The Ostrich and Other Lost Things by Beth Hautala

Author:Beth Hautala
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
Published: 2018-02-20T00:00:00+00:00

Neverdo List, Entry #2

Never forget to tell Mom when I’m bringing friends over.

Never slam my bedroom door.

Never get too nervous.

18

The Best Kid for the Job

AFTER WE FINISHED the map, and Charlie left, we got into the car and drove to Tulsa.

Now it was five o’clock, and the first rehearsal was about to start. Jacob was fidgeting two seats over. He had needed an empty seat on either side of him. He seemed almost as nervous as I was. But hopefully having Mom here would help.

“All right, everyone. Please join us onstage and make a big circle,” said Dorothy.

Jacob and I made our way up. There were about twenty-five of us, and every kid here had been given a part. One by one, we introduced ourselves and the parts we would be playing. Some were pirates, some were Indians, others were mermaids or animals. And of course, there were the Lost Boys, like Jacob.

Finally, it was my turn. “Hi. My name is Olivia Grant, and I’m playing the part of Peter Pan.”

Everyone was quiet for a minute. And then one of the Lost Boys spoke up.

“A girl? A girl can’t play Peter Pan!”

A few others laughed.

I looked around the circle. Some kids looked confused. Some were nodding their heads. I found Mom’s eyes in the audience. She mouthed, “It’s okay.” But it wasn’t.

Stephen looked around the circle, too. “Does anyone else here think a girl shouldn’t be playing the part of Peter Pan?” he asked.

A few kids raised their hands.

“I see,” he said.

Stephen looked at Dorothy. She nodded back. They were going to change their minds right there and let someone else play the part of Peter. I knew it.

I felt my palms start to sweat. This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come. I rubbed my arms and felt goose bumps prickle my skin. I wanted to run offstage, or hide, or something. But that was something Jacob would have done. That was a neverdo. So, I held still, standing as tall and steady as I could.

Stephen tucked his clipboard under his arm. “Okay. Well, this is a good thing to talk about, and I need all of us to be on the same page about this one. So, have a seat.”

We all sat down in our circle formation and I swallowed hard, trying to hold back the tears and the lump that was rising in my throat. I never should have agreed to play Peter.

“Who can tell me something about Peter Pan, besides the fact that you think his character is supposed to be played by a boy?”

Hands started going up, and Stephen pointed at each person.

“He’s brave.”

“He’s strong!”

“He can fight with a sword!”

“He saves his friends.”

“He’s funny.”

“He can fly!”

“He never grows up!”

Stephen nodded at each of these answers.

“He can crow like a rooster.”

Stephen turned to me.

“Olivia, can you crow for me?”

“Err-err-err-err errrrrrr!” I gave my very best rooster impression and crowed loudly. It was actually even better than my audition.

“So, what you’re all telling me,” said Stephen,

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