Scars Anecdotes and Other Stories

Behind the Scenes

Hey! After all the emotionally-heavy chapters, let's have some light-heartedness to balance it all out.

"Welcome to the first reading of Scars!" The director clapped her hands.

The director was a teenage girl with brown hair tied up in a messy ponytail. Inquisitive eyes sat behind black-framed glasses. She wore all black, save for a pair of thick golden sneakers. On her lap was a laptop covered in stickers.

The cast were all in their assigned seats, with scripts out in front of them. "To save you the trouble of looking for your lines, I went ahead and highlighted them for you. I'll be reading the stage directions. Does anyone have any questions before we start?"

America raised his hand. "Will we get breaks?"

"I will allow you to get up and use the bathroom if needed. But otherwise, nobody is leaving until this is finished. That's why you all have water."

Poland flipped through the pages. "Did you really write all this yourself?"

The director grinned. "Yep. And it only took almost the entire school year."

"I'm impressed," Soviet admitted.

Reich read through the first few scenes. "How are you handling the parts where Soviet and I are children?"

"I have my ways," the director said mysteriously.

Japan was practically vibrating in her seat. "Oh, this is so exciting!"

Italy chuckled at her enthusiasm. "I know."

"Shouldn't you still be in school?" the Netherlands asked the director.

"Oh, I am," she answered, not willing to elaborate more.

An eerie silence wafted through the cast. "Maybe we should get started?" Britain proposed.

"Good idea."

Everyone opened their scripts, as the director began the stage directions.

()

"I can't believe she found a way to turn us into children," Reich mused as he was getting dolled up for his first scene.

Soviet would've shrugged if it weren't for the fact that the makeup artists were applying dirt to his face. "Saves them the trouble of finding child actors."

The director poked her head in. "We start in a few minutes."

At the sight of Soviet and Reich, ages fourteen and twelve respectively, she cooed. "Aw, you two look so cute together!"

"One. Day," Reich reminded.

"I know, I know."

()

German Empire, Weimar Republic, and Reich took their places. Soviet stood off camera, waiting for his cue.

"Day 1, Scene 1. Lights, camera, action!" the director yelled through a megaphone. A crew member snapped a clapboard, and the film started rolling.

German Empire held Reich's hand as they and Weimar approached the entrance of the Hall of Mirrors set. He sighed. "Bleib hier. Wir kommen für sie zurück."

The adult Germans entered through the door. Reich looked around, admiring the palace. The camera then panned to Soviet, hiding behind a pillar. When Reich turned in his direction, he booked it.

"Wer bist du? Zeige dich!"

Soviet couldn't help a tiny giggle, prompting Reich to break into hysterics.