Setting, get a map. #nanowrimo #writing

As I am putting details together for this new project, I realize I haven't quite figured out the setting. I know it is a semi rural area, but I am not sure I want to keep it in Oregon.
One thing I know once I settle on the location I will get myself a map or at least google map it and the surrounding area.
Another thought, do you use local landmarks in your writing? Again, map it. I have read stories where landmarks are used but then the remaining scenery isn't verfied. I guess I am a stickler for details like that, even in fiction.

a piece of chapter 1 I believe it is...

Breianna walked across the dimly lit room. This room was her's for such a long time but now was her parent's guest room and computer room, tonight it served as her escape from reality. Tonight , she pretended the recent past was a distant memory and teh outside world was just that, outside. When she moved out of her parent's house almost 7 months ago everything seemed to fall into place, now it seemed to be falling apart; money was a focus that darkened her mood, she worked 2 jobs, attended classes at the community college 3 days a week and barely made rent. Tonight especially she pondered why she left. She wasn't living on campus  but rooming with a friend from her parent's neighborhood, neither one of them could afford the place alone so it seemed at the time to be a good idea, now though as she struggled to put it all together she began to regret that decision. The landlord had asked the girls if he could do some maintenance on the house (including fixing some serious plumbing issues in the only complete bathroom), so Brei and her roommate returned to their parents' homes for the weekend. As Brei stood staring at the guest bed, her bed she longed to just sleep, but that really wasn't an option tonight her classes had to be her focus, with 2 papers due by the end of the week and a presentation the following Monday sleep would allude her for at least the next day maybe two.

Thankfully, one paper was actually a creative writing project she dearly loved. Her writing became a safe haven where she could escape the mundane details of her life and the stresses that were the ups and downs of her romantic life. Her writing, an outlet for her emotional energy when no one really seemed to understand what she was going through.. She kept journals and jotted down every little bit of chaos she felt, good or bad.  These journals were the expression of anger , of joy, of solace, of resentment toward so many things and people, especially toward Dan and their mess of a relationship.. 

For the last 3 years Breianna and Daniel had been a young couple struggling to keep a dying relationship alive. Childhood friends for what seemed life forever to Brei, now a couple separated with little left to fight for. Recovering from her now broken heart as well as a desolate spirit would take more than time for Breianna. The last two weeks she ached to feel his arms wrapped around her, she wished to hear his words reminding her that they were together, for now though she couldn't even look him in the eyes, she couldn't say his name without first crying then yelling and scream even if it was only in her head.

Author Blog Challenge: How I started writing

Honestly I'm not sure when I started writing. I remember junior high my English teacher thought my poetry was too dark and I was probably suicidal or something, I still laugh about that one.  I remember writing in journals and writing letters to people, but it seems like it has always been a part of who I am. I spent a lot of time in junior high and high school writing, honestly if I had put half as much energy into studying as I put into writing in journals and writing stories I probably would have done a heck of a lot better than I did..  I did the crazy thing in college and took every comp class and creative writing class I could get my hands on, I even took Literature classes so I could read more and try to improve my writing by reading what professors deemed great writers. I continued after college to write and still write. I remember in college a friend and I would have these late night writing sessions where we would spend literately hours working on stories and potential novels. Of course, then I had kids and the writing pretty much got put on hold, until the other night when my husband and I were out on a date and he mentioned that one thing he missed from our early years dating was reading my writing (he use to read my pieces and papers for content), so I was basically given a free pass to write again, so I am sitting here listening to Pandora racking my brain to finish up this post.

T is for Tea Please #atozchallenge

 

“I’m heading downstairs for some coffee, want something?”

“a Passion Tea would be wonderful” Addy didn’t even look up from the script she was reading.

“ are you sure you don’t want to come with me?”
”can’t gotta get through this script before 3:00. It is going to be a long afternoon at this rate.”

Addy’s office was too dark and the afternoons spent reading scripts always put her to sleep, coffee would be a energy kick but she never could acquire a taste for it…

H is for Help #atozchallenge

All she had to do was ask, he would be there for her no matter what if she would only ask. Jeremy was waiting for her to simply ask for help, he loved her and would hold on to her as long as she needed.

Brei didn’t know how to ask for help yet, she was still more comfortable in her darkness behind the security of the wall that she built around her heart.  She knew Jeremy meant breaking down the wall that she spent so long building around her heart.  Help was there but did she really know how to ask for it.

