pressing charges.  But my mother was so angry that I left school, she wouldn’t let me back in the house.  That’s when I started staying at the park.  I reenrolled in school and got my job back but things were awful.  I finally broke down and went to Genet.  She seemed like the only person who cared about me.”

Lana listens with caution.  Teacher’s Pet, Fleur had said, what had she meant?

Greer continues with his tale of woe.  “I told Genet everything, thinks I haven’t even told you.”

“Like what?” Lana wants to know.

About my dad leaving us and my mom’s um…well, health issues.  I told her everything about Hester.”  Greer explains.  “Then she did the talking.  But she did more than just talk.”

“Genet came up with real solutions for my problems.  She contacted Mom and straightened things out so I could go home.  She knew exactly what steps we could take to get financial help, and she explained how her church charity could help us.  But then she asked me to make her a promise in exchange for her help.”  He shrugged.  “At the time, considering what happened with Hester, it was an easy promise to make.”

Lana is compelled to ask the next, obvious question but the idea of a ‘promise’ sounds strange to her.  Do I really want to know the answer?  She can’t help herself, her curiosity is too strong.  “What promise, Greer?”

“I promised Genet I wouldn’t fall in love with another girl until I was in college.  She said she never wanted to see me make that mistake again.”

They sit in silence.  Lana has no idea what to say, much less how to feel.  She is uncomfortable with the idea that a teacher could hold so much sway over a student but as Greer pointed out, Ms. Joyce helped him when no one else would.  She is angry, too.  “So I have to be some kind of secret?  That is why you won’t talk to me in front of her?”  Lana hurries to finish packing the picnic basket, now she just wants to go home.

Greer stands up and grabs her hands.  “Wait, wait, please.  Don’t get mad, let me finish.  If you and I were just casually dating, I wouldn’t care if Genet knew.  But-”

“But what?”  Lana interjects.  “Aren’t we casually dating?  It seems that way to me.”

“Maybe to you but to me…well, I’ve broken the promise,”  Greer says quietly.

Before Lana can reply, Greer pulls her to him in a tight embrace and kisses her with an intensity she has never felt before.  He presses himself tight against her and then whispers three words in her ear, three small words she has only ever heard from her family, and she is sure he means those words very differently.  “I love you, too, Greer.” Lana whispers back.

SCENE 7

The stern look on Genet Joyce’s face as she enters her classroom immediately sets the tone for the after-school conference.  Lana’s stomach sinks, she knows they are in for a hard-nosed lecture and some kind of severe punishment.  Genet sits down at the front desk next to Fleur and turns to the delinquent girls with a sigh.  “I could assign you to a long stretch of detention,” she begins in a somber voice.

“But I really want to learn about responsibility and consequences,” the teacher continues, looking deeply into each student’s face.  “I am sending you to volunteer at the soup kitchen and food pantry run by my church.  I have decided not to contact your parents.”  Lana feels tremendous relief hearing Genet’s final statement.  She dutifully writes down the address of the church and agrees to be there Saturday morning at seven.

“I am not putting on this hairnet,” Fleur mutters.  “Do I look as lame as you?”  The girls have donned matching aprons and rubber gloves at the request of the volunteer who is supervising them.  Lana brushes off Fleur’s perpetual sarcasm, rolls up her sleeves, and turns her attention to their assigned task of scrubbing fruits and vegetables.

When she arrived at the church that morning, Lana was astonished to see a long line of people waiting anxiously to be fed.  She was not aware so many people were hungry in Twinbrook.  Now the doors are open and the people are crowding into the basement, hurrying to find seats for themselves.  Lana is heartbroken to see a young girl with a frightened look on her face tentatively sit down at one of the tables.

Opposite the girl sits her mother, looking equally scared.  Most of the patrons seem familiar with the routine but these two look so lost and out of place.  Lana breaks away from the mound of produce she is cleaning, and approaches the small family.  “I’d be glad to bring you a plate,” she offers.  They nod gratefully.

Lana hustles back to the kitchen and fixes two plates of hot pancakes, topping them off with dollops of melting butter.  She grabs a container of syrup and returns, setting the plates in front of them.  The little girl claps her hands with pleasure and turns to Lana with a big grin.  “Pancakes are my favorite, thank you!”  Lana feels happy watching the child eat with such relish.  “Plenty more where that came from!” she assures them.

The girls are continuously busy all morning and afternoon.  In spite of her negativity, Fleur works hard, serving up plate after plate of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  They disappear into starving mouths as fast as she can make them.

The crush of humanity flows in and out of the door all day.  Many of the patrons are wearing tattered, dirty clothing and look and smell as if they are in need of a bath.  Lana notices one woman sitting alone, quietly, looking as dignified as a person could under the circumstances.  She offers her a plate of fresh salad and the woman accepts it with a gracious smile.  Something about her smile strikes Lana as very familiar.

“Oh, Miss?”  A disheveled elderly man waves Lana over.  In a gruff voice, he asks her name.

“I’m Lana,”  she replies.  She is startled when he cackles and grabs her wrist.

“One sandwich ain’t enough, Lana.  Make a whole plate of them with extra mayo just for me, they will taste better if a pretty girl like you makes them.”  She pulls away, trying to disguise her revulsion, and returns to the kitchen.

“Hey, Lana, whose your new boyfriend?” Fleur whispers to her and erupts into cruel laughter.

“Why don’t you try to be a little more compassionate,” Lana hisses back.  She quickly prepares several fresh sandwiches, slathering extra mayonnaise over some cheese and turkey and then carries them back to this table.  She hides her shock when he snatches one up and devours the whole thing in four huge bites.

The large room is alive with the sound of excited voices and the squeaks of utensils scraping plates but above all the din, Lana is surprised to hear a familiar voice.  Looking towards the doorway, she realizes Greer is coming in trying to juggle three large boxes of groceries.  She sets down the  plate of sandwiches and hurries over to help him with his unwieldy burden.

“Hey, I wasn’t expecting to see you here,”  Greer says, smiling.

“It is a long story,” Lana answers, smiling back.

“You better stay away from my girl, Greer!”  The elderly man approaches them, brushing a multitude of crumbs out of his beard and off the front of his shirt.

“Sorry, Soupy, I saw her first,” Greer answers good-naturedly.  He steps closer to Lana and encircles his arm around her waist.

Suddenly, the quiet woman rushes up to Greer with her arms outstretched.  Greer pulls away from Lana and embraces the woman long and hard.  “Hey, Ma, did you get enough to eat?”  he asks and Lana is astonished.  No wonder this woman’s smile looks so familiar to her!  But why is Greer’s mother at a soup kitchen?

In a voice so similar to her son’s, Greer’s mother excitedly relays a series of recent events to him, bringing up the names of people Lana does not know.  Greer contributes little to the conversation, just nodding attentively and giving his mother reassuring pats on her arm, even suggesting she calm down a few times.  Lana feels a little intrusive and starts to walk away but Greer reaches out and gently pulls her back to him.

