Last Summer
Things changed.
Summer
Was always a time for me to excel.
In summer theater camps,
I always got leads.
Until last summer.

I discovered a theater camp,
In which a musical was put on in a week,
Directed by Mr. Jen,
The choir and theater director at my school.
That year, they were putting on
The Pirates of Penzance.

I knew it was unlikely I'd get a lead.
Everyone from Wolf Crest High auditioned.
All the celebrities.
All the Kates of two years ago.
But I'd heard a rumor that fewer were auditioning that summer.

Not all the celebrities.
Only Charles, Benny, and Venessa.
They'd been impossible to beat,
But perhaps there would be spots available.

I auditioned.
So did Meena and Kate.
And our sweet friend Collin.
So did Ethel, the other Kate of our grade.
They'd been doing these for years.

No surprise,
Benny got the lead.
His girlfriend, Venessa, scored the female counter part.
Charles also nailed a lead.
But there were other, secondary parts.
And no celebrities left.

Ethel gleaned the largest secondary role,
Playing right along side Venessa.
Kate was one step down, still belting her solos.
I was in the back.
But Meena was with me.

I spoke to the celebrities,
Facing a huge fear.
Because although I spoke to Kate regularly,
The celebrities were something
of a different species.

But I spoke to them!
Not Benny.

But Venessa was very sweet!
Not scary at all.
Even if it was nerve racking,
To be the only other soprano one,
Having to sing with the goddess.

My heart pounded as Mr. Jen
Instructed me,
To put my head on Charles's lap.
It was incredibly awkward.
But Charles gave me a high five.
It was okay.

The show was great!
I felt closer to Kate and Meena.
I chatted briefly with Ethel,
Because she was friends with them.

I knew I'd never see Charles again,
As he'd just graduated.
But maybe Venessa.

I should have known better.
While she talked plenty with Kate and Ethel,
Why would a celebrity acknowledge me?

I am the kind of girl
People don't admit to knowing in public.