Page 105 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

And it’s a disaster. Adeliciousdisaster.

Chapter 28

Over the next few weeks, my life settles into a pattern, though not a predictable one. In the way it always is with theatre, every day is different. Every rehearsal brings a new challenge.

Last week, we had to pause a scene because Evelyn’s teeth fell out. And yesterday, a man named Sal nearly choked on a salami sandwich, which I’d already told him he couldn’t have onstage.

I eat breakfast with Daisy in the dining hall, then go straight to the theatre. If we aren’t rehearsing, we’re painting set pieces or collecting props. Ginny roped me into sewing (straight lines only), and Grace has come in twice for extra help on her songs because she’s already so nervous.

Booker is always waiting after rehearsals, proving he was serious about getting as much time as he can with me this summer, and I won’t lie... I don’t hate it.

We raid the Commons after hours and watch reruns ofThe Officewith Daisy and Louie. We attend cooking classes and show up for swing dancing because Daisy begs us to. We make root beer floats and kiss under the stars on my back patio.

And all of these moments spent with a man I’m trying desperately not to love become the ones that matter most of all.

They are the moments that make up my life.

Maybethisis all I need to be happy.

Kissing Booker has become my favorite pastime. He’s good at it.We’regood at it—well on our way to getting great at it.

I’ve mostly kept up with the group chat and contributed to choosing peacock blue as the color for Maya’s bridesmaids’ dresses. Taylor is kicking around the idea of naming her baby Nellie, which I personally love, even though Marnie is violently opposed, thanks to old reruns ofLittle House on the Prairie. And maybe I still haven’t caught them up on everything, but they’re a part of my life.

And that feels good.

And then there’s the show.

Even that is going well.

Yes, Belinda is still the diva, and the Margies often have to leave the stage mid-scene due to a bladder crisis, but after a month of rehearsals, I’m actually starting to see it take shape.

The members of the cast eat and play pickleball and do Zumba classes together. They’re friends. And I like them.

And I like being here.

I even like working with Dylan, who is maybe the biggest surprise of all. She anticipates the things I’ll need before I even ask for them, and it’s possible that my favorite part of this whole experience has been watching her come to life.

She’s still Dylan—all angst and eye rolls—but honestly, that’s come in handy, considering how many times she’s wielded them on Belinda. Watching the two of them face off is like watching a nineteenth-century duel. Or a haphazard game of table tennis, depending on the day.

I also notice that she’s the first one at the theatre and the last one to leave. Part of me thinks it’s because she doesn’t feel like she really has a home, but I wonder if it’s something more.

Like maybe she loves it.

I want to know what the plan is for Dylan once the school year starts, but even the tiniest bit of probing leads to her clamming up, leaving, or pulling out her phone and ignoring me, so for now I don’t push.

We eat lunch together in the dining hall as a cast, which isa truly wild experience. It turns out theatre people are pretty much the same, regardless of age. Loud talkers, big personalities, obnoxious laughter, and spontaneous sing-alongs, even in public places. Of course, there are also the introverts, who perform for the love of performing and not because they want to be the center of attention.

Grace falls into that category, which makes her and me fast friends.

Daisy and Louie join us most days and manage to fit right in with the rowdy crew.

And so do I, which I never could’ve predicted.

In addition to teaching the music, I block scenes and talk to the cast about character and inflection and diction and projection. These actors might not be professional, and they’re all much older than I am, but I realize early on that I do have things I can teach them. Most of them haven’t done theatre since high school, if at all.

The great thing is that most of them listen. They care a lot about this show, and they’ve all taken ownership of their part in it. They want it to be good, not only because they also know what’s riding on its success, but because they take pride in their work. And several of them had to work up the courage to do this after years of wishing they would.

I admire that. They make me want to be brave too.

---