Page 14 of Take It Till You Make It
He looks over at someone who shrugs before he says, “We’ll give it a shot. Let’s take it from Lidia’s line, “But you’re my daughter and I say so.”
I panic because I don’t know where I am at that point. We’ve only shot the scene from the beginning. Am I supposed to remember where I am at that point in the scene? I make a fist and scratch my nose with my knuckle as Chandra turns toward me. When I have her attention, I hiss just loud enough for her to hear, “I don’t know where I'm supposed to be.”
She calls out, “Can you spot us, please?”
Several people rush over to the biggest camera and study the viewfinder, then race over to us. I’m pretty sure neither Chandra nor Sally need the assistance, but I’m thankful when they pretend they have no recollection of where they were at that point in the dialogue. A gal takes me by the arm and steers me back a few feet, then shows me what position to start in and reminds me of my next action. I thank her as I groan internally. Of course, the director picked a line where I’m halfway through spinning in circles as I follow them. As I wait for the scene to start, I stand awkwardly with my arms splayed wide and try not to tip sideways.
“And, action!” Hank calls.
I continue to spin while Chandra delivers her line. I run up between them and say wryly, “If you’re finished arguing, can I get some ice cream?” I point casually toward the store, and the director yells, “Cut!”
“That was good, Arabelle!” His tone indicates he’s stunned.
Does he not know that I have some experience with script writing? I know I’m not a full-on writer or anything, but one of my strengths with the videos Dad and I did was to rewrite scenes to make the character feel more authentic. Still, I feel a flush of pride as he stares at me like I’m an alien. “Thanks.”
“Okay, let’s break for lunch. Be back here at 1:00.”
Startled, I look around for a clock. It can’t be lunchtime already.
“Want to hang with me?” Sally asks.
“Hang?”
She nods. “There’s a cantina where we can get food and hang out. It’s easier than leaving the set to go get lunch. But maybe that’s just me. I can’t get used to how much traffic there is around here. It’s a bit intimidating.”
“Oh my gosh, it’s ridiculous. Are you from a small town too?”
“Yes. I feel like a total country bumpkin here in the big city.”
I jog over to grab my bag before following her off the set. “Is it weird to you how many people run the yellow lights around here? I can’t believe there aren’t more accidents.”
“Oh, I don’t actually drive.”
She seems embarrassed, which is sweet. “How do you get to work every morning?”
“My aunt has a driver.” She looks around to see if anyone is listening and leans in as a grin spreads across her face. “I feel like such a star riding in the back of that car with her.”
“I bet! Dang, I’m jealous.”
“Oh, well, it’s only because I’m staying with her while we shoot the film. Otherwise, I’d be forced to get my driver’s license and drive myself.” She shudders. “I can’t imagine learning to drive in this kind of traffic. I’m scared enough to do it in my tiny little hometown.”
As we follow others into a large room, a symphony of smells teases my nose and makes my stomach growl, reminding me I haven’t eaten yet today. Suddenly, I want to try everything I can smell. The savory, the sweet, with a dash of whatever that sharp tang of scent is. We queue up behind the line that has formed at the start of the hot food display. It looks like a large school cafeteria with people in hairnets plopping food onto people’s plates. But it smells much more appetizing than the food at my school. I stand on my tiptoes to see what kind of food there is to choose from as I respond to Sally’s driver’s ed woes. “Driving isn’t so hard. I even learned how to tow a trailer on the move out here.”
Her eyes pop wide. “Whoa. That’s next-level stuff. Did you back up?”
I laugh. “Kinda had to if I wanted to get us out here on time for shooting to begin.”
“Were you scared?”
Her question is so earnest that I have no trouble admitting the truth. “Terrified. I can’t tell you how many videos I watched before I finally got the nerve to try. I delayed our leaving by two days because I was so afraid.”
“Man, I’m impressed.” Sally cranes her neck to look at the food, and that stunning grin of hers lights her face again. “Yay. They have fajitas. One hundred percent recommend them.”
“Cool. I love fajitas.”
“I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t.”
I laugh. “My best friend, Glory, can’t eat bell peppers, but I swear she’s great anyway.”
