33 - Samantha
Play tryouts came andwent and as I had predicted, my best friend Miss Cynthia Ward, got the lead. She will be playing Mary Lennox in this year’s school production of The Secret Garden.
Phillip signed up for set design, another suggestion from Coach. Every extracurricular activity helps for college acceptance. However, this suggestion doesn’t bother him. He’ll be closer to Cyn and me since I always help with costumes and wardrobe. Phillip’s concerned that I might be taking on too much. I still have to keep up with studies, Yearbook, dialysis and doctor appointments. He’s afraid I’ll wear myself out, but I promise to be easy.
With my dialysis schedule, I’m only available for costumes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I plan on doing my dialysis differently during the week of the play, so I’ll be available for dress rehearsal, and both show nights. Of course this concerns Phillip, but he tries to hide it, knowing he’ll be on set with me.
When the day arrives, everything is a little confusing. I’m doing final costume fits while Phillip and the set crew are doing last-minute builds on the set. A local florist donated a lot of flowers to build the scenery we need. Even the flowers that didn’t sell and are wilted will work in this play. A few weeks prior to our production, the florist began saving all the unused and unsold flowers and let them finish drying in the storage room near the back of her shop. We built a hidden garden, which we need dead, dried-up flowers for. We also need new flowers on hand for a revived garden. Essentially, the set crew built walls that turn so they can change the set and roll them in place when needed. It’s like the old two-sided chalk boards, but instead of flipping top to bottom, it is more like a revolving door. One side has the dead garden with dried flowers, but a flip later, it becomes the new garden with all the blooming flowers.
Opening night for the play is a sellout. The high school auditorium is jam packed with the huge turnout. I catch Cyn peeking through the heavy stage curtain to catch a glimpse of her crowd. She’s excited to say the least. So much so it’s nearly impossible to get her into costume. Once the play begins, I don’t have that much to do. Cynthia changes clothes a few times, but most everyone else in the play doesn’t have to. They’re either maids in the mansion Mary Lennox lived in, or they work outside as grounds keepers. I only have to keep track of Cynthia’s clothes and a few jackets for the guys.
Phillip is busier with the set crew. They have backgrounds to switch out from the opening where the play begins in India, then switching to Mary’s British uncle’s mansion where the garden is discovered. Our set crew also switches out furniture for the roll-in garden backgrounds to change from mansion scenes to garden scenes. It’s a little hectic, but they manage nicely, and the play is a success.
By the end of the first night, I’m exhausted. The cast and crew are going out for pizza after the play and I want to go, but I have nothing left in me. Phillip takes me home, stopping by our favorite slushy shack on the way. I try to talk him into going without me, to have fun and hang out with our friends, but he won’t hear of it. We finally called a truce after reaching the compromise that maybe I can go the next night. He agreed to go if I feel up to it.
The next morning, Saturday, I have to go to my dialysis appointment. It isn’t my normal day, but I couldn’t fit in my usual three treatments this week due to the play. Phillip had to go back to the florist to get some more fresh flowers to touch up our scenery for tonight’s show. He drops me off at my dialysis center and promises to be back to pick me up before I finish. I’ve never come alone, but Cynthia is sleeping in until play time, and Saturdays are one of Roxy’s busiest days at the salon. I convinced Phillip it would be ok and that I’ll be refreshed when he picks me up. I hoped so anyway.
I’m not sure what happened after that. I remembered going into my dialysis and after it began, I put my ear buds in. Music was going to be my escape and apparently it worked because I must have fallen asleep.
“Huh?” I inhaled so sharply my body jolts tugging at the IV in my arm. “Oww!” I scowl, not realizing where I am for a moment.
“Sshh, Wallflower...you ok?” I take my ear buds out so I can hear what he says. Phillip’s rubbing my leg trying to calm me down. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“Oh, sorry. I must have been out cold.” I rub my forehead and look up at him. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost 2 o’clock. We need to grab some food and get over to the school.”
“2 o’clock? Oh my gosh!” I sit up too quickly. My head spins and the room sharply tilts.
“Whoa! Easy, baby. You alright?” Phillip puts his hands on my shoulders and is staring into my eyes. “Are you ok? What was that?”
I check my balance before answering. “I’m alright. I just need to eat. I think I moved too fast.” I smile to reassure him, but I’m not totally sure myself.
“Hmmm. The nurse is coming to unhook you, I’m going to have her check you.”
And there is Phillip’s overprotective twin.
“No, I’m fine. I just need some lunch. Ok?”
He doesn’t answer, just dips his chin. I can tell he’s thinking. The nurse comes to unhook my IV and let me go for the day. As promised, Phillip and I get some food then report to the high school auditorium to prepare for the final show. Cynthia’s already here, just as excited as the night before. I still don’t feel right, but I never say anything. We have a show to put on.
With everyone in costume, I can relax a little bit. Phillip’s still on high alert, paying attention to which act our performers are on and which backgrounds are needed. If I had to guess, he’s paying close attention to me as well. I think I’m beginning to feel normal, or whatever normal is for me at least, but then the room tilts again.
We’ve just begun the closing act when I’m collecting some of the costumes and picking up articles of clothing from the floor. Cyn has completed her last costume change, and I can hear the music for one of her songs begin to play. Slinging the clothing over my left arm, I bend down to pick up the last piece. When I stand up, I quickly reach out with my right hand to steady myself. If it weren’t for the wall catching my fall, I’m not sure what would have happened. As I suspected, Phillip was watching me because he’s by my side in a split second.
“Sam, what’s wrong?” His frightened expression is upsetting, but I start to get dizzy again before I can answer. Phillip catches me and helps me around the corner out of sight. I sit down and put my head between my knees.
“I’m fine.”
“Like hell you’re fine,” he argues.
I can’t look at him yet. It’s important I breathe slowly and attempt to regain my balance. After a few minutes I raise my head. Fear and agony stare back at me through Phillip’s eyes. He’s inches away waiting for a sign of to do next. He’s clearly worried.
“I’m ok, I swear.” It makes me a wreck to see him worry so much. “My schedule was off this week, and it’s just caught up with me. That’s all. You know I get dizzy sometimes. I’m ok.” I place a hand up to Phillip’s jaw and his eyes thaw for a moment, relaxing with my explanation. I have gotten dizzy before and he knows it’s a side effect of all my medications and everything I go through. I decide to show him that I’m as good as my word.
My life is all about riding a bike. You fall off, you get back on and keep going.
“Are you sure?” Agony lingers on his face when he hesitates. “Should I call Roxy?”
“No. Don’t worry Roxy with this and yes, I’m sure. Help me up?” I hold out my hand and he pulls me up. Now that I’m standing in front of him, I wrap my arms around his middle and melt into his embrace. I can instantly feel his tension subside before we hear the applause from the audience out front. The play has ended.
“I’ll hurry so I can get you home.” Phillip’s still worried, but less tense than before.
“No, I wanna go get something to eat first. Seriously, that might be why I got dizzy. I need to eat again.” I’m as convincing as I can be because I really am hungry. My stomach snarls and the timing couldn’t be better. “See, I told you.” He hears and nods just as all the performers are called out for their final bow. The play is a hit as far as we can tell from the loud applause and whistles escaping from the audience. Phillip’s eyes narrow in thought. He’s probably weighing options, trying to figure out what’s best, what he wants to do and what I should do.
“How about we grab a quick bite to eat, but then I take you home so you can rest. I’d rather you take it easy tonight instead of trying to stay up for me.”
I purse my lips. “We can go home if you promise to cuddle me.”
“Always negotiating,” he chuckles. “Holding you was my plan all along.” His devilish grin is no longer locked behind worry. Phillip tucks some loose hair behind my ear. He bends down and tilts my chin up so I can meet his lips for a kiss.
“Let’s hurry. I wanna go soon.”
Now, I’m more than ready to go home.
He flashes his dimple-smile and throws his hat on backward. I’m relieved. For the moment, he’s relaxed and less worried about me.