Stacey's Big Break

I've decided to add to my Baby-Sitters Club fan fiction piece, sharing Stacey's perspective this time. While I related more to Mary Anne as a kid, I enjoyed reading about Stacey as she seemed to have it all together and always dotted her "i's" with hearts. The books about her were a lot of fun, especially "Boy-Crazy Stacey," which I decided to re-visit by bringing a character back from that story.

Before you start, read Kristy and Mary Anne's chapters, in that order.

~Stacey~

I wake up to sunlight streaming through my window, a pounding headache, and the chorus of “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” playing over and over.  The latter being my ringtone.

“Turn that thing off!” I shout to no one, as Toby already left for work and it’s a little past 11 a.m. I cover my head with the pillow and groan, trying to piece everything together from last night. There was the impromptu dinner with the girls from the BSC, also known as my best friends in the world, aside from Laine. There was Kristy’s little attitude problem. And then there were the celebratory shots that Mallory and Dawn kept ordering for me. I don’t even know what time I got back to my apartment or even how I did that.

The ring tone shuts off by itself and I hear the ping telling me I have a new voice message. I hope it’s Kristy calling to apologize, but that would be asking too much.

After fixing myself some coffee, I check my voicemail.

“This message is for Stacey McGill. My name is Amanda Swanson and I am calling to invite you to audition for the national touring cast of Mary Poppins. Please come to the Javits Center on Saturday, March 19^th at 9 a.m. We hope to see you then.”

I nearly drop the phone. Mary. Poppins. My all-time favorite movie, and I have a chance to audition for the stage version! I want to tell all my friends at once, but I have a feeling they need a break from “The Stacey Show.” I decide to call Claudia instead, since it’s only a little after five in the evening in Paris.

After several rings, I’m about to hang up when Claudia answers.

“Hello?”

“May I speak to Claudia, please?”

“Stacey, it’s me.”

“You sure don’t sound like you.”

“Sorry. I think I picked up whatever my roommate brought home from the preschool where she teaches.”

“I should probably let you get some rest then.”

“No. You are calling me in Paris when everyone else lives somewhat nearby.”

“Well, since you’re my best friend, I thought you should hear first that I was invited to audition for the National touring cast of Mary Poppins!”

I am met with silence.

“Claudia? You still there?”

I hear some rustling.

“Sorry, I dropped the phone. What were you saying?”

“I was invited to audition for the National touring cast of Mary Poppins!”

“That’s amazing! They have to cast you as Mary. You know the whole movie by heart and you sing the songs perfectly.”

“Aww. Thanks!”

“Does anyone else know?”

“Before you dropped the phone, I was saying that you’re the first person I’ve told.”

“Before Toby? I feel honored. Do you think he’ll be excited for you?”

“Like you even have to ask? He knows this has been my dream.”

“How are you going to get married if you get chosen to be in the show and are barely home?”

“Let me figure that out. Why has this week been all about bursting my bubbles? First, Kristy questioned my marriage plans, and now you’re trying to keep me from auditioning for my favorite musical ever! Besides, it’s a tour and it might only go for a year or two.”

“What if you want kids? Aren’t you pushing the age limit to even try for them?”

“It hasn’t come up yet and I haven’t given motherhood much thought, thank you very much. Anyway, I should get going.”

“Okay… Well then, break a leg, and don’t forget to eat something before the audition.”

“Thanks… ‘Mom.’ Hope you feel better soon.”

“Thanks. Call me when the audition is over and let me know how it goes. Bye.”

After I hang up with Claudia, I pace around the apartment, trying to let out some negative energy. Then I start practicing “A Spoonful of Sugar” for the big audition while waiting for Toby to come home. I’m sure we’ll go out to celebrate, so I don’t even bother cooking.

***

I am up bright and early on Saturday, ready for the audition that could change my life. Quite a change from when I was woken up by the phone call about it a week and a half ago. I shower, change, kiss Toby while he’s still sleeping,  and am out the door with my audition bag (the “Kid Kits” inspired me to make a bag of stuff to keep me busy during the long waits at auditions) at 8:15. I hail a cab and am on my way to the Javits Center with plenty of time to spare so that I’m not completely rushed once I arrive.

