Chapter Text
I should probably start by introducing myself, my name is Gracie or Grace for short. I am a theater nerd but I’d prefer to use the word theater kid. I believe the word “nerd” should only be used for people who are smart academically but that word should never be used in theater.
Theater is something I’ve always been passionate about ever since my parents took me to see “Little Shop of Horrors” where I got to see one of my favorite actresses Kerry Butler play the innocent and kind Audrey. I instantly fell in love with her and the whole idea of theater that I started going to other musicals like Wicked and Mean Girls, also featuring Kerry. She has been in a lot of really good theater productions and believe it or not soon I would be meeting her in a life-changing way.
It all started when Dave drove me to school. Dave is my adopted foster dad. My parents had died when I was thirteen in a car accident. Yep, I was an official orphan until Dave took me in. When I first met him he looked nice, just a middle aged man looking for a nice daughter to take in but all he wanted was someone to take his frustrations out on.
The orphanage, wanting to get rid of us kids as fast as possible, didn't even look at his background and simply just handed him over to me. The beatings were easy at the start but then they got worse the more hits I received. It went from spitting nasty words at me to physically punching me. Sometimes if I ever missed my parents I would put the Beetlejuice soundtrack on.
Beetlejuice was the last musical our family went to. It had my favorite actors in it like Sophia Anne Caruso, Alex Brigtman and Kerry Butler. Just listening to the soundtrack made me feel like we were all still together.
Back to the story, after a silent car ride to school Dave dropped me off a block away from the school, demanded that I walk the rest of the way, then drove back home to get drunk and watch football. I was pretty used to walking to school by myself so I readjusted my backpack and walked to school.
Everyday at school was pretty much the same. I got bumped in the halls while trying to reach class, stressful tests were handed out and I usually sat by myself at lunch. Sitting alone at lunch has got to be one of the worst feelings in the world, it feels like no one would even notice if you disappeared out of thin air.
The best class in my school has got to be drama. Usually it would be P.E but we were given a choice between that and drama, so it was an easy choice. It’s like a breath of fresh air walking into a room where almost everybody shares the same interest as you do.
When class started instead of doing warmups one of the nicest teachers in the world; our drama teacher Kayla, gave a huge announcement to our class which was odd. Who or what is here?
“Good morning class, today we are going to do something a little bit different today, some very special guests are coming in right…about…” Kayla pointed to the door, “now.”
Suddenly two people entered the auditorium, a blonde headed teenager and a very bearded but short man. It can’t be! Tell me that’s who I think it is.
“Kids meet Sophia Anne Caruso and Alex Brightman, stars of the tony nominated musical Beetlejuice,” said the teacher leading them up stage. I couldn’t believe my ears.
“Hiya,” said Alex in his rough Beetlejuice voice. It’s always surprising how he can do the voice so easily.
“You already know who we are so we’ll just get started,” said Sophia in her soft voice, “we’ll sing a song from the show first and then we’ll open it up to questions.”
Then they sang one of my favorite songs from the show, Say My Name. I tried to lip sync along but whenever I did kids kept elbowing me to shut up. I tried to ignore them till someone whacked me in the head then I stayed quiet. When they ended the song everybody clapped and they took a bow.
“Now we’ll open it up to questions,” said Alex searching for a certain someone out of the twenty kids who were raising their hands.
“How about you,” Alex said, pointing at me. “Do you want to come up here and ask us something?”
I really wanted to but suddenly my body just froze.. I knew what it was, a panic attack but I couldn’t move toward them so I ran out of the classroom crying all the way to the bathroom. I locked myself in the stall and sobbed. I couldn’t believe I just embarrassed myself in front of two of the most famous Broadway stars. If there was a way I could take that moment back I would but I couldn’t.
A little while later I heard a very familiar voice asking someone where I was. “Last time I saw her she ran in here,” said a random student outside the bathroom door. I heard a person entering the bathroom, I knew it was Sophia but I didn’t want her to know I was here.
“Hey, I know you’re in there, you can come out,” said Sophia looking around the stalls. I tried to keep quiet but a hiccup came out and Sophia heard me in the last stall.
“Are you okay? Alex and I are both worried about you.’’
“I don’t want to come out so could you please leave me alone,” I said, nearly slapping myself in the head. As if I hadn’t made myself sound more like a freaking two year old.
There was a moment of silence and I was sure she left but instead I saw a note slip under the stall and heard her footsteps leaving the bathroom. I looked down at the note. Sophia wrote a note in her lovely calligraphy writing:
Meet us after school in the Winter Garden Theater. Alex and I will be waiting at the front door so please come.
I thought about it for a while and knowing that my so-called dad wouldn’t care when I came home decided to meet them, my heart racing like a car.
After calming myself down and finishing class I texted Dave that I was going to be late and walked to the Winter Garden Theater. Luckily the school and the Winter Garden are only a block away so it took me about ten minutes to get there. When I got there I saw Sophia and Alex talking near the front door and I walked toward them.
“Hey, there’s the kid we wanna see,” said Alex enthusiastically, one of the things I love about him.
“Hey, I’m so glad you came…” said Sophia smiling but wanting to know my name.
“Gracie but Grace for short,” I said, extending my hand for a handshake. Instead Sophia gave me a big hug and Alex joined in. I wanted the hug to last forever but it ended when I flinched because Alex touched a bruise on my back from Dave.
“Kid, you okay,” asked Alex, concerned, pulling his hand away.
“Yeah,” I lied, “So what are we here for.”
“Well, we have about an hour before Alex and I have to get ready for the show so we were wondering if you would want to hang out and meet the rest of the cast,” said Sophia smiling.
