A/N: In keeping with the tradition of Starring the BSC, I'm having each character that narrates a chapter dealing with the opening night performance describe the events of the evening from the moment they get home from school.

CHAPTER 18: Jason

Dear Alex and Alissa,

Hi! How are two of my favourite cousins? I've been doing all right. Oh, did you tell your parents that tonight was opening night for my school's production of Carnival? I'm playing the male lead, and Bebe's playing a Bluebird Girl. And after the way we were such a hit at Stoneybrook Elementary, all I can say is, wait'll the rest of the town sees us tonight!

Anyway, I'm sorry you guys couldn't come, but I understand completely about Alex's softball game. I just wish they weren't on the same weekend, because I think you'd really enjoy it. But don't worry—I've ordered two copies of the video: one for my family, and one for you guys.

Also, I just wish my real dad and Granny were alive to see this...

I arrived home after the final dress rehearsal on Friday afternoon. I thought it had gone really well, with the exception of Jackie Rodowsky's fall, which resulted in him losing another baby tooth. For once, I didn't have any weekend homework, so I decided to go over my lines, and my mind began to wander.

First, I remembered the day that Stacey had her blow-up, which led to Mr. Cheney's lecture. I don't know about anyone else, but I never imagined a pretty, sophisticated girl like Stacey McGill being capable of using such language. When I checked with her later, she seemed all right, but I was still a little wary. After all, as the male lead, I felt that it was my responsibility to check up on my fellow castmates.

Next, I remembered the day, just a couple of weeks ago, when Mr. Cheney had his blow-up, and threatened to cancel the play. That really pissed me off, because I, for one, had been working really hard and had gotten into my part.

Finally, I remembered the other night when I teased Bebe with the Carrot Top puppet. I had no idea she'd fall for it. Actually, she said she knew it was me, but I think she's way over that now. And until then, I had no idea that Claudia Kishi liked me.

What are the odds?

Well, that night was opening night. This time, it was the real thing. All those memories of the problems we'd had were now a distant memory. And best of all, there were no on-set accidents, like light bars falling on someone's head or ladders falling over with people on them. The closest thing that happened was Jackie almost colliding with Nancy Dawes on his way to the bathroom. On the upside, there was no water spill that the janitor forgot to mop up, and nobody fell and broke a hip.

Backstage wasn't as crowded as it had been that afternoon, but it was still pretty noisy. Mr. Cheney was running around like a dog chasing its tail. And I'll tell you, for a man his size, he's pretty fast.

"Full house, kids!" he said ecstatically. "Now remember to be quiet backstage, keep Midgie under control, and most important of all, PROJECT!"

After Mr. Cheney left, I decided to get a snack I went out into the hall to get some ranch crisps and a bottle of water. When I got there, Dawn was getting some peanut butter crackers. "Hi, Dawn," I said.

"Hi," she answered. "Well, I learned my lesson last time."

"Huh?"

"Well, the silliest thing happened last year," she answered. "On opening night of Peter Pan, I ate breakfast, but skipped lunch, and almost got sick."

"Oh, I'll bet that was fun, huh?" I cringed.

"I'll say. I'm just glad Kristy talked Mary Anne into getting me a snack. I'm just preparing myself now, so it doesn't happen again."

"Good idea," I said.

"Well, I'll see you later," Dawn said as she unwrapped her crackers and walked away.

"See you," I answered. As I made my selection on the machine, I happened to see Claudia heading to the choir room to help Hannie Papadakis with her make-up. Like me, she was dressed all in black—well, almost. She had on a short-sleeved bowling shirt with pink, yellow, orange, and green sparkle-paint designs around the collar, black jeans, white socks, and those rainbow sneakers she'd made. You know, the ones she'd worn on the day we'd finished painting the set. I couldn't help smiling and shaking my head. If I know Claud, she never sticks with just one color.

When I returned to the backstage area, I picked up one of the programs and sat down on one of the couches to look at it. As I looked it over and ate my snack, I remembered Kristy telling me how, in some programs, the easiest words in the world still manage to get misspelled. I expected to find my name among those words, but I'm happy to say that it wasn't. Apparently, every word in that program had been spell-checked carefully, because there weren't any errors.

I'd just thrown away the water bottle when Karen came bouncing up. I offered her the last of my crisps as she plopped down beside me. "Hi, Jason," she said, taking a handful and wolfing them down. She must have been pretty hungry.

"Hi," I answered as I crumpled up the bag and put it in the bin beside me. "All set?"

"Oh, yeah," she answered. "Thanks for helping me with my make-up."

"No problem," I said, patting her knee.

"Nervous?"

"Well, a little. I've never been onstage before, except for church pageants when I was a kid. In fact, when I was your age, I asked the director of our church Christmas pageant who was going to play Father Christmas."

Karen burst into giggles when I said that. Even though it happened so long ago, I still found it funny to this day.

After we'd finished laughing, she said, "You'll do fine. You've been doing a great job at rehearsals, and you're going to knock 'em dead. Oh, and Jason? No matter what happens tonight, I just want you to know that I'm so proud of you."

You know what? As soon as Karen said that, I can quite honestly say that my heart just melted. "Thanks, honey," I smiled. I gave her a hug, being careful not to get make-up on my shirt.

"Places!" Mary Anne called. I got a paper towel, handed one to Karen, and wiped the crumbs off my hands as Karen stood up.

"Well, break a leg, Jason," Karen said, patting my face, just underneath my scar.

"You, too," I said.

In the famous words of Roy Scheider, it's showtime, folks!

The show got off to a great start. The first few musical numbers were the best they'd ever been, even though Jimmy Bouloukos ad-libbed his line at the end of "Very Nice Man". The line goes, "I'm a very nice man with a very nice face," but then he said, "And that's not all that's very nice, honey!" I just hope Mr. Cheney doesn't want to wring his neck after the show. On the upside, he didn't get carried away with what happened next, after what Dawn had told me. Don't get me wrong—Dawn Schafer is a lovely girl, and we're all nuts about her, but if you say or do the wrong thing around her, watch out!

Anyway, we had Mr. Drubek to thank for the music. In fact, while I was singing "I've Got To Find A Reason", I happened to look over and see Mum and Steve sitting in the fourth row on the right side of the auditorium. (I'm surprised I could see, considering how bright the lights were.) Mum was practically moved to tears by the last line of the song, "Something to want, something to be, somehow to say, 'I am me'." And—I am dead serious—I saw her take hold of her crucifix and cross herself. When I said my "Go back to your Mira" line, I saw Karen beaming at me as she made her way onstage for the part where the parade returns. She was pretty impressed.

The next song I did was "Everybody Likes You", which I actually sing to the Carrot Top puppet. I felt like it was a song I could relate to, because it reminded me so much of my childhood, how I never knew my real dad, and what happened on my first day at SMS. (Okay, cue the clip show here!) I also hoped that after my performance, the other kids would be more accepting of me. Jessi Ramsey once told me that she'd endured the same thing, and hoped her performance in the Leicester Lodge talent show would have the same effect. I don't know if it did, because she never told me.

The first act ended with "Love Makes The World Go 'Round." Dawn has the most beautiful voice I'd ever heard, and it wouldn't surprise me if she made even the harshest critic break down and bawl.

After Sam said his last line of Act One, I came out from behind the puppet booth and picked up Carrot Top. Almost immediately, I thought of my real dad, and wondered what he would've thought of this show.

I think he'd be proud of me.

Well, there you have it. My stage debut. And like I said, I'll make sure to send you a copy of the video. Say hi to your parents for us, and best of luck with your game.

Tell Alex I said to go out there and win one for the Gipper!

Your cousin,

Jason