Shuffled: When the Cards Talk You Must Listen

Chapter 14 Spirit Dancer

Upright: Self-expression, Freedom, Exploration

Reversed: Self-absorbed, and obsessed, unable to express feelings

I grabbed the hall pass and shouted a thank you to Miss Lucianio before booking it to the Theatre with Daisha. We burst into the theatre just ten minutes late, panting like we'd just run a marathon. The class had clearly just settled down so it was silent and all eyes turned toward us in unison. Mr. Loric simply raised one eyebrow at us .

It was uncomfortable to say the least but Daisha didn't seem to mind it at all. Instead she just bounced up to the front and thrust our pass into his hand. Then to my horror she pulled out her phone and showed him the picture she took of my painting. The look on his face went from irritated to passive to amazed all in all of ten seconds.

"Well, Miss Dalinda I think we have found our new sets designer!"

All the heads swiveled to look at me again and I could feel the heat of a deep blush creep up my neck and cheeks.

"Ummm Ahh OK." I mumbled before shuffling further into the cavernous room and cleared my throat awkwardly. "Umm Sure I guess."

"OK everyone, get back to work. The show is done. Miss Dalinda could I speak with for a second." He crooked his finger at me indicating me to come to him. I was nervous but excited. I really hoped that he would approve my monologue. I can't say how many times I watched The Labyrinth when I was growing up. It was a constant companion when my mom would go off on one of her walkabouts.

I looked around as Daisha bounced over to Kelli and MeiLei holding out her phone for them to see my picture. It didn't take long for Daisha to pass her phone all around the room and I could hear people gasp and comment about my painting. I could still feel the blush on my face as I approached Mr. Loric.

"So did you find a monologue yet?"

"Oh ya! I have that right here." I said a broad smile tugging at my mouth as I swung my bag off my shoulder and dug through its depths. Eventually I pulled the folder out along with the book of possibilities and handed them both to him.

He skimmed my choice nodding his head as he read.

"Hmm. I like this, do you know what you want to do for the responses from Jareth?:"

"Well that is the one thing I'm not sure about. I thought I could use a recording, and start from the beginning of that scene. And I could do that whole calling out 'Toby' part. I'm not sure if it's really long enough but I really liked the feeling of the whole scene."

"Well that is a creative idea, but I would really rather find someone to partner with you. It's not that long of a scene but it would be good for you to actually have a real person to interact with you. And yes I agree with you I think this is an excellent scene. It will be very different from some of the other scenes people here have chosen. So Yes I approve of this scene but ONLY if you have a partner."

I nodded slowly, cringing on the inside at the thought of having to work with one of the boys here. His eyes slowly slid across the room analyzing the different groups before landing on the one I was praying that he wouldn't look at. I felt like my time slowed down as I turned my head to follow his gaze, it felt as if ice water had been injected right into my veins, and I could feel my heartbeat kick up and slow down at the same time. It took a second for my eyes to focus on the knott of young men sitting across the stage from me. It took a few more seconds for my ears to register Mr. Loric's voice calling one of those young men over to him. My eyes must have been huge and I know I was pleading with them for him to not say this. My silent pleas went unnoticed. Of course he called exactly who I did not want to be called over, over.