Gutter Children

How to Pretend

I couldn’t sleep at all that night. The thoughts of actually getting out of that house, becoming a famous stage performer, and being on my own kept me from drifting off into a night slumber.

The clock read three and I groaned. I knew I had to stop my thoughts and just rest, but it took so much energy.

Finally, the morning came and I was in the mood to stay in bed all day. I wished that I had that luxury, but I could not get ahead of myself. As of now, I am nothing.

“What is on the agenda today?” I asked Kat once I had gotten ready for the day.

“Teaching the new meat how everything works around here. I guess you’re free though. No upcoming parties, the owners are going to a party tonight, and are on their way to a brunch now. You are free to do what you please today my mate,” she gave me a wink and headed up the stairs.

I thought about sleeping, just sleeping for the whole day, but that seemed to be a total waste of a free day. I wanted to act, now.

“Sophie?” I whispered up the stairs in the main room.

“Sophie,” I slurred again, wondering around the dining rooms. She usually sat, sipping her tea and reading the paper for a couple of hours each day, but today she seemed to have disappeared.

“Yes?” A frail voice responded.

I felt a huge weight in my chest leave and a rush of excitement fill the place of it.

“I’m available. For the whole day,” I grinned at her.

Her face mimicked mine, and I saw an idea place itself into her head, “why don’t we go down to the school now and have you audition,” she said, surprising me.

“Audition?” I asked her, not wanting to seem nervous.

“Why yes sweetheart. Girls your age are not pinned down to become actresses. Girls in a broad sense are not even noticed as big actresses yet. This school is not known to the world, let alone England. This school is known to those who want to be apart of it, and only to those people,” her voice became rough, and I could feel her eyes piercing mine down.

I nodded quickly and started to head out the door.

“No, no! Stop! You cannot audition wearing that! You will use Mindy’s old clothes. She never got rid of them in the hopes she would one day again fit into them,” she said giggling to herself. “I brought them down for you already. Go get changed in the bathroom and I will wait here for you.” When she didn’t see me moving she gave me a little more motivation, “hurry up now! Best not be late!”  

I went into the bathroom with a set of extravagant clothes. It was a dress suit, which was a little beyond my age but I could pull it off. The black skirt cut off right below my knees and was pulled up a little beyond my bellybutton. The white silk colored shirt ended right before my elbows and had an extraordinary design placed on the front. I twirled in it once, to enjoy the whole effect the outfit had. I then put on new stockings, and strapped on the short black heels Sophie had supplied for me.

I strode out of the bathroom feeling as sharp as ever, but Sophie didn’t hesitate to pull me strait out to the car and whisk me away.

“You look lovely,” she finally told me. Not that I was expecting it, I didn’t expect anything from her, but it was certainly nice to for the ear to hear.

“As do you,” I complimented her back.

She smiled, and started talking about how I was to act at my audition. I paid close attention, taking mental notes and trying to rehearse what she had told me to say.