Smile for Me Read Online Free PDF Page B

think/know you are a stalker.
    She is looking at me like I was speaking in Latin. I swear she goes out of her way to not understand when I’m making any kind of a pass at her.
    “Okay, so you need a new monologue—got any ideas?” I ask her trying to keep my voice light.
    “If I did, I wouldn’t be so close to freaking out right now.”
    If this is close I am not sure I want to witness an actual freak out. “Okay, wel do you have a favorite play?”
    “I liked this one.”
    “umm… other than this one?”
    “I don’t know; I am not big on plays.”
    “Then, why….” Kim is glaring at me, so I decide not to finish that question. “How about movies? What’s your favorite movie?”
    “I don’t know! I don’t watch TV.”
    “Who doesn’t watch TV?”
    “Me!” Oops. I think I insulted her.
    “Okay, not a big deal. I’l pick something for you. Were you thinking comedic, or dramatic?”
    “Sleeping Beauty.”
    “What?”
    “My favorite movie—Sleeping Beauty.” There is a pause while I process this information. “You look surprised.”
    “I am. Good surprised though. I am glad you have a little whimsy in your life, Kim Penney.”
    “Why do you do that?”
    “Do what?”
    “Cal me Kim Penney.”
    “Wel, it is your name.”
    She is almost smiling at me. Just a ghost of a curve is hanging out at the edge of her mouth. I am grinning from ear to ear. “Your name is Marshal Henries, but I bet most people leave off the Henries.”
    “I guess it is just how I think of you... Kim-Penney… I like your name, does it bother you?”
    “You say that like you think of me a lot . ”
    The last traces of her almost smile are gone now. Is the idea of me thinking about her so repulsive? “So, Sleeping Beauty?” I pul out my smart phone and fiddle around on the internet for a few minutes until I find something. “There is bit where she is talking to herself in the woods, about dreaming of a prince. It’s a little sugary for my taste, but Patterson wil eat that up.”
    “An owl.”
    I swear Kim Penney is never having the same conversation as I am. “What now?”
    “She isn’t talking to herself—she is talking to an owl. You can find that on your phone?”
    “Sure, a laptop would be more convenient though. Come on, let’s go. When we get to my place I’l look up it up and we’l get started.”
    “Why are you helping me?”
    “Kim Penney, you are the smartest girl I know. So I am going to let you figure that out on your own.” It took us awhile because we needed to stop for gas and then go pick up my truck. Not my most shining moment. It is getting late, and Kim and I have only just printed out her lines.
    She is standing in my living room staring at the wal over my shoulder carefuly reciting each line with little to no inflection in her voice. It is lucky for me that I finished the last little bit of tomorrow’s homework while I was waiting for my turn to audition, but for Kim I am sure I would be wiling to take an incomplete on an assignment if I had to. And I probably would have had to. I try to make myself comfortable on the couch as I cal out instructions and feed her lines when needed.
    “You have to move more. You wouldn’t stand stock stil, you’re thinking aloud— pace around and move your hands.”
    “You can’t turn your back to the audience. Just pivot on the bals of your feet.”
    “Don’t just look at me, there are going to be lots of kids in the auditorium tomorrow you should make eye contact with as many people as possible.”
    “I know I am the only person here—try and pretend.”
    “No, there should be a pause after that line. I have met someone and then you wait for the audience to react. Try counting to five before you continue.”
    “You can’t move your lips while you’re counting, Kim.”
    “Keep going, if you mess up the lines tomorrow just play through it.”
    We have been at it for almost two hours when Jason and Mandy walk in.
    “Whoops. We must have