**** yes I know this one was short, it is a piece of a bigger picture...****

G is for letting down the Guard #atozchallenge

Could she let him in? Was he the real thing? Brei wasn’t sure if she  was really ready for something so real.  Jeremy seemed to have it all, a job, goals, ambition, and a heart as big as the world. There  was a security wall that Brei had built around her heart over the years, but slowly he was breaking down her wall brick by brick. 
The darkness was her comfort, her security wall; Jeremy was a light invading the darkness and Brei wasn’t sure if that light brought safety or more fear.
“Come on, let's get some lunch.” his voice snapped her backed to reality.
" OK , but something light.” she didn’t think she could eat with her mind wandering.
“ The Snack Shack it is then. “  The new café has just opened on campus and offered a lighter faire, it also offered a quiet quaint atmosphere where she could get lost in her thoughts but still have the comfort of his presence

X is for eXtreme

I know it is a little late but I am determined to get the rest of the alphabet posted from April's A to Z Blogging challenge.

X is for eXtreme.

Extreme lighting and extreme measures to set up the lights. (this bit is based on an actual adventure is setting lights)

Addy saw the lights on the stage and realized there were very dark spots in several very critical spots.  

"hey Jason, can you give me a hand? I need to adjust some lights and I'm afraid this is going to be a bit of an adventure." 

"Sure, Addy.... which lights, I'll grab the ladder."

Addy giggled slightly in a coy fashion knowing the ladder would not helpd them. "Jason, the ladder won't help. We have to adjust the 96s upstairs."

"The what? where?" 

"Upstairs...' she pointed to the bank of lights set into the ceiling of the auditorium.

"We have to go upstairs, through the office to the roof, there is an access over there" pointing to the outside edge of the auditorium. 

"i guess so... Lets go."

The two headed up the stairs to the Department Office..  "Hey Addy, I don't remember there being any stairs or doors out of the office."  

"No stairs, the ladder is in the cupboard next to the textbooks and the key is right here."  As the pair entered the office a couple of determined English teachers where searching through a pile of books couting copies of 'A Tale of Two Cities' for their Sophmore English classes. "Hi Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Erikson." Addy tried to sound as casual as possible knowing most teachers weren't excited about students in the office.

The two worked their way up the ladder to the roof access, onto the roof and across the building to the edge of the auditorium.

"This is flat crazy, now what do we do?"  Jason querried with a very puzzled and nervous expression.

" We go inside and adjust the lights. I have the settings in my mind I just need to move 2 of them to fill the stupid bunch of shadows and black hole on the stage."

Openning the door  Jason gestured. "Ladies first"

"Thank you" Addy curtsied playing around with her friend.

Once inside the two realized this was a little more extreme then they thought.

Lighting can be one of the craziest extreme jobs in the theater Addy reminded herself.

D is Director

(This is just a sketch but will help me expand on one of the characters in my novel)

"Let's get to work people" Her voiced echoed through the auditorium and the kids knew she meant business.  Sheila held her own with the rowdy bunch of kids; rough around the edges but gentle and compassionate when called for.  "I want to get the blocking done so we can move on. Top of page 7...."

"Ms.Carey?" Addy broke in cautiously. "I think we have a slight problem." her voice shakey as she pointed to the first bank of lights on the stage.  Little sparks flickered from the center pin spot.

" Oh crap! Jason, kill the lights on the stage and give me the full house now!" her voice and demenor changed almost immediately. "Addy, go find Mr. Burgess he should still be here... We need an extra ladder. Kyle grab the ladder from back stage and set it up under that bar of lights stage left." The down side to an old auditorium , old wiring."

C is for Curtain

Thought I would write a little about the name of the blog and part of the writing project...
"Curtain Journey" is or was the working title of a novel I was working on for NaNoWriMo'09. Basically parts of the story were vignettes from my past life in Junior High and High School Theater. I loved the time I spent in theater all 5 years plus some of the arts I worked in after high school.

