2
Summary
- Emily is surprised to learn that the narrator once had a 'u' in her name and that there are many things her daughters don't know about her past.
- The narrator reminiscences about her teenage years when she was auditioning for the school play, Our Town, nervously waiting to perform her audition piece, anticipating the reaction of George, with whom she had worked closely.
- She encounters her friend, Veronica, with whom she shared a bond over their responsibilities towards their younger brothers, discussing the implications of playing the character Emily.
- Despite knowing she would get preferential treatment, the narrator assures Veronica she doesn't have a grand strategy, and they share a supportive moment before the audition.
- The narrator reflects on the weight of performing on stage, feeling the fear and excitement shared by all the actors. After performing her scene, she receives a standing ovation from the audience, including her grandmother.
- The narrator avoids detailing more of her high school experience to her daughters, briefly mentioning the success of the play and her picture being featured in a local newspaper, to their dissatisfaction.
- She moves on to discuss her senior year, where she continued acting, getting into college, but still not knowing what she wanted to do with her life. She kept acting out of mind until she saw an audition notice for Our Town in her junior year of college.
- During one of her college performances, Bill Ripley, a director scouting for talent, approached her expressing interest in casting her for a movie role, asking her to come to Los Angeles for a screen test.
- When Bill Ripley arranges everything for the narrator to fly to Los Angeles, she resolves to her future as an actress, despite never aspiring to be one.
- In the present, the narrator shares a family moment, expressing joy despite the challenging times, alluding to the fact that her daughters returned to the family farm as workers due to a shortage caused by external circumstances. They are skeptical but end up accepting the situation.