Chapter 3- the TRUTH
When Mandeline got home, she found her father sleeping on the couch in the den. The bible was open so she figured he must've been working on the sermon. Mandeline carefully closed the bible and covered her father with a light blanket. Then she began to cook dinner. The clicking and clacking of the kitchen appliances must have awakened Mandeline's father because soon after, he walked into the kitchen.
"Mandy." He said wearily. "When did you get in?"
"Just a little while ago, Dad." Mandeline replied, as she tossed a side salad. "Dinner's just about ready."
Her father nodded and got out the silverware and dishes and set them on the table. Mandeline finished making dinner and set the main course as well as the salad on the table. Her father said grace and they ate.
"So, Dad, how's the sermon for tomorrow?" Mandeline asked.
"Oh, I'm a little nervous. After all this is my first time at the downtown church."
"You'll do fine." Mandeline said breezily. They finished up and washed the dishes. They both went to bed early so they would get ready to go downtown for Reverend Morison's first sermon at the Baptist church. Mandeline had always been in the choir, though her father wasn't reverend all the time. They got bright and early Sunday morning. They put on church clothes then rode to the church. They were there early. Soon the congregation began to arrive. ((I'm not going to bother you with the details of the service.)) All I'm gonna say is: Mandeline's father preached terrifically. Many people came to him after the service to congratulate him, and tell him what a wonderful sermon that was. They drove home happily.
On, Monday at school, it was a pretty normal day. Mandeline had signed up to participate in the school's annual play. Auditions were being held after school.
Surprisingly, Shaun had signed up for it, too. He had heard that if you were in the play, you would get full extra credit for creative arts. Shaun figured he really needed that extra credit, since his grades were dropping around him like flies ((Sorry guys, I just HAD to use that metaphor)). He was pretty good at acting, so he figured that it would be easy.
So, after school, the drama class met in the auditorium. There were about 20 of them. Most of them were girls- -there were only 7 boys. When Mandeline walked into the auditorium, she saw only the drama teacher, Ms. Prunelle, in the room.
"Mandeline!" she called. "How nice to see you, here!" She pronounced Mandeline's name right, for once. She spoke with a strange accent. It sounded Irish and Australian at the same time. For example, she said, "How nice to see you here." Like it were, "How niece two seeh yew hea."
"Hello, Ms. Prunelle." Mandeline said. She took a seat in the front and waited for the rest of the class to arrive. The other students began to file in. Shaun sat next to Mandeline. Again. When everyone was seated, Ms. Prunelle took her place in front of the room and said, "Welcome! I'm pleased to see you all here today. I hope we will work together wonderfully so we can make this play a dream! Now, I am first going to give you all your scripts and we will have the acting, then singing auditions." She pronounced "auditions" like it were "odd-ee-shoons"
The students looked over the script and practiced to themselves.
"Which part are you gonna try out for?" Shaun asked Mandeline.
"I'll be happy with whatever part I get." Mandeline answered simply. Shaun nodded.
About 5 minutes later, Ms. Prunelle clapped her hands loudly and called out, "Now we will have the audition. Who would like to go first?" Nobody spoke. "Well, then. I will have to choose.hmm.." She skimmed the room. "Ah! Mr. Weston! Would you like to go first?"
"Uh.." Shaun shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Not really.."
"Well, you have no choice, now. Up you come! Skit, skat! Come!"
Shaun walked slowly to where Ms. Prunelle was standing.
"Now, let's see..why don't you read.the last scene. John's part."
"Um, ok." Shaun began reading. He was actually pretty good. He said the words emotionally and was not nervous. He was just ending the scene. "Everything doesn't need a reason for being!" Shaun read powerfully, from the script. "Sometimes.you just know when something is right." He looked up to see Ms. Prunelle smiling at him.
"WONderful!" Ms. Prunelle cried out. She yelled the "WON" in wonderful, like always. "Absolutely WONderful. Now, who's next?" Several more people tried out. Mandeline was one. But she was going to audition for the singing, as well as the acting part. Mandeline and 8 other girls tried out for the singing part, which was the character, Eliza. They were to sing a little part of the song that was to be sung in the actual play. Mandeline sang it beautifully with no problem. When she onstage singing, she could see Shaun look up at her with wide eyes. The class soon ended and Mandeline went home. Shaun didn't walk home with her this time.
The next day after school, Ms. Prunelle announced the parts. Shaun had gotten the part of John Gorton. Mandeline got Eliza. She was the singing character. Mandeline was filled with joy. Many students congratulated her.
"Hey, Mandy." It was Shaun. "You were. really great. Congratulations."
Mandeline smiled. "Thank you."
So everyday, after school, Mandeline ad Shaun went to drama class. The class progressed slowly, but beautifully. Soon, they were ready to perform the play. It was to be held at the towns' community center on a Sunday night.
On the Sunday of the play, Mandeline arrived early just as Ms. Prunelle had instructed the students. She went straight to the ladies dressing room but ran into Shaun on the way.
"Hey!" Shaun said. He was already in his costume, which was a dainty suit with a black hat.
"Hi." Mandeline said.
