Page 14 of Positively, Penelope

As we get to know each other better, I will be curious to hear about your job. Are you a performer as well as a movie/musical enthusiast?

From: Izzy Edgewood

To: Penelope Edgewood, Luke Edgewood, Josephine Martin

Date: September4

Subject: Re: The bicycle story

Penelope,

I think Matt may have a soft spot for damsels in distress, if you ask me. Either that, or he’s wrapped around his adorable daughter’s finger and SHE has a soft spot for damsels in distress. I wouldn’t be too hard on Matt Gray. It sounds like he could use a little of your positivity too. I mean, if you think about it, he’slost his mom and grandma in less than five years. Those sorts of losses linger and sometimes distort our views. Besides, most of the time people have reasons why they act the way they do. He’s a single dad forsomereason. Maybe there’s a broken heart beneath all that fairy-tale hate, so your faith, trust, and ever-present... enthusiasm may be what he needs even more than you needing to ride a bike.

He has to have a little bit of patience and charm to convince you to try to ride a bicycle again, though, so there is that.

Izzy

PS: Let go of Matt next time you practice riding. Trust me, you’re supposed to do that.

PPS: Oh, I’m so glad Brodie’s coming to hang out with you. I’m sure he’ll be quietly encouraging in his wonderful way.

From: Luke Edgewood

To: Penelope Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood, Josephine Martin

Date: September4

Subject: Re: The bicycle story

Izzy! Maybe I put too much faith and trust into your words. You’re encouraging her to pour her fairy-tale enthusiasm on some poor single dad who has a dying business to save? Of course, if he’s spending his afternoons trying to help Penelope ride a bike, then he has more free time than I realized... and perhaps he’s crazier than I thought too. (And since he works in a theater, I already thought he was pretty crazy.)

Luke

PS: Brodie will bring sense.

PPS: Common sense is better than pixie dust. Prove me wrong.

Text from Penelope to Luke:Maybe common sense AND pixie dust are the perfect match?

Luke:You talk nonsense. Just like wizards. Except Gandalf. I have to support Izzy in that.

From: Penelope Edgewood

To: mgraydarlinghouse

Date: September4

Subject: Centennial???

How could you not have told me that this year is the centennial of The Darling House’s opening?ThisDecember before I’m due to leave! I’m sure I don’t need to tell you how FANTASTIC this is!! It’s the additional MAGIC we need to bring this theater back to the public’s attention. I am THRILLED beyond words!

Is there a place within the theater where I can locate some old props or historical documents or anything else that will give me some ideas of the theater’s past life? I MUST find out more aboutPeter Pan’s influence and your grandmother’s involvement and so many other things. These will all make my job easier AND your product even better! Story is vital to creating so many things, but definitely for helping the world fall in love with The Darling House all over again.

How, you might ask? Because story is the key to what we bring to the stage, how we present ourselves online, and even howwe engage with one another. We all have stories, but in our hearts, we all LOVE stories. (Even if it takes some of us longer to admit it . . . kind of like a smile. Some people need more encouragement to smile than others, but you should really know a smile makes all the difference.)

I’m sending a list of ideas for the website. Please let me know whether these are what you had in mind.

Penelope Edgewood

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