I remember our theater well.. The art deco pieces on the walls of the auditorium, the very uncomfortable seats, the rounded balcony. The building that housed the theater was originally the high school and became the junior high after a newer facility was built in the early 1970's, so we were lucky to have a larger auditorium than most junior highs.. The stage had a wood floor and was fairly deep. The curtain that hung in the front was blue velveteen and something about the curtain mesmerized me. It was warm and comforting giving a feeling of security much like a quilt on Grandma's bed.  I spent time both on stage and back stage always comforted by the great expanse of the curtain.  When I began planning the novel project knowing much of the story would take place in or around that theater I decided the curtain had to play a larger than life role in the book, thus the title.  The auditorium and building are now gone but the memories from those years are forever etched in my mind.  I hope as I work more on the project the comforting of that curtain will be a presence to the reader as well as the author.

Wedding Plans..

"Miss Adrianna Marie Cameron and Mr. James Douglas Stevenson cordial request your presence on Sunday July ___, 2008 at ______________ as they are joined in the bonds of holy matrimony." that reads so perfectly Addy thought to herself as she put the finishing touches on the invitation order.  "I'd like the ivory linen with navy blue print raised Old English Script and the double line scroll border along the edge. For the return cards, lets stay with the same paper and font but remove the egding..." She continued her doodling as she relayed the information to the customer service person on the other end of the phone. Her bluetooth headset seemed to have grown to her head this past week with all the phone calls and meetings not to mention the 4 conference calls and 2 online meetings she had managed to hold.

knock, knock... "Can I come in?" Jim stood at the door on her office with a single peach rose in his hand.
she waved him in with a smile.  he moved slowly around the back of her chair to place the rose on her desk and softly kiss her check.  Addy jotted on her note pad, ' Thank you' with little hearts. It was corny and so not like her, but she was hopelessly in love and enjoying the insanity of the wedding plans.
"Thank you, oh and can you send over the copy sample before it goes to print? by, Friday? Do you need my card now, ok perfect, I'll send the card information with the messenger/ courier Friday."
"Sorry about that, where were we..." She turned and stepped up out of the office chair, Jim helping her into a warm gentle embrace.
"Do you have time for lunch?"
"Sure, what do you have in mind?"
"I  was thinking of that little deli down on 37th, they have a cateering company and thought we could give them a try?"
"I thought we were using Jensen Bells?" Addy was trying to collect her thoughts.
"We hadn't**** finalized the details yet, and I just thought we could try this one to be sure... our receptionist says she has used them a couple of times and has never had any trouble, she also mentioned they are really good with the low sugar recipes.."
"Ok, give me a couple minutes and I will meet you down stairs." Addy had to reply to the 2 messages flashing on her screen before she could continue with wedding plans. Balancing her daily office tasks and the planning on what was becoming more of the social event than a traditional wedding was taking its toll on her.

****Note to self*****: change Addy's "new job" to something in marketing....  but leave the theater stuff in the job description.

A Surprise Engagement

The sun rose as it did every morning yet this morning the light seemed different, softer, warmer. Addy stretched her arms out from under the down comforter, 'wait a minute she didn't have a down comformter on her bed?' cautiously she pulled her arms back in and turned her head slowly to the side. 'oh good grief , what have I done?' she thought as she caught a profile of him next to her. "This is bad, very very bad."
 He smiled and stretched his arms wrapping around her... "mmm, good morning beautful" how cliche' can you be, good grief.
"morning," she wanted to run, and run fast. Then it hit her, the memory of yesterday came crashing back. The proposal, the dinner party, all of it... 'oh boy' she thought to herself, this is a lot to take in.. The satin edge of her nightgown wrapped around her toes as she curled them trying to figure out her next move.

"About last night, it is all still a fog" she wasn't sure she had all the details straight. The obvious detail sat glittering in the sun on her finger, the platnium and diamond engagement ring was more than beautiful, it was everything a girl could dream of.

"Don't worry about it, the details aren't important, we were surrounded by friends and everything was perfect. You didn't embarass anyone and you didn't do anything to be ashamed of. " He was confident and reassuring in his words. That didn't help as much as she would have liked.

Lifting the comforter out of the way, Adrianna stepped off the edge of the bed glancing around the room to get her bearings. 

"You don't have to rush into the office today, I already rescheduled our day, the meetings we had with the art staff has been rescheduled for 3:30.

