Chapter Text
“Yes, Gabe, I made it to the auditions okay. I am literally about to go into the building. I can’t believe I am here, though!” I reassured my brother.
“Tess, you are the funniest person I know. The moment you told me they wanted you to come in for a live audition, I knew that this was meant to be. And you know I am happy you’re away from them, if only for a week or so.”
“Gabe, despite our butting heads, you are the best sibling ever. And—”
“Tess, what about us?” whined two other voices echoing from the phone.
I rolled my eyes as I said, “You two are unfortunately not related to me by blood or else you could be counted in the race. Allen family rules. And what I was going to say was to not jump the gun as I could very well not get the job. That’s why I only packed up but not moved. I have to go sign in now, guys. I’ll let you know what happens. Love y’all.”
“Love you too, break a leg!” chorused through the phone before I hung up.
Well, who am I exactly? I am Tesla Grace Allen, daughter of Noah Allen and Eleanor Barrett Allen. I am five foot six with golden brown hair, blue-green eyes, and an ungodly amount of freckles. My twin brother, Gabriel Theodore Allen, and I lost our mother to a drunk driver when we were only six. Mum—that’s what I called her and will forever remember her by—and I were picking up Dad and Gabe from soccer practice.
I was about 8 p.m. and just beginning to grow dark. All I remember was brakes screeching, Mum screaming, and passing out. I woke up in the hospital with a broken arm and 20 stitches in various places. Mum didn’t make it to the hospital. The driver had hit us head-on after veering out of his lane. He had 2 previous DUIs. His name was Amos Wells. He is still serving prison time.
When we were eight, Dad remarried a woman named Valeria Ramos. She had three kids, two girls and a boy. The boy, Phillip Cole Ramos—he went by Cole—was eight, too. The oldest girl was named Victoria Evelyn Ramos—also known as Tori—and she was nine. Both of them were people whom I consider family to this day.
However, the youngest child, Sophia Amelia Ramos, age seven, was a brat, just like her mother. I would use stronger words, but I feel nice today. Sophia had her mother wrapped around her finger, and, I guess, assumed Gabe and I would take the spotlight away from her. She always got all of us, Cole and Tori too, in trouble. Punishments varied from being grounded to outright being beat. They were usually on the extreme end of the scale. Not only did she do that, but when we were older, she also made people hate me—she always hated me the most. She would steal all my friends, and if I had a boy I liked, she took him too.
Now, I’m eighteen years old and just finished high school. I want to pursue a degree in acting and comedy, but Valeria disagrees. She thinks I should get a steady job as a business manager like my dad. Dad agrees with her, so only my siblings know the real reason for my trip to Utah.
I am auditioning for my dream job: a sketch comedian. I sent in my resume to Studio C, a Mormon sketch comedy show, along with a video of me doing stand up comedy. The cast needed one more member, so they created an open call audition. I sent my stuff in and, within a week, got a reply back asking me to come out to Provo, Utah.
At the Studio C office, I sign in and sit down in the waiting room. There are a lot of other people here. That intimidates me, but I am not backing down.
Soon enough, it is my turn. I walk back to a room with two men. They rise to their feet and I reach out to shake their hands. The first man, dark-haired and perhaps an inch or two taller than me, introduces himself as Matt Meese. The second, taller man introduces himself as Jared Shores. I introduce myself and we all sit. Mr. Shores takes the lead and says, “Do you have any experience in comedy before?”
“No, sir, besides a few school talent shows.”
He writes something down and asks, “I see from your resume that you planned to pursue a degree in business, a very stable field. May I ask why you chose comedy?”
“Of course, sir. I have always enjoyed comedy because it makes people happy. I didn’t have the best childhood, but comedy helped me through it.” He asked several other questions, to which I responded as best as I could. Soon, they dismiss me and say I will get a call tomorrow morning if I am coming back for an audition.