Fabulous Five 020 - The Witches of Wakeman Read Free Page B

a fantastic show."
    Mr. Levine cleared his throat. "But first, there's
another matter I'd like to discuss. As you may have noticed, the cast is rather
small. That's not because Wakeman Junior High lacks talented performers. There's
another reason. Apparently my discussion about the Macbeth curse
frightened a few people, and they asked that their names be taken off the
tryout list."
    Beth leaned forward and whispered to Dekeisha, "Why
would anyone quit over a silly superstition?"
    Dekeisha looked back over her shoulder and shrugged.
    "I just want to say," Mr. Levine continued, "that
the subject of the Macbeth curse is closed. We will all forget about the
broken mirror and the old theater superstition and proceed with the production
of our show as if nothing ever happened. Does everyone understand?"
    Heads nodded all over the auditorium.
    "Very well, then." Mr. Levine looked down at his
clipboard. "The three emcee witches will be: Beth Barry—"
    There was applause from the kids in the auditorium, which
made Beth feel great.
    "Please hold the applause until I've finished,"
Mr. Levine said.
    Beth's checks turned red, but she smiled appreciatively at
the kids around her.
    "The other two witches will be played by Dekeisha Adams
and Laura McCall."
    Dekeisha turned and grinned at Beth, and Beth gave her a
thumbs-up sign. Laura turned toward Beth, and they glared at each other.
    Mr. Levine continued, "Because of the dropouts, the
three emcee witches will be double-cast as the witches in the skits. This will
mean costume changes, but I'm confident the three of you can handle it.
Dekeisha will be the witch in the Snow White skit, and Lisa Snow will
play Snow White."
    There was some giggling and commenting about Lisa's name
being Snow, the same as the character's she was playing, but Mr. Levine held up
his hand for silence.
    "In The Wizard of Oz skit," he went on, "Shelly
Bramlett will be Dorothy, and the witches will be played by Beth and Laura.
Beth will be the bad witch, and Laura will play the good witch."
    Beth was stunned. Mr. Levine went right on talking about the
rest of the casting, but she didn't hear any of it. She was going to be the bad
witch—which was ugly and mean. By itself, that was okay because the bad witch
was definitely the better part. But why did Laura have to get the part of the
good witch? The beautiful one. It had never occurred to Beth that there would
be two kinds of witches, beautiful and ugly. Still, it wouldn't have mattered
if the beautiful witch had been anyone but Laura.
    She stole a glance at Laura, who sat in her seat with a smug
little smile playing on her lips. Beautiful Laura, who hadn't even auditioned
very well. Beth pictured Laura in her costume, a gorgeous, long, sparkling
gown. She'd probably put her hand on her hip and glide across the stage looking
glamorous, and everyone would have their eyes on her.
    There had to be a reason why she got one of the best parts
in the show. Was it because Laura had a great body? She was tall and slender
and very developed. That must be it, Beth thought. That developed chest of
hers.
    