AN: 2/2016 Revised chapter.
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"I can't believe it's time again."
May idly watched as Sora chopped some vegetables.
"You mean the tryouts?"
"Yeah..." They were only held once a year for their following productions. "So you, me, Leon, and Ken to judge, with the Boss as a tie breaker if need be." She rinsed some carrots and then put them on the cutting board. "I wonder why he changed it this year."
Last year, it had been only Leon and Kalos.
May tapped her finger on the table. "I think it's because we're ready now." She looked at the blue and pink kitty salt and pepper shakers. "Kalos can trust our judgments. Well, at least as a whole."
Sora frowned. "What do you mean?"
May squeezed the handle of her walnut crusher, letting the shell fall into the bowl. "You and Ken would be nice in your judging." She picked out the good parts of the nut and put it into another bowl. "While Leon and I are practical. So," *crack!* "We are needed to keep from you two hiring everyone. Well," she popped a walnut into her mouth, "At least prevent you. Ken is more realistic than you are."
"You make me sound so bad," Sora muttered under her breath, "What's wrong with giving people the opportunity to be here?"
"Besides our budget and not being able to house all of them," came May's flat response, "Plus not having enough space on stage? Nothing."
"I'm just saying. It wouldn't be so bad to hire a lot of talented people."
"Getting the talented ones before another circus swoops them up," May got another nut into position, "I definitely agree with that. But our budget, stupid. Money doesn't just rain down from the heavens if you're good. You keep disregarding that fact."
"We've been making a lot of money these last couple of years."
"Which Kalos used to expand the water stage outside, as well as expanding the seating. Circuses take a lot of money to upkeep and improve, you know."
"I know...I just wished it didn't have to."
"We could just not get paid then and have our room and board be our wages."
Sora started to nod her head. "Yeah...! That would save so much -"
"I was joking idiot. We need money for other stuff." May chucked a nut shell at her back. "Ever heard of health and life insurance? Or a 401 K retirement plan? What's going to support you when you're a little old lady with a bunch of cats?"
"I'm not gonna be a cat lady!"
May snickered. "Fine, a dog lady."
"I'm going to have a family," Sora decidedly answered, "with grand kids and great grand kids...the whole deal!"
"Oh?" May propped her head on the table. "And who's going to be the grandpa of all of these kids?" She gave a half smirk. "Leon?"
"May!"
"What? Am I wrong?"
"Th-That's none of your business!"
"Since when?"
"Since right now! Besides," Sora rapidly chopped the heck out of the garlic cloves, "it's too soon to even be thinking like that." Her knife slowed down. "...Right?"
May blinked at the quiet question. "Don't look to me for that answer." She closed the container with the un-cracked walnuts. "I will say this, though. It's something you need to think about."
Sora looked at the chopping board. Leon, as the grandpa...? Her face flushed, a small smile appearing without her realizing it. I think...I'd like that.
May loudly placed the walnuts on the counter next to her. Sora jumped a little at the sudden sound.
"Don't do that!...Wait, I was supposed to smash the cloves." Sora let out a huff. "Drat."
She was definitely going to hear about it from her teacher. Leon was actually teaching her new cooking tricks to better maximize the flavor, along with teasing her of course. She didn't think it would be possible for him to not tease her someway.
May leaned against the counter. "You know you can tell me."
"About what?"
A grin made its way on the Chinese acrobat's face. "The real reason for the neck brace."
"I told you, we were racing each other and then I made a fool of myself."
"Uh huh."
"...How else do you think I hurt myself?"
May grin curved devilishly. Sora was beginning to regret asking. Someone knocked on her door.
"Don't bother, I'll get it."
Sora put the apron back on. That's one way to avoid an awkward conversation. She turned back to the chopping board.
"Hey Sora."
She turned to smile. "Hey Mia. What's up?"
Mia plopped down on the table next to May, her light yellow skirt poofing out as she sat. "Just checking up on you. Did Kate clear you yet to go back to doing The Little Mermaid?"
"About that..." She put the garlic in the pan and then started cutting the chicken. "I was thinking that maybe we should keep Rosetta as lead." The teen had covered for when she and Leon went on that weekend trip and then stayed when she hurt her neck. "She's doing pretty good."
May snorted. "The height difference between Anna and Rosetta is ridiculous."
Mia tutted. "It just makes it cuter! Don't be so mean to your student!"
"I'm just pointing out the obvious!"
"Anyways..." Mia half glared at May and then turned to Sora, "It should work just fine, considering the tryouts coming up. Rosetta was supposed to take the last month, right?"
"Yeah, but with my neck injury, she'll be doing almost two months."
"She'll be fine, worrywarts." May tilted her head up. "She is my pupil."
"Now you defend her? You're a twisted master, you know that?"
"Mia," Sora easily cut through, "Can we have something for when the new hires come in?"
"Oh, like a welcome party? Sure, I don't see why not." Mia's eyes brightened. "It's still warm. We should do it on the beach."
"A beach and grill!" Sora smiled. "That sounds great!"
"It should be in the evening after the last Little Mermaid showing." Mia pulled out her phone. "I'll make a note so we can get the flyers ready in time."
"See? Spending money already."
"We'll make it a pot luck, Scrooge."
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AN: May, May...Always thinking devious thoughts.