“Ma, this is Lana, the girl I told you about?”

Greer’s mother looks at Lana and seems a little confused at first, then she nods with enthusiasm.  “Not the ideal place to meet, I suppose, but it is delightful to put a name with a face.  Now, if you’ll forgive me, I see they’re preparing grocery boxes and I don’t want to have to wait in line too long.”  She hugs her son again and says goodbye to the teens.

“I’ve got to get the rest of these boxes unloaded, Lana.  Do we still have a date tomorrow?”  Greer looks at her hopefully.

“I’m really looking forward to it, ” Lana replies.  She watches him wistfully as he goes back to work, then walks over to Fleur, who is having a lively conversation with the little girl.  Lana is pleased to see Fleur being kind to someone for a change.

When at last everyone has been served, it is time for the crew of volunteers to clean up.  Lana slowly collects the plates from each table, thinking over the day.  Such sadness in so many people’s eyes, so much frantic hunger…but then the gratitude they showed, it was amazing.  Lana thinks in particular of Greer’s mother.  Does she eat here because she has to?  It is nearly unfathomable but is Greer that poor?

Her heart goes out to Greer and his mother and she resolves that she will not allow Greer to take her to the Corner Bistro anymore.  In fact, she will make a picnic tomorrow.  She looks around the basement and sees that the other volunteers are eating what is left of the food.  Lana realizes then that she is quite hungry.  She sits down in front of some cold pancakes and eats heartily, never so grateful for a meal in her life.

SCENE 6

A first glimpse of the spectacular skyline of Bridgeport.  Lana feels a stirring sense of excitement.  She is just learning what the sight of a city can do for a person who has never seen one before.She is nearly overwhelmed trying to take it all in.  She and her companions have quieted as each gazes out the window in wonder.As the Twinbrook High School activities van navigates the concrete canyons, Genet Joyce points out urban landmarks.  She has visited this thrilling metropolis many times but it always intoxicates her.  She is happy to share the experience with her students.

“As soon as we hit the hotel, I want you to plug in your phones and charge them up.  If you get separated from us at any point during this trip, I want you to be able to communicate with me immediately,” the teacher reminds the kids.

They arrive at the hotel.  Lana notices its facade is a little older and funkier than some of the more modern glass towers she has seen.

Upstairs in the room, Molly is quick to unpack.  She regales her classmates with music while they choose rooms and unload luggage.  “I just want to say you are the most awesome, radical audience ever!  Bah bah bah bah bah, I wanna be sedated!”

The trip is only two days and they have lots of marvelous sights to see.  Genet has arranged for an exclusive tour of a famous movie studio.  They roam over the massive backlot, examining the fascinating sets built to accommodate an infinite number of cinematic locations.

After the tour, the students venture into Chinatown, exploring the different shops and wares, and absorbing the vibrant sounds and pungent smells of another culture.  Joyce recommends they eat at the House of Panda.

Greer politely stands and waits for the women at the table to be seated.

Lana feels hopeful when she chooses to sit next to an empty seat.  Greer did not sit next to her in the van, and all he has said to her all day was that she looked very pretty.  Those words were thrilling to hear and now surely, he would come sit next to her.

She watches in disappointment as he walks to the other table and takes his place there, idly glancing at a menu and smiling at someone’s joke.

Conversation at her table is almost entirely dominated by Genet.  Fleur makes some sarcastic remarks occasionally but Lana is straining to hear what the others are discussing at Greer’s table.  She feels so shut off from him and she cannot understand why he seems oblivious to her.  Even long after they have returned to the hotel, and Lana is waiting to fall asleep, she is troubled by Greer’s actions.

Lana is determined to enjoy the next day, even if she can’t get through to Greer.  Every detail the city reveals to her makes it more intriguing.  Even riding on the subway is a new, amazing experience.  She holds the overhead bar tightly and sways with the train car as it speeds through darkened tunnels.

The group arrives at the breathtaking Butterfly Esplanade, a world-renowned sanctuary for rare species of butterflies.

One-by-one, the students enter the hushed, humid gazebo that leads underground and back up inside the domed Esplanade.

Lana’s eyes go skyward towards the interlocking steel and glass panels of the dome.  Out on the avenue, the symphony of the city was deafening but inside she can only hear the quiet voices of her fellow students.

As evening is starting to fall the gang has finally found themselves in front of a majestic Broadway theater.  They have tickets to see a revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.

“Hey, what is up with you two?  You’re wearing matching clothes!”  Fleur bursts out laughing and points accusingly at Lana and Greer.  Lana is standing as close to him at that moment as she has the entire trip, and she is able to look down at herself and then over at him and see that Fleur is right!  They are both wearing clothes made of the same fabric, khaki with cream-colored dots.

Fleur has gathered the others around to point out her discovery.  With an audience watching, she gets more biting.  “Did you call each other up and plan it out before the trip? ‘Oh, Hi, Greer, Oh, Hi Lana, Greer wouldn’t it be so neat if we wore the same outfit! Sure would, Lana.’ Ha!  I know you did!”

Lana leans back and scrunches up her face in anger.  Fleur has gone far enough and it is mortifying Lana.  She wants to draw Greer’s attention but not in this fashion.  Lana frantically thinks of a good comeback.  But she is a little afraid of Fleur.

Before Lana can say anything, she hears the authoritative call of Genet, trying to get everyone front and center so they can enter the theater is a civilized manner.  Their teacher has already coached them through the event, admonishing in advance anyone who puts their feet up on the seat in front of them or starts texting.  “We’re going to a Broadway show, not the Twinbrook Movie Twinplex,”  she warns.

After the show closed, they headed back to the hotel on foot, drinking in everything the city had to offer on the last night.  When she reaches her room, Lana strides to the window and looks out over the brilliant lights.  She has had a wonderful trip but why…why would Greer avoid her?

She crosses to the mirror to take a look at herself.  I’m not unfortunate looking.  I try so hard with my clothes and my hair.  What is it?  Then Lana notices in the reflection that Fleur is prone on her bed, watching her and smirking.

“I don’t know why you’re so bunged up over him.  Don’t you know?”  Fleur asks coyly.

“How do you know who I’m thinking about?  And don’t I know what?”  Lana responds.  How does she know about Greer?

“Teacher’s pet, that’s who.  Teacher’s pet, that’s what.  If you think about it, who has he spent the whole trip with?” Fleur questions.

Lana reluctantly begins to mentally revisit the last two days.  She remembers being at the backlot of the movie studio and spying Greer engaged in an in-depth conversation with Genet.

Lana recalls witnessing a similar exchange between the two at the Butterfly Esplanade.

“That doesn’t mean anything,” she says aloud.

