Pride and Joy

by M. L. Rice

  Daniela’s face lit up. “You wouldn’t think that would be something I would get into, would you?”

  “Not with your shyness, no. I’m really impressed by how you can get up there and sing in front of everyone.”

  “Well, I just pretend they’re not there. I just try to stay in character and imagine that it’s my real life up on the stage.”

  “Oh, so you’re a method actress!”

  She smiled. “I don’t know about that. I just know it’s the only way I can stand in front of all those people and not faint!”

  “Do you think this is something you want to do for a living?”

  Daniela looked down at her plate. “No. I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “My parents don’t really see acting as a real job.”

  “Does what they think matter? I mean, if it’s something you love and kick ass at doing?”

  Daniela looked up at Bryce, her eyes narrowed in thought. “Don’t you think it’s a silly waste of time when I could study to become a doctor or something?”

  “Do you want to be a doctor or something?”

  She paused. “No.”

  “Do you want to be an actress?”

  After a moment Daniela’s mouth broke into a dazzling smile. “Yeah. I think I do.”

  Bryce stood up and walked around the table to pick up her friend’s empty plate. She stopped next to her and said with serious finality, “Then that’s what you’re going to do. And you’re going to be amazing.”

  Daniela looked up at her with watery eyes. “Thank you.”

  “I mean it. I totally believe in you. One of these days I’ll see you in a movie or something and say, ‘Hey! I’ve known her since she was eleven years old, and I taught her how to swim.’ And then I’ll wait for the phone call where you’ll invite me to your giant mansion in Hollywood where I’ll get to lounge by the pool with you and your famous friends, drinking champagne and getting to bum around as part of your entourage.”

  Daniela laughed. “It sounds like you have my future all worked out.”

  “Yep. So you’d better not disappoint me.” Bryce finished putting the dishes in the washer and walked back over to the table, extending her hand for her friend to take. “Now. Let’s go watch a movie and figure out which character you’ll get to play in the multi-million-dollar, special-effects-ridden remake in five years.”

  Chapter Three

  The applause was still ringing loudly in Bryce’s ears as she and many others made their way to the gym for the party the school had set up for the students and their families to celebrate the opening night of Bye Bye Birdie. She walked with Jennifer and Arati and they discussed the show and expressed their surprise at how entertaining it was.

  “Angela was so good as Kim, and who knew that Daniela was such a natural! Their duet at the end of ‘One Boy’ was the best part of the show,” Jennifer offered. “Brent was so cute as Conrad too. Can’t sing to save his life, though. I wonder why he got that role.”

  Arati laughed. “Because he’s hot, duh. Daniela and Angela were the only two who could actually sing in tune. Daniela especially. They all put on a good show, though.”

  Bryce just nodded through all of this. Angela was perfectly cast as Kim, but it was Daniela who had really been the star of the show. Her voice was pitch-perfect and soothing, and Bryce really could see her making a career out of the whole acting/singing thing. She looked like she belonged up there while the other students looked like gawky high school over-actors.

  After they had waited and chatted in the gym for about twenty minutes the entire cast, crew, and orchestra members walked in and headed en masse straight for the snack table where a giant cake decorated like a jukebox waited for them.

  “There’s Angela. Let’s go congratulate her,” Bryce said, seeing her friend from across the room.

  After squeezing their way through the hungry performers they finally reached her at the same time as Michael’s cousin, Leah Friedman.

  “Angela, you rocked!” Leah and Bryce exclaimed at the exact same time, which made them all stop and laugh.

  “But for reals, though, you were amazing,” Bryce finished.

  “Aw, thanks, you guys. I thought I was gonna puke before I went on stage.” She then whispered, “Kevin did puke and he’s only in the ensemble. He had to wear his normal clothes because he ruined his costume.”

  They all giggled, feeling sorry for him, but unable to ignore the humor of it.