A Shadow of its former Glory

The moon light cast a rich eerie glow through the broken windows on the second floor, the gray clouds seemed to move freely through the windows and classrooms of the conservatory. Adrianna starred vacantly toward the building. Ghostly images running through her mind as the memories flooded back. 6 years of her career had been spent in these halls, as a simple matter of fact her theatrical career actually began in these halls. She began as a Photographic art student with an assignment to shoot the cast and crew of a production in the theater. Lighting and lighting tricks a specialty in her work, actually her signature style, creating mood lighting and image games she liked to think of it. Addy didn't know the whole story, but when she arrived on set to do the shoot, the director approached her about theatrical lighting seemed that the lighting person has jumped shipped with only 3 days until the opening. She had friends in the production and figured it couldn't hurt. Following a very crash course in running a electronic light board Adrianna began her theatrical career. Strange to look back and think it all started by chance. Although she had been in music and dance prior, but theater was another story.
The basement corner window seemed to call to her, the old darkroom. Even after she moved to a theater program Addy still took photography courses and used the darkroom, a safe artist haven. If those walls could talk the stories they could tell, the things that darkroom had seen would surprise people. The crumbling walls of the building seemed to cry out in pain, a sad sight to watch. Addy wasn't even sure what brought her here.
'I should go,' she thought to herself turning to walk back to her car (what kind of car?), a dark feeling grabbed at her holding her in her tracks.

unemployment and some other random thoughts.

Unemployment wasn't what Addy that it was going to be... It was the pits. Yes she had time on her hands that she should be using to write, create, something... but the pantry was pretty light and the landlord was only going to be so forgiving. The printer sat quietly on the desk as if simply asking her to sit , plug in and print something. Was it that simple, she needed something to inspire her. In between jobs she really wanted to get something on paper, something that could be produced. Theater seats could be filled if that works was good.
The gray keys of the laptop called to her to grace their keys, to write, to create. This wasn't truly unemployment mostly it was her sub conscience blocking her, holding her back from her calling, her passion.


********

Each day a new day for some reason Addy held on to some pieces of the recent past. Relationships outside the boundaries of time; the relationship they built not so long ago that crumbled so quickly taking more than just her heart with it. Since then Addy built new walls around her heart to protect it while trapping her inspiration in those walls, her writing suffered.. Keeping herself protected from heartbreak simply meant she wasn't living. She existed but to what end? A change of scenery was in order. Something to refresh her vision. Theater and writing held more than sappy emotions to her , they were the center of her world, she needed to find a new path to that center.


****
“Lets move to center work. I'd like to try something different today.” Miss Tayna wasn't know for changing things up at all. Addy and the other girls looked at each other wondering what it meant?
“ This combination will start center in open 4th position....” she began demonstrating the combination to the group as she finished and posed the girls faces showed the surprise and the excitement with the new combination and style. “The music is an original piece that my cousin sent me last week, it inspired me to step outside of our classical ballet box, and yes I want this on full pointe when appropriate. Lets do this in groups of 3, Adrianna , Bree, and Julie up first, and 5,6,7,8.” the music filled the studio and the movements carried the three ballerinas to a new level. The new energy Addy felt at the end of the number was so invigorating that she wanted more, more ballet, more music, more whatever she could get her hands on.

****

Thomas Andrew Williams stood casually at the phone wall waiting his turn. This phone call weighed heavy on his heart. Addy consumed his every thought, would she wait for him, would she see him differently, would this be their chance? 3 months ago they left things so unfinished. She still had another year of school to finish and he heading to boot camp then on to training, their final words to each other stung his heart. Could he take his anger back, would she even answer the phone?

“Williams, WILLIAMS, you're up... don't waste our time if you ain't gonna call anyone....” the harsh ugly voice of Anderson snapped Thomas back to reality.

“Sorry dude, I'm calling her....”
“ Oh, I see... “ Anderson cracked half a smile as he chuckled walking away...
5 0 3 5 8 5 1 2 3 6, Thomas slowed dialed the numbers pushing each one with a heavy aching while building up a wall that would soon come crashing down.
The ringing on the other end lulled Thomas into a security , 'perhaps she wasn't even home'

“Hello?” Addy's voice was ( ), not recognizing the caller =id number she was cautious.

“Addy?” Addy stopped in her tracks, 'it couldn't be?'

“Thom? Is that you?”
“yes, sweetheart.. is is ok that I called you?”
“I guess so....” her heart skipped a beat, not sure what to say or how ...to respond....

