Chapter 19

The room was empty except for a sound system and some scattered chairs.

"Let's get started then, shall we?" Anna sat in the chair and crossed her legs. "Tell me sweetheart, why are you here?"

She worked Marilyn mercilessly.

"I've watched every season of every show. I'm addicted to these things, but I have a good idea of what will fly. A little awkwardness is endearing, but too much will make people cringe. If they do a pre-show interview, for God's sake sound humble, the people who think they are the next big thing are always buzzed. If you are going to cry, do it after you're done singing. No one wants to wait through your tears to hear if you're any good. After you're good, you'll be forgiven. Remember you are still on camera until we're well out of the building. I've seen shots following the performers right out to the street. You can't let up."

"You make it sound like I have to be totally fake the whole time," Marilyn rubbed her temples. The acting would be more work than the singing.

"Not fake, no one will buy fake. If you lie or hide stuff the webbies will tear you limb from limb."

"So I have to talk about the suicide and everything?"

"If they do a pre-show, then you may talk about the dark period in your life. On stage no, they'll know you only have so long to tell your story as long as you don't appear to hide it."

"So she should wear a shirt not quite long enough to cover the scars," Birungi put her hand on her forearm.

"Risky, but good advice. One of the softies may ask you about them. Think of what you're going to say if they do. Remember everyone else will be doing all the same things, so you need to brilliant, and carry off the back story."

When they finished with the back story, they started on the song choice.

"You need one that is well known, suits your voice and is not overdone. You do not want to be the third person in the night to sing Feeling Good."

"I love that song."

"Yeah, so does everyone else. We'll work up two songs just in case they decide they want you to sing something different. It doesn't happen often, but you want to be ready. It also gives you a backup if the person ahead of you steals your song."

"In Uganda, when we sing, we want the whole people to feel it," Birungi said. "Connect with the people find what they want, and give it to them."

"Hell yes." Anna nodded vigorously. "If everyone thinks you're singing just to them, they'll tear the house down for you. You can't see past the lights, but look past them like you can. Let people see your eyes and your soul."

"Bo complained this is the easy route," Marilyn sat exhausted in a chair.

"It is," Anna said, "otherwise you have to do this for years until someone pays attention."

"The audition is following the mid-term so you won't be able to go early to register."

"The mid-term is a morning one." Anna had her calendar out. "You will be able to write it and get to the audition in time."

"Erick wants to watch," Birungi put her phone away. "He will bring us in his car."

"Good to know," Anna said. "I'll look up the rules and see what you need to bring with you."

They met after class all week while Marilyn dreamed she was naked on the stage as the audience gawked and laughed at her.

***

The day of the exam, and the audition, dawned. Marilyn dressed in black pants and a white blouse Anna had approved as suitably feminine, I don't want to look like I'm not fully dedicated to my gender of choice, but also showed off her statuesque figure. To Anna' relief, the heels were nixed. She didn't know if she could pull them off along with everything else.

Birungi came to class with a new scarf for Marilyn and tied it carefully.

"Looking sharp for an exam, Marilyn." Professor Dingman smiled.

"I have an audition after the exam."

"Right, remember you have two hours for the exam, but no rule says you must stay the entire two hours. Good luck."

She went in and sat down. Professor Dingman told them to begin, and she flipped the page over and started answering questions. Marilyn went through them quickly, then started answering the short information based questions. They were easy. The essay questions didn't take much more time as she brought up memories of lectures and class discussion. There was one long ethics based scenario she struggled with briefly before writing her answer. She was done.

Marilyn looked up to see Anna and Birungi both gone. She rushed to the front to hand in her paper, then out to find her friends. They waited beside Erick and a girl Marilyn hadn't seen before. She jogged over and they packed into the car. Erick took off following his GPS. Marilyn's heart sank when she saw the line stretching far down the street from the theatre where they were holding the auditions.

Erick let them off and drove away to find a parking space.

"I'm so nervous," a girl just ahead of Marilyn fanned herself and sat down suddenly. Marilyn pulled her water bottle from her purse and made the girl drink it. Someone with a badge identifying themselves as a staff person for So Sing Already Inc. came by and Marilyn asked for more water.

"I traveled all night to get here," the girl said, "I'm just tired. I'll be fine."

"Did you eat anything?" Marilyn asked.

"I'm too nervous to eat."