Who's That Lady? Read Online Free PDF Page B

is happening in my life. I’m so damn bored, Crystal.”
    “Bored?”
    “All I do is go to work, come home, go out with Graham. I know he’s a good guy. But sometimes I think I’ll scream if I hear him tell me about how many cars he’s sold one more time. And I could never talk to him about—certain things.”
    “If you don’t like him, break up. You’re not obligated to him.”
    “I know, but—”
    Crystal hugged her knees tighter, with a sense of urgency. “What do you want, Shonté?”
    Shonté hesitated, and went off on a tangent when she finally answered. “I got a letter from Grant Rice.”
    “Who?”
    “You remember. My acting friend?”
    “Oh, yeah. He moved out to California a few months ago.”
    “Right. He said he’s learned so much about the business while he’s been there. He’s even got a television producer interested in the sitcom he created.”
    “Really? That’s cool. What’s the show going to be about?”
    “Well, he based it on his own life, four guys who share an apartment, and the girlfriend of one. One guy is gay, one is spacey, one is sarcastic and one is a klutz.”
    “Uh-huh,” Crystal said, trying really hard not to convey how stupid she thought it sounded. She must not have succeeded, because Shonté laughed and reached over to pat her knee.
    “He says it’s good to give each character a specific one or two word characterization. It really is a good screenplay.”
    It didn’t sound impressive to Crystal, but then she didn’t know much about show business. Shonté was the artistic one who had been heartbroken when she didn’t get into the performing arts college she applied to after high school. She’d always had a dream of being a performer and had pretty much fallen apart when she got the rejection. She’d done crazy things then, Crystal remembered. A short-lived bout of promiscuity had left her with the lasting legacy of herpes. Fortunately, the condition was under control and she rarely had an outbreak. Crystal was prayerfully grateful her friend hadn’t been infected with something more deadly. Shonté was more cautious nowadays, but not totally settled.
    “What are you thinking, Shonté?”
    “I don’t know. I’ve been feeling so antsy, thinking about my life.”
    “You have a good life, honey.”
    Her chin wobbled as she pressed her lips together to hold her emotion in check. “It’s all so useless, Crystal.”
    “Are you thinking of joining Grant out in Hollywood?”
    “I don’t know! If only I’d gone right out of high school. Now I’ve got student loans and a condo and a car and all kinds of responsibility, as you so frequently remind me.”
    Crystal felt a stab of unease. She had thought Shonté was over that wish. Had she and Shonté’s parents been wrong to encourage Shonté to get a business degree from a traditional college and keep her acting life as a hobby?
    Shonté laughed shakily at the look on Crystal’s face.
    “Don’t worry. I’m not going to run away or anything. I’m too damn old and scared.”
    Crystal spoke slowly. “Listen, you don’t have that much debt. You’ve been able to double up since we started our frugal plan.”
    Shonté huffed noisily. “Yes, take our bag lunch, limit our luxuries, watch the clothes shopping, car pool, watch the electricity use. Yeah, yeah, Crystal, we’re just a couple of savvy sisters.”
    Crystal felt chagrined. “Well, if you don’t want to—”
    “It’s not that I don’t want to. I know you’re right, Crystal. I rely on you. I just feel strangled sometimes.”
    Crystal was compelled to poke a little further. “You’ve been getting some big roles at the community theater. You were really excited when you landed the lead in this last one. What’s the name of the new play again?”
    Shonté pushed off the bed to her feet and paced away from Crystal, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I told you. The Carpool . I play Tamara, the wife.”
    Crystal watched the pacing.