Chapter Text
“Chris,” Trevor said, poking his head around the door.
The director looked up from his paperwork with a big huff, annoyed to be interrupted so early on in the day.
“What is it Trevor, Can’t it wait,” He asked, hoping desperately that it could. After their last performance he had to switch over to a whole new insurance provider which, unfortunately, meant having to detail every little claim and accident that had happened within the company over the past 7 years. Trevor stood more upright and leaned on the doorframe, His hands beginning to fidget with a hole in the bottom of his shirt.
“Well the Kid’s back again, they won’t go away,” He put his hands up when Chris opened his mouth, silencing the director, “believe me, I’ve tried to get them to go but they just won’t budge.”
Chris heaved a deep sigh, rubbing his forehead before putting his pen down on the desk.
“Right, okay, fine. Send them in.”
Trevor stepped back into the hallway and looked over to where Estyn was sitting, a grin pasted on their face.
“So?” They asked expectantly, standing up and bouncing on their feet.
Trevor started a tired sigh, but it was quickly broken into a small smile as he leant down and spoke in a stage whisper.
“Look, he’s agreed to see you but he is cranky so I can’t guarantee you’ll get a different outcome.”
That was good enough for Estyn as they stepped forwards towards the door. They paused for a second, staring at the handle. It wasn’t fully shut, but it was closed enough that it would require a small push to open.
This is it, My last chance. Whoever said 3rd times a charm is an absolute liar - but I suppose anyone would keep trying with the threat of Mrs Whittle choosing for them.
Estyn nearly jumped, pulled out of their thoughts by the feeling of a hand patting their shoulder.
“Good luck Kid,” Trevor said before turning to go down the hallway
“Well it’s now or never,” They mumbled to themself before pushing the door open.
The office was filled with a sort of haphazard mess that would give anyone a headache alone. At the centre there was a desk that looked more beaten up then your average school dinner table.
“I’m sorry to bother you Sir-” they started before being abruptly cut off.
“But you’re not really, are you?” Chris said, hands pressed together as his elbows leaned on the desk. Estyn gave a sheepish smile as the director motioned for them to sit down.
“Now please, Miss…”
“Turner,” they filled in for him, squirming in their seat.
“Turner,” Chris repeated, testing out the word in his mouth, “Tell me why you are so insistent on doing your work experience with Cornley Amature Dramatic Society.”
There was a clear tone of frustration in his words that made Estyn wince slightly. Trevor was not joking about the Director being in a bad mood.
“Well, you see, Mr Director, Sir, um,” under his scornful gaze their thoughts stuttered, suddenly unable to collect all of the reasons they had so furiously come up with since the last rejection.
“Well, I’m a quick learner-”
“Already used that one.”
“I love the theatre-”
“That one too.”
“Well if you’d let me finish, I would tell you that my family has had a heavy involvement in the local acting scene-”
“Contrary to local understanding, I am not a reclusive hermit and am very familiar with the local scene, Next excuse,” Chris waved each attempt off, even having the guts to pick back up his pen and continue with his paperwork.
“I’m literally studying plays every week-”
“Doesn’t change my answer.”
“I can work late hours-”
“Next.”
“-and I don’t need to be payed-”
“It’s work experience, you weren’t going to be paid anyway.”
“Well I’m strong-”
“Uh-Huh.”
“And Loyal-”
“Are you just listing off the traits of a dog?”
“And I’m friendly and a pleasure to be around-”
This time Chris cut them off by slamming his pen down on his desk, making them jump and nearly glare at him.
“Look, the fact of the matter is, this theatre is no safe place for anyone to be in, yet alone a child.”
“I’m 17,” they say quietly, “so nearly an adult.”
Chris just looked at them, dumbfounded that they hadn’t given up yet - lord knows he was hoping they would give up. Unfortunately for him, he had no clue how stubborn they truly were and in that moment a realisation filled their head.
“You’re scared that I’m going to try and sue you guys in case I get injured and something,” Chris jerked backwards and was going to speak before you cut him off, “Well, what if I draw up a contract forbidding me from doing that - also, I’m trained in first aid, well scouts first aid anyway; furthermore, I’m an english student so I’m pretty good at finding information and filling out forms and bullshitting my way through words, I could be like a mini secretary.” Estyn finally stopped speaking, watching Chris with a hopeful glint in their eye. He was thinking very hard, so hard in fact that his jaw was clenched and a vein popped out of his forehead. Then he relaxed slightly, pulling out a blank piece of paper.
“You’re sure you won't sue if you get injured?” He asked warily, as though he was regretting every decision running through his head.
“Absolutely, 100%, if anything, I would probably take a picture to commemorate it because knowing this theatre company, most of the injured are unbelievable.”
“And your parents won’t come shouting down our door.”
At that, Estyn burst into uncontrollable laughter, doubling over as small tears ran down their face that was now aching from a permanent grin. After calming down a bit, they were met with Chris’s expectant face, sobering them slightly and they cleared their throat.
“Yeah, nah, they don’t care, they don’t even ask questions.”
Chris raised his eyebrows slightly at the answer but took it as confirmation nonetheless.
“Well then, you start Monday - don’t worry about drawing up a contract, even for me that’s a little morbid,” Chris rearranged some papers on his desk, “I’ll get you to shadow Trevor, he’s been pressing me to get him an assistant ever since Annie switched to being an actor and the rest walked out after the… peter pan incident.”
Estyn squealed with happiness as they jumped up, going to shake the Director’s hand.
“Thank you so much, honestly, you’re not going to regret this - well, at least all the stuff that happens after the paperwork. You won’t enjoy the paperwork, but I can help if you need,” they began to back away and out of the office, holding the conversation and not letting Chris get in a word in fear that he would change his mind. He was watching the Kid hopelessly.
“Anyway, I best be off - see you at 4pm, Monday.”
They shot Chris with a final pair of finger guns before bolting out of the door.
Now alone in his office, Chris took a deep breath and groaned out in dismay. Already he regretted his decision but it was too late now, for at least the next month he had to babysit an actual child on top of his already childish cast…what could go wrong?
A lot. It was always a lot.