Fleur laughs.  “Maybe not.  Forget I brought it up.  Hey, let’s get outta here.”

“What do you mean?” Lana replies tentatively.  “Where would we go?”

Fleur slides off the bed and goes to her suitcase.  “Nowhere with you, Sandra Dee.  Change into my clothes, do something with that ponytail and your makeup.  Then you and I are going to sneak into that bar across the street.”

It does not take much to convince Lana to go.  She is so down about Greer and now Fleur has planted an evil seed of suspicion in her mind that she just wants to forget about. Maybe Greer did have some kind of crush on Joyce Genet.  Lana couldn’t do anything about it.  Did it mean she couldn’t still see him on Sundays, as they continued to do each week?  She didn’t want to give those Sundays up.

Neon lights cast a sickly green glow over the girls as the walk up to the entrance.  “If they tell us to leave, we’ll leave, no big deal,” Fleur says for the tenth time.  Lana senses that Fleur’s usual tough demeanor is wearing a little thin in the face of this challenge.  Fleur reaches up and grabs the door handle and pulls, then awkwardly pushes Lana forward into the bar.

Inside it is dim and smoky but Lana’s eyes immediately focus on the bartender–and the fully-stocked bar behind him.  She shivers.  What am I doing here?  We shouldn’t be in this place.  But Lana is sure there is little point in trying to make Fleur leave now that they have arrived.  The bartender shows no interest in them, thankfully.

“Just act naturally,” Fleur whispers.

In the dark, crowded atmosphere, Lana decides a way to blend in is to play a game of shuffleboard.  She motions to Fleur to join her, as the loud country and western music blaring over the speakers is too loud to try to shout over.

Fleur has a perfect view of the front door and as the girls attempt to relax into the game, Fleur nudges Lana from time to time so that she would look up at the latest guy walking into the bar.

Each one was better-looking than the last and Fleur keeps leaning in and saying as loud as she dares, “I’m going to ask that one.”

Lana doesn’t know what Fleur plans on asking them.  She fiddles with the hair with nervous apprehension and sighs heavily.  We need to get out of here.

Fleur erupts into peals of wicked laughter.  She flagrantly points at a man who has just come inside.

“You gotta see the hair on this dude!  It’s so crazy!”

Lana pushes Fleur’s pointing finger down and tries to quiet her.  The man in question is rough-looking.

He stands at the front door, more green light projecting over his myriad tattoos that are scattered over his well-muscled arms.  His hair is cut in a mullet, a style Fleur finds so funny she is willing to put the girls at risk because he does not look like he has a good sense of humor.

“He’s the one I’m gonna ask,” Fleur decides.

Fleur determinedly pushes her way through the crowd to the tattooed guy.  Lana watches them talk and then the guy turns away to the bar.  Fleur looks back at Lana and flashes a grin that seems victorioius.  She waves for Lana to join her.

Lana catches up to Fleur and to her dismay, she sees what Fleur has been asking for.  It is a tray of drinks, not one of which Lana intends to drink.  Nor does she want Fleur to drink any.  No sooner does she have this thought, she feels an arm grabbing her roughly and she is propelled back through the crowd and out the front door.

Out on the sidewalk, she is let go and finds herself standing next to Fleur right in front of a patrol car.  The cops have rustled them out of the bar but do not restrain the girls in any way.  They simply open the back doors of the cruiser and motion for them to get inside.

“You need to tell us where you live and who you are, ” says one officer as he climbs into the front.  The other one gets behind the wheel.

By the time the police sedan pulls up in front of the hotel, Lana and Fleur have told the officers everything they have asked.  At least we’re not lying when we tell them we haven’t had anything to drink.  Lana is almost grateful the police showed up when they did.  The pressure Fleur would have exerted over her in the bar would have been relentless.  But would any of that matter to Ms. Joyce, or Lana’s mother?

SCENE 5

Lana is so startled at the sight of her very married mother in the arms of another man besides her father that she is rendered speechless.  Which is good, because Darren and Seraphina have no idea the girl is standing at the doorway, watching them, in shock.  Lana backs away with stealth.She rushes to her room, trying to catch her breath.  The shock has changed to horror and then quickly to anger.  What is that creepy guidance counselor doing in my house?  With my mother?  How and when did all this mess come down?Lana turns on impulse to her silent computer.  It could unwittingly become the conduit to a divorce if she sits right down and starts telling her father everything in an email.  But she hesitates.  She is not sure an email is the best way for her father to find out.  He should probably hear everything from Mother herself.  It is a wife’s responsibility, not a daughter’s.Lana yanks her extensions out quickly and grabs up her rabbit.  Putting him in a death squeeze, she paces the room, feeling more and more bitter with each passing minute.  She knows her family isn’t perfect but an affair?  What an awful thing for her mother to do to her father.  Lana is startled out of her seething thoughts by her phone.“Hello?”  Her voice comes out in a sharp bark.

“Hello, Lana?  It’s Greer.”

She smiles in spite of herself.  What a welcome distraction.

“I just wanted to make sure you got home okay…I know you didn’t have very far to go but next time, please let me walk you to your door,” he says.  “I say next time because I’m hoping you will meet me on Sunday.  It is my only day off.  I thought we could go over some costume ideas at the library and then you would let me take you to dinner?”  He sounds so hopeful and Lana’s anger dissipates.

They agree on a time to meet at the library and then, in the background, Lana hears a car horn honking.

“That’s my ride,” Greer explains.  “I’m so glad you said yes.  I can’t wait until Sunday.  I will see you then.”

He hangs up and Lana clicks her phone off.  She is pleased they have a date but she finds it odd that he didn’t say ‘see you tomorrow at school.’

Lana does see Greer in drama class the next couple of days but he always seems to be talking to the other students or Ms. Genet.  It is as if she is invisible to him within that classroom.  But she proceeds to the library on Sunday, getting to the quaint, clapboard building only moments before they are scheduled to meet.

Lana feels a little nervous about meeting him.  She worked for two hours to get her extensions just the way she wanted them and then snuck out of the house before her mother could see how dramatic her hair was.  Lana left a note explaining she was meeting others from the drama club.  It is not exactly a lie; besides, she doesn’t feel like she owes her mother any explanation in light of what she has witnessed.

Greer comes strolling up the sidewalk right on time but Lana is astonished to see him in a suit and tie.

Her nervousness is replaced with annoyance.

“Greer, why didn’t you tell me what you were going to wear?  I feel completely underdressed!”  She scowls at her date and makes a huffing noise.

“Lana, please don’t be upset with me.  First of all, you look amazing.  Second, I want today to be the best day you have spent in Twinbrook and I couldn’t exactly show up for that occasion in a tee-shirt and jeans.”  Greer pleads his case quite effectively.Lana realizes she has been too harsh.  She did not show up in jeans and a tee-shirt either, it could have been a much more dramatic contrast.  Preferably, she would be wearing a dress right now.  But his compliment stills her flared temper and she smiles shyly.

