Free How to Get Famous by Pete Johnson

that's it, my chance is
snatched away from me, for ever.
    I won't give up though.
    I won't.

Chapter Ten

    TUESDAY APRIL 6TH
    Georgia's just back from yet another Secret Garden rehearsal. I tell you, since
she got the part of Mary her feet haven't
touched the ground. First of all she had to
do all these improvisation exercises –
some at the weekends, as well. In fact, one
Saturday morning Georgia told me this
girl burst into a rehearsal saying she'd run
away from home, and they had to hide her.
Whole drama group was in uproar, until
it turned out this was just another improvisation
exercise. 'Acting needs energy,
courage and split-second thinking,' said
Giles. 'That's what I was testing today.'
    He sounds off his head to me. Anyway,
after all that carry-on, Georgia had to
learn the whole script before the first
proper rehearsal. Since then she's gone
over every little scene so many blooming
times. Personally, I think all this
rehearsing is a load of old balderdash
and they're just trying to make acting
as boring as school. But what do I know?
    Tonight, though, Georgia was well
upset. 'I don't think I can act at all,' she
announced.
    'Oh, you daft sausage, of course you can,'
I replied.
    'No, Giles was all smiles to the other
actors tonight, but then he looked at me
and he said wearily, "I know you've got
more to give this part, Georgia, but we're
just not seeing it." I agree with him
actually, I'm rubbish. And I think I'm
going to resign.'
    'If you do, I will personally come along to
your house and scalp you,' I cried, 'because
you've got a chance here to get famous. So
you're very lucky. And now you're going to
give it all up just because Giles has got the
grumps. Well, if you do, you deserve to rot
in obscurity – like I'm doing right now –
for all the days of your life.'
    She was silent for a few thoughtful
seconds before saying, 'It's just I'm getting
so confused with all the advice he's giving
me and then my mum keeps throwing all
these suggestions at me as well.'
    'Oh come on, stop being so pathetic,' I
cried, 'and seize your chance. Get famous,
Georgia!'
    THURSDAY APRIL 8TH
    Georgia's rung again. And she's been
sobbing down the phone this time.
    At tonight's rehearsal Giles got very cross
with her acting and took her aside afterwards.
He hissed, 'Georgia, you're letting
me down. You're holding back all the time.'
    I said, 'But that's people in the theatre
for you. They get all worked up if someone
hasn't stirred their coffee the right way.'
    'No,' said Georgia, 'it's me. I know how
the words ought to come out, but somehow
they don't. And I'm so flat and awkward
and terrible. Then Giles tells me to try it
again, and I've got so many thoughts
spinning around in my head that I'm even
worse than before. Oh, Tobey, what am I
going to do?'
    'Do you know what I recommend?' I
cried suddenly.
    'No, tell me.'
    Right, listen to your mum's advice,
listen to old Giles, and let all their ideas
ferment in your head. But just before you
go on stage say, I'm going to forget all that
now and just – fly.'
    'Fly?' she echoed.
    'Yeah, say to yourself it's time to fly and
see what happens.'
    'All right, I will,' said Georgia.
    Afterwards I wondered about my advice.
I hadn't really thought what I was saying
(just for a change). I merely babbled what
popped into my head.
    FRIDAY APRIL 9TH
    Georgia called. 'Well, I followed your
advice tonight.'
    'And what happened?' I asked very
anxiously.
    'Oh Tobey, I flew for the very first time.
And Giles said he always knew I had it in
me and that I was "fabulous" tonight.'
    I was thrilled, of course – but every time
she and I spoke I could also hear this other
voice whispering away in my head: thin
and bitter and so resentful that Georgia
was in The Secret Garden and I wasn't. It
only ever makes me feel bad. But somehow
I can't switch it off.
    I'm certain Georgia doesn't suspect a
thing, though. In fact, tonight, she
thanked me over and over for my brilliant
advice.
    It's the dress rehearsal