DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" or "High School Story: Class Act," I only own Diana and Karena. I also do not own Luke Bryan's "That's My Kind of Night."
"Caleb, Graham, we need you!" Amy exclaimed with shock. "I was new to the theatre department last show, and I was fine. You will be too!"
"Easy for you to say," Caleb replied sadly. "You've been acting your whole life. I still don't know stage left from real life left."
"And I'm not good enough to beat out Fairfield's tech," Graham sadly explained. "Not even close."
"That's quitter's talk!" Rory exclaimed. "Everything will come together as long as we try!"
"Exactly. Remember, you both bring something special to the show," Amy explained. "Graham, you build the coolest robots. And Caleb, you make a perfect Antonio!"
"You… you really think my robots are cool?" Graham asked with surprise.
"I mean, that's nice to hear," Caleb replied with hesitation. "But acting aside, half of this Old English talk is still gibberish to me."
"So we'll teach you!" Ajay replied impatiently. "Caleb, step outside and run your scene with Erin. She knows her Shakespeare. Graham, pair off with Skye. Put your visionary heads together to brainstorm special effects like the world has never seen!"
"Yes, let's get to work instead of marinating in our self-pity," Aiden suggested.
"Diana, take it from Prospero's final song," Mom suggested.
"You got it," I replied with a smile. "Everyone, get ready to clap when I beg you to free me!"
Mom started playing on the piano, and I took a deep breath through my diaphragm, ready to belt my final words.
"But release me from my bands with the help of your good hands. Gentle breath of your good hands—"
"CUT!"
I stopped with surprise in my voice, and I turned toward the Crandalls.
"I don't like it," Mr. Crandall said. "This scene is ridiculous."
"I agree," Mrs. Crandall chimed in. "Stop it immediately!"
Half of us turned toward the Crandalls with alarm on our faces while I felt anger rising in me.
"I didn't realize you were here, Mr. and Mrs. Crandall," Amy said with surprise.
"You can't just…" Ajay started to say angrily, but he took a deep breath to calm down. "What about it isn't working for you?"
"Why would Prospero give up his magic?" Mr. Crandall asked. "It's so unrealistic that he'd willingly relinquish his power."
"You can't be serious," I muttered quietly.
"It's the most meaningful thing he does in the whole show!" Ajay explained. "It has to stay."
"With all due respect, you can't just change Shakespeare!" Amy chimed in. "He's Shakespeare. He wrote the ending that way for a reason!"
"Yes, and I'm sure he never meant it to be a musical," Mrs. Crandall replied. "Don't be a hypocrite."
"It's Staples all over again!" I exclaimed with anger in my voice.
"There's change in the medium and then there's fundamental change in the message itself—"
"I like this Prospero fellow with his magic," Mr. Crandall explained, cutting Ajay off. "And you should remember who's funding your show."
"Let's have him be duke again and still be a wizard," Mrs. Crandall suggested with a snarky grin. "It will be worlds better."
There was a few moments of silence in the auditorium.
"Fine… we'll cut that song, if we truly must," Ajay said. WHAT?!
"Good boy," Mr. Crandall replied. "And while you're at it, your Ariel could use some better direction. He's your weakest link."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Adam replied with sadness in his voice.
"We've seen enough for today," Mrs. Crandall concluded. "Next time, we expect improvements!"
Right as the Crandalls left the auditorium, the whole room exploded in anger.
"First Fairfield has to stomp on us," Michael said angrily. "Now this?"
"There's no way we're gonna win Spotlite now," Clint said hopelessly.
"Or even have a good show at this rate," Rory chimed in, also with sadness in his voice. "The play doesn't make sense without the ending."
"This is ridiculous," Amy chimed in. "Ajay, can't you stand up to them?"
"I tried, but my hands are tied. If they aren't happy with our production, they'll withdraw their funding."
"What if you told Mr. Olson? He wouldn't want to change the ending."
"Yeah, and he wouldn't want to be fired, either. You'd be shocked at the influence money can buy."
"My bad acting isn't helping," Adam said with sadness in his voice. "I should've stuck to sports… Maybe you should find someone else to play Ariel."
"Don't say that," Amy replied. "Cut yourself some slack, you're new to this. Mr. Crandall has no idea what he's saying. He's cruel to everybody."
"Amy's right, you were cast for a reason," Ajay explained. "Nobody's a seasoned pro at the beginning of the rehearsal process."
"I don't think I'll get better, though," Adam replied. "I'm hopeless!"
"Adam, what part of Ariel do you feel like you're struggling with?" Mom asked.