“You look very handsome,” she flatters him and his face lights up.Inside the library, Greer leads her to a section of books that focus on theater, including costume and makeup design.  He also produces a copy of the play, ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ which he reads from in a low voice, explaining the themes of love lost and regained, mistaken identities and the supernatural realm of the Fairy Kingdom.Holding the book to her face, Lana pretends to explore the pages with relish.  But the fact is, reading and concentrating are extremely difficult for her under normal circumstances.  Now she feels under a microscope with Greer by her side.  Fortunately, she can thumb through several color-plates of Shakespearean costumes and make reasonably intelligent comments on what she sees.

“The play has so many layers, Lana, and it will be crucial to depict each layer as it is meant to be seen.  We have a wedding, a play, and all the people falling in love with each other, it is hard to keep track of.  But I think using colors and fabrics and other elements will keep the supernatural creatures separate from the royalty and the commoners.  You have quite a task in front of you, do you think you are up for it?”

“I want the fairies to have wings and purple is a good color to depict royalty and the Queen of fairies should have a crown of flowers and–” Lana gushes on and on with ideas, which Greer tries to take down in a notebook.  It gives him so much pleasure to share his love of Shakespeare with her and he is thrilled to see how enthusiastic she is.  The morning becomes afternoon and neither is aware of how much time has passed.

They continue their discussion over dinner.  Lana begs Greer to let them sit outside, where she will feel less conspicuous about their clothing choices.  Greer acquiesces, telling her again she looks lovely.  Dinner is simple fare, though Greer encourages Lana to order whatever she wants.  She politely chooses a hamburger, foregoing the steak and lobster.  They each remark to the other that their food is delicious.

As evening falls on the sleepy town of Twinbrook, two young people find themselves in a world where only they seem to exist.  Plates are cleared by waiters, other couples finish and leave, the sun gently sinks to the horizon and the sky turns a beautiful shade of coral pink.  Framed in this light, Lana finds at last she has nothing more to say to her date.  Silence settles over the table.

“The park looks inviting.  Do you need to go home now or can we stay out a little longer?”

Greer’s voice is quiet now, several notches down from his exuberant talk of the play earlier.  Lana just nods at him.  She rises from the table and he rushes over to pull out her chair.  Their bodies brush against each other and both step back quickly, awkwardly, but wholly aware of what they are feeling.

“It’s a little dark over here,” Lana observes with a little uncertainty in her voice.

“I’m right here, I won’t let anything happen,” Greer assures her.  “I have something to confess, it is a little, well, odd, I hope you won’t like me less for telling you but it might put your mind at ease.”

Lana leans forward in anxious anticipation.  What is he going to tell her?

“Awhile back, I had a very big fight with my mother.  She told me to get out of the house and I had nowhere to go.  I knew she would cool off eventually and let me back.  But in the meantime, I…well, I lived here.  In the park, mostly.  I would go to school, go to work and then come here and camp out in a wooded area where I hoped no one would find me.  No one ever did, so I guess the park is pretty safe.”

“But I can think of a way to make you feel even safer,” he murmurs and starts to put his arm around Lana’s shoulder.  She does feel a little out of sorts by what he has just told her.  Essentially, he lived like a homeless person in this park and what kind of person is his mother, what did he do to get kicked out of her house?  But his arm feels so warm, his leg presses against hers and she feels a tingling sensation all over.

Lana curves her body into his and rests her head on Greer’s shoulder.  His revelation is a little sad and unsettling at the same time.  What kind of mother would throw her son into the street?  What was their fight about?  How long was he homeless?  She cannot help but wonder, but these thoughts dissolve as the Spanish moss sways and the stars twinkle and their bodies grow warmer as they sigh in unison.

Eventually they hear the alarm indicating the curfew will soon be in effect.  They walk back to the library where Greer’s car is parked.  It is an old beater but in Lana’s eyes, it is a chariot fit for a prince and she feels like a princess climbing into it.  Greer is a cautious driver and he gets her home safely with plenty of time to spare before the police start rounding up wayward teens.

“Lana, this night meant everything to me,” Greer says in a hushed voice.  “I’m so happy to have someone who likes the things I like the most–I mean theater, performance, Shakespeare and all that.  But I’m really happy I feel I can open up to you.  What I told you?  Only one other person knows about my, um, urban camping besides you.  I know I can trust you, that is why I told you.”  

Lana’s heart is beating a fierce tatoo.  She is at the end of the very first real date she has ever had and she thinks she knows what is next but Greer is still talking.  She watches his lips move but she can’t hear what he says, all she can think about is what he will do, before she leaves him to go upstairs.  She glances up towards the windows and is grateful no one is looking back at her.

Finally, she can stand the waiting no more and simply reaches out and embraces him fully, pulling him towards her.  His eyes widen and then he smiles and leans his head towards her, she leans in the other way and at last, their lips touch.  It is only for a brief, shining moment of their lives but for Lana, this kiss feels never-ending.

SCENE 4

Standing open, the door to the drama class provides endless possibilities.It occurs to Lana that she might be required to do something she is wholly unprepared for:  perform.  But she considers the fact that Greer will be on the other side of the door.  Her stomach flutters.  Pausing, she takes a deep breath and then enters.The first thing she sees is a girl wearing very unusual clothes with her face painted in even more unusual makeup.  “I’ve looked at life from both sides now…” the girl sings softly and strums her guitar with a delicate touch.  Lana realizes it is Molly.  Her outfit is quite different today.  Molly plays a few more moments and then puts her guitar in the corner.Lana watches Molly take a seat and the other students come into focus.  She recognizes several faces from the meeting in the Green Room.  Lana begins to feel more at ease.  She realizes these people aren’t her friends yet but she hopes they soon will be.There is a commotion at the door, and Branham rushes in, muttering to himself.  He hurries to a seat in the front row and drops his bookbag with a loud thunk.  He sits, drops his head in his hand and moans loudly.  Looking up, he sees Lana and crooks his finger towards her so that she will come and sit beside him.“Are you alright?”  Lana inquires, her voice reflecting her concern.

“My mother told me I shouldn’t be wearing white after Labor Day and I don’t know what she’s talking about!”  he wails.

Lana has an impulse to laugh but she holds back, not wanting to hurt the boy’s feelings.  Out of the corner of her eye she sees the door swing open.Greer strides in with an air of self-assuredness.

“Here comes Mr. Perfect,” Branham groans with derision.

Lana sees that Greer’s clothes are neatly-pressed and that his shoes are shiny with fresh polish.  What’s wrong with wanting to look good?  She thinks about how much time she spent on her hair extensions this morning.Lana follows the boy with her eyes as he approaches Horation and they begin chatting.  I wish he had come to talk to me instead.  But he didn’t even see her, or if he did, he chose not to acknowledge her.In front of where the boys are standing sits Fleur.  Lana cannot help but notice her schoolmate is baring as much flesh as the dress code could possibly allow.  Maybe if I dressed like her, Greer would notice me right away…but I would never have the nerve.  Lana has to admit that Fleur looks very pretty.“Alright, people, discover your desks!”