“I don't have long, but wanted to talk to you... I miss you.” he really missed her, he should be calling his mom or sister but he is calling his ex-girlfriend.... The one phone call he gets this week and he is calling his ex-girlfriend.

“You do? But I thought we had left it , well you know...” she missed him too, not sure what she wanted to let on, or even admit to.

“I wanted to say, I'm sorry for what we said. I shouldn't have left things that way, it was cruel and hurtful.” his voice carried a sense of sincerity that melted Addy's heart.

' darn him.... why now, why did he have to call tonight, why.....' Addy struggled with her composure.
"I'm not sure what I am suppose to say. Seriously, I am suppose to fall over and forget it all happened? " She was letting her guard down, opening up and getting angry.
"OK, I'm with you... I just trying to clear the air." that didn't sound like he planned. He wanted her back, he didn't want to walk away, he wanted the proposal to be and for her to say yes, not the lets take it slow mentality they had previously had. "No, I didn't want to clear the air, damn it Adrianna, I Love you, it is that simple, I want you in my life, I don't want to let us go." There he said it.. nothing like dropping a bombshell from 1200 miles away... Not exactly the reconciliation he had dreamed of.
"What?" she had to catch her breath. " I can't do this right now, Thom I have an audition coming up. I have to stay focused this role will get me out of here. This is the roll I 've dreamed of. I only have a term left on campus then I'm free to move , free to travel." Addy put up her wall, high and with reinforcements. 'this isn't happening, not now... damn him... why did he have to change his mind, why couldn't he have kept it to himself. '
"Come on Addy, don't do this... I won't be home for another 2 months, you won't be done with school yet, we can see what happens." the shaking in his voice said more than his words.
He really meant it...
"When will you be home?" Addy decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.
"Week before Easter, Mom wants be to attend Easter Mass, but other than that I am leaving it wide open, hoping we can at least see each other and talk in person."
"Ok, my senior project will be closing that week so it should be fine. I'm not making any.

Closing Weekend...

In a surreal moment of sorts Addie realized this was the last weekend, the closing of HER show. For the past year every ounce of energy she had went toward writing, rewriting, casting, staging, producing , and promoting this; this piece of her. A sadness of sorts, came over her, accompanied by a sense of accomplishment. Strange how in just a few short hours everything she had worked for would be put away; tied up in a nice little package of memories, her final project was complete and she would move on.

"Addie?" his voice caught her off guard, she turned in a moment of surprise. "Did I miss the show?" Thom stood tall and proud im his uniform, bringing Addie to a place she nearly forgot in her.
"Here just in time, I have a section of seats in row c your are welcome to watch from there." hiding her elation presenting her producer persona in a moment of ______.
Thom reached across the walk, taking her in one motion, bringing her to him, wrapping her up in a blissful embrace. "Don't give me the producer, I can for Addie, not Adrianna the producer." with that he gently kissed her cheek and let her go.
"Thom! I've got a play to put on." her coldness surprised him, it even surprised her a little. What did he expect?

'arghhh' she through as she pushed back stage. Jason met her in the aisle.
"5 minutes to curtain Boss, we've got it under control here, go sit, enjoy the show." Jason presented the picture perfect closing night, as if anything would go wrong... She really shouldn't be back stage anyway, she was the producer after all. Addie made her way back to her seat. ' why was she making such a big deal of this production? This wasn't Broadway, it was community theather, oh but how she wished for the big lights of Broadway, even an off Broadway production in New York would be good.

transcribing some hand written stuff...

No Looking Back: (Not sure where/ how this will fit into the story or even if, these are all short pieces that I need to expand on.)

Addy wasn't' sure where to begin; a year ago she began a new journey across miles, over mountains to a place thought to have all the answers. Now she was sitting in a strange place, alone, lost among her unanswered questions. The darkness of her apartment was the only thing her hear found solace in.
"what am I suppose to think of all this? I had or at least thought I had something special, something that would last." talking to herself comforted her in a _______way. The darkness began to blur, realizing sleep held at least one answer for her, she crawled longingly under the colorful down comforter on her antique double bed.
*******

'Friendship ever dies, some bounds never break, and many old habits die hard' Addy thought to herself as she stared at her workload for the week. Working for a production company reviewing scripts left little time for socializing outside the theater world. She longed for a simpler social life, one were she decided what events to attend, one where friends weren't looking for an "in" with the company she worked for. As her mind continued to wander images of Thom filled her head, she longed to see him again, wondering if his journey took him down a narrow path or a 'road less traveled' as cliche' as it sounded. Thom taught her to let go of heartache, emotional tension doesn't have to be a strong hold on your life. Thankfully that lesson stuck with her even now.

