signature hand claps. No whistling or shouting at CKT
practices. Katy had her special clap, and as the kids heard it they instinctively turned to her, quieting their voices. When Katy stopped, the kids clapped out the same rhythm in response, and as they finished, the talking had stopped, all eyes on Katy.
“Congratulations to everyone who earned a part in Tom Sawyer.” The palms of her hands were damp, and she rubbed them on her jeans. She looked around the room at the clusters of kids and made eye contact with Tim Reed and Ashley Zarelli, standing next to each other on one side of the room. “Lead parts are a precious thing in CKT.” She shifted her attention to Sarah Jo Stryker. “I’ll expect you to learn your lines in a week and give me your best effort at every practice.”
Nancy Helmes motioned to Katy, and Katy nodded. “Take a seat. Mrs. Helmes has something for you.”
“Yes.” Nancy had a strong voice, and it carried easily through the sanctuary, where the kids quickly sat down. “Al and I’ve heard that some of you aren’t happy with your roles or your friends think less of you because you won the part of a townsperson.” She raised a finger. “We have one cast, ladies and gentlemen. One cast. And we perform for an audience of One.” She paused. “There are no small parts. In fact, we’ll need each of you doing his or her personal best if this show is to shine for Jesus when we take the stage eight weeks from now.”
Katy nodded. “Mrs. Helmes is right.” For an instant, she met 76
76
eyes with Bailey and caught the hint of a smile. Warmth filled Katy’s soul as she continued. “Okay, here’s the plan. If I read your name, go with Mr. and Mrs.
Helmes to the chorus room at the end of the hallway. You’ll be working on the solos in the first act.” She winked at Nancy. “And if I know Mrs. Helmes, she’ll have a box of Cinnabon rolls ready for break time.”
She read a list of seven names, and one by one the kids peeled away from the group and followed Al and Nancy. Cara Helmes tagged along at the back of the line, beaming, probably at the thought of hearing the first songs come together.
Again Katy noticed Tim Reed and Ashley Zarelli looking friendly as they’ walked together, their heads bowed close, whispering. Katy looked at Bailey and saw that she was watching the twosome. Katy forced herself to stay focused. She wasn’t responsible for Bailey’s social life.
With the soloists gone, Katy continued. “If I didn’t call your name, I want you to line up shortest to tallest.” She looked over the bunches of remaining kids.
“Ready… go!”
Katy watched from her place on the chair as the kids began running in different directions. Someone took the smallest CKT kid and put her at the far end of the stage. A minute passed while children tried to figure out where they belonged, and at one point Katy winced as one of the big boys collided with a littler olle.
She turned to Rhonda. “You sure you wanna teach this group to dance?”
“Yes.” Rhonda gave a tired laugh. “But I think we’ll be here later than eight o’clock.”
“Me too.”
It took four minutes for the kids to put themselves in a line that was close to organized. Katy walked over to the smallest one and patted her on the head.
“Okay, everyone look at who’s in front of you.” Katy waited while the kids followed her order. “Now look at who’s behind you and remember their face.” The 77
KAREN KINGSBURY
kids did as they were told. “Tomorrow morning I want us to make this line in fifteen seconds. Got it?”
A couple of weak “Got it” responses came back at her.
Katy slapped her knee and laughed. “No.” She looked back at Rhonda, “They can’t answer that way, can they?”
“Not at CKT.” Rhonda smiled and came a few steps closer.
“Let’s try it again.” Katy looked at the faces up and down the line. “Fifteen seconds flat tomorrow, okay, guys?”
This time the line of
practices. Katy had her special clap, and as the kids heard it they instinctively turned to her, quieting their voices. When Katy stopped, the kids clapped out the same rhythm in response, and as they finished, the talking had stopped, all eyes on Katy.
“Congratulations to everyone who earned a part in Tom Sawyer.” The palms of her hands were damp, and she rubbed them on her jeans. She looked around the room at the clusters of kids and made eye contact with Tim Reed and Ashley Zarelli, standing next to each other on one side of the room. “Lead parts are a precious thing in CKT.” She shifted her attention to Sarah Jo Stryker. “I’ll expect you to learn your lines in a week and give me your best effort at every practice.”
Nancy Helmes motioned to Katy, and Katy nodded. “Take a seat. Mrs. Helmes has something for you.”
“Yes.” Nancy had a strong voice, and it carried easily through the sanctuary, where the kids quickly sat down. “Al and I’ve heard that some of you aren’t happy with your roles or your friends think less of you because you won the part of a townsperson.” She raised a finger. “We have one cast, ladies and gentlemen. One cast. And we perform for an audience of One.” She paused. “There are no small parts. In fact, we’ll need each of you doing his or her personal best if this show is to shine for Jesus when we take the stage eight weeks from now.”
Katy nodded. “Mrs. Helmes is right.” For an instant, she met 76
76
eyes with Bailey and caught the hint of a smile. Warmth filled Katy’s soul as she continued. “Okay, here’s the plan. If I read your name, go with Mr. and Mrs.
Helmes to the chorus room at the end of the hallway. You’ll be working on the solos in the first act.” She winked at Nancy. “And if I know Mrs. Helmes, she’ll have a box of Cinnabon rolls ready for break time.”
She read a list of seven names, and one by one the kids peeled away from the group and followed Al and Nancy. Cara Helmes tagged along at the back of the line, beaming, probably at the thought of hearing the first songs come together.
Again Katy noticed Tim Reed and Ashley Zarelli looking friendly as they’ walked together, their heads bowed close, whispering. Katy looked at Bailey and saw that she was watching the twosome. Katy forced herself to stay focused. She wasn’t responsible for Bailey’s social life.
With the soloists gone, Katy continued. “If I didn’t call your name, I want you to line up shortest to tallest.” She looked over the bunches of remaining kids.
“Ready… go!”
Katy watched from her place on the chair as the kids began running in different directions. Someone took the smallest CKT kid and put her at the far end of the stage. A minute passed while children tried to figure out where they belonged, and at one point Katy winced as one of the big boys collided with a littler olle.
She turned to Rhonda. “You sure you wanna teach this group to dance?”
“Yes.” Rhonda gave a tired laugh. “But I think we’ll be here later than eight o’clock.”
“Me too.”
It took four minutes for the kids to put themselves in a line that was close to organized. Katy walked over to the smallest one and patted her on the head.
“Okay, everyone look at who’s in front of you.” Katy waited while the kids followed her order. “Now look at who’s behind you and remember their face.” The 77
KAREN KINGSBURY
kids did as they were told. “Tomorrow morning I want us to make this line in fifteen seconds. Got it?”
A couple of weak “Got it” responses came back at her.
Katy slapped her knee and laughed. “No.” She looked back at Rhonda, “They can’t answer that way, can they?”
“Not at CKT.” Rhonda smiled and came a few steps closer.
“Let’s try it again.” Katy looked at the faces up and down the line. “Fifteen seconds flat tomorrow, okay, guys?”
This time the line of
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