Forever

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Cast Party

     It wasn't unusual for Austin and his mom to disagree about when he should come home on Saturday night. What was unusual on this cold Saturday in late January was that she was the one who wanted him to stay out late.
     It was all about the cast party following his high school's performance of "Romeo and Juliet." Austin was playing Romeo.
     "I can't believe you're asking me to do this," Austin complained.
     "I just think you should go," his mother said.
     "Why?"
     "Because you're the only member of the Church some of these kids will ever know. Besides, since it's at Mr. Shaunessy's house, I'm sure he won't let it get out of control."
     "Don't count on it. I hear last year they ended up watching R-rated movies. And one of the worst was recommended by Mr. Shaunessy."
     "There must be a way you can be there and not compromise your standards."
     "I don't think there is."
     His mother sighed. "All right."
     He looked at the clock. Just two hours before curtain time. He had a lot to do at school before then. This would be their last performance of a three-night run.
     "There's just one more thing I'd like to say," his mother said, just as he was about to leave.
     "I'm late."
     "If you decide to go to the cast party, see what Mrs. Shaunessy is doing. I bet she'll be busy preparing food. It wouldn't hurt you to give her a hand while everyone's watching the movie. I'm sure she'd appreciate the help."
     Austin shook his head. "I really need to go."
     "Austin?"
     "What?"
     "You re the best I have to offer the world. I'm not asking you to do anything you're not comfortable with, but there must be a way you can be a part of this celebration and still maintain your standards. Just think about it, okay?"
     With an expression of love like that, he couldn't bring himself to reject her request entirely. "Okay."
     The performance that night was a huge success, with four curtain calls from a wildly enthusiastic audience. The cast began their celebration as they took down the set.
     Austin was pulling nails from two-by-fours when Mr. Shaunessy came up to him. He put his arm on Austin's shoulder. "I've seen so much growth from you as an actor in the past few weeks.  I'm proud of you. Congratulations!"
     Austin was overwhelmed with the compliment, especially since Mr. Shaunessy had given so few of them during rehearsals. "Thank you, sir. It's been a great experience to be directed by you."
     "We'll talk more tonight. You are coming to the cast party, aren t you?"
     Austin couldn't tell him no. "Yes, sir. I'll be there."
     An hour later the cast and crew headed for Mr. Shaunessy's home.
     The students loved Mr. Shaunessy, and there was no question about his commitment to them. At age forty-one, he'd given up a career on Broadway to teach drama in high school.
     In many ways he looked like a character in one of his plays. He wore his hair long and had a dramatic, handlebar mustache. His favorite outfit was rumpled khaki slacks and a sweat shirt. He smoked a pipe whenever he could get away with it. Not in class, but sometimes at practices late at night, when no other teachers were around.
     At Mr. Shaunessy's home, the cast and crew watched a video of their last performance, hooting when someone flubbed a line or missed an entrance. When that was over, other videos were brought out. The first one they chose was R-rated.
     Austin quietly left the room, hoping not to be noticed. Out in the hall he saw a light in the kitchen. He decided to see what was going on. 
     As his mother predicted, Mrs. Shaunessy was in the kitchen. She didn't seem like the kind of woman Mr. Shaunessy would marry. She didn't look half as dramatic as her husband. She was quiet and unassuming, more like his own mother.
     "You're not watching the movie?" she asked.
     There was a roar of laughter from the TV room, the loudest coming from Mr. Shaunessy.
     "No."
     "How come?"
     "Not interested."
     She nodded.
     On the counter were six identical bowls, one with sliced green peppers, one with pineapple, another with onions, one with Mozzarella cheese, and one with a different color of cheese. At the moment, Mrs. Shaunessy was cutting pepperoni into thin slices.
     "What are you doing?  he asked.
     "I'm getting ready to make pizza for when the movie's done."
     "Making pizza? You just open the box, right?"
     "That's what some people do. I like to make it from scratch."
     "How come ?"
     "It's better that way."
     A stray piece of pepperoni slid off the cutting board. Austin glanced at Mrs. Shaunessy for approval and then put it in his mouth. "Could you teach someone like me?"
     "I believe I could, if you have the time."
     "I'm not very good in the kitchen," he confessed.
     "You don't need to be. All you need is a little practice. A person who can make pizza will never lack for friends."
     "I'd like to learn."

Order Information

Title:

Forever

Author:

Jack Weyland

Retail Price:

$12.98

Available:

Now

ISBN:

0-88290-719-0

Order Number (SKU):

1281

Pages:

176

Size:

6" x 9"

Binding:

Paperback