"So, are ya nervous?"
"A little." Mandeline admitted. "But I know God will be with me."
"Yeah. Well.break a leg out there."
Mandeline nodded and said, "You too." Mandeline scurried to the dressing and put on her costume. It was a long flowing white and gray dress. Like an angel. It was tight on the upper part and had a loose flowing long skirt that extended for several feet away. It had bell sleeves and they almost reached her knee line. When she was dressed, some stylists straightened her hair and put glitter and blow-dried it to make it flow out. They put a bit of make-up on her and then she was ready. Her first appearance would be halfway through the play, where she sees John for the first time.
Soon, the play began. Mandeline watched the acting from backstage and waited for her scene. The scene finally came. It was the scene where John was to be seated at a bar with beer, looking depressed because everything was going wrong in his life. His wife, Veronica, left him for another man and he had lost his job and was in debt. His wife tries to come back to him but John constantly refuses though Veronica is very persuasive. Mandeline (or Eliza) was the woman who tries to help him.
Shaun was the only one onstage when Mandeline was to appear. He was siting at the bar with his head in his hand sighing. Mandeline walked on stage and the crowd fell silent of astonishment of her beauty. She walked across the stage behind where Shaun was sitting. She was sure to make her footsteps loud like she was supposed to.
Shaun had the first line. Without turning around, he said, "Veronica, leave me alone. Please."
Mandeline (or Eliza) said her first line, "I believe I don't know the Veronica in which you speak." Then Shaun (or John) turned around. For the first time, he sees Mandeline in her costume. His widen and his heart started beating faster and faster with every second. He stared at her for a while longer then said his next line, "Please forgive me, I thought you were-"
"I know very well who you thought I was." Mandeline interrupted. ((Note: she was SUPPOSED to interrupt in the play.))
"Y- You do?" Shaun was beginning to feel nervous.
"Oh, yes. Your wife."
"You mean ex-wife."
Mandeline nodded. The conversation continued between the actors. Then it was time for Mandeline to sing. She sang the song like never before. It was full of power and grace and wonder.
Shaun couldn't believe his eyes the first time that he saw Mandeline. He thought she looked like an angel. When she began to sing, Shaun felt his knees go weak and his palms started sweating. His heart beat faster and he looked at Mandeline with wide eyes. When she was just ending the song, Shaun finally realized the TRUTH. He was in love with Mandeline.
~ Authors Note ~ I really didn't want to make this a cliffhanger but this chapters kinda long. Oh and I forgot to put the disclaimer: I own EVERYBODY....so far. Heehee. Tbc!
When Mandeline got home, she found her father sleeping on the couch in the den. The bible was open so she figured he must've been working on the sermon. Mandeline carefully closed the bible and covered her father with a light blanket. Then she began to cook dinner. The clicking and clacking of the kitchen appliances must have awakened Mandeline's father because soon after, he walked into the kitchen.
"Mandy." He said wearily. "When did you get in?"
"Just a little while ago, Dad." Mandeline replied, as she tossed a side salad. "Dinner's just about ready."
Her father nodded and got out the silverware and dishes and set them on the table. Mandeline finished making dinner and set the main course as well as the salad on the table. Her father said grace and they ate.
"So, Dad, how's the sermon for tomorrow?" Mandeline asked.
"Oh, I'm a little nervous. After all this is my first time at the downtown church."
"You'll do fine." Mandeline said breezily. They finished up and washed the dishes. They both went to bed early so they would get ready to go downtown for Reverend Morison's first sermon at the Baptist church. Mandeline had always been in the choir, though her father wasn't reverend all the time. They got bright and early Sunday morning. They put on church clothes then rode to the church. They were there early. Soon the congregation began to arrive. ((I'm not going to bother you with the details of the service.)) All I'm gonna say is: Mandeline's father preached terrifically. Many people came to him after the service to congratulate him, and tell him what a wonderful sermon that was. They drove home happily.
On, Monday at school, it was a pretty normal day. Mandeline had signed up to participate in the school's annual play. Auditions were being held after school.
Surprisingly, Shaun had signed up for it, too. He had heard that if you were in the play, you would get full extra credit for creative arts. Shaun figured he really needed that extra credit, since his grades were dropping around him like flies ((Sorry guys, I just HAD to use that metaphor)). He was pretty good at acting, so he figured that it would be easy.
So, after school, the drama class met in the auditorium. There were about 20 of them. Most of them were girls- -there were only 7 boys. When Mandeline walked into the auditorium, she saw only the drama teacher, Ms. Prunelle, in the room.
"Mandeline!" she called. "How nice to see you, here!" She pronounced Mandeline's name right, for once. She spoke with a strange accent. It sounded Irish and Australian at the same time. For example, she said, "How nice to see you here." Like it were, "How niece two seeh yew hea."
"Hello, Ms. Prunelle." Mandeline said. She took a seat in the front and waited for the rest of the class to arrive. The other students began to file in. Shaun sat next to Mandeline. Again. When everyone was seated, Ms. Prunelle took her place in front of the room and said, "Welcome! I'm pleased to see you all here today. I hope we will work together wonderfully so we can make this play a dream! Now, I am first going to give you all your scripts and we will have the acting, then singing auditions." She pronounced "auditions" like it were "odd-ee-shoons"
The students looked over the script and practiced to themselves.