"Uh, all of it! For starters, he's an ancient spirit! I'm a human being, I don't know how a spirit is supposed to think!"
"Perhaps you should focus less on the spirit aspect and more on his human-like attributes," Ajay suggested.
"Yeah! Ariel is super playful and funny, just like you," Amy said with a smile.
"I don't think I understand the script enough to get any of his jokes," Adam replied.
"My dad can help you with that," I offered. "He read the entire play to help me understand my character. I bet we just have to find the right way for you to tap into Ariel's head, and then you'll be fine."
"You know, back in my acting days, a little method acting did the trick when I felt stuck in my own head," Ajay explained.
"Method acting, you say?" Rory replied, putting a grin on his face. "That gives me an idea. Hey Adam, I dare you to come to a restaurant with me… and stay in character as Ariel the whole time!"
"I'm over here saying I'm hopeless and you're challenging me to do a really hard thing?" Adam asked doubtfully. "That's not how this works!"
"It'll be fun, I swear! I'll be in character too. First one to break owes the other a big slice of chocolate cake for dessert."
"That sounds like fun!" Amy chimed in. "I wanna do Shakespeare for cake too!"
"That's the spirit!" Rory exclaimed happily. "C'mon, Adam, like you used to say when we were kids… I double dog dare you!"
"They said that?" I asked out loud.
"I can't back down from a double dog dare!" Adam exclaimed. "I'm only doing it if you're in too, Amy. I'm no match for Rory alone!"
"Works for me. You can both chip in to buy me the most decadent piece of cake of my life."
"I'm not sure how much that would help," Amy replied. "It might make Adam more nervous."
"That's a good point, actually," Ajay chimed in, agreeing with Amy.
"Maybe you can just help me practice back at home," Adam suggested.
"Don't worry too much, Adam," Erin chimed in. "I know you'll get it eventually!"
"And my offer still stands," I said with a smile. "Just give me a call if you need our help."
Adam had taken my offer, texting me using Amy's phone, and both my parents and I worked together to help Adam understand his lines and his character. We even gave him a piece of chocolate cake, somewhat fulfilling Rory's promise, and Adam was very thankful to us.
Today was Saturday, and on this gorgeous day in Westport, I met some other peers downtown for prom committee. I had so much fun last year, despite the drama with Staples, so I opted to participate again. I met up with Lorenzo, Erin, and Ajay, and Adam and Amy eventually showed up while drinking the last of their smoothies.
"I've never helped plan a dance before, much less something as big as prom," Amy said with a smile on her face.
"That means you'll have fresh ideas!" Erin happily replied. "It's always good having new hands on deck."
"Oh that's right!" I exclaimed. "You were on the committee last year too."
"Thanks for showing up on a Saturday!" Adam said with a happy attitude. "I know for me, it was tough getting up before noon."
"Course, bruh!" Lorenzo replied. "What was I gonna do instead, homework?"
"That actually might be a better use of my time," Ajay chimed in, and Amy's smile turned into an expression of surprise.
"Ajay, you joined prom committee? I thought you'd be at home working on stuff."
"I wanted to get out of the house, and this seemed like the best option," Ajay explained. "Don't question it. Appreciate my brief fun-loving behavior."
"This beats the TV marathon I had planned with my brother," I replied. "Plus, I helped on prom committee last year, so I'm a professional."
"Whoa, you can get paid for planning prom?" Lorenzo asked, impressed. "Do you have a certificate or something?"
"I wish!" I answered with a laugh. "But I'm not literally a professional."
"I printed out the list of location suggestions," Erin explained. "The first one is just a couple blocks away. Let's get started!"
We walked down a couple blocks and went inside… to a country bar.
"I didn't know we had a country bar in Westport!" I exclaimed, and then I heard one of my favorite country songs and started to dance. "I'm digging this music!"
I've got that real good, feel good stuff
Up under the seat of my big black jacked up truck
Rollin' on 35s, pretty girl by my side.
"A… country bar," Erin said with hesitance. "Okay. Interesting suggestion."
"Prom here'll be lit!" Lorenzo exclaimed. "Instead of the electric slide, we can square dance!"
"Are we even allowed to have prom in here?" Amy asked. "We're not twenty-one."
"I kinda feel like we should have an adult," Adam replied. "Amy, what's your honest opinion on having prom here? Don't hold back."
All them other boys wanna wind you up and take you downtown
But you look like the kind that likes to take it way out
Out where the corn rows grow, row, row your boat
Floatin' down the Flint River, catch us up a little catfish dinner
Gonna sound like a winner, when I lay you down and love you right
Yeah, that's my kind of night.
