King's College (Sequel to Too Young and Blind)

Johnavi

Alexander

God, I hate costume rehearsals. The production for In The Heights started a few months ago and already a lot about it has changed. John was still Usnavi but now Eliza played Vanessa because Karen Olivo dropped out to take up an opportunity to join the cast of Moulin Rouge! The Musical. I understood, of course, she was an accomplished actress and had no idea if this production was a good idea. Hell, I don't know if this is a good idea. Mandy Gonzalez stayed on as Nina which had me and John still floored, we absolutely did not expect this. Angelica has taken over as Daniela though because Andrea Burns is having medical problems. Again, I understand. Everybody else was the same though.

Even though we were ready for dress rehearsals, the props and scenery weren't ready. In fact, Tori and Peggy were the ones who I placed in charge of the props and backdrop because I trust them and Hercules and Laf are taking care of the costumes because Herc has that fabrics shop. They said I don't have to pay them but once the show gets off the ground you can bet your ass I'm going to make it rain on them.

We've run the show twice but that wasn't in costume and the lights weren't on, Theo and Maria did makeup and hair which we also haven't really focused on yet. I was focused on reviewing the lyrics for The Club when a felt a little hand grab my ankle, "Untle Awesander!" Susan yelled I smiled.

I picked her up, setting the papers aside, "Hey there baby." She was eleven months old now and had two teeth, one on the bottom and one on top, I couldn't wait for her birthday, "And how are you?"

"Bahdatam," She replied. She either spoke in words or nonsense and it never made sense which one came first and which one happened later, "Hi." She grinned and her teeth shone. When a baby smiled at me I couldn't help but smile back.

"Are you bothering the much gay?" Peggy asked, smacking her hands against each other to make a blue and purple cloud of powder chalk fluff around her.

"Mommy!" She threw her hands up and Peggy took her, giving her an Eskimo kiss as she giggled, "Hi!" She yelled.

"Hi!" Peggy laughed and looked over at me, "I think hi is her favorite word." She told me and sat down, currently, she had on overalls and a long-sleeved yellow shirt which was rolled to her elbows and covered in paints, markers, and chalk.

"I think so too," I told her and brought the papers back over to my lap, "She wasn't bothering me though but I thought she was with Frances Eleanor, where's she?" I looked around and then spotted her with Mandy, "Oh. I guess Mandy likes her."

"I mean I would too," Peggy shrugged, "Anyway the bridge is finished. The Golden Gate Bridge sunset thing you asked for. Just finished it." She dangled a spare brush over Susan's nose and the baby burst into giggled, trying to eat the bristles, "You're so silly." She mumbled.

"You're the best, Pegs," I told her and then stood up, "Okay! Let's run the top of the show, first song to check sound, costume, hair, makeup, and lights!" I yelled as loud as I could and was rewarded.

Mandy brought Frances Eleanor over and I put them back in the Daycare room where Laf was, "Bébés!" He yelled and held his hands out to take them while Frances Eleanor screeched in glee. I laughed and put them down, closing the door as I headed back to the audience.

Peggy and Theo had just set up the Golden Gate Bridge artwork at the top of the backdrops where I wanted when I'd come back. I sat down and crossed my arms, waiting for the lights to dim and the mock show to start.

I almost caught myself laughing when Seth Stewart, Graffiti Pete, began his tagging routine in the beginning but I stopped when John ran out, oh how gorgeous that man is, "Hey!" He shouted his line and threw his hands out, "That's my wall!" He chased Pete off as usual before turning to the audience, "Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day; I wake up and I got this little punk I gotta chase away, Pop the grate at the crack of dawn, sing while I wipe down the awning. Hey y'all, good morning." He grinned

I relaxed into the production from there, the Piragua Guy was on cue and so was everybody else I just...I just couldn't....get behind John-even as Usnavi-crushing on Eliza. It was fine in high school because Jack and Sally don't actually kiss but as I watch them I keep getting reminded of the fact that they do kiss and they have. Eliza played an amazing Vanessa though and I couldn't recast her, she hit every cue, mark, and note as did John. They were made for those roles but...Eliza's single so...

I snapped out of my thoughts soon enough when Theodosia was suddenly in front of me, one row away, looking at me. The song was ending and she passed me something which I took out of curiosity but what I saw had my breath stopping abruptly. It was a sonogram, a baby, I looked up at her, "Y-Your twins are only three months old?!"

"Well technically I didn't give birth to them," Theo whispered under the crescendo of Usnavi/John/Johnavi's climactic rap/belt. I nodded and she continued, "Aaron doesn't know yet. Barely one month along. Keep it a secret." She winked and turned back around as the lights flashed and then went black.

I sat stunned by the news and I could hear Susan and Frances Eleanor in the other room. This is so many babies. How did all of us get here? It feels like just yesterday I was in the office and Herc walked in and insulted Miss Poland. God, life really just doesn't slow down.