A New Musical

19

 "Alright," Denice says, pushing papers in front of me. "Meg has officially extended an offer for you to return to Walk In My Rainbow Shoes. I was able to work out an increase for your pay, and there is a promise for a cast album, That's only for you to know though. An incentive if you will."

It's a Monday and Denice made me meet her for lunch today, to share this news. The creatives are waiting to announce the transfer until Mason and I confirm our return. They said it would be better for the press to announce a transfer, along with us moving forward with the show.

It's been about 2 months since I last spoke to Mason...or I guess went off on Mason. He hasn't tried messaging me at all. I think he finally understood that it was time to give me space. There were many times that I thought about what I would say to Mason if I saw him again. Would I turn the cheek and walk away, or would I be a badass and just tell him off. But of course I went the approach of crying like a mess, and yelling at him. Which felt good to get out, but I know it didn't solve anything. It's just easier to yell at someone when you're upset.

"I've spent a lot of time thinking about it, Denice. I decided not to continue with the production." I say.

Denice takes a breath, and looks at me coldly. "Over my dead fucking body."

"Huh? I thought this was my choice." I don't think I hide the shocked expression on my face well.

"It would be, if it wasn't your first Broadway show. I will literally jab this butter knife in you if you don't take this show Asher." She says waving the butter knife she's holding in my face.

I slowly move her hand down "Denice, I just don't think it's the right choice for me right now."

"Let me get this straight, which I know straight is a hard concept for you to understand." Denice says this bland, and I roll my eyes. She continues, "You mean to tell me that for a year you get 'no's' one after one."

"There was that rat show" I say.

"That was just for my own fucking humor Asher."

"You said it would help keep me with the agency if I did the show!?" I cry out.

Denice rolls her eyes at me, "Oh please Ash, I just say that so you don't give up and not put your best effort."
"What?"
"I would never let them kick you. There were talks about dropping you, I'm not gonna lie to you. I would never let them though, I threatened to leave and take all my clients with me if they tried to pull that shit with me. I've been there longer than anyone else, and I'm damn good at my job."

"You're joking" I laugh thinking about Denice looking at the heads of my talent agency, telling them off just for no one. "I just didn't think they thought-"

Denice cuts me off, "Don't worry about what other people think, they don't do it very often." I let out a soft chuckle, as she goes on. "Ash, do you remember the day you came into my office?" Denice gets earnest.

"Do I?" I giggle "I just graduated the day before from College." I'll never forget that day.

I had been freaking out because most of the people I graduated with had already booked some type of show. A national tour, a show on Broadway, an Off-Broadway show, or a cruise. I didn't have anything for myself though, and I didn't know what to do. I decided that before my graduation I would look around at talent agencies, and found an ad for 'Big Apple Forms Talent Agency'. I scheduled an appointment to meet with one of their agents the day after I graduated, I figured having the diploma first would help.

I walked up to the reception desk, and remembered telling the reception lady why I was there. "I'm here for the 12 O'clock with De-Nice Allegretti?"

"It's pronounced Dee-neece." I hear an old lady, with clearly dyed black hair and a hoarse voice say. She walks out from a room not too far down the hall to the right of me. "Why the hell would it be De-Nice."