One Last Show

The paper pinned on the bulletin board was calling Dylan’s name. Despite its emptiness, he found that it presented more possibilities than ever. He read its title over and over again before glancing at the blank lines asking him to write his name on them.

Auditions for the new school musical! Sign up if you like acting, singing and/or dancing. Don’t wait for your chance to shine!

It was tempting. Dylan wanted to write his name on the list, but the lack of any other names prevented him from doing it. And having his name out in the open for everyone to see wasn’t something he was excited about. He should be focused on the baseball team and their upcoming pre-season games, not on signing up for this stupid school musical.

Focus on what’s important. His father’s words echoed in his mind. To his father, the most important thing was baseball. Baseball would open doors to Dylan’s future. Baseball would help him go to a prestigious university. Baseball would help him get a good career. Dylan knew signing up for this school musical would be a distraction; something he couldn’t afford right now, not when he was so close to reaching his goal.

He sighed and fixed the bag over his shoulder, biting his lip. Was he really considering auditioning for the school musical? The idea was so ridiculous, Dylan wasn’t sure what to make of it. It had been so long since he last played the piano, since he last sang out loud to anyone. What if he wasn’t good at it anymore? What if he sucked and trying would make him a joke to everyone around him? He wasn’t sure he could live with that. His father certainly couldn’t.

Someone approached the board with a polite good morning to Dylan before writing their name on the paper sheet hanging next to the audition call.

Do you like the magic of musical theatre? If you’re interested in participating in the school’s musical organisation, sign up now! We’ll meet every Thursday at 4:30 pm in the school auditorium.

As opposed to the audition paper, this one had a few names. Dylan recognised the first one on the list, Marco Fiore, who stated to be interested in sculpting, painting and working on the school musical sets. There was also Annie Garcia—twin to Dylan’s teammate, Finn—who was interested in working on the lighting and sound portion of the play. The last name had been added by the guy standing next to him. Joshua Cooper. Interested in composing the school musical’s songs.

Dylan held a small chuckle. Creating a soundtrack wasn’t a one-person job. Even if Joshua was incredibly good at composing and writing lyrics, it was still a lot of work.

“Considering auditioning?” Joshua asked, clicking his pen with too much excitement for Dylan’s taste. “I hope people join. It’d be a shame to have everyone to work behind the scenes, but no one to work on the scenes.”

“The musical might not happen if that’s the case.”

“Let’s hope that isn’t the case, then.” Joshua ran a hand through his dark brown hair, moving it away from his eyes before flashing Dylan a polite smile. He fixed the bag strap on his shoulder and walked away, disappearing in the crowd around the corridor.

In about five minutes, the bell would ring, and Dylan’s first class would start.

He had five minutes to decide. If he didn’t do it now, he was afraid he never would. Dylan opened his bag and scrambled to find his pencil case. He pulled it out and opened it, his heart jumping. I’m really doing this, he thought as he searched for a blue or black pen, but none appeared to be within reach.

As he caught a glimpse of something that appeared to be his favourite blue pen, someone bumped against him, and he clutched the pencil case close to his chest, preventing it from falling.

“Watch where— Dylan?”

Dylan’s eyes widened as he stared up at the voice. He shut his pencil case as quickly as he could and shoved it back inside his bag. He crossed his arms, trying to sound nonchalant when he asked Eli, “What are you doing here so early?”

“I could ask you the same,” Eli said, looking up to fix his short dark hair, followed by his glasses. Dylan noticed he was wearing cologne. Not the obnoxious deodorant he liked to put on after baseball practice, but something softer and nicer. “I’m looking for someone.”

Even his clothes looked different than usual. Where was Dylan’s sweatpants, T-shirt-wearing teammate? Apparently, he had been replaced by someone who knew how to wear the same colour on both socks and owned a pair of jeans. A very rare occurrence for Eli, Dylan had to admit.

“Have you seen Lili?” Eli asked, looking at the crowd ahead, his golden beige skin flushed from running all the way here.

“Who’s Lili?”

“Liliana,” he said, pronouncing her name with care. “I got tickets to a concert, and I know she likes the band, so I want to ask her out. Do you know where she is?”

Liliana was from Dylan’s English class. She sat in the front row, on the opposite side of the room to Emma and Marco, and he had never spoken to her. All Dylan knew about her was that she was a good student, but she rarely opened her mouth to participate in class.

“She’s probably inside the room already,” Dylan said, gesturing to the end of the corridor. “You know—”

“Thanks.” Eli walked backwards, a huge grin on his face. “I owe you one.”

Dylan watched as his friend sprinted across the corridor, swerving through the crowd to avoid bumping against someone again. Dylan sighed and faced the empty paper in front of him, biting his lip again. He almost did it. He almost wrote his name.

If he had, that would have been the biggest mistake of his life. One small moment of hesitation had saved him. However, the same might not happen next time. While this paper remained here, empty and calling his name, Dylan would always be one step closer to giving in and trying to succeed at this whole thing.

He knew he needed something like this, something that spoke to a part of him he had neglected for a long time, a part of him he missed and wanted to rescue. It was the part that risked, that dreamed, that dared to believe. The part that only cared about having fun, about creating good memories to later remember.

This was Dylan’s last year at high school before university. This was his last chance at doing something different, something he chose for himself. Could this be it?

As the bell rang, Dylan shook his head, a sad smile greeting his features. Maybe not.

With certain steps, he walked to his classroom, grateful to have something to focus on instead of the demanding pound of his heart, begging him to follow it for once.