Carol Higgins Clark by Wrecked

Author:Wrecked [Wrecked]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-06-23T19:14:36+00:00

26

To be or not to be!” Floyd thundered, waving a large kitchen knife around the air. “That is the question.” He paused and stomped his foot. “Line please.”

Adele didn’t need to look at the script. “Whether ’tis nobler—”

“I got it,” Floyd said impatiently. He took a moment, then continued. “Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or take arms against opposing trouble… .”

“Mom, Grandpa is freaking me out,” Adele read. “Make him stop.”

Floyd shook his head. “Adele!” he shouted. “Would you mind reading those lines with a little more passion? How can I really learn my part if you give me nothing to work with? Nothing!” He charged toward her.

Adele swallowed. He was two feet away, his face enraged. “I’ll try harder,” she promised. “I’ve never acted before.”

“And you never will!” he screamed.

I hope he means because I’ll never be hired, Adele thought. He hadn’t tied her up, but she didn’t dare try to escape. “If you don’t mind,” she said to him, “I feel a little weak. Could I have a cup of tea? I never did get to finish the cup you made me this morning. I’d also like to use the ladies’ room.”

“Oh, fine,” he said with disgust. “You have no commitment to your craft.”

“What craft? You just said I’ll never act.”

“Any craft! Whatever field, whatever endeavor in life, nothing happens until one commits!”

Commit, Adele thought. I’d like to commit you to an institution for the criminally insane.

“Did you ever have a job?” Floyd demanded.

“Yes I did.”

“Did you commit yourself to your work?”

“Yes,” Adele answered. “I put my heart and soul into my work every single day.”

“Good! Good! Then you enjoyed it! It made you happy!”

More than you will ever know, Adele thought. I was such a fool. “Can I please—”

“Yes, yes. Go ahead. The topic obviously bores you.”

“No it doesn’t,” Adele protested as she slowly got up from the couch. It just makes me incredibly sad, she thought.

“Ten-minute break,” Floyd announced. “But first, tell me. What do you think of the play?”

“It’s funny,” Adele answered, then began to walk slowly across the room. Her whole body ached. Floyd was right be-hind her.

“Funny? Of course it’s funny!” he fumed. “Do you think I’d accept a part in a play that’s considered a comedy if it weren’t funny?”

“No. I know you’re much too smart to do something like that,” Adele answered.

“The director annoys me, but I guess I’ll have to put up with him.”

She’d reached the bathroom door. “May I go inside, please?”

“Yes. I’ll wait right here,” he announced, pointing at the floor with the knife. “Don’t try anything stupid.”

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