  Bryce scanned the room as they laughed, looking for Michael to see if he was here with his cousin, but her eyes fell on Daniela, who was standing alone, her hands clenched together in front of her as if she was nervous about something, staring back at Bryce expectantly. Bryce gave her a thumbs-up and mouthed, “Awesome!” at which Daniela visibly relaxed and walked through the crowd toward them. Bryce lost sight of her and then turned back to her friends as Angela offered, “So what are y’all doing after this? Wanna go out to dinner to celebrate?”

  “Sounds great!” Bryce said. “How about Amistad? They have the best burritos.”

  “What about your super health kick?” Arati asked.

  “Hey, I can afford a night or two off. I’ll lose anything I gain when I get to the academy anyway.”

  “You’re like, zero percent body fat, Bryce. I don’t wanna hear it.” Jennifer huffed.

  “Let’s get out of here,” said Angela. “Just let me go say bye to my parents. I’ll meet y’all there.”

  Their group dispersed and Bryce caught sight of Daniela only a few yards away, a huge smile on her face.

  “Come on, slow ass.” Arati grabbed Bryce’s arm and quickly pulled her toward the door. Bryce shrugged and waved good-bye to Daniela and saw her proud smile fall as she was pulled out of the room. She had wanted to talk to her about her amazing performance, but her friends were already gone from the gym and Bryce didn’t want to make them wait for her.

  “Dani, I’ll see you tomorrow!” she managed to shout before the gym door closed behind her.

  *

  “Mom, I really need to exercise tonight. I can only stay for an hour. You know I have my most important meet of the year this weekend, plus I have to study for finals. Today in English I found out that I have to write a huge paper on Crime and Punishment. I’m not even a quarter of the way through the book!”

  Her mother shoved a large box of canned goods into her arms and turned her toward the doors of the church’s community room. “Believe me, you’ll get plenty of exercise tonight. We have fifty more of these boxes, and you and Daniela are the only young people here to help us carry them. Dostoevsky can wait for a little while. Go.” She gestured for her to take the heavy package inside. “And thank you. You know we appreciate it.”

  Bryce didn’t usually mind going to her mother’s church to help out with charity or community service, but tonight she was feeling restless. Monday nights her schedule included weightlifting and homework, and with the end of the school year quickly approaching she was starting to feel stressed and like she was falling behind. At least Daniela was going to be here with her. It was almost essential for her to have a friend around to keep her sane as the fiery women of the Saltus Community of Spiritual Women held their monthly fund-raisers and meetings.

  The group comprised the most active (and vocal) members of several different religious congregations around town, and while most of their efforts were geared toward helping the needy or supporting the troops, occasionally they would get up in arms about a hotbed subject like abortion or gay marriage. This was when Bryce would have to fake an illness or swim team practice to keep from having to join them. She might not have to go to her mother’s bigoted church anymore, but for some reason she was still fully expected to help out with the community group despite her protests about some of their actions.

  She walked through the door that had been propped open and set the first of many boxes on the fold-out table next to the far wall. An elderly woman from Daniela�
��s Catholic church smiled and began counting the number of cans inside. Bryce nodded and turned around to see Daniela looking at her with arms crossed over her chest. Bryce had forgotten about not talking to her after the show last night, and since she hadn’t run into her at school that day, this was the first time she had seen how her neglect had affected her friend.

  Daniela turned and walked away without saying a word.

  “Dani! Hey!” Bryce trotted after her until she stopped and turned back. “I’m sorry I had to run last night. Everyone kind of made this mass exodus and I didn’t have time to really congratulate you. That was totally rude and I’m really sorry.”

  Daniela said nothing and Bryce could tell she was hurt.

  “Anyway, I wanted to tell you now how incredibly well you did.”

  Daniela’s face softened a little.

  “I mean it too. You were honestly the best part of the show. And I really had no idea you could sing that well. You sounded like a professional. I mean, I know everyone worked really hard and the whole thing really was amazing, but…Dani,” Bryce paused to think back on how she had felt watching her on stage, “I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

  Daniela quickly cast her eyes down at her feet, but smiled. Bryce felt a tiny flutter of excitement in her stomach at how her words had affected the young woman.