Stage Fright?

Adrianna paused, frozen in the moment; 'what is the line' panic started to set in, 'what is it?'. She looked out toward the audience not sure what to expect; she glanced toward the off stage curtain looking for a clue; she looked around her, nothing , this was her monologue, she was alone and no one could help her. 'Where is everyone?' Stage Manager, the rest of the cast, the Assistant Director, no one. Stepping to the right, she took a breathe, a deeper one, pause, stepping to the right, 'make it fit the scene, go with it, something will come to you' the voice in her head wasn't helping the situation. This was her monologue and her worst nightmare was coming true. Stage fright didn't happen here, this theater was her second home, 'what is going on?'

"Patience and Love...." a soft voice from backstage fed the begining of the next line to her. Adrianna took a deep breathe and stepped forward with the confidence she had begun the scene with only a short time before and continued the lines through end.

"What the heck was that?!" a quiet but harsh voice caught her from behind on the way off stage. Jessica looked at Adrianna with a furious confusion.

"I DON"T KNOW." Adrianna continued on through the corridor to the dressing room to prepare for the next scene. ' is this what it is like, Stage Fright?'

One Minute writer: Influences

Influences

Addie sat quietly at her desk, daydreaming if you will , wondering how she had gotten here. So many people had been a part of this journey, wonderful people and not so wonderful people, some a little crazier than others, some a little too controlling , and some gentle caring people that knew when to push and when to back off. As her mind wandered farther and farther away, images of Thom kept coming back. He knew how to guide her creative process, ' Backstage in a confusion of darkness' her mind wandered through the images. 'I can feel your arms wrapped around me, comforting me, guiding me'. Thom was so near , boosting her confidence, constantly pushing her that little more, not taking excuses, and reminding her of her passion for the art.

written at the pub..

(I use to hang out at a couple local pubs to write, since the kids I don't get to do that anymore... Well the other night I met my husband and the in-laws for dinner at one of those local pubs... since I had to wait for them to arrive I decided to write some.... This is what I came up with...)


The soft sound of the jazz bass surrounded Addie as she waited at the bar. His arrival hung heavy on her heart; seeing him closing night stung her soul as an old wound quickly torn open. Life in the theater healed her wounds, renewed her passion for life again after the long dark nights of her separation. As cliche' as it sounded, Addie felt the pain return just seeing him.
"Did I keep you waiting long?" his voice burned straight to her heart, awakening a desire in her more powerful than the hurt.
He touched her should guiding her to the table in the center of the room. The room was lit with a faux stain glass mural glowing, adding an ambiance tot he room, a casualness that somehow comforted Addie making this a safe environment.

One Minute Writer: First: Thursday's Word

Another great word for my novel writing page from One Minute Writer

***Note this is a process so nothing is really in order, this is mostly a place for me to 'scribble' my thoughts****

First Day on the Job: (Epilogue)
Addie cautiously opened the stain glass door at 312 North Ave E., this was it, her first day of the job. She was finally working in the real world. She had dreamed of this day for so long now. After all the hours writing and acting, dancing and playing, blocking and choreography high school and college theater this was the real thing. Her first real world job. Her own.

One Minute Writer:Listen: Wednesday's word

Obviously I was meant to write this week as today's word sparked another idea.
****

"Does anyone here listen to me?" Addie's face shown a deep red shade as her temper began to flare. Tonight was the last curtain call of her show. "I still don't have the props set for scene 4 yet, and where is Julia, she was suppose to be here to double check the blocking change with the lights. Do you people not care, this isn't just about me. We have all worked too long and too hard for this not to work."

"Addie, I'm here... " Julia's petite stature and timid voice seemed to bring a calm to the backstage.

"Jerrid, can you bring up just the onstage lights while we run this blocking change for Julia's monologue?, Jerrid, are you listening??" Addie's headset was working she was sure, but as usual the tech crew was off in their own little world. "I'll be right back, Julie, go ahead and work on the blocking changes." Addie started toward the stairs leading to the auditorium...