The Wonderful Story of the Lyling Family

Chapter 7: Opening Night

This story is about my cousins Megan and Susie Davis.

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I wake up at six. I have to be at the theater by 7:30, as usual. Rehearsals are usually four hours, but not today. Today rehearsals are seven hours with no breaks. After those seven hours, it's showtime.

And it's not any show. Tonight is opening night. I go to wake up my parents but I remember that they're not here anymore.

I go to my sister's room. It used to be my parent's room but she just can't let go. I knock on the door. Without hesitation or patience, I open the door, startling my sister. I chuckle then turn on the lights.

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Yeah, I'll be out in a second."

"Why do you still sleep in here?"

"The same reason why I eat. I need it to survive," my sister says as she takes off her shirt and I turn away.

"I think you would do just fine."

"Yeah? And what do you know?"

"That's fair, I guess. I guess I'll never know what it feels like to be sad or cry. I'll never know what it feels like to be bullied and what it feels like to be on my period. Right?

"I didn't mean it like that-"

"And of course I'll never know what it feels like to lose both parents at the same time on the same day. And I guess I'll never know what it feels like to hear the sad news at a place you don't want to be in-"

"Alright! Get in the car. We're leaving in five minutes," she said as she pushes me out of the room.

Sister annoyed? Mission accomplished. To be honest, the only reason why I'm in this show is that my mom wanted me to "explore my talents" and she thought acting was one of them. She had so much faith in me. So did my dad. He was the one that encouraged me to sing and be in my school choir. But the kids didn't like me very much and started bullying me to the point where I couldn't take it anymore. I think they did it because my dad was the choir director. They called me "daddy's girl" and pushed and shoved me. It was awful.

My sister enters the garage and hops in the car. We drive to the theater listening to a mix of country, pop, and k-pop music. Once again, I wish I had premium on Spotify.

"Do we have to listen to this?

"My car, my music."

"My sister, my sanity gone."

"Oh shut up."

We stop at the theater entrance. My sister tries to smile as she drops me off.

"What time's the show?"

"Seven. You don't have to come."

"I know, but I'm going to anyway."

"Wait, you're actually going this time? You're not gonna sleep in the car?"

"Nope! I'm watching the entire show this time."

"You promise?" I said offering my pinky.

"I promise," she says linking her pinky with mine. I crack a smile.

"Ok. See ya."

I jump out of the car and close the door. I enter the theater with compliments and encouragement from my director.

The seven hours went by quickly. It was finally time for the show. The overlapping voices of people around the city make my heart jump. My lines float in my mind. Thousands of people are clapping. These strangers that I've known for five months, sweat and pray that we have a good performance. Our mom of the show is frantically pacing the stage behind closed curtains. She stops. She breathes in and out, then walks in front of the curtains.