Stage Fright

Chapter 7

My mom handed the bus driver a ticket, so we could get on the bus. I dragged my huge suitcase behind me, people giving me weird looks.

I sat down beside an older woman. We smiled at each other, but stayed quiet.

It was a long ride, but eventually we got to the airport. Juliet helped me with my suitcase and my mom made sure we were ok.

My mom was crying as we hugged. I gave Juliet a big hug as well, before saying 'Goodbye'.

I walked toward a seat as Juliet and my mom left. I looked on my ticket and realized that it was almost 7:00.

I headed into the plane and gave the flight attendant my ticket. She took it and let me enter. I sat down in a seat alone. I was in first class!

Another flight attendant came by and asked me if I wanted something to eat or drink.

"A cup of hot chocolate," I reply in my most positive sounding voice.

"Sure," she said, then going to another group of people in first class and asking the same question.

When she came back, she had a cart with my hot chocolate and a few other drinks and snacks.

"Enjoy," she said, handing me my hot chocolate with a napkin.

"Thanks," I said, sipping the hot chocolate.

The attendant's voice speaks over the PA. "This is flight number 407 direct. We are heading from Alice Springs, Australia, to New York City, United States," she announces.

I watched people in first class relaxing on their fancy seats.

After half an hour of sitting silently, I got really bored.

"Hi!" I turn to my right to see a teenage girl, who looks around my age sitting beside me.

"What's your name?" she asked.

"Um... it's Jennifer. And you?"

"Hazel Moller," she replys. "I'm actually the lead makeup artist for a new movie."

"Oh really. What's it called?" I asked.

"Struck." I was fine until I heard what she said.

"Struck?" I said.

"Yeah, why. Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm starring in it." She looked closely at me.

"I do remember you. You were the girl who starred in the play at Christensen High," she said, sipping her tea.

"Have you ever been to New York before?" Hazel asked me after a while of silence.

"No. But I'm excited," I respond.

"It's a nice place," Hazel said.

"You know what I like doing when I'm on a plane ride," Hazel said.

"What?" I asked.

"Looking at the clouds and seeing what shapes they make," Hazel said.

I look out the window. "All I see are white blobs," I said.

"Come on Jennifer. Be a little more creative."

"Ok," I said. "I see..." I was interrupted by a flight attendant.

"I'm sorry to bother you," she said. "But are you finished with those cups or would you like a refill?"

I looked at Hazel. She took my cup and hers, giving them to the flight attendant.

"We're finished," Hazel said as the flight attendant left.

"So... what do you see?" Hazel asked me again.

"Oh, um..." I stop and stare at the clouds. "I see... ice cream," I make up on the stop.

"I see an organized, calm place with only a few people in it," Hazel said, meaningfully.

I look closely. "I don't see that," I said rudely, quickly putting my hand over my mouth when I realized what I said.

"I mean... I see vanilla ice cream," I said, trying to sound impressive.

Then I heard a flight attendant's voice go over the PA. "The seatbelt sign is now off."

Thank you, I thought. It was getting really awkward between me and Hazel. After a while, I fell sound asleep.

"We're now landing in New York City," the flight attendant said over the PA which instantly woke me up.

When the plane landed, I grabbed my suitcase and exited the plane. Before I felt a little sick, but now I'm ok.

I went to sit on a seat and waited for the directer to come. People walked by me, but they weren't the director.

Finally, a man came and sat beside me.

"Hi," I said, excited. "What brings you to New York," I asked him.

"Oh, I'm here to visit some of my relatives who live here," he responded.

"Oh," I said as he left. Awkward, I thought.

Then another man came and sat beside me. This time I stayed quiet.

"Are you Jennifer Adams," the man asked me.

"Um, yeah... how did you know?" I asked, creeped out.

"I'm the director, David Haynow, from the movie Struck. I'm here to pick you up," he said.

"Oh, ok. Let's go!" I responded, as he took my luggage and we headed towards his fancy Ferrari.