I rode the bus down to the beach, hoping the sound of the waves would calm my beating heart. I glared out at the horizon. I didn't think I'd ever failed as badly as I did that day; not even the time I literally got a zero on a math test I had spent all night studying for.

I hadn't meant to stay there long, but the sun was setting by the time I finally boarded a bus for home. Mom was in her room reading a book. I began searching the fridge for food, only finding an old TV dinner box. I warmed it up in our dirty old microwave and sat down on the sagging couch, trying not to think about the audition.

Things were not turning out great for me. I was bad at school and crime. I couldn't even handle a stupid audition. My life was gonna suck.

When I finally went to bed at 11:30, I couldn't sleep for the life of me. I kept seeing the judges' faces, their boredom and annoyance. Then my mind would zoom in on the old man's face. I felt sure he was at least a little pleased, but if I thought too hard on it, that small, evil part of my brain would twist the memory around until the man's smile became a scowl and his patient voice became one dripping with contempt and exasperation.

*****

Life was pretty normal over the next two weeks. I rode around town each day, trying to do as little pick pocketing as possible without getting on my mom's bad side, which always seemed to happen anyway.

One Friday morning, I was sitting in the library, mainly because they offer free internet service. I had just logged on to check my email when something stopped me in my tracks. the very first email was from an address I didn't recognize. I pulled it up and gasped.

It read, Dear Miss Smith,
We were very impressed with your performance at our audition a couple weeks ago. We would like to extend to you an offer to be in our upcoming television show, Trouble in Time. If it would be possible we would like to meet with you and your parents and explain to you what will be going on the next few weeks as we try to get the show started. Please email us with any questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Sam Perkins

I was very confused. I had been convinced I had done a terrible job, and now they want me to be in their show?

I wrote back, Is this a joke? because that was the only thing I could think to say.

The reply came back almost immediately.

No joke. As I said before, we were very impressed with your performance. We think that you will be very successful working on our show.

I decided to believe him. 

Okay.

Awesome! Could you come to Whistlewood Studios in about an hour?

I really didn't have anything else to do, so I replied, I guess so.

Great. See you then.