  At that moment Bryce heard her name being called and she turned, upset that this special moment had been interrupted, to see her mother standing at the open front door with Daniela’s mother. She could tell the two women had been watching their daughters with irritation.

  Daniela’s mother called out, “These boxes aren’t going to carry themselves, girls. Are you going to stand around talking all night?”

  Bryce looked back at Daniela and said, “I mean it. There really are no words to describe how impressed I was. Am. With what you did on that stage.”

  Daniela nodded and looked back up at Bryce gratefully. “I appreciate that, Bryce. It means a lot to me. You really have no idea.”

  Bryce put her hand on Daniela’s shoulder and could feel her practically vibrating from the praise.

  “How many more times do you guys perform?”

  “Three more times. Once tomorrow, once Thursday, and our last show is Friday night before Prom.”

  “Perfect. That gives me a chance to watch the show again.”

  Daniela’s smile widened. “You’re actually going to watch it twice?”

  “Of course! How could I not want to watch one of my best friends kick all kinds of theatrical ass?”

  Daniela laughed. “Now that’s one I haven’t heard before.”

  Bryce gestured over her shoulder. “I’d love to gush about how crazy awesome you are all night, but I think our mothers are about to have a conniption fit. I tell you what. You come over and sing for me while I lift weights sometime, and I’ll be sure to heap copious amounts of praise upon your deserving self.”

  Daniela nodded with a pleased and somewhat dreamy look on her face and they walked together out to the waiting boxes stacked in the parking lot.

  *

  “I dunno, Mom. That one seems kind of…matronly.” Bryce wrinkled her nose at the frumpy taupe dress her mother held out to her.

  “You think so?” She turned the dress to look at the front. “What about this one?” She held up the dress she had been holding in her other hand.

  “Yes!”

  “Really?” Her mother’s face lit up.

  “No. Do you really think I’d wear a ginormous pink bow on my butt?”

  Her mother put both of the dresses back on the rack. “Well, I just don’t know, Bryce. You’re too picky.”

  Bryce put her arm around her mother’s shoulders. “I just want it to be perfect. That’s all. I only get one prom.”

  Her mother leaned into her and smiled. “Bryce, you’ll be perfect no matter what you wear. There’s nothing in the world that could ever make you not stand out as the most beautiful young woman in the room.”

  Bryce laughed. “You’re just biased. You have to say that because you’re my mom.”

  Her mother elbowed her in the ribs. “I’m saying that because it’s true.”

  “Well, who am I to argue, then? Come on, this is only the second store. I’m sure we’ll find something soon. Of course, I’d be perfectly happy wearing my cargo pants, boots, and a tank top—”

  Her mother pulled away and shot her an exasperated look.

  “But,” Bryce continued, “I’m having too much fun shopping with my mom to settle for comfort and sensible shoes.”

  Her mother’s features softened into a pleased smile. “I’ve been looking forward to doing this with you for years. First your prom dress, then your graduation uniform, then your wedding dress, then baby clothes…” Her mother’s gaze drifted wistfully as she spoke.

  “Whoa, Mom! Getting a little ahead of ourselves, I think! That is so not on my radar right now!”

  Truthfully, the thought of a traditional family life with a husband off at work and children running around her feet scared the hell out of her, but she didn’t dare mention that to her mother. Especially not now, when they were having such an excellent bonding day.

  “I’m just so proud of you. I can already see the amazing future ahead of you and I get so…excited to think about all that you’re going to do with your life. I love you, honey,” her mother said, looking at her with unconcealed pride.

  Bryce smiled back. “Thanks, Mom. I love you too.”

  Her mother sniffed. “Well, enough of that. We have to find a dress fit for a princess!”

  “A princess, Mom? Really?”

  Her mother pushed her playfully out of the door of the shop. “Yes. A princess. Let me have my moment.”

  Bryce chuckled and led the way to the next dress store in the mall.

