JOCELYN AND THE SCHOOL PLAY
When the names were announced for the school play, Jocelyn nearly jumped with joy when she heard that she would play the part of the villainous old village witch.
“It’s such a remarkable role!” she sighed to which her brother Arya started laughing uncontrollably.
“Why are you laughing aiya?” Jocelyn scowled at him.
“Look at you – you have already started with all the dramatic airs and
graces,” he guffawed. “Such a remarkable role” he mimicked in a high pitched voice. Jocelyn stormed off muttering to herself and Arya watched her retreating figure with affection. As much as he made fun of her, he was the first to admit that Jocelyn had a real talent for acting. When she was on stage, he forgot she was his sister, instead he watched with fascination as she became someone else altogether.
Rehearsals for the play began the very next afternoon and Arya was ordered by their mother to wait as long as it was necessary and bring her back home safely. So he
sat every afternoon, under the shady mango tree with a book in hand waiting for his sister to finish.
For around a week, Jocelyn came skipping out of practices full of joy, and with many stories to tell. But around the third week, she seemed to be less enthusiastic. “Our drama teacher is leaving, she’s going to get married,” she announced one evening as they walked home.
“She’s coming back, but that will be sometime next year.”
“So is the Play cancelled then?” asked Arya.
“No, she asked us who would like to direct the play. Ashok and Mallika both raised their hands so they both got the job,” Jocelyn said dolefully.
“I suppose you don’t like Ashok and Mallika?” Arya asked.
“I like them as people, it’s just that both of them have too many ideas,” she sighed.
And each day Jocelyn watched in horror as their beautiful play was argued over, rearranged and fought about rather than practiced.
“Mallika asked me secretly if I would like to practice separately with her today,” she announced to Arya sounding very tired. “I have half a mind to leave the whole thing and let them do what they want!”
“But it’s your ‘remarkable role’ as a villain. Why would you give that up?” Arya asked scoffing the idea away. “Maybe you should try to do something about it.”
“But they are so angry all the time. If we try to do anything we’ll get yelled at,” Jocelyn argued.
“I think you would do a better job as a Director,” Arya said. “I’ve seen how you organize your tea parties.”
But this isn’t a tea party, thought Jocelyn quietly and kept her silence for the rest of the journey home. Her mind was troubled throughout the next day and when she walked into the school hall for practice that afternoon Mallika and Ashok were in a heated argument as usual.
“I think my baby sister can do a better job than you!” shouted Ashok
“I think my grandmother can do a better job than you!” Mallika shouted back.
Something in-between anger and disgust welled up in Jocelyn as this scene unfolded before her. “Well I think both of you are babies yourselves, if you can’t work together!” Jocelyn found her voice exploding from her. “We are wasting so much time and nothing is getting done while you two argue at who’s doing a better job!”
There was silence in the hall as everybody stared at Jocelyn in surprise. “Well then, if you think you can do a better job please go ahead,” said Ashok with a frown.
Jocelyn reached out and grabbed the script from her bag. “Thank you! I think I will,” she said, and turning to the others in the room she said: “Everyone stand in your places we are going to do Act 1 Scene 2!”
The commanding note in her voice made children run up to the stage and stand in formation. Mallika muttered something under her breath and went up to the stage herself. Ashok sighed, almost in relief and sat down cross legged on the floor.
At the very back of the hall, peeking through the entrance was Arya with a broad grin on his face. He was right as always, his sister was going to be a great Director just like she commanded all those tea parties.