Cinnamon (Shooting Stars 1)

"What should I do?"

"Well, you'll go, of course. It's what you wanted, isn't it?" I shook my head.

"I don't know. I'm so confused."

"Of course you'll go, honey. This is a great opportunity."

I went right to the phone and called Miss Hamilton, She was so happy, she started to cry. I told Mommy and she cried, too. All of us were crying and it was supposed to be a happy, wonderful moment.

A few minutes later, we heard the front door open and stepped out to get Daddy.

"What's up?" he asked. Mormny handed him the letter.

Daddy's expression as he read the letter and immediately afterward told me he was not only not expecting it, he was hoping it would never come. His low-keyed. "This is nice." took Mommy by surprise. too.

"Nice?" she countered. "Nice is all you can say?"

He glanced at me and then forced a smile.

"Well. I mean it's nice to have options, to be wanted in many places."

"Options? This isn't the stock market. Taylor. It's your daughter's future," Mommy snapped.

He nodded. I never saw him look this uncomfortable, not even in the mental clinic.

"I know that. I'm referring to all the choices she can have. It takes some thinking. You want to be sure you make the right decisions for yourself. Cinnamon," he told me. "Let's review it all, consider everything. That's all I'm saying," he told Mommy.

She smirked and stepped back.

"You've been listening to your mother too much. Taylor."

"Well, she's not all wrong. I bet if you looked into it. Cinnamon, you'd discover that most successful actors nowadays started at something else first. It's a very difficult, challenging thing and you might be better off attending a regular state university or something and getting a well-rounded education. While you did that, there would be nothing to stop you from going out for the plays and building experiences. right? Then, if you were still inclined to pursue it, you could audition again' ," he said as if it was as simple as fastening a seat belt.

Mommy shook her head,

"Why are you saying these things now, Taylor? Why didn't you say them when Miss Hamilton told us about the performing arts school? Why didn't you say them before we took her to the audition? Why didn't you say them all these days that have gone by since?"

Daddy looked pained.

"From what you told me about it. I have to admit. I never expected this," he said holding up the letter.

Mommy plucked it from his fingers.

"You should have had more faith," she said and turned away from him. "I'm getting dinner together. Your mother hasn't come back from the dentist yet."

"Oh? I thought she had a four o'clock appointment. She should have been back by now."

"Maybe she's shopping for a new bedroom set for us," Mommy muttered and walked off.

I stared at Daddy. His shoulders sagged, there were heavier bags under his eyes and he looked tired and pale. I didn't want to feel sorry for him. but I couldn't help it. He glanced at me and saw something different in my eyes. It m

ade him look twice.

"I'm sorry if I upset you with my suggestions, Cinnamon. And it's not something Grandmother put into my head. It's only meant to be sensible.'

He started up the stairs, lifting his legs as if each weighed as much as his whole body. I saw him take a deep breath at the top and then continue toward his bedroom. I turned to go to the kitchen to help Mommy with dinner, but just as I did. I heard a loud thump from above. For a moment. I just stood there. listening. Then Mammy came back into the hallway. "What was that?" she asked.

I shook my head and lunged for the stairway. When I reached the top. I saw my father on the floor, lying on his side. His right leg twitched as he struggled to get up.