A woman enters the classroom and smiles broadly.  Her tousled chestnut hair flows down past her shoulders and her dress is unconventional for a teacher.“Everyone, please say hello to Lana.  She is not only new to our group, she is new to Twinbrook so I know you all are going to make her feel very welcome.”

Lana feels her face flush red.Lana glances at Greer but he is facing the front with a solemn expression on his face, seemingly oblivious to her.“I’m Ms. Joyce, Lana.  Feel free to call me Genet.  You have as much authority in this room as I do, so why shouldn’t we be on a first-name basis?  Okay, today we are going to delve into the history of theater and we are going to get started talking about the Ancient Greeks.”Lana begins taking notes in her flowery script.  She tries her best to concentrate but her mind skips from one thought to the next with little regard to Greek drama.  Unconsciously, she begins doodling hearts and stars across the notebook’s page and then colors them in.  Eventually, she doesn’t even hear Ms. Joyce’s voice.Lana’s stomach rumbles and she winces.  Can everyone hear that?  She looks up at the clock at the wall.  Inside her head, thoughts are colliding one into the next in a completely random order:  I wonder what they will serve for lunch, it is chilly in here, I need to email Daddy, I hope my extensions aren’t sliding out, why don’t they turn down the air conditioning?

“Yes, Greer?”

Mrs. Joyce’s question cuts through the static in Lana’s brain.  She whips her head around to where he is sitting.

His voice rings out with conviction across the expanse of the room.  “I would argue that Euripides is the most popular because his language is more simple than Aeshcylus and Sophocles.”Branham makes an anxious, whining noise.  “Is that something we need to know for the test?”

The class erupts into laughter and even Greer grins good-naturedly.  The bell blares, and the students gather their books and start to leave.

Lana collects her things and looks back towards Greer’s seat.  He is no longer there, but is now engaged in a lively conversation with Molly.  Lana is a little disappointed that he has yet to say anything to her.Feeling dejected, she exits the class and heads to the cafeteria.The rest of her day is unremarkable.  Lana does her best to focus in each of her classes.  But it takes much effort.  Her patience is worn thin by the time two o’clock arrives.  Gratefully, she climbs aboard the bus and finds a seat next to Fleur.  Just as she sits down, she hears a male voice calling out her name with urgency.

Lana cranes her neck to look out the window and she is surprised to see Greer running towards the bus.  He lifts one arm and waves, then makes a motion for her to come to him.

Fleur nudges her.  “Go on, Barbie, Ken is waiting for you,” she says in a slightly mocking tone.

Lana shrugs a little, gets up and heads for the door.As she starts to step off the bus, she stumbles a little.  Greer immediately puts his arm protectively around her shoulder.   She is startled by his touch; at the same time, she thrills to the strength and warmth he exudes.

“You were going to let me show you around, remember?” he asks and she nods demurely.They head towards the large park in the center of town, strolling leisurely and making small-talk.  Mostly they share their experiences of the school day.  Lana learns that Greer is in honors classes which would explain why she doesn’t see him at any other point in her day except Drama.  They get to the park and Greer makes casual observances about their surroundings.“Those trees are over one hundred years old, ” he comments and Lana gazes upward. It has turned from a dreary, overcast day to a magnificent one.  The sky is blue and brilliant, the sun is bright and cheerful, and the cloying humidity that seems to plague Twinbrook has been chased away by a gentle breeze.Greer leads her towards the wrought-iron gates at the main entrance and points to a low stone wall across the street.

“Can I take you to my favorite place?” he asks.

Lana is grateful to go elsewhere, as she has noticed City Hall at the other end of the park.  She would not want her mother to see her.They cross the street, Greer’s arm at Lana’s elbow.  In a nearly hidden break in the wall are a steep set of stairs.  Greer descends quickly.Lana follows him, hanging back just a little bit because she is unsure where they are going.  No one seems to be around and it fleetingly occurs to her that Greer is still somewhat of a stranger.  But she remembers his arm encircling her shoulder, and his appealing smile and she dismisses her feelings of uncertainty.When they reach the bottom of the stairs, she sees a breathtaking view of the vast, beautiful lake that stretches all the way to the ocean.  Down here, the breeze blows a little harder, and the sun is even brighter as it dances across the ripples on the water’s surface.  Greer sits down on a bench and gestures for Lana to join him.They talk some more, not about anything in particular.  The talking doesn’t seem to matter, it is the closeness of their bodies that Lana is most aware of.  After awhile, Greer says he has to get to work but that he would like to walk her home first, and she agrees.“Lana, can I ask you a question and if you don’t want to answer, you don’t have to.”  Greer’s voice is low and earnest.  He rises and turns to face her.  She is unsure of what to say and a little worried what the question might be and why he has suddently grown so serious.“You can ask me, ” she answers, standing and facing him.  He nods and takes a step towards her.

“Do you have a boyfriend back in Sunset Valley?”  His voice slightly falters and for the first time, Lana senses Greer might feel as shy as she does, he is just better at hiding it.  She shakes her head quickly.He moves even closer to her……places his hands firmly at her waist…And pulls her into an embrace.  Lana doesn’t resist but presses against him, inhaling a hint of aftershave and clean-smelling soap.  She has been this close to a boy only a few times, at the interminably boring dances she was subjected to when her girls school was invited by some all-male academy.  She likes this feeling much better.They pull apart and he reaches out and tenderly strokes her hair.

“Was that okay?”  he asks quietly.  “I really would like to see you again…soon.”

She nods as a reply and then turns towards the stairway.  “We’d better get going.  I don’t want to make you late.”Their walk home is much brisker than before, and they are silent now, as each contemplates what just happened at the Esplanade.  They cross the bridge that separates downtown from Lana’s neighborhood and she asks him to leave her there.

“I…my mother…she’s really strict.”  They hug again and she watches him walk back to town.She sees her mother’s car in the driveway, so she hurries into the house.  From the living room comes the sound of hushed voices.  One is her mother’s and the other sounds familiar.  Lana walks into the room and is absolutely shocked and horrified by what she sees.There on the couch is her mother leaning against Darren Van Ryn!

SCENE 3

Lana approaches Greer a little hesitantly.  She is struck with his charming smile and sleepy brown eyes and she does not want to immediately telegraph to him that she thinks he is cute.  But she needs his advice if she wants to be in his class and that desire overcomes her shyness.”I hope you don’t mind explaining how I can change my class, ” she says, her voice a little squeaky with nervousness.

