Page 59 of Santa Has a Six-Pack
“Hi again, Mikayla!” I wave to her. She waves shyly back. “If it’s okay with Mr. B…” I turn to look at Matt. “Maybe I can teach Mikayla her special peach dance while you work on group scenes with the rest of the cast?”
Matt’s mouth hangs open.
“Is that okay?” I ask.
“Sure! That’s great! You’re sure you’re ready to dive into the salty peach dance?”
“Yup.” I hold up my phone’s music app. “I found this version of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy’ in the public domain and choreographed something. After reading the script you sent last week, I felt inspired and wanted to get started.”
“Inspired?” He chuckles. “That’s generous of you. Like I said before, I’m open to rewrites.”
“I don’t see a need for changes. The script is really funny, Matt.” I place a hand on his shoulder. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” His eyes soften. We stare at each other for a few breaths, like we both want to say something more, but we have no idea where to start. And this isn’t the time or place for deep discussions anyway. Case in point. Fifteen elementary school kids are staring at us when we look up at the stage again.
“Great!” Matt says, chuckling. “So there’s a greenroom stage left where you and Mikayla can work if you want some privacy. The rest of you? Let’s block the Pumpernickel Party scene we read before Thanksgiving break.”
This show is going to be so freaking weird.
But I’m here for it.
I hop onstage and sidle up next to Mikayla. “Come on, girl. Let’s go have some fun.”
An hour later, the bell rings, signaling the end of recess and, consequently, the end of our rehearsal.
Mikayla and I meet the rest of the cast back onstage, and they do a cute closing group handshake Matt must’ve taught them. They quickly teach it to me, and I instantly feel like part of the team.
“Have a wonderful rest of your day, everybody!” Matt says. “Great work today! Miss Penny will be back with us on Wednesday, and we’ll dive into the Menorahsaurus Dance Battle in Act Two, if that’s okay with you?” He looks toward me.
“Perfect,” I say. “Can’t wait. As your preparation, everyone, please pick your favorite dinosaur and bring in a few fun facts to share about it. I’m really excited to work with all of you.”
And that’s the absolute truth. This past hour flew by. When Mikayla and I started, she was super timid with the choreography and full of “I can’t do it” and “It’s too hard for me.” By the end of our time together, she was smiling and twirling and looking like the most exuberant little peach fairy I’ve ever seen. It filled me with such pride that I had a hand in guiding her to the happy place she found.
“Well, I’m going to head out,” I say with a contented sigh once all the kids have filed out of the auditorium.
“Cool if I walk you out?” Matt asks as he grabs his bag and coat.
“Oh, I figured you had PE classes this afternoon.”
“Nope. Monday is an early day for me.”
A nervous feeling drops into my belly.
“Well then, yeah. Let’s…. walk out.”
He holds the door for me as we exit the school. A gust of wind greets us when we hit the street, and I wrap my coat around myself tighter. “Got chilly, huh?” I say dumbly.
“Sure did,” he says just as awkwardly. “Winter is officially wintering.”
We walk in silence for a block.
“Not officially,” I blurt, regretting it immediately.
“Huh?” he says.
“I just mean it’s not officially winter until the 21st.”
“Oh. True.” He nods, then we fall into silence again.
