Chapter Five
Ronny
Everything moved fast from the moment I accepted the role.
I’d come within hours of losing it, I learned when I spoke with a casting director the next morning, but fortunately they didn’t ask why I didn’t reply to their first reach out.
They seemed to be under the impression that I had never gotten that first text, and I didn’t correct their belief. But they did want me ASAP.
The first place I would be flying was back to Hollywood for fittings and various other preproduction things.
As it turned out, I had not been their first choice.
When they sent me the offer, it had been after the big name they had originally signed walked away after some sort of an argument with the director.
When I learned the name of the actor I replaced, I wasn’t sure what to think.
They’d expressed positive thoughts about my read, but went a much bigger way.
And now…when I considered what it would have done if I’d been perceived to ignore the opportunity, it chilled my blood.
It was one thing for that star to be “difficult,” but for me, it would have been the kiss of death.
Word got around, and I’d never have seen another offer.
Of course, I didn’t know that at the time.
But I should have.
I finished packing my bag and sat down on the bed, patting my lap. Bosco glowered at me from the headboard. “Come on, boy. I’ve explained to you why I have to go. I’ll be back, and Karma has a very special person lined up to keep you company while I’m away.”
He hissed.
“I know. I would take you with me if I could, but you’d have a terrible time. It’s better if you stay here with your friends and your comfy bed”—aka my bed—“and all your toys.”
When he still wouldn’t come to me, I sighed and picked up a pad of sticky notes and a Sharpie. “I’m leaving some notes for your sitter. To make sure they know how to do things the way you like.”
I scribbled on the first one and stuck it on the headboard near where Bosco sat. Bosco likes to sleep on my bed.
The second said, These are Bosco’s sardines. He gets two a day.
His water bottle is in the refrigerator; he likes his water cool.
Toy closet. I bought enough for him to get something new every day.
They weren’t big toys, not with that many, but lots of little fluffy things to carry around, balls, and a few treat puzzles.
I’d set up the cat wheel already so I could watch him try it out.
By the time I finished putting out notes about feeding and litter and play and everything else, the apartment fluttered with little pink notes, and I was almost ready to cancel my plans because my kitten still wanted no part of me.
Slumping on the sofa in the living room, I considered again just staying here and forgetting my aspirations. I couldn’t leave Bosco this unhappy. A knock came on the door and I stood up to answer it. Karma came in as soon as I opened up.
“Where is my friend Bosco?”
Mrrooow.
The kitten came bouncing out of the bedroom and padded over to rub against Karma’s ankle.
“Oh, come here, baby.” She bent to scoop him up. “Worried about your daddy leaving? You don’t have to be. I’m here for you, and I have a wonderful sitter who will be here soon to keep you company and treat you like the royalty you are.”
“He’s mad at me.”
“Aww.” She scratched behind his ears and his purr grew louder. “He’s just going to miss you. Isn’t that right, Bosco?”
“Are you sure it’s all right for me to leave before the sitter gets here? Maybe I should see if I can delay a day or two.”
“See, Bosco? He’s making sure you have the best time while he goes off to work.” Karma gave him another scratch and passed him to me. “There you go. See? He’s fine now.”
He was snuggling close, but that made me feel even worse. “I guess I’d better go. You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Go.” She took him back. “I’ll distract him while you leave then take him home with me tonight. His sitter will bring him right home as soon as he’s here.”
I wrote out one more note before I left, with my phone number and a request he call me if he had any questions or needed anything at all.
Then it was off to the airport, still torn but starting to get excited.
Sky Harbor Airport was busy with long lines at security and a monsoon brewing that was delaying flights.
Delaying them long enough that when I got to LAX, I had to go straight to the studio with no time to stop at my hotel and freshen up.
Not ideal, but I’d already been offered the part, so what were they going to do?
Object to the odor of airplane air clinging to my shirt?
Unlikely.
And the car that picked me up was courtesy of the production company. So, I didn’t have to rent a car or navigate the Los Angeles traffic. The driver informed me that he’d be at my service while I was in town, and I began to get the smallest taste of what it meant to be in a big production.
At the studio, we drove right through the gate and up to the building where I would be measured and fitted for costumes, have makeup tried out on me, and whatever they needed to do quickly before I was flown out to where filming had already begun. It was very exciting.
And tiring. I’d arrived late in the afternoon and apparently they were sparing no expense to get things going, so it was well into the night before I arrived at my hotel.
I had another long day scheduled with a call at six in the morning, so I fell into bed after barely taking time to appreciate the gorgeous suite I’d been assigned. Would that be how it was for all the filming? Fancy surroundings with little time to enjoy them?
Somehow I didn’t mind at all.
But before I closed my eyes to sleep, I brought up the pictures of Bosco on my phone. I hoped he was doing okay. Of course, he was or Karma would have called. I’d have to find a way to sneak him into the premiere.