“It is relatively easy,” Greer answers.  Unlike Lana, his voice is confident and strong.  “Do you know where the guidance counselor’s office is?  You need to get his permission first.  He’s on the lower floor, right across from the main office.  His name is Darren Van Ryn.  See him and if he says yes, which he should, just come to the classroom behind the stage tomorrow.  Ms. Joyce is our teacher.”

Lana thanks Greer and she would like to say more but the bell rings and the Green Room group breaks up quickly.  She makes her way down the stairs, out of the performance space and then tries to remember which direction the main office is.  At last she finds it and as Greer has directed, a door across from the office is labeled “Guidance.”  She enters and finds a pale, tall man sitting in one of two chairs.

Between the two chairs on the wall is the creepiest picture Lana has ever seen.  A sad clown holding a bunch of balloons stares back at her and she feels unnerved.  The room is dim and gloomy and overwhelmed with clutter everywhere she looks.  The lighting fixtures are covered with dust and the dirty carpet is threadbare.  Even the counselor himself seems worn around the edges.

The man gestures for Lana to sit in the chair opposite him.  She starts to sit and discovers a large stack of college catalogues and magazines in the seat of the chair.  She shifts the stack to the coffee table, which is already overflowing with the same materials.  Lana is starting to wonder if anyone actually visits the office to discuss college, the place is such a disorganized mess.

She sits and looks around the office, waiting for the man to address her.  He is watching her keenly but saying nothing and Lana is starting to feel more and more uncomfortable.

At last he clears his throat several times and then speaks in a booming voice.  “What brings you here today, young lady?  I don’t believe we have met before, I’m Darren Van Ryn.” Lana introduces herself with a polite smile.  She explains her situation.

“My mother asked me to find something to do after school and I am going to join the Twinbrook Junior Thespians.  I’m…I’m not really interested in acting but I would like to help with the costumes, and I’m very good with hair and makeup.  I thought it might be fun,” Lana stumbles through her explanation as she notices Mr. Van Ryn is frowning.

“The Drama Club, eh?”  He chuckles to himself.  “They are not exactly the bunch I would recommend to a new student.  Let me look at your file,” he says and opens his laptop.  After a minute, he looks up at Lana.  “I can see a serious discrepancy between your intelligence tests and your actual grades, Lana.  I’m a little concerned.  The Drama Club takes up a lot of time, it might not be your best choice.”

“I work very hard to get the grades I get.  I know they aren’t the best but I don’t know what else I can do,” Lana replies, feeling her hackles rise.  She was not expecting to have to defend herself.

“I’ll approve the change but I should warn you.  This group you want to be a part of is very cliquish.”  He sighs and pulls out his pen.

“Just be mindful that even though are school is not very big, there are lots of opportunities here and lots of friends you can make…but you may find it hard to broaden your horizons once you have sold your soul to Ms. Joyce,” he laughs, a sharp, barking laugh and shakes his head, very amused with himself.  “That sounded a little harsh.”  Lana shrugs, takes the class change form and leaves abruptly.

Lana finds herself distracted as she tries to make her way through her first day of classes.  Her mind continually wanders back to her meeting with Darren Van Ryn and in her mind, she hears the mean guidance counselor warning her again and again.  Cliquish, what exactly does that mean? But when the day ends and she bumps into Greer on her way to the bus, she forgets all about the warning.

“Hey, how did it go?”  He asks and he sounds genuinely concerned.  Lana wants to ask him what the guidance counselor meant but she refrains.  She does not want to interject any negativity into this burgeoning friendship.

“He gave me permission, you were right!”  She answers brightly.

“Are you in a hurry?”  Greer asks and sits down on one of the swings.  He lazily sways back and forth.  Lana mentally calculates how long it will take her to walk home if she misses the bus.  Greer turns towards her with a carefree grin and she decides she is willing to make that hike no matter how long it is.  She sits in one of the other swings.

It feels a little awkward at first.  She has never sat on a swing in a skirt and she is very mindful of her movements.  But after a few moments, she relaxes.  “So where did you live before?” Greer asks.

She turns towards him and for a moment she forgets the question.  Lana went to an all-girls school before, she does not have a lot of experience making casual conversation with boys and she feels incredibly self-conscious.  But his smile is so easy-going and he seems so sincerely interested in talking to her.  She tells him about her mother’s job at City Hall and her father’s decision to stay in Sunset Valley.

“I could show you around, if you would like, ” Greer offers.  He is exceedingly polite and Lana is flattered with his offer. Mother would want me to ask her first if it is okay. She cannot bring herself to tell Greer she needs permission, it makes her sound like a baby.  So she nods a little tentatively.  They talk and then Greer says he has to walk down the street to his job at the Grocer.  Lana hates to see him go.

It is quiet when she gets home.  Her mother has already told her to get used to being alone in the afternoons and evenings because the consulting work is going to take up so much time.  Lana pulls out her homework with anything but relish.  Darren Van Ryn was right about her grades, they are not very impressive but no matter how hard she tries, she can never exceed a low C in any class.

Lana did manage to get through a few years of home economics at her old school.  She may not be the greatest cook but she can pull off a few recipes, including a grilled cheese sandwich.  She eats alone, and then spends some time composing an email to her father.  She misses him terribly.  She tells him so, and begs him to come visit her soon.

Before going to bed, she carefully removes her hair extensions and is left looking at her short hair.  Why did I listen to Mother and cut it all off?  Her mother had suggested short hair would be easier to take care of, even though she herself wore her hair fairly long.  Lana would do anything to please her mother so she took her suggestion.  Now she regrets it.

Sometime late in the night, Lana is wakes up to the sound of her mother’s voice.  She steps outside her bedroom and discovers her mother in the kitchen, having a heated conversation with someone on the phone.  Seraphina cuts the talk short when she sees Lana and hangs up the phone.

“I’m sorry to have woken you, but I do need to speak to you so it is good you are up,” Seraphina says with a sigh and instantly, Lana wonders what she has done wrong. Her mother continues. “Do you know that I work with Darren Van Ryn?  He is also a consultant on the Education First! project.”

“When he got to City Hall this afternoon, he told me you came by his office.  I’m not sure I appreciate your decision to change your schedule without consulting me,”  Seraphina chides.  Lana looks at the floor and shrugs.  “Since when do you want to be an actress?”  Her mother sounds incredulous.  Lana shrugs again.

“I don’t want to be in the plays, Mom.  I just want to do the hair and makeup.  I thought it would be fun and they seem like really nice people.”  Lana’s mind drifts to Greer.  “Please don’t tell me no.”

Seraphina sighs again.  “I don’t want to tell you no…I’ll tell you maybe.  Let’s give it a month and see how it goes?”

Lana turns away quickly so her mother does not see the ugly expression on her face.  She has so much trouble controlling her temper and Seraphina has absolutely no patience with her angry flare-ups.  “If your homework is finished, I want you to go back to bed,”  Seraphina requests, effectively signaling the end of the discussion.