“You don’t have to do that,” I said guiltily.
“We want to do this, so what do you say,” asked Alex.
I agreed and then Alex opened the stage door and I went inside. I was led to the first dressing room and I saw Dana Steingold and Prestly Ryan just hanging out.
“Hey guys, this is Grace from the school we went to today, she is just visiting for a while,” said Sophia.
“It’s wonderful to meet you Grace,” Dana said, shaking my hand.
“Yeah it’s nice to meet you,” said Presley, repeating Dana.
They didn’t have time to chat because they needed to get ready for the show so we said goodbye and went to Kerry Butler’s dressing room.
When we entered it was exactly how I thought it would look, very welcoming and graceful. Then I met the real Kerry Butler in person. DREAM COME TRUE! She was very nice and welcoming like Dana and Prestly. Kerry and I instantly got along and we started hanging out together like we were best friends.
Kerry was just showing me her indoor garden when I heard my phone buzz, it was Dave;
Come outside Now!! That’s an order!!
“I’ve got to go,”
“Wait before you go I have something for you,” said Sophia as she grabbed something out of her pocket, an extra front row seat ticket to see Beetlejuice tonight.
“I can’t accept this,”
“It’s okay we always have leftover tickets,” said Sophia, also giving me her number, “Call me if you could make it okay.”
I thanked Sophia and got in the car. One question; Will Dave let me go?.
When we got home I asked him if I could go see the show but he just laughed in my face.
“Why would you want to see a stupid show like Beetlejuice? Also where did you even get a ticket? Aren’t they like fifty dollars?”
“The actress that plays Lydia gave it to me for free. Please Dave, I really want to see it because it was the last show I went to see with my paren…”
Before I finished the word parents he punched me hard in the eye and grabbed the ticket out of my hands. I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot about one of the things that ticks him off, mentioning my parents. He then grabbed a hold of my shirt and screamed in my face.
“Don’t you dare mention your parents in front of me!!! They’re gone!!! I’m your family now!!!”
He then ripped the ticket violently in front of me and left the room in a huff. He left the ticket as well as my heart was broken. I decided to call Sophia and tell her that I couldn’t go tonight, or ever. The phone call went a little like this:
Sophia: Hey Grace, so are you coming?
Me: I can't tonight, I just can’t, I’m sorry.. I’ve gotta go
Sophia: Grace, wai…
Call ended
The next day I went back to school feeling upset on how I left things with Sophia. I shouldn’t have ended the call and given her a better explanation but I decided to go on with my day. School today went back to normal, no Sophia or Alex at drama class. They probably had a show to put on today but there was a call for me from the principal in the middle of drama.
I entered the office and there was Kerry Butler sitting with the principal, Mrs. Kit.
“Kerry here is going to take you out of school early ok,” said Mrs. Kit.
“Ok,” I said confused, why is Kerry Butler picking me up? Kerry and I then left the school and I sat in the passenger seat of her car.
“Not to sound rude or anything but where are we going?”
“We are just going to the theater for a little bit, honey,” said Kerry, smiling.
Okay so there was definitely something going on but I decided not to push it and we sat silently all the way to the theater. When we arrived Kerry led me to the dressing room where Sophia and Presley were. They were both getting ready for the matinee and in their costumes. I’ve got to admit I was scared to see Sophia. I wondered if she would be upset with me but she still greeted me kindly like before.
“Hi, ready for a show,” said Sophia in her Lydia dress.
“What?”
“You get to see us perform today,” said Presley excitedly.
“OMG, really!”
“Yep, we decided since you couldn’t go last night you could come today now go find a seat and the show will start in a few minutes.” said Sophia as I was rushed to the front row seat.
I couldn’t believe it! I was going to watch Beetlejuice again. I was very excited but I had to come home right after the show before Dave beat me up again. To pass the time I whipped out my phone and played Candy Crush till the musical started. I loved Sophia’s song, Dead Mom to the day-o scene, then there was an intermission. Since Sophia couldn’t come to the seats in her costume she texted me after the show to meet her at the stage door. I texted her okay and after the amazing final act and bows I met her there.
After finishing signing autographs she offered to give me a ride home which I gratefully accepted. Kerry gave me my backpack and a huge hug along with Presley and Dana. Sophia then drove me back home and walked me to the door.
“Thank you so much for all that you’ve done for me these past few days,” I said as we got to the door.
“No problem,” said Sophia as I knocked on the door and there stood my drunk dad holding a beer.
“Hi, I’m just dropping her off,” said Sophia, giving me weird side glances. I didn’t want to worry her so I just gave her a gentle stare back.
“God Grace, you couldn’t just walk home. You are bothering a very important person. This is so embarrassing. I bet she drove you crazy didn’t she.”
“She is a very kind girl, she didn’t bother me at all,” said Sophia, getting angry but keeping that same calm voice.
He then grabbed my arm and yanked me inside, “Well thanks for dropping her off, I need to have a little chat with my daughter.”
Before Sophia could protest he slammed the door on her and harrassed me the whole night saying things like you’re worthless or dumb. After about an hour of hard-hit punches he got bored and fell asleep on the couch. Then I ran to my bed and looked at my phone where I was surprised to see a big text by the Beetlejuice cast:
If you are ever in trouble, text me and I’ll be there okay-Sophia. You are a very special girl, never forget okay-Kerry. Stay strong okay-Alex Brightman/Beetlejuice. If you ever need anything just tell us, love the cast of Beetlejuice.
It made me sob, Sophia must have told them all about my situation. I am so glad I have people that barely know me supporting me through this. I texted back thank you and went to bed happily.