Good thing I get there when I do, as the area roped off for auditions is already packed full of young women hoping for their big break on stage. I begin to wonder why they called me. Everyone else seems to be 10 years younger than me, or so it feels that way.

After waiting what feels like several hours and finishing a whole book, as well as catching up on e-mail (thanks, audition bag!), I finally get called in with about fifteen other girls. We’re led to a big conference room with a raised podium in front of a table with several men and women seated behind it.

I sit through several repetitions of various Mary Poppins tunes until I am finally called up to the podium for my turn. I make my way up there, trying to ignore the rumbling in my stomach that isn’t from nerves. (Why didn’t I listen to Claudia?!?) And as I’m standing on the podium, I see him. Jeremy Anderson. Tony winner several times over and intensely attractive. He's sitting at the table with the rest of the people who are patiently waiting to decide my fate, as I wait for the pianist to give me the starting notes. And he's piercing me with his radiant blue eyes, like he can see through me. Everyone else is giving me an impatient stare, in the meantime.
I think I'm supposed to say something, so I clear my throat and introduce myself.
"I'm Stacey McGill and I'm auditioning for the role of Mary Poppins. I'll be performing 'A Spoonful of Sugar' today." Then I look at the pianist to give him a cue to begin. I still feel Jeremy's stare as I position myself to audition for the role of a lifetime.
I hear the first note from the pianist, but then just a rushing sound in my ears like I'm underwater. My heart feels like it is racing a mile a minute, and just as I'm about to sing, the room turns pitch black.

Super Special

Blog Project 3.0 has been going on for about two years, even though one of the group members changed after a few months. I love blogging with this group and I hope we can continue to inspire each other.

This week, Darwin Shrugged chose the topic: An unexpected outcome

First, read what everyone else had to share on this topic. I will be only posting links to posts on this same topic from my group. So check back if you were hoping to read their blogs and don't see a link yet.

Darwin Shrugged
Froggie
Moma Rock

You may recall my fan fiction piece for The Baby-Sitters Club that I wrote back in 2014. Well, I've finally decided to write another chapter. I'm sure you didn't expect that, right? ;) (I will try to incorporate the topic in this chapter though.) Definitely read the chapter at the link above (if you haven't already, or if you want a refresher), before continuing here. I've decided to go with the format of Super Specials, which featured each character's voice in first-person when it was their turn for a chapter.

~Mary Anne~

The first thought that crosses my mind when I hear Stacey’s news is that I wonder if Alex will be at the wedding.
The second thought that crosses my mind immediately afterward is “Why am I wondering about Alex?”
I ponder both thoughts as I sit on the train, headed back to the Connecticut suburbs and my full house that somehow feels empty.
I met Alex before I started dating Logan. We were hanging out at Sea City and then we introduced his friend Toby to Stacey, once she got over her crush on that arrogant lifeguard. Alex and I stayed in touch as pen pals for a little while, at least until I met Logan. Then I will admit to slacking off on the letters until they became non-existent. I wonder if Alex even cared that I stopped writing. It’s not like he ever called me. So even if he were at the wedding, I don’t know that he’d be happy to see me.
And that brings me back to my other issue. Why should I even care what he thinks? I’m supposed to be happily married to my childhood sweetheart. Well, at least according to my Facebook posts. We’ve been together longer than I can even keep track of anymore and have five kids to show for it. So why am I even entertaining the idea of seeing a guy I only hung out with for a few days and stayed in contact with for a few months? What’s wrong with me?
It all comes down to Logan. I barely even see him these days. He works late hours and then I’m asleep by the time he gets home and I don’t wake up until long after he’s left the next morning. I only see him when Tanya wakes me up in the middle of the night for a feeding, but he’s sleeping by then. We send short e-mails to each other regarding stuff around the house or something to do with the kids. That’s been about it lately. I don’t even remember the last time I actually heard his voice aside from his outgoing voicemail message. This all led me to tell Kristy that I think Logan is cheating on me. I’m sure I’m being ridiculous though. I don’t recall a time he was ever unfaithful, even when we went to separate colleges. We still spent every weekend together, alternating who did the traveling each time. I immediately feel guilty for accusing Logan of cheating and for entertaining thoughts of reuniting with a guy from my past.
Then the curiosity gets to be too much and I open my Facebook app, seeing if I can first find Toby’s profile, which will lead me to Alex’s. I’m sure Stacey is friends with Toby on Facebook if they’re engaged. I’d be surprised if she didn’t update her relationship status as soon as she told us her news at dinner. And that’s another thing. When she told us about her engagement, I felt a pang of jealousy. That’s not normal for someone who has been married as long as I have. It can’t be.
I easily find Toby’s profile and am about to search for Alex’s when a text message comes in from Jodie, my 13 year-old.

