CHAPTER 1 THE AUSTIN Want one Mason asked Aubrey as she heart-shaped in honor of the big scene today held out a tray of cookies I made them The big scene was Romeo kissing Juliet during rehearsal My mom was playing Juliet Aubrey plopped the tray down on a rickety table in the prop room and grabbed a broom The red sprinkles taste like cinnamon she said as she swept dust bunnies out of a corner Eat as many as you want Just don’t get crumbs on the floor or I’ll have to sweep again Aubrey and I met a few summers ago here at the Austin Community Theater It’s a tiny theater in Austin Texas It’s in an old historic brick building downtown The building is pretty cool A historic 7
preservation group saved it from demolition Everyone calls it the Austin Both of our moms are rehearsing for the annual summer play This year it’s William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Aubrey comes to rehearsals because she wants to I come because I have to Even though I’m twelve years old my mom thinks I’m still too young to stay home alone I swiped a cookie from the tray Aubrey always brought desserts in for the cast and crew If I had to spend four or five hours here every day over summer vacation at least it was with someone who loved sugar as much as I did My mom calls this theater her second home because she’s here more than she’s at our house said Aubrey I scanned the area My mom should call this place a second home too Want to know why Because she’s always here asked Aubrey I shook my head No because half of this stuff 8
used to be in my house I pointed to a coffee maker in the corner That stopped working last summer Then I pointed out things that used to be ours the green love seat tattered luggage a broken television my dad’s ten-speed bike and a couple of lamps I even found a box of Chinese checkers in the closet with Mason Mansfield written on it I said I was surprised when I found it I had tossed it in the box to be donated to Goodwill My mom said it was used for a scene in the holiday play Aubrey laughed Most families recycle their junk Apparently your family sends it to the theater She took window cleaner and sprayed a mirror Aubrey was a neat freak She hated dirt and was always worried about germs She kept a tiny bottle of hand sanitizer in her pocket at all times Since the kissing scene is today said Aubrey I had to make heart-shaped something ya know Did you see the sign on the dressing room door she asked It says Pucker Up Paul 9
