Here's Chapter 2!
James Adams! I couldn't believe it. They wanted me to audition for the lead role!
'Seriously?' I asked.
'Seriously!' Smiled Nina. 'Here's a script you might want to look at. The audition is at the Orange Tree Theatre. We already have your parents permission and they have said that you can pick up you sister from her school and she can come and watch. Mrs Mallie will escort you there.'
Mrs Mallie turned to me. 'Finlay. If you wait in the library, I will come and get you at 2:30.'
I nodded. 'Sure.'
'Good. We'll leave you to finish your lunch then!'
After they left I looked down at the script. It was from the part of the book where Greg Jennings beats up James.
Greg: That should teach you a lesson! [Kicking James] Just be glad I don't go around beating up little girls or your sister might've ended up with a 100 stitches in her face!
James: Ahh! [Scrunching his face in pain] Don't hurt Lauren! She didn't do anything!
Greg: Do you have any money? [James nods and gets out a 20 pound note and some coins out of his pocket. He hands them to Greg who gets up and starts to walk away]
Greg: Don't think that's the last you've seen of me. I'll be coming for you and next time it'll be worse! [Greg turns and walks down the alley. He turns around, gives a menacing smile and walks off]
James: Lauren, wait! I'm sorry! Please, wait! [Lauren is walking off. She stops and faces her brother who is slumped on the ground]
Lauren: You beat up Samantha Jennings? Why James? Why are you always getting into fights? Have you been expelled?
James: I don't know. Probably. Please help. [Lauren starts to walk back]
Lauren: Alright, just wait 'till I'm upstairs before you tell Mum. [James musters a smile as Lauren helps him up. The scene ends with Lauren supporting a limping James into the darkness]
I reckoned I could act the script quite well, though I would have to wait and see.
It was really awkward getting the train with my head teacher. At least I didn't have to talk much, just answer 'Yes' or 'No' to her questions. When we got off I showed her the way to my sister's school. It's very small in a family way, and everyone knows everyone. Their is only one class per year and that only has 15 people in it. I could tell Mallie was impressed; there were no kids running around and shouting everywhere, like you find at some Primary Schools. Janie was so excited when I told her about my audition, but was a lot more subdued than normal, because of Micky being there.
When we got to the theatre, the door was flung open by Nina. 'Finlay! How are you?'
'Good, thanks.' I replied. We were ushered into a a long bare corridor, with nothing but some posters of previous shows. About halfway down the corridor, I was told to go into one room, whilst Janie and Mrs Mallie were told to keep going. The room I was in was spacious, with leather sofas and coffee table with a bowl of - untouched - crisps. Four boys were sat along two sofas, with a gap between the first and the second. I guessed this was were I was meant to sit. As I sat, the boy to my right handed me a card with a big 2 on the front. They all had ones as well, but with different numbers. I was very surprised to see that only one other boy, apart from me, had blond hair. I'd assumed that they had been scouting with that in mind. Of the five of us, I would say that three (including me) looked 11, one looked 10 and one looked 12. No one in the room was making any eye contact, so I decided to break the ice.
'So...' I said awkwardly. 'Have you guys all read CHERUB?' Everyone single one of them shook their heads. I was really shocked. I mean, how can you expect to be able to portray a character if you don't know what sort of person they are? It didn't make sense.
Number 1 suddenly spoke up. 'I really don't want to do this. I'm gonna fail so bad. I haven't read the books and my mum forced me into it. Ahhh! What am I gonna do?'
No one spoke.
Hi Everyone! If you have any suggestions on how I should make the character's speech flow more smoothly, please say! Thanks! :)