“Nah, just nerves. You realize what this could do for our careers if we get these parts?”
“It could put us on a whole other level.?
??
“And thinking about it doesn’t make you nervous?”
“I’m excited about it.”
“You’re not worried you’ll forget your lines?”
Hondo sighed, “Would you quit? We’re going to do fine. Whether or not we get the parts isn’t up to us. So relax, enjoy the journey.”
“Oh great,” I said, “Now you’re going all Gandhi on me.”
Hondo opened the donut box and pushed it towards me. “Eat one of those while I get you some coffee.”
I looked inside and there was a fresh, still-warm chocolate covered donut sitting right on top of the others. I said, “Can you bring me a napkin while you’re at it?”
**
The auditions were again taking place at the Le Montrose. We arrived early and walked toward the meeting room and gorgeous Colleen.
I said, “Can your eyes get any greener?”
Colleen said, “I think it’s my necklace.” She wore a beautiful marquis-cut emerald on a slender silver chain.
I said, “Your eyes make that emerald jealous.”
She grinned, “Charmer.”
Hondo asked, “How many are auditioning?”
“Six, counting you two. David narrowed it down very fast because of the push to get started. And he’s doing two at a time so you two can read off each other, since the parts are for partners.”
I said, “That’s cool. Are we first?”
She said, “There were two others scheduled first, but I don’t see them around. If they don’t show up in the next few minutes, I’ll send you in. But, if they do show, they go first. Give me a second to talk to David,” Colleen got up and went into the meeting room. It was game time and I suddenly had a major urge to pee.
I said to Hondo, “I gotta go,” and I skip-walked towards the bathroom.
“You better hurry.”
I pushed on the door, put my hand to my zipper and ran straight into Bob-O and Davester at the sinks washing their hands. Both of their jaws dropped.
“Professor?” Bob-O said.
I hurried to them and put my hands on their shoulders, “Fellows, we’ve had another nano-quake and LAB-GEPO sent us straight here.”
“LAB-GEPO?” Davester asked.
“You remember, the LA Basin Geologist and Earthquake Prevention Organization. I told you about it at the Mongolian.”
“Oh sure, yeah,” Davester said as his eyes darted around.
Bob-O started to move but I patted his shoulder hard enough to hold him in place. He said, “Professor McCawley, we really have to go. We’ve got an important meeting right now.”
I peered at him, then at Davester, “You fellows are here for the audition, aren’t you?”