"Which part are you gonna try out for?" Shaun asked Mandeline.
"I'll be happy with whatever part I get." Mandeline answered simply. Shaun nodded.
About 5 minutes later, Ms. Prunelle clapped her hands loudly and called out, "Now we will have the audition. Who would like to go first?" Nobody spoke. "Well, then. I will have to choose.hmm.." She skimmed the room. "Ah! Mr. Weston! Would you like to go first?"
"Uh.." Shaun shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Not really.."
"Well, you have no choice, now. Up you come! Skit, skat! Come!"
Shaun walked slowly to where Ms. Prunelle was standing.
"Now, let's see..why don't you read.the last scene. John's part."
"Um, ok." Shaun began reading. He was actually pretty good. He said the words emotionally and was not nervous. He was just ending the scene. "Everything doesn't need a reason for being!" Shaun read powerfully, from the script. "Sometimes.you just know when something is right." He looked up to see Ms. Prunelle smiling at him.
"WONderful!" Ms. Prunelle cried out. She yelled the "WON" in wonderful, like always. "Absolutely WONderful. Now, who's next?" Several more people tried out. Mandeline was one. But she was going to audition for the singing, as well as the acting part. Mandeline and 8 other girls tried out for the singing part, which was the character, Eliza. They were to sing a little part of the song that was to be sung in the actual play. Mandeline sang it beautifully with no problem. When she onstage singing, she could see Shaun look up at her with wide eyes. The class soon ended and Mandeline went home. Shaun didn't walk home with her this time.
The next day after school, Ms. Prunelle announced the parts. Shaun had gotten the part of John Gorton. Mandeline got Eliza. She was the singing character. Mandeline was filled with joy. Many students congratulated her.
"Hey, Mandy." It was Shaun. "You were. really great. Congratulations."
Mandeline smiled. "Thank you."
So everyday, after school, Mandeline ad Shaun went to drama class. The class progressed slowly, but beautifully. Soon, they were ready to perform the play. It was to be held at the towns' community center on a Sunday night.
On the Sunday of the play, Mandeline arrived early just as Ms. Prunelle had instructed the students. She went straight to the ladies dressing room but ran into Shaun on the way.
"Hey!" Shaun said. He was already in his costume, which was a dainty suit with a black hat.
"Hi." Mandeline said.
"So, are ya nervous?"
"A little." Mandeline admitted. "But I know God will be with me."
"Yeah. Well.break a leg out there."
Mandeline nodded and said, "You too." Mandeline scurried to the dressing and put on her costume. It was a long flowing white and gray dress. Like an angel. It was tight on the upper part and had a loose flowing long skirt that extended for several feet away. It had bell sleeves and they almost reached her knee line. When she was dressed, some stylists straightened her hair and put glitter and blow-dried it to make it flow out. They put a bit of make-up on her and then she was ready. Her first appearance would be halfway through the play, where she sees John for the first time.
Soon, the play began. Mandeline watched the acting from backstage and waited for her scene. The scene finally came. It was the scene where John was to be seated at a bar with beer, looking depressed because everything was going wrong in his life. His wife, Veronica, left him for another man and he had lost his job and was in debt. His wife tries to come back to him but John constantly refuses though Veronica is very persuasive. Mandeline (or Eliza) was the woman who tries to help him.
Shaun was the only one onstage when Mandeline was to appear. He was siting at the bar with his head in his hand sighing. Mandeline walked on stage and the crowd fell silent of astonishment of her beauty. She walked across the stage behind where Shaun was sitting. She was sure to make her footsteps loud like she was supposed to.
Shaun had the first line. Without turning around, he said, "Veronica, leave me alone. Please."
Mandeline (or Eliza) said her first line, "I believe I don't know the Veronica in which you speak." Then Shaun (or John) turned around. For the first time, he sees Mandeline in her costume. His widen and his heart started beating faster and faster with every second. He stared at her for a while longer then said his next line, "Please forgive me, I thought you were-"
"I know very well who you thought I was." Mandeline interrupted. ((Note: she was SUPPOSED to interrupt in the play.))
"Y- You do?" Shaun was beginning to feel nervous.
"Oh, yes. Your wife."
"You mean ex-wife."
Mandeline nodded. The conversation continued between the actors. Then it was time for Mandeline to sing. She sang the song like never before. It was full of power and grace and wonder.
Shaun couldn't believe his eyes the first time that he saw Mandeline. He thought she looked like an angel. When she began to sing, Shaun felt his knees go weak and his palms started sweating. His heart beat faster and he looked at Mandeline with wide eyes. When she was just ending the song, Shaun finally realized the TRUTH. He was in love with Mandeline.
~ Authors Note ~ I really didn't want to make this a cliffhanger but this chapters kinda long. Oh and I forgot to put the disclaimer: I own EVERYBODY....so far. Heehee. Tbc!