"Prom at a cowboy bar, huh?" Amy answered. "Who suggested this again?"
"Don't look at me!" Ajay exclaimed. "You know I have taste."
"My cousin who dropped outta college works here," Lorenzo explained. "And I thought it'd be a dope spot for prom. This place has it all! A jukebox, weird animal heads, even a mechanical bull!"
I stopped square-dancing at the sound of a mechanical bull.
"A surprisingly convincing pitch! A mechanical bull could be fun at prom."
"Wait, now I wanna ride the mechanical bull!" Adam exclaimed. "Maybe they'll let us test it out today…"
"I call the next turn!" Amy said with joy.
"Children, focus!" Erin chimed in. "We have other venues to look at!"
My kind or your kind it's this kind of night
We dance in the dark and your lips land on mine
Gonna get our love on, time to get our buzz on
"I'm now picturing everybody trying to hold on in their dresses and heels," I said with amusement as the final chorus of the song played out. "Could be fun!"
"Nope! Veto'd!" Ajay exclaimed. "Moving on!"
We walked out of the bar and continued walking downtown to… a cat café. What the hey…
"I've found… my true homeland!" Lorenzo exclaimed with pure happiness.
"Yes… yes you have," I replied with a flat expression.
"We can't have prom here!" Amy exclaimed. "All the cats would get spooked."
"Aw man, that would be terrible," Adam replied, kneeling down to try to pet one of the cats. "They're so small and soft. I just wanna hold 'em close."
Just then, that cat sneezed in Adam's face.
"Augh! Kitty sneeze!"
I chuckled at the sight.
"Neither of these are real venues," Amy said sadly. "At this rate, I'm scared we're gonna search all day and not find anywhere to have prom."
"I'm sure it'll be fine," I assured her. "As long as we're here, maybe a cat break would help us feel refreshed? They're all so cute!"
"I think that's a good idea," Erin agreed. "We'll regroup in twenty minutes after snuggling some fluffballs."
I sat down as a grey cat walked toward me and started rubbing my leg. I lifted her up into my arms, but she didn't seem to like it, so I let her go, but she wouldn't leave my side.
"You are so cute and affectionate," I told the cat. "I wonder if my parents would approve of keeping you."
But I knew in my heart I couldn't. I would have to leave the cat here while we were still looking for a suitable prom venue. And besides, I didn't want to surprise my dad with a cat and have him give me a lecture on bringing home an animal without his permission. My thoughts were interrupted by Adam waving his arms to get everyone's attention, and I paid attention while continuing to pet the cat.
"I'm kinda tempted to cancel prom and have a cat café night instead—"
"No!" I replied sternly.
"Yeah, lets' do it!" Lorenzo replied at the same time I did.
"Except I don't think the rest of the school would be happy," Adam explained, and I gave him a smirk. "But I think the next venue we see is gonna be even more exciting!"
This time, we had to drive, and we drove to the docks. I followed Adam and Amy onto a ship, and I was instantly amazed at the top deck! There were lounge chairs all around, surrounding a swimming pool, and there were already decorations that spelled 'party.'
"Oh wow… it's totally perfect!" Amy exclaimed.
"We almost had prom on a boat last year," I chimed in with a smile on my face. "Now's our chance!"
"it appears we saved the best for last," Ajay explained. "It's unique, aesthetically pleasing, and the sea has a history of romanticism."
"I'd get to cannonball into the actual ocean!" Lorenzo said.
"Lorenzo, this is Long Island Sound," I corrected him, shaking my head.
"It's still the Atlantic Ocean though, right?"
"Or not," Erin chimed in. "From this height, you might not make it back."
"But there's a pool," Amy happily explained. "We'll have to tell everybody to bring swimsuits under their prom clothes."
"I have the perfect swimsuit in mind," I said with a big grin, and with my red evening dress in mind.
"Yeah, let's do it!" Adam agreed. "Everybody can recreate the pose from Titanic, all at the same time for a really meme-worthy photo!"
"Now comes the part where we pick a theme," I chimed in. "I had an idea that I think will be really awesome. And by 'I', I mean my dad. Anyway. Imagine UFOs and shimmering intergalactic decorations under the blanket of the starry sky. Get ready for… outer space prom!"
"Huh, I was actually thinking we should play up the romance of prom," Erin suggested. "But with a mysterious twist. Like a dark masquerade kind of thing."
"Ooh, I like that!" I exclaimed.
"Very Phantom of the Opera!" Ajay exclaimed happily. "Deep, rich colors, masks, maybe a chandelier."
