Free Needle and Thread by Ann M. Martin Page B

director.”
    â€œOlivia and I will watch from back here,” said Flora. “Good luck.”
    â€œThanks.” Ruby joined a crowd of kids that had gathered around Mrs. Gillipetti in front of the stage. Many of the kids, she noted, were fifth- and sixth- graders.
    â€œGood afternoon. I’m Mrs. Gillipetti,” said the director. “For those of you who don’t know me, I teach fifth grade here, and I’m going to direct the play. Please sign in,” she added, holding out a clipboard to be passed around. “Have you all read the script?”
    â€œYes!”
    â€œI read it four times,” Ruby called out.
    â€œWonderful,” said Mrs. Gillipetti. “Then you know that there are plenty of roles in the play. There’s Alice Kendall, of course, and the people in her family; there’s John Parson and his family; and there are all the people who participate in the trial, as well as other people who live in Camden Falls.” She paused and took in the crowd of kids. “I’m sure there will be a part for everyone who is here. Some parts are big, some are small, some are nonspeaking roles, but each part is important to the play.”
    Ruby frowned. The part of Alice Kendall, she thought, is surely the most important of all, and much more important than some townsperson who doesn’t even get to say anything.
    Mrs. Gillipetti picked up a stack of papers and handed them out to the kids. “These are some scenes from the play,” she said. “You’ll be reading them this afternoon. If any of you younger children can’t read yet,” she went on, looking at two tiny kindergartners, “your parents or older brothers or sisters may help you.
    â€œPlease take a few minutes to study the lines. Then I’ll ask you to come up on the stage — sometimes one at a time, sometimes in groups — to read for me.”
    Ruby shot her hand in the air. “When will we find out what parts we’ve gotten?”
    â€œNext Monday afternoon,” replied Mrs. Gillipetti.
    Ruby swallowed. “Okay.” She felt for the crow in her pocket. Then she sat down in the first row of seats and studied the scenes. “Do we have to memorize the lines now,” she asked Mrs. Gillipetti, “or can we read from the pages?”
    â€œYou may read from the pages.”
    Ruby was pleased to see that one of the scenes was between Alice Kendall and John Parson. She whispered the lines as she read them and paid no attention whatsoever to the other kids in the auditorium. When she heard Mrs. Gillipetti call her name, she ran onto the stage, pages in hand. “I’m ready,” she said.
    â€œOkay. You’ll be reading the first scene with me. Take the part of Alice and I’ll be John.”
    Ruby drew in a deep breath, threw out her chest, and read her lines at full volume. “So everyone in the back row can hear me,” she informed Mrs. Gillipetti. At the end of the scene, Ruby said, “Could I please act out the death scene for you? The one from the very end of the play?”
    â€œBut it isn’t on the sheet,” Mrs. Gillipetti said. “And —”
    â€œOkay, then just watch me die.” Ruby clutched at her chest with both hands. “Oh, ohhhhhh,” she moaned. She coughed twice (delicately, so as not to overdo things), staggered, and dropped to the stage. “See?” she said to Mrs. Gillipetti. “It’s understated but effective.”
    Mrs. Gillipetti pursed her lips, and even from the back row of the auditorium, Flora could tell that she was trying not to smile. “Ruby,” said Mrs. Gillipetti, “answer me this: Can you take direction? Because it’s important to be a good actor, but it’s just as important to be able to listen to your director.”
    Ruby stood up. “I can follow directions,” she said seriously.
    â€œOkay, then. That’s fine.”
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