Acting Up Read Free

my career back on track. I can help my aunt, too.”
    â€œAre you sure you can handle a total lifestyle change? Small towns don’t seem like your thing anymore. Caring for an elderly aunt won’t be easy either.”
    â€œI can handle Aunt Ruth,” Addison said, straightening her shoulders. “I need to do this, and she needs me.”
    Sydney studied her face for a beat and then gave a reluctant smile. “I can tell you’re determined. I just hope you know what you’re getting into.”
    â€œIt’s only a few months,” Addison said. “What could happen?”

Chapter Two
    â€œPrincipal Thomas, I demand you do something.”
    Ethan Thomas stopped, hand on the door of his SUV. Great. Mrs. Turney… again. If he’d only left a few minutes earlier. If not for a clogged toilet in the boys’ bathroom, he would’ve already been on his way to pick up his sons. Which wasn’t surprising. There seemed to be a series of clogged toilets disrupting his life lately… or maybe not just lately.
    Ethan could pretend he hadn’t heard the dictatorial voice. Simply jump in his car and escape. But as principal of Covington Falls High, he had a duty to stay and face the music.
    Duty could be a real pain in the...
    Fixing a smile on his face, he turned. A tall, middle-aged woman stood a few feet away, and she was definitely suited up for battle. Blond hair slicked back in some kind of elegant knot, perfectly matched sweater set, pearl necklace, and a perpetual scowl.
    â€œMrs. Turney,” he said.
    Ethan knew every one of his students’ parents. It was his business to know. However, some parents stood out from the crowd more than others. Mrs. Turney claimed top honors.
    â€œWhat can I do for you?” he asked, as if he didn’t already know. After countless phone calls and a face-to-face ambush – two counting today – there could be no doubt as to what she wanted.
    â€œI understand you still haven’t found anyone to direct the spring musical,” she said, crossing her arms and regarding him as a queen might when deciding if her poor subject should be beheaded.
    â€œWe’re working on it.”
    â€œYou’ve known your drama teacher will be in China sorting out the adoption of her baby for several weeks. I don’t understand what’s taking so long.”
    â€œWe’re looking for a replacement, but these things take time,” Ethan said, willing himself to remain calm.
    He loved his job for the most part. Loved the kids and the sense of making a difference in their lives. Then there were these days. Raw-sewage-backing-up-into-your-life kind of days. He’d been trying to shovel the mess over the spring musical ever since Mrs. Vanderlin had made her announcement.
    â€œWe’re running out of time,” Mrs. Turney said. “This is my Lisa’s senior year. There must be a show. Her future depends on it.”
    He opened the door. “Don’t worry. There will be a show.”
    â€œNeed I remind you how important the spring musical is to our community?” Mrs. Turney asked. “If you’re not going to take this issue seriously, I will have no choice but to go to the school board.”
    If he had a dollar for every time a parent threatened to go over his head, he’d be a rich man. They rarely carried through. Generally, because he did take care of most problems. Being the star quarterback who’d taken Covington Falls High to the state championship and won didn’t hurt either.
    Championships tended to give a guy hero-status for life, and if he occasionally used such a status for the greater good who could blame him?
    â€œIf you must,” he said. “However, I assure you I am well aware of Covington Falls’ history regarding the spring musical and I will find someone, even if I have to direct the show myself.”
    Mrs. Turney allowed a small, satisfied smile.