Lana has no trouble falling asleep but she wakes up excited the next morning.  She goes to her window and looks out at wispy pink clouds surrounding a beautiful moon that is slowly sinking to the horizon.  Her new town looks so much more interesting now that she is going to have a handsome escort showing her around.

Lana spends a lot of time choosing her wardrobe.  Finally she decides on a pink plaid sundress with complimentary shoes.  She styles her hair with a pink headband and carefully applies her makeup.  She can’t wait to get to school and see Greer.

Lana’s dress is a pink plaid pattern I downloaded from BlueMurder’s pattern boutique which can be found here:

http://www.thesims3.com/mypage/BlueMurder/mystudio

I am very grateful to her for providing so many wonderful patterns to choose from!

SCENE 2

“Are you still down there?”  The disembodied voice asks again.  It seems to belong to a boy and he sounds friendly.  Lana crosses the vast performance area and discovers a dimly-lit staircase.

She climbs the steep stairs slowly, greatly anticipating who and what she will find.

The early morning sunlight pours in from multiple windows and frames a lithe boy in flattering light.  He has a wide grin on his face and he claps his hands enthusiastically.  “A new person!  Great, you can break the tie!”  His voice is practically a shout and Lana shrinks just a little bit.  She is at the top of the stairs and she finds herself in a room with green walls and green furniture.

On one of the couches, another young man is peacefully taking a nap.

The first boy sits down across from his sleeping friend.  He gestures for Lana to take a seat beside him.  She does, carefully smoothing out her skirt.”I’m Branham!”  The boy introduces himself with a little wave.  He points to the fellow snoring away.  “That’s Horatio.”

“Hi,” Lana says, feeling a little shy.

Before she can tell him her name, he cuts in with an excited jumble of words.”So we had the election for President of the Twinbrook Junior Thespians at our meeting at the end of last school year.  Horatio is one of the candidates and Seneca–she’s not here yet–she ran against him but our vote ended in a tie.  All we need is one new member to break it!”

Lana nods and listens to the boy with a polite smile on her face.  New member?  She does not want to disappoint Branham but she is far from convinced the Drama Club will be the right place for her.  For one thing, there doesn’t seem to be many participants.

“More people are coming,” Branham reassures her as if he has read her mind.

Lana hears the light tread of footsteps on the landing and then a young woman with a halo of dark curls and vivid red lips enters the Green Room.  Her skirt seems shorter and her midriff barer than the Orientation Handbook allows.  The girl arches her brow and smirks slyly.

“Fresh blood?”She directs her question at Branham but clearly she is referring to Lana.

“Don’t scare her off, we desperately need her vote,” Branham declares urgently.  Lana is starting to feel she has no choice in the matter.  Branham leans toward her.

“Meet Fleur and I am terrible, I forgot to ask your name?”

“Lana,” she says demurely.

“You wanna be a star, Blondie?”  Fleur challenges Lana in a mocking tone.  Lana is taken aback but before she can reply, another young woman joins them.

“Who wants to be a star?”  The girl asks.  She is dressed in a jaunty black beret and a black turtleneck.  She is also wearing tight-fitting black jeans and black clogs.  Her theatrical look is topped off with black sunglasses with mirrored shades.  Lana cannot help but stare but the girl in black seems unconcerned about the attention.

Branham jumps up and embraces the new arrival, then stands back and gives her an appraising look.  “Beatnik, right?”

The girl nods her head with zeal.  “All I need is a set of bongo drums,” she laughs.

Branham points across the room.  “Molly, meet our new recruit, Lana.”

Lana does not contradict Branham.  It seems she is going to be roped into this club whether she wants to be in it or not.  Molly walks past her and gives her a welcoming smile.  Fleur is a little rude but the others seems friendly.  I think I’ll stay.  I have no idea who to vote for, how am I supposed to decide when I don’t even know anyone?

Fleur and Molly are trading good-natured barbs.

“You’re wearing all black so you look less fat,” Fleur says with what seems to be her trademark smirk.

“Whatevs, Twig,” Molly responds, giving her a playful shove.

Lana hears rapid, determined footfalls on the stairway.  She looks up expectantly and sees a handsome boy dressed in a crisp white shirt and neatly-pressed gray trousers. He assesses the small group and then heads straight for Lana, his hand outstretched.  He firmly takes hold of her hand and shakes it, his expression quite serious.  His hand is warm.  “I’m Greer,”  he tells her.

Lana tries to respond but her voice fails her for the few moments she is lost in his kind brown eyes.

“You do have a name, right?” He chides her softly.

“Lana, ” she answers, her voice barely above a whisper.

Lana quickly clears her throat and then speaks more forcefully.  “Hello, Greer.  I’m…I’m new to your club.”  I sound like an idiot.  Of course he knows I’m new to the club.

“I’m glad you’re here.”  His smile is sincere.  Then he signals for the small group to gather around.

“Seneca is on her way.  As you all know we are voting to break the tie for President.  As standing President, I will oversee the voting.  You are all members in good standing and I am going to allow Lana to vote today since we really need to break this tie.”  He looks over at Lana and winks and she feels her face get hot.  “I guess someone should wake up Horatio.”

 

“I know how to wake him up,” Molly says and picks up one of two guitars nestled in the corner of the Green Room.  She strums loudly and begins to sing in a nasally voice. ” ‘The answer my friends…is blowing in the wind…the answer is blowing in the winnnnnnnnd!’ ”  Everyone claps and laughs but Horatio sleeps on.

“That’s my competition?”  A voice asks increduously from the top of the staircase.  Lana sees a lovely young woman has arrived and she guesses it must be the other candidate for President of the club.  The girl is dressed in a sporty lavendar dress and bright pink sneakers.  Her hair falls in pretty waves and she has an air of assertiveness.

The girl walks over to the prone figure of her fellow candidate, shakes her head and looks directly at Lana.  “I think I can make a better impression than that,” she says.  “I’m Seneca.  I don’t want to bore you with a long spiel, I’ll just hit the highlights.”

Seneca begins reeling off her talking points.  She mentions a couple of fund-raisers and a planned field trip to a large city.  Lana listens intently and nods from time to time but her eyes keep wandering across the room to Greer.

The good-looking boy is engaged in a rapt conversation with Molly.  He catches Lana looking at him and gives her a bright smile.  Lana feels herself blushing again and tries to focus on Seneca’s agenda.

Suddenly Branham interrupts Seneca with an anguished cry.  “Horatio won’t wake up and its almost time for first bell!  What are we gonna do?”

Lana is surprised by his outburst but the others seemed non-plussed.

“We’re going to vote, we’ve waited long enough, ” Seneca decides.  “It is too bad he doesn’t want to make more of an effort to participate but I think that is a pretty good indication of what kind of president he would be.”