When R U getting home? Dad said he’s gonna be super late again.

I text back that I’m on my way and ask if everyone is asleep.

Max is playing Legos in his room and Tanya is fussing around in her crib. The other 2 R sleeping.

I still don’t know how I managed to have five kids. Jodie was such an easy baby that she made me think I could handle another. Kate was born almost two years later. Then came the twins, Rory and Max, a few years after that. And now Tanya, whose arrival in my life was rather unexpected. Thankfully, the others help with her a lot. Max is outnumbered as the only boy, since Rory is a girl too. He is content to hide out in his room and play Legos though.
But where was I? I go back to my Facebook app with Toby’s profile open and look up the name Alex. I’m a bit fuzzy on his last name, but I think it started with a K. Of course, none of them have a last name with a K. For all I know, he and Toby are no longer friends. Or Alex isn’t on social media. I put my phone back in my purse and stare out the window, while my thoughts lead back to Kristy’s subtle hint at us working together again. I never really gave it much thought over the years. Kristy has a certain management style that would take some getting used to again. I also don’t know how I’d swing childcare. Maybe when Tanya is older and starts preschool, I could make it work.
Then something inside me snaps. I gave up on having a career when I first became a mom. I never even considered going back to my job as an executive assistant to a restaurant franchise owner after Jodie was born. Once I went on maternity leave, I knew I could never leave her with someone else while I spent each day in the office. However, part of me was itching to do something productive aside from feeding and changing diapers or tackling mountains of laundry. Logan convinced me that I was doing an amazing job as Jodie’s mom and that childcare would cost more than my salary, so what was the point of even working? He was making enough for the two of us to live comfortably. However, I’m tired of just spending my days shuttling the kids to and from school and after-school activities or lessons. The Mommy and Me group I attend with Tanya is so boring and I have nothing in common with the other moms, aside from having babies around the same age.
I pull out my phone again and text Kristy.

Are you still interested in me helping you with Nanny Corp?

I almost immediately receive a text back.

Are you serious?!?

I could find a way to make it work. Are you open to me telecommuting for now?

Let’s talk tomorrow. I’ll call during lunch.

Sounds good. Great seeing you tonight.

Same. Let’s make this happen!

Satisfied with my text exchange, I then open Google and search for divorce lawyers. And I don’t even find myself getting emotional about the possibility.
What’s wrong with me?

My Attempt at Fan Fiction

A while back, I read an awesome book called Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (reviewed here). It's about a girl who writes fan fiction for a book series that is similar to "Harry Potter." It made me think about my favorite book series from when I was a kid and how it would be fun to write fan fiction for it. As you may remember, I was a huge fan of "The Babysitters Club" back in the day. I decided to write about the characters as adults in the 21st century. I just put a chapter up here and who knows where I'll go with it, but I had fun getting back into the heads of characters I felt so close with at one point.

~Kristy~

I finally have a few minutes free from calls and meetings to take a lunch break. Business at Nanny Corp is still moving along at an amazing pace, which is nothing to complain about, but it means I rarely get more than a few minutes to myself. Of course, the moment I sit back waiting to devour my leftover chicken lo mein in peace, my cell phone starts buzzing. Stacey’s picture pops up on the screen.

“Yo, McGill, what’s up?”

“Kristy! You actually answered your phone. When was the last time we talked? Three months ago?”

“Ha ha ha. So FUNny!”