  *

  The next weekend Bryce stood proudly on the podium as she received the first-place medal for the 100-meter freestyle at her final swim meet as a high school student. Jennifer and Arati stood on either side of her in the second and third place positions. Saltus High had swept the regional competition. She saw Michael, Angela, Leah, Daniela, and her own parents in the stands cheering her on, and wondered if any of them would ever be able to watch her compete as a Coast Guard cadet. It wasn’t likely, so she smiled and waved, trying to convey how happy she was that they were all there to support her.

  Later, as she, Michael, Jennifer, and Arati compared medals (Michael had come in second on the 1-meter springboard), Angela, Leah and Daniela walked down to meet them from the stands.

  Leah was generally pretty quiet and was staring at her toes, so Bryce was surprised when she said shyly, “You looked…really great out there.”

  There was silence as they all looked at each other. Bryce realized that Leah had been talking to her directly when Leah glanced up to see if she had heard.

  Bryce replied with a hesitation of embarrassment in her voice, “Oh! Thanks, Leah. I think we all rocked today. I’m glad you were able to come out and watch.” Bryce was used to getting praise, but couldn’t figure out why Leah, who rarely spoke when more than two people were around, would compliment her alone. Daniela was looking at Leah with furrowed brows as if there was something she didn’t trust about her.

  Odd.

  “What about you, Dani?” Bryce asked.

  Daniela jumped and looked back at Bryce nervously, “What?”

  “Did you have a good time? You didn’t have to come all the way out here to watch us.”

  “No! I mean, yes, I had a great time. I’m really glad all of you won something.”

  “Me too.” Everyone stood in awkward silence for a few seconds. “Well anyway, I have to get home since the powers that be were smart enough to schedule a huge swim meet on the same day as the prom.”

  Michael chimed in, “We’re all meeting at your house, right?”

  “Right,” Bryce answered. “The limo will pick us up at six o’clock and take us to the steakho
use. Then on to the dance!”

  “All right. I have your corsage all ready.” Michael grinned, obviously pleased with himself.

  “I just hope I can get ready in time.”

  “Even if you went straight from here you’d look beautiful.” Michael smiled and put his arm around her waist.

  Bryce saw Daniela’s eyes widen in what appeared to be utter shock and disappointment as she looked from her to Michael. It looked completely out of place on her normally happy features and with a jolt Bryce realized that Michael must be the senior her friend had a crush on and here she was, going to the prom with him. She felt so stupid and mean.

  Trying to salvage the situation she said, “Hey, Dani, I know you can’t go to the prom, but you’re coming over to Jennifer’s afterward, right?”

  Daniela slowly turned her heartbroken gaze from Michael to Bryce and smiled weakly. “No. I don’t think my parents will let me. They’re…strict.”

  Bryce tried to think of another way to make her friend feel better, but instead Michael laughed and said, “Oh well. It’s going to be too crazy for a kid anyway, and I’m sure your mommy wants you in bed early. Which bedtime story will she read this time?”

  Bryce, Angela, Jennifer, and Leah all stood slack-jawed as Dani’s face fell.

  “Oh, come on, guys. It was a joke.”

  Quietly Leah said, “Not funny, Michael.”

  “Okay, shit. I apologize.” No one said anything. “Can we go now? Please?”

  “You guys go ahead. I’ll see you tonight.” Bryce waved at them and they quietly turned to leave. She hung back so she could talk to Daniela to apologize for Michael’s random and unexpected comment. She hadn’t realized he had a mean streak, and instead of being excited about the night ahead she was suddenly uneasy. Turning around to console her friend, she found that Daniela was gone. She scanned the thinning crowd and saw Daniela’s slender form passing through the side doors at a jog.

  Shit.

  She’d have to talk to her, and soon. Michael would be getting a piece of her mind too. But not tonight. This was her one prom, and she didn’t want to ruin it by being petty about one stupid comment. She couldn’t help but feel terrible for Daniela, though. Here she was, practically in love with this guy and he had treated her like a nine-year-old. The fact that she looked and behaved older than fifteen apparently made no difference.