Greer stands up.  “How about a show of hands for Seneca?”

All hands in the room go up.  It is unanimous, except for Horatio.

The bell does ring and Horatio sits straight up with a shock.  He rises and stands next to Seneca.  “Oh…I…ummmm,”  he mumbles.  “What did I miss?”

“I’m President,” Seneca answers.  “We couldn’t wait any longer.  Now sit down so I can finish before we have to leave.”

“My biggest responsibility as President is to choose the school play.  I have given it a lot of thought and I have decided we will perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ by William Shakespeare.  I know Shakespeare is hard but I think we can rise to the challenge,” Seneca announces.

She walks over to Greer.  “I pick Greer to direct the play.  As you all know, two scenes from our play will compete with the other high schools at the Drama Challenge.  I think we have an excellent shot at winning with Greer at the helm.  We can discuss this further in drama class today with Mrs. Joyce.”

Seneca finishes up and the members of the group start getting up to leave.  Horatio approaches Lana with a bashful look.”I’m usually a more responsible guy, ” he says and shrugs.  “Will we see you later in Mrs. Joyce’s drama class?”

“I’m not signed up for that class,” Lana answers.

“Hey, Greer!”  Horatio calls out.  “Walk this girl to class and fill her in on how to change her schedule.”

Lana is unsure about changing her classes without her mother’s approval but she does not want to miss the opportunity to have Greer as her escort.  Her heart beats a little faster when she looks across the room and sees him smiling at her again.

 

SCENE 1

It is happening again. Lana feels cool air on her skin and shivers.  Looking down, she is shocked to discover she is clad only in her underwear.  Her head whips from left to right, and she sees rows of gray metal lockers.  She feels a surge of panic ripple through her body and her throat feels like it is closing.  How could she arrived at her new school wearing nothing but her bra and panties?

The clamour of the wind-up alarm clock intrudes just in time.  Lana opens her eyes and realizes with relief that she is sheltered in her bed, not exposed in a public place.  Why do I always have that dream?

Lana shakes her head to clear her morning grogginess and rises from her bed.  The dream is always the same.  I go to school and when I get there, I am wearing no clothes.  Am I crazy?

She is quick to make up the bed, a habit ingrained in her from an early age by her always-tidy mother.  I had better hurry if I want to get my hair done the way I saw it in that movie last week.

She approaches the mirror with a little trepidation.  Lana has conscientiously chosen an elaborate hairstyle based on an old black and white romance from some earlier era.  She spent a great deal of money on the extensions, and searched relentlessly for the right barrettes.

45 minutes of laborious work and at last she manages to get the exact look she is aiming for.  Lana anxiously considers whether or not the hairdo will garner her mother’s approval. It is so difficult to please her.  I hope she doesn’t think I look too outlandish.

To offset her discomfort, she sits down at the computer and composes a quick email to her father.  He is unable to live with them in the new town her mother is working in.  He cannot leave his job.  Lana was heartbroken and confused when her parents first told her they would be living apart for a year but they assured her it was a decision that was work-related only.

“Thank goodness Mother’s consulting work is only temporary.  I miss you so much.  Please wish me luck at my new school.  I’m really nervous!  I love you, Daddy.”

Lana is about to leave her room when she catches a glimpse of Bun Bun Bear, a beloved stuffed animal she has had since her father presented it to her on her sixth birthday.  He is worn and tattered in some places but just as lovable as always.  Lana sweeps up in her arms and hugs him.  Sweet little Bun Bun, I wish you could come with me today.

Upon entering the kitchen, Lana is captivated by the delightful aroma of pancakes.  Carrying a plate with a fresh stack, Lana’s mother, Seraphina, crosses the room and sets the plate on the table where her daughter takes a seat.

Seraphina:  “I don’t want you to eat too fast but don’t dawdle or you’ll miss the bus.  Remember what we talked about last night?”

Seraphina:  “Before you leave school today, I want you signed up for an extra-curricular activity.  It isn’t too early to be thinking about your college applications.  An after-school club is just as important as good grades…which I don’t have to remind you is not your strong point.  Besides, you have got to stop daydreaming over that silly computer game every afternoon.”

Her mother frowns and cocks her head, scrutinizing Lana with a forbidding look.

Seraphina:  “I’m not sure about that hairstyle, Lana.  It is flattering but it is going to make you very conspicuous.”

She leans over and gives her only child a quick kiss.

A horn honks loudly.  Lana feels her heart skipping.  No more anticipation, the new school day is about to start.  She leaps up from the table and rushes to the window.  The hulking yellow bus is waiting at the curb.  She turns to face her mother and pouts a little.

Lana:  “I can’t ride with you?”

Her mother smiles wistfully and shakes her head.

Seraphina:  “I’ve got a couple of hours of work to do here at the house before I leave for City Hall.  Please don’t look at me that way.  Riding the bus builds character!”

Lana exhales sharply and turns on her heel as quickly as she feels her mood change.  Control yourself, you’re too old for temper tantrums. She hurriedly leaves the house and can’t help slamming the door on her way out.

The bus rumbles and the driver blares the horn a second time.

Still bristling with anger, Lana stomps aboard and flings herself down in an empty sit.  She is oblivious to the other passengers.

Lana sulkily observes the town pass by.  She sees her reflection in the window and the dour expression on her face is not attractive.  She makes a concerted effort to smile but fails. If I go into school looking like this, I’ll never make any friends.

With a loud hiss of brakes and a disconcerting lurch, the bus arrives at its destination.  Like many of the buildings in the town Lana has moved to, the school seems antiquated, almost run-down.  She is daunted by its appearance, and she pauses outside the massive columns, hesitant to enter.  I wish I was home with Daddy, getting ready to go to my old school.

Taking a deep breath, Lana tried to ignore her flip-flopping stomach and pushes the heavy front door open.

She is startled when she finds the foyer is populated with gray lockers identical to the ones in her dream.  At least I managed to get dressed. Lana peruses her orientation handbook and finds her locker number.

As she scans over the metal cabinets, her eye catches a bulletin board with several pictures and notices affixed to it.   She steps forward to get a closer look.

She reads one brightly-colored flyer decorated with pictures of smiling teens and fanciful writing.

Join us in room 116 before school starts for a Drama Club Drop-In!

Lana is intrigued.  She wonders if this club would fulfill her mother’s request.

Lana still has a good amount of time before homeroom.  Feeling impulsive, she decides to hunt down room 116.  Her search leads to a hushed performance space filled with rows of empty chairs.  Where is everybody?  I can’t be the only one who decided to come to the drop-in.

She tentatively walks onto the theatrically-lit stage area, her heels clicking like tap-shoes on the polished floor.  Her heart dances a little as she marvels at what it must feel like to face an audience.  Maybe I’ll join and just do hair and makeup for their plays.

Voice:  “Hey, we’re upstairs in the Green Room.”