Chapter 5- The Mirror
Then next few rehearsals were, once again devoted top the first two scenes and the prologue. Every time Annie began into "Think of Me", she would find Jayden watching her. If she did not see him, she could feel him, and as long as she concentrated on him, her singing was perfect, but as her thoughts strayed, so did her notes. Her voice wavered every time Jayden left her thoughts.
On Friday Mr. Reyser announced he wanted to start 'The Mirror' scene. He told the cast to get in their places, and they obeyed promptly. Mr. Reyser smiled to himself at how well trained they had become in only a few days.
A few props were setup onstage for the cast. What had been a doorway for a previous play had become their mirror. Two chairs were set up with a sheet over them to represent the couch, and a tall card table sat in front of a stool for the vanity table.
The 'Little Lotte' song went off smoothly, and both Josh and Annie smiled when Mr. Reyser applauded them at the end of it. Josh left claiming he would be back in just two minutes.
"Raoul!" Annie called in her best 'Christine' voice, but Josh/'Raoul' had already taken his leave. "Things have changed." Annie said, picking up an imaginary mirror.
Annie stood in the middle of the 'room' when suddenly, a booming voice came from out of nowhere. It thundered all around her, unearthly and stunning. "Insolent boy! This slave of fashion basking in your glory! Ignorant fool! This brave young suitor, sharing in my triumph!"
Annie was taken aback by the beauty of Jayden's singing. Not wanting to miss her cue, she stumbled into her part of the song. "Angel! I hear you! Speak-I listen...stay by my side, guide me! Angel, my soul was weak-forgive me...enter at last, Master!"
"Flattering child you shall know me, see why in shadow I hide! Look at your face in the mirror-I am there inside!"
Annie turned to the 'mirror'. "Angel of Music! Guide and guardian! Grant to me your Glory! Angel of Music! Hide no longer! Come to me, strange Angel…"
Jayden stood there dressed in his street clothes. "I am your Angel... Come to me: Angel of Music…" Annie was breathless. "I am your Angel... Come to me: Angel of Music…"
Positioned there in the doorway, in his oversized pants, and ill-fitted t-shirt, he looked extremely odd to most of the cast and Michelle and her gang began commenting. Annie didn't notice. To her, Jayden, looked like an angel.