"We could also keep it simple and save budget for stuff like more snacks," Adam suggested.
"Those all sound really cool," Lorenzo chimed in. "Until now I thought prom was the theme."
"Amy, what do you think we should do?" Erin asked. "Seems we're all pretty divided."
"Ah, I don't wanna decide!" Amy exclaimed. "But lemme think."
"I totally know the feeling," I replied, watching Amy close her eyes and imagine each theme.
"I think we should go with…"
We all waited with bated breath for Amy's answer, and then she opened her eyes!
"The dark masquerade theme! Masquerade balls are super gorgeous and The Tempest has me on a historical romance kick."
"Heck yes!" Adam exclaimed. "I bet Mr. Olson would let us raid the costume rack for prom clothes!"
"I hope I can still tell who my date is if she's wearing a mask," Lorenzo said with worry. "What if I don't know who anyone is?"
"Lorenzo, your date will be wearing a huge sparkly pink dress," I answered with a flat expression. "She'd be hard to miss."
"Don't worry, the masks will be optional," Erin assured him. "Besides, the mystery is part of the fun!"
"I can already see things coming together in my head," Ajay said. "Let's plan a craft store trip for supplies."
"Wait, I think I remember my grandparents hosting a masquerade ball once!" I exclaimed. "Maybe I can ask them if we can borrow some of their things!"
"Your grandpa is Cornelius Robinson, right?" Amy asked, and I gave her a big grin as an answer. "Decorations straight from Todayland! Oh, prom is going to be so awesome!"
"And we need to have a general shopping trip," Erin suggested. "I need to find the perfect dress!"
"I already got mine!" I exclaimed with excitement.
"With Spotlite soon and prom coming up right when we get back, I don't know how I'm gonna sit in class!" Amy said happily.
"If I had to guess, you'll spend class slipping cute notes to Ajay under your desk," I said with a little sarcasm.
"Or not! You don't know what I'll do!"
"Hey Auntie Tallie!" I said on the phone.
"Diana! Hello! How are things in Connecticut?"
"Well, I have a part in the spring musical, and I'm playing a man."
"You're playing a man? I never thought I'd hear the day. How's that going?"
"I asked my dad for help and he's been a big help," I explained. "I'm not sure how Sydney is going to do my hair for this."
"Maybe she can put your hair up in an elegant bun!"
"What does that mean?" I asked with a perplexed expression. "I've never had my hair up in a bun."
"I imagine that Sydney will braid your hair and then create a crown with it."
"So, not a bun?"
"Okay, so not a bun."
"Did my dad tell you we're going to London?"
"No! Really?!"
"Yes! I'm so excited about it! And since my mom's the music director, she'll be coming with me! I wish my dad would join us too, but he has the timelines to save."
"Hey, being in London with one family member is better than none at all," Tallulah replied. "I think it's awesome you're going with your mom. Is anyone else going with you?"
"Auntie Tallie, I'm going to London with the cast and crew. We're performing our play in the Spotlite International Theatre Festival."
"That sounds like so much fun!"
"We're all excited about it. And we finally have our prom venue and theme. That's actually why I called you in the first place. Our theme is a masquerade and prom will be on a boat."
"So I made the perfect dress for you!"
"Yes, you did. Thank you again for that!"
"You know, I bet you I could find a mask that would match the dress perfectly."
"Oh! Speaking of which, is grandma around?"
"Yeah! I can put her on the phone!" I paused as I heard my godmother calling my grandmother while still on the phone with me. After a few moments I heard my grandma's voice on the other line.
"Hello Diana! How are you?"
"I'm doing great, Grandma, thanks! Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, honey! What is it?"
"Our prom theme is a masquerade, and I remembered that you and Grandpa held a masquerade ball while my family was with you. Would there be any chance we can borrow some decorations from you guys?"
"That's a great idea! Tallulah and Laszlo really do go all out when it comes to themes, and they did a fantastic job with planning our masquerade ball. Of course you can borrow them! When do you need them by?"
"As soon as possible," I answered. "Prom is about two weeks from now. We're heading to London in a few weeks."
"You're going to London? That's exciting!"
"Yeah, and I'm going with the cast and crew. Mom's joining us as well since she's the music teacher."
"That will be so fun! I've never been to London before. I hope you'll have a blast and take lots of pictures for us."
"Now that I can definitely do, Grandma." I paused, glancing at the clock in my room. "I should let you go. It's getting late here."
"I forgot, you are two hours ahead of us. Well, I'll talk to you soon. I love you, Diana."
"I love you too, Grandma. Say hi to the family for me!"
"Will do! Bye for now!"
