Chapter 25

(Feb. 14, 2006, 5:18pm)

And so, the third scene of act one began. This was the moment of truth for Kim, now that she was in the shoes of Juliet whether she liked it or not.

Entering the stage first were Zita and Ashley A, playing Lady Capulet and the Nurse respectively.

"Nurse, where's my daughter? Tell her to come to me." Zita asked.

Ashley A replied, "I already told her to come. Come on! Where is she? What is she doing? What, Juliet!"

Kim took a deep breath, script in hand.

It's only a play, Possible. It's only a play.

With confidence, she entered the stage.

"What is it? Who's calling me?" Kim asked.

Ashley A replied, snickering, "Your mother."

"Madam, I'm here. What do you want?" Kim asked.

"I'll tell you what's the matter-Nurse, leave us alone for a little while. We must talk privately..." Zita said as Ashley A was about to leave the stage.

"Nurse, come back here. I just remembered, you can listen to our secrets. You know how young my daughter is."

What? Kim's heart was beating a bit faster.

"Yes, I know her age down to the hour." Ashley A countered.

"She's not even fourteen." Zita said while reading her highlighted parts.

Zita, you know that I am about to be 17 in a few weeks...but I'll roll with it. Kim thought to herself, her heart rate slowing down.

"I'd bet fourteen of my own teeth-but, I'm sorry to say, I only have four teeth-she's not fourteen. How long is it until Lammastide?" Ashley A asked.

"Two weeks and a few odd days." came Zita's reply.

Ashley A then went in to a long monologue.

" Whether it's even or odd, of all the days in the year, on the night of Lammas Eve, she'll be fourteen . She and Susan were born on the same day. Well, Susan died and she was too good for me. But like I said, on the night of Lammas Eve, she will be fourteen. Yes, she will. Indeed, I remember it well. It's been eleven years since the earthquake. She stopped sucking on her thumb that day."

Ashley A grinned to herself.

I think we should add big thumb-sucking baby to the list of insults on Possible.

Cara lowly growled at another change to the script of the removal of more objectionable content, but allowed the play to continue.

Ashley A continued with the censored monologue, "Juliet always loved to suck on her thumb but she got tired of it eleven years ago. By then she could stand up all by herself. No, I swear, by that time she could run and waddle all around. I remember because she had cut her forehead just the day before. My late husband picked up the child and said 'Did you fall on your face? You'll get smarter as you get older. Won't you, Jule." And I swear, the poor pretty thing stopped crying and said, 'Yes.' Oh, to watch a joke come true! I bet if I live a thousand years, I'll never forget it. 'Won't you, Jule,' he said. And the pretty fool stopped crying and said, 'Yes!'

Kim lowly grumbled to herself.

So far, so good.

"Enough of this. Please be quiet!" Zita exclaimed.

Ashley A continued, though, from the script.

"Yes ,madam. But I can't help laughing to think that the baby stopped crying and said, "Yes." I swear, she had a bump on her forehead as big as a rooster's head. It was a painful bruise, and she was crying bitterly. And my late husband said the same thing to the young Juliet!"

Kim growled at Ashley A, "Now you stop too, Nurse, please!"

Ashley A replied with a line removed due to a religious reference.

"Peace. I'm done talking. If I live to see you get married someday, all my wishes will come true!"

Zita replied "Well, marriage is exactly what we have to discuss. Tell me, my daughter Juliet, what is your attitude about getting married?"

Kim was blushing red in the face upon hearing Zita say that. Ashley A took in this surreal scene with glee, hoping to report that part back to Bonnie.

It's only a play, Possible. Again, forget the...Scottish play...and get back to the real world!

Kim continued, the blush on her cheeks getting lighter.

"It is an honor that I do not dream of."

Zita then replied, again with some of the dialogue being cut out for obvious reasons.

"Well, start thinking about marriage now and I am going to say this quickly: the valiant Paris wants you as his bride."

Ashley A added, "What a man, young lady. He's as great a man as any in the whole world. He's as perfect as if he were sculpted from wax.

Zita replied, "Summertime in Verona has no flower as fine as him."

"No, he's a fine flower, truly, a flower." quipped Ashley A.

Zita then added in a monologue.

"What do you say? Can you love this gentleman? Tonight you'll see him at our feast. Study Paris's face and find pleasure in his beauty. Examine every line of his features and see how they work together to make him handsome. If you are confused, just look into his eyes. This man is single, and he lacks only a bride to make him perfect and complete. As is right, fish live in the sea, and it's wrong for a beauty like you to hide from a handsome man like him. Many people think he's handsome, and whoever becomes his bride will be just as admired. You would share all that he possesses, and by having him, you would lose nothing. Answer quickly! Can you accept Paris's love?"

Kim then replied, "I'll look at him and try to like him, at least if what I see is likable. But I won't let myself fall for him any more than your permission allows."

Troy Bolton then came on the stage, playing as Peter.

"Madam, the guests are here. dinner is served, people are calling for you, people have asked for Juliet, and in the pantry, people are cursing the Nurse, Everything's out of conlrol. I must go and serve the guests. Please, follow straight after me." he said his lone part in the scene.

"We'll follow you. Juliet. the count is waiting for you!" Zita replied.

"Go. girl. look for a man who'll give you happy nights at the end of happy days!" Ashley A said, with a slight grin on her face. She, along with all the girls in Bonnie's group, would expect Kim to show up...alone...at Junior Prom a few months from now.

And with that, scene three ended.