“Okay, so are you free at eight tonight? I’m trying to get the local girls together for dinner and drinks. I have something to celebrate!”

“What is it?”

“You’ll see. I want to share the news with everyone at once. Can you meet me at 21 West?”

“Let me check my calendar.” I quickly glance at my Outlook calendar, but of course I don’t have anything booked for the first time in weeks. “Yeah. I should be able to get there. Is Mary Anne coming?”

“I think she’s having Jodie babysit again. She’s almost 14, if you can believe that!”

“We’ve known her since I started a sub-agency of the club to find people to babysit for her after she was born.”

“Right. And get this. Dawn is in town for a photo shoot. It will be so great to have her there too!”

“So we’re only missing Claudia then, huh?” Claudia has been working in Paris as an artist and rarely ever gets back to the states these days. “I’m sure Mallory will be available if you can tear her away from Biggest Loser or whatever reality show she’s watching tonight.”

“I’ll give her a ring.” Stacey giggles nervously then. “Okay, I’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing.”

“Sounds good. See ya later.”

After hanging up, I silence my phone and tell Amanda, my assistant, to take messages until I say otherwise. Yes, I have an assistant. I still have to pinch myself every day to believe this much about my career. Nanny Corp stemmed from the BSC after college and has taken off since then.  It’s going so well here that I could probably retire and it would run on its own without flaws. Then again, I thrive on being busy. It beats going home to an empty apartment and allows me to not focus on the fact that I haven’t dated since the worst breakup ever.

After lunch, the rest of the day moves at a quick pace again and before I know it, it’s a quarter after seven. I wrap things up and then walk 15 blocks to 21 West. The early October brisk air is invigorating after being stuck behind a desk all day. I also figure that if I get there early, I can catch up with Mary Anne before everyone else shows up. And as I see her getting out of the subway station, I thank myself for leaving the office when I did. She spots me and runs over, wrapping me in her embrace.

“So great to see you, Kristy! It’s been a horrible week. This is the first time I’ve been out of the house when it’s not for groceries or doctor appointments. Tanya is a spit-up machine. And Logan rarely ever gets home before ten, if he comes home at all.”

“We are definitely getting you a drink then. At least you have an instant babysitter these days. I don’t know how you’d manage five kids on your own otherwise.”

“Yeah. Jodie loves being the responsible big sister now. And now that she’ll get allowance for it, she is even more eager for me to leave the house. I’m hoping this will become a trend.”

“She could start her own BSC,” I say wistfully.  

As we approach the restaurant, Mary Anne blurts out “I think Logan’s cheating on me.”

“Mary Anne, sweetie. Logan would never cheat on you. He’s crazy about you.”

“When was the last time you saw us together? I mean, seriously? He is rarely home, and when he is, he doesn’t even look at me. I think he even screens my calls too.”

“Maybe it’s something else. Maybe something’s going on at work? Isn’t he an investment banker? I heard there have been a lot of layoffs in the field.”

“I wouldn’t know. He doesn’t tell me anything anymore.”

“Okay, we’re definitely getting you a drink and then we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“Hey guys!” Mallory greets us at the door. Apparently, Stacey’s news trumped reality TV this time. “Stacey got us a table upstairs.  She sent me down here to look for you. Dawn is already here too.”

Mary Anne lets out a little squeal. “Dawn’s here?!? Awesome!” She races up the stairs.

Mallory and I walk up slowly so I can fill her in on what Mary Anne told me.  I’m not a gossip, but we all still look out for each other and I’m secretly hoping Mallory can do a little spy work. Maybe it will keep her from being glued to the TV all the time.

When we get to our table, Stacey and Dawn hug me before we all sit down.

“Dawn, when were you going to tell us you were in town? This is such a great surprise!”

“I only found out yesterday and was busy preparing for cross-country travel. I love living in L.A. again, but I miss it here sometimes. I’m back for a few days, but then have to head to Vermont after this for another shoot. Evan usually does the east coast, but he broke his leg last week.”

