Linus at Thirteen

This year's show to watch!

The Memoir and Backstory Blog Challenge continues...

Linus at Thirteen
My thirteenth year saw me leaving elementary school and entering 7th grade at South Cache Junior High. It was a big world and kinda scary. I wondered where the playground was and was shocked... shocked... to learn they didn't even have recess there. What kind of savages was I dealing with?

I soon found some of my friends from Lincoln elementary and they introduced me to some new friends. These new friends signed me up to play a game during our lunch breaks that I'd only played a little before that. The game was Dungeons & Dragons and like so many others, I was captivated by its tales of monsters and heroes. What's more, I could BE the hero. How cool is that?

My Blanket and Me

'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown' at South Cache

Auditions started for that years school play, 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.' My mom helped me work on my lines the night before and I stayed after school for the auditions. Talk about awkward. I was a 7th grader going up against 8th and 9th graders. They looked at me like moldy gym shorts.

We were asked to read lines and then the assistant director had all the boys line up along the stage. Most of the guys sat on the stage, waiting for the next step, but uncomfortable as I was, I couldn't sit down.

"Okay, guys. Everybody stand up," the assistant director said.

The guys slid off the stage and stood.

As the directors looked at us there was some heated words and pointing in my direction

"Tony," he shouted, "Stand up!"

Flustered I blurted out, "I am standing."

The auditorium burst into laughter and the assistant director realized I wasn't being obstinate, just short. I laughed along with everyone else even though I was pretty embarrassed. It was worth it though. I got the part of Linus and for the first time, tread the boards with my very first serious role. What's more, I made friends that I never would have discovered if I hadn't thrown myself out there.