One Enchanted Summer

Chapter 19

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Grayson

I’ve tried to be extra good for all of my performances ever since Grady told me someone was coming to watch. I wish he told me more or had any idea even what day it was happening. Quinn has assured me multiple times that I’m always great, and I appreciate it, but I know that sometimes I turn on autopilot. It’s easier than you’d think to zone out and go through the motions. I do this show so much that it comes easily to me. But when I am focused, I am better. That’s just a fact. So, I’ve been staying focused and really trying my best every single show.

A week passes, and I’m worried that the stunt coordinator came and didn’t like what he saw. Maybe he left without saying anything. Maybe he wasn’t impressed with me. I try not to spiral about it, but I keep picturing the opportunity slipping through my fingers.

I just finished wrapping up the last show of the day when I spy Grady in the crowd. He waves eagerly and motions with his thumb to the guy sitting next to him. My breath catches, and I swallow as I jog over towards them.

“Hey, great show!” Grady says. “This is my buddy, Cal.”

“Hey, Cal, nice to meet you,” I say, shaking his hand.

“Yeah. Grady wasn’t lying about you being good,” he says, and I feel my pulse quicken.

“Thank you. It’s a team effort,” I say. I’m not just trying to be humble. It really is a team effort. The rest of the cast is excellent, and the audio crew is fantastic.

“Did Grady tell you I’m working on a movie?” Cal asks.

“He may have mentioned it,” I reply, trying to sound nonchalant.

Cal chuckles, “Yeah, I’d like to get you in for an audition if you’re interested. We’re filming here in Florida, actually, so you wouldn’t even have to travel.”

“Wow, really? That would be incredible!”

“Great. Here’s my card. It has the office number on it. Call it and schedule an audition time; she should be expecting you.”

I feel almost euphoric as I take the card from him. I know this is only the first step, but I made it! I let out a loud whoop once I reach backstage, and Mikey looks up at me quizzically.

“I just got a stunt audition for a movie!” I exclaim.

“No way!” Mikey responds, grabbing the card out of my hand.

He claps me on the back. “That’s awesome, dude. You deserve it.”

We schedule the audition for the next day. I’m too eager and nervous to wait too long, and I’m a little worried they’ll fill the position before I get a chance to prove myself. I watch some of my past tapes to study my form and see if there are any ways I need to improve.

When I reach the building for the audition, I’m surprised to only see a handful of other people there. A woman at the front desk greets me and motions me to take a seat next to another guy that looks similar to me. My knee jiggles while I wait and the guy next to me glances over.

“Is this your first time?” he asks.

“Yeah.”

“Good luck,” he says. I can’t tell if he’s being genuine or sarcastic, but I try to just focus on myself.

“Grayson?” A voice calls and I quickly stand up. I follow her into a room that must be used as a dance studio or exercise room. There’s a table at the front of the room with Cal, the woman that called my name and another guy. The guy looks similar to me. He’s tall, muscular and has short brown hair. We have similar body types and I realize this must be the actor that I would be the stunt double for.

“This is pretty informal,” the woman tells me as she sits down. “As you saw, we aren’t looking at a bunch of other people. Cal loved what he saw on your show, and we’ve heard great things about you. We really just want to see how you look with Lewis here.”

Lewis holds up his hand in a wave as he stands up. He comes to stand beside me, and Cal and the girl stare at us. The silence in the room feels heavy as we wait.

“It’s kind of weird, right?” Lewis says, breaking the silence.

I laugh. “A little. Are we supposed to be moving or anything?”

“We could do a little dance?” Lewis jokes, and he starts to wiggle his knees and shake his arms. I bark out a laugh and start to copy him. I like Lewis; he makes me feel comfortable.

“Perfect,” the woman applauds with a smile. Lewis takes that as his cue and sits back down.

“Okay, show us a couple of tricks,” she says. I feel a little bit like a show dog but I want to take the chance to prove what I can do. I do a standing back flip, a roundoff that ends in a few back handsprings, and an aerial cartwheel. They applaud after each time and I can tell they are impressed.

“Now, stunt work isn’t all glamorous. You won’t simply be doing cool stunts. You’ll also be in some dangerous situations. You’ll be thrown off buildings, you’ll get in a lot of fights, and we have a helicopter scene,” Cal explains. “Would you be comfortable with all of that?”

“Yes, sir. It sounds awesome,” I reply quickly. I hope I don’t sound too eager, even though I am.

“Great,” Cal says. He glances at Lewis and the woman, who nod in approval and then back at me. “Well, I think it’s settled. We want you.”

A surge of happiness floods through me. I can’t believe it. I did it! I’m going to be a stuntman in a movie! I can’t wait to tell Quinn.