Dawn is a photographer for a travel magazine, but she normally focuses on the west coast. Even though I feel bad for Evan, I’m secretly glad she has an excuse to come out by us. I don’t know when I’m ever going to get to L.A.

“So, Kristy, how is the business going?” Dawn turns everyone’s attention to me.

“It’s going really well. I could probably hire someone else on now just so I could get a little break. Anyone interested?” I ask cheekily, winking at Mary Anne.

“Oh, I would if I could work from home,” Mary Anne chimes in.

“Can’t you get a daytime sitter, even to work part-time? You’d be so great at this and we could be partners again.”

“I wish it were that easy. If Logan’s job is in trouble, like you think, then it might not be a possibility.”

“Maybe he could be Mr. Mom for a while, like that Lonestar song?”

“He’s still a dad, even if he doesn’t work.”

“Sorry. Anyway, what’s up with you, McGill? What are we all celebrating? Did you finally get a starring role on Broadway?”

Stacey went to a fine arts school after graduating from Stoneybrook High and gets bit parts in off-Broadway shows, but nothing to make a living from. She’s a server at Hal’s Diner on West 84^th when she’s not performing.

“Um, no. This is better. I met ‘The One.’ Mary Anne, do you remember Toby from when we went to that Sea City trip with the Pikes? Alex’s friend? Well, we never stayed in touch after that trip, like, 30 years ago. However, he came into Hal’s when I was working one of my shifts. It took a while for us to figure out how we knew each other, but when it clicked, it was just one of those perfect moments. We’ve been going out every spare moment I have available.”

“And you tease me for not being around?”

“Oh whatever. I would have told you about him weeks ago if you actually answered your cell. Anyway, we went to the Poconos this past weekend and he said he didn’t want to waste any more time not being together and got down on his knee right in front of everyone at dinner.” Stacey puts her left hand on the table, showing a huge, sparkling diamond.

“STACEY! That’s amazing! Congrats!” The girls got up and hugged Stacey while they all jumped around and screamed. It’s good there weren’t many other people dining up here. When they finally sat back down, I reached out for a fist bump.

“Great news, Stacey.”

“Is something wrong, Kristy?”

“No. How long have you been dating anyway?”

“A few weeks? I lost track of time. We practically live together now.”

“Why rush into a marriage then?”

“What is your problem, Kristy? Let’s get this out now, while we’re all here. Am I not allowed to be happy with someone?”

“Never said that.”

“Then what? Are you jealous because you haven’t been in a relationship in almost eight years?”

“Ha! Like I even have time for a relationship. If I wanted to be in one, I totally could.”

“Just because Patrick broke up with you by kissing another girl on the ‘Kiss Cam’ at the Yankees’ game while you were there with us, just a few rows in front of him….”

“They caught my mortification on the video too, you know.”

“Still, it was EIGHT YEARS AGO! You two only dated for half a year anyway.”

“Let’s forget it. I’m happy for you Stacey. Really, I am. I just don’t want you to rush into something and potentially get hurt.”

“I know what I’m doing. Thanks though. Chardonnay, anyone?”

“Does Claudia know?”

“I haven’t told her yet, but I’m going to call her tomorrow. At least she’ll be excited for me.”

“Whatever. I’m tired and need to get some more research done before tomorrow’s meeting.” I toss a few 50 dollar bills on the table. Dinner’s on me in honor of your special news.”

“Gee, thanks. Call me when you’re not too busy.”

“Will do.” I hug the other girls. “Mal, can you make sure Mary Anne gets to the subway safely?”

“Sure thing!”

“Dawn, let’s do lunch before you leave. We need to catch up more!”

“I have a really tight shooting schedule, but I’ll call if my schedule opens up.” Dawn doesn’t look too happy about the tension between Stacey and me.

I head out of the restaurant, and it feels like the temperature dropped 30 degrees. I wrap my jacket tighter across my chest and walk the five blocks to my apartment, wondering why I’m really so bothered by Stacey’s good news. 

Just for fun, I decided to cast everyone as adults:
Kristy: Rashida Jones
Stacey: Rachel McAdams
Mary Anne: Elizabeth Reaser
Dawn: Piper Perabo
Mallory: Natasha Lyonne