Katie walked down with her family towards the outdoor theatre in Solvang. She was beaming. The theatre was going to put on Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, her favorite musical in the whole world. She knew every single line and every single phrase in every single song. It was a challenge for the theatre to do it with all its special effects. She had applied at the college and she was an extra, extra. She didn't have to arrive as early as the others had to. When they were almost nearing the entrance a young man, an actor, whom she had met at many of the rehearsals ran forward and grabbed Katie.
"Katie, right?" She nodded. "We really need your help." And then he ran off so with a confused look at her parents she followed him.
Far off in a different place and time there was a man at his end. He was crushed nothing was left for him but to die. He slowly stood up surveying his surroundings a deep groan came from his lips when he remembered what had happened here in the last weeks. The pain started all anew as the images of his beloved flashed through his mind.
Katie was rushed backstage, she looked about her in wonder as colors flashed past her.
The young man rushed up to the director. "I've got the girl who will solve all our problems." His boss just stared at him.
"Nothing can save us from this disaster."
"But she's one of the extras and on top of that she was the one that knows every single line, all the blocking. Katie, remember her, she was at every practice even the ones she didn't need to be at."
The director just turned away.
"She sings pretty good, probably as good as the rest of the college students here, opera mostly and she does know the lyrics and…" This got the director angry.
"We have thirty minutes before the play starts and you bring a girl who we don't know if she will even fit into the costumes, she is blonde so we'll need wigs and on top of that…"
"Excuse me, sirs, hate to interrupt but I know this play as well as any of you and I'm sure I could substitute for any of the characters who seemed to have dropped out."
They just stared at her. Finally they both looked at each other.
"I'll admit it, you are a genius, Fred. Now take her to costumes and hurry. Hopefully she'll fit in the costumes we've got. If not hurry and get a needle and thread. Go, go now." They hurried off.
"Who must I play?"
"Well…Christine."
"Christine, oh dear. But I've never kissed anyone."
"You haven't!" Shock was written over his face and it could be plainly seen on his face that he thought she was a Mary Sue; she gave him a frustrated look. "Well then we'll arrange it that you only kiss the kiss at the end. Now go."
Oh, dear…come on its time for the kiss you must do it, Katie. The show must go on. Everything had gone magnificently till this part. Thankfully her nervousness just played up her acting. Here comes the line.
"Pitiful creature of darkness…"
From above the man, as he stood tortured in his thoughts, came a voice singing. He looked up. Suddenly there was a flashing of light.
"God give me courage to show you…"
Here it comes, just close your eyes and get it over with. As Katie came towards him she closed her eyes and as she was about to say and do the most dramatic part in the play the lights went dark and there was flashing all around her. Keep going, keep going.
"You are not a…"
A girl appeared before him adorned in a beautiful dress and she was singing with a clear beautiful voice the song he had been hearing.
"Alone." Katie lifted her head up carefully but then he was a bit taller than before. She thought nothing of it. She went on her tippy toes and kissed him, a long kiss in which both participants gasped. She opened her eyes to find something a bit different than she expected.