The Sisters Club by Megan McDonald Read Free Book Online

roses, Beast says the father must die unless he gives him his daughter.
    Joey: Hey! You just took my whole part.
    Me: Never mind that. Let’s take up where Beauty first comes to stay with Beast. Stevie, upstage left.
    Stevie: Huh?
    Me: It’s blocking. Forget it. Just stand over by the window. (Joey taps yogurt containers against desk for horse galloping.)
    Stevie: “Tell me now, do you not consider me very ugly?”
    Me: “I do, since I cannot but speak the truth. But I also find you very kind.”
    Stevie: “Alas, in addition to being ugly, I’m afraid I’m also dim-witted. I am a mere beast.”
    Me: Say it like you mean it. And don’t just look out the window. Mr. Cannon says, “Respond to your fellow actors.”
    Stevie: Is Mr. Cannon this bossy?
    Me: Stand like this, with your legs bent. Arm out. Mr. Cannon says keep your character in your head, but let your body tell the story.
    Stevie: Does Mr. Cannon say this play should be called Blabbermouth and the Beast ?
    Me: (Ignoring her.) “Nonsense. A dim-witted person would not admit it so. Besides, you have a kind heart. When I think of that, you are no longer ugly.”
    Stevie: “Beauty, will you be my wife?” (Laughing.)
    Me: C’mon, Stevie. You can’t just crack up.
    Joey: Oh, Beauty, my Beauty. Kiss me, O Beauteous One. You know you want to. Mww, mww, mww. (Makes kissing sounds.) I’m not really an ugly Beast. I’m Scott Towel. Mww, mww.
    Me: Joey! We don’t need sound effects for kissing!
    Stevie: Hey, just so you know, I’m not going to kiss you or anything, if that’s what you think.
    Me: Stop acting like babies, you guys. This is acting.
    Stevie: I’m still not kissing you.
    Joey: Here, kiss this. (Shows roll of paper towels.)
    Stevie: Great idea, Joey. Paper towels can be Beast.
    Joey: The paper towels can be Scott Towel. Get it?
    Me: I’m not kissing a roll of paper towels.
    Stevie: Go with it, Alex. Feel the part.
    Joey: Maybe this’ll help. (Draws face on paper towels.)
    Stevie: Perfect! (Holds paper-towel Beast out toward Beauty.) “Beauty, will you be my wife?”
    Me: (Kissing paper towels.) Mww! Mww! Good-bye, Dear Beast. I shall miss you so.
    Stevie: I can’t believe you actually did it.
    Joey: Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Alex kissed paper towels!
    Me: You guys have paper towels on the brain. Rule Number One in acting is don’t be afraid to look stupid.
    Stevie: You sure got that rule down. (Stevie and Joey fall on the floor, laughing.)
    Me: You guys don’t know anything — about acting or boys or kissing.
    Joey: We know one thing. Alex is in love with a paper towel! (Falls on floor, laughing some more.)

     

     

     

 
    Alex put on The Hat at Family Dinner one night. I’d been cooking a lot lately, and Family Dinner (Tacos à la Stevie, minus any ears) was actually edible now.
    “OK, I have something to say — an important announcement.”
    “Sounds serious,” said Dad, tapping his spoon on a glass to get everybody’s attention.
    “What is it?” asked Mom.
    “The play is only one week away, and we still don’t know our lines. So I asked Scott, the guy who plays Beast, to come over and practice with me.”
    “Scott Towel ?” asked Joey.
    “Puh! That’s your big announcement?” I asked, like Do I care?
    “I just want Joey and Stevie to promise they won’t embarrass me.”
    “What about Mom and Dad?” I asked.
    “Ha, ha,” said Dad.
    “I mean it, you guys. No calling him Scott Towel and stuff.”
    “I promise!” said Joey.
    “I don’t!” I said.
    “I think you should ask him to stay for dinner,” said Dad. “We’d like to get to know this boy a bit if you’re going to be spending time together.”
    “Good idea,” Mom chimed in. “I won’t be home after school, and I’d like to meet him, too.”
    “Aw, do I really have to?” Alex asked. “It’s so embarrassing!”
    “We think it’s a good idea, too,” I chimed in, getting Joey to nod her head in agreement. “He should meet the whole