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
Paul was the actor who played Romeo He was in college now but had started acting here when he was in third grade He was about to kiss my mom for the first time I saw it I groaned Don’t remind me Picturing my mom kissing anyone but my dad was just wrong I had helped my mom study her lines all summer I had them memorized before she did Did you make the sign I grabbed another cookie Not me she said as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose She handed me a napkin Paul laughed when he saw it and asked if anyone had lip gloss I wish opening night was tonight I said So then we wouldn’t have to come to rehearsals anymore I wiped my mouth crumpled up the napkin and tossed it into the trash can Did you know I was the only kid in my neighborhood that wasn’t at the skate park yesterday And all my friends are swimming at Barton Springs today And where am I Stuck here 10
She inspected the mirror You may not have to worry about it much longer I overheard my mom talking to Miss Lucy this morning She said this is the third play in a row that has had low ticket sales If the theater doesn’t start making money it may have to close down Don’t worry I said There are still two weeks left until opening night Sales will pick up But to be honest I wouldn’t mind if this place closes down I hate coming here She threw the rag at me That’s an awful thing to say Mason This theater makes a lot of people happy If it closes Miss Lucy would lose her job Now I felt bad Miss Lucy let us sell tickets with her on opening night If it weren’t for the Austin we wouldn’t have met said Aubrey Or any of the other kids It would be sad if it closed She blew dust off the frame of the mirror I wish rehearsals were twenty-four hours a day I love it here 11
