Me and Miranda Mullaly by Jake Gerhardt Read Free Book Online

really good about everything.
    Trying out for the play isn’t easy. I’m really sweating up there onstage with everybody watching. And it’s weird sweating when you’re not running around. I sort of feel like I’m in trouble, but all I really have to do is sing a song. There are tons of people watching and waiting for their turn to try out, but it’s all okay when I see Miranda Mullaly in the back. And what’s so hard about singing “Mary Had a Little Lamb”? Mr. Wexler even has someone playing the piano for me. If you haven’t ever sung a song like that out of the blue, a little background music helps a lot.
    Billy says it’s because I’m in love, and he teases me a bit when I tell him. But I don’t care at all because I feel so good.
    Basketball practice is a little different.
    The big championship game is next week. This is it. It all comes down to this one game and we’re all sort of nervous. Even Coach. He’s really off his game, having us run drills, then changing his mind and having us run gassers, which is really just us sprinting back and forth on the court. Then he’s blowing his whistle again and having us break presses and run fast-break drills.
    No one’s ever seen Coach this wound up, and he is the most wound-up guy in the school, at least whenever we play against Cedarbrook.
    I think we’re going to be okay. We really need to just get out there and play.
    Billy feels the same way I do. He tells me to relax, which is of course easier said than done. But actually, since I have Miranda in my life and the pressure of trying out for the play, I’m not thinking about basketball every minute of the day, which might be a good thing.

Miranda
    To: Tom
    From: Miranda
    Date: January 11, 2016 8:46 PM
    Subject: I Miss You!
    â€”——————————————————————————
    Tom,
    I can’t thank you enough for your words of encouragement last night about the auditions. You were right, I needed to have the right attitude. I was positive and confident and assured. And all because of YOU!
    I sang “I’m Not at All in Love” and feel I hit the notes right about where I wanted. There’s a seventh-grader who nailed it. But I doubt Mr. Wexler would give her the lead. An eighth-grader deserves the role and I will be confident because that’s your advice.
    I’m so happy you know so much about theater. You can’t believe some of the auditions that I had to sit through! I won’t bore you with the details besides telling you the “star” of the basketball team auditioned. He sang “Mary Had a LittleLamb” because he didn’t know anything else.
    Ugh! I can’t wait to get out of middle school.
    Why do you have to be so far away?!
    Big big hugs!
    Miranda
    To: Erica
    From: Miranda
    Date: January 11, 2016 8:57 PM
    Subject: Ugh!!!!!
    â€”——————————————————————————
    E
    I think today was the worst day of my life. I can’t believe I messed up my audition. How could I possibly forget the lyrics?!
    BTW—am I crazy or was it totally unfair that Mr. Wexler had Chollie Muller and Sam Dolan audition before the real auditions began?!
    I hope you know that you were awesome today. No matter what roles we get I know we’re going to have great fun. And we get to make fun of Mr. Wexler’s berets!
    Also, sorry I haven’t been at lunch (science project!) but we’ll catch up in the cafeteria tomorrow. I promise.
    M

7
The Cast Is Dye
CHOLLIE
    Basketball. Basketball. Basketball.
    The championship game is next week, and I think we’re ready to go. And as I’m walking down the hall I’m dribbling an invisible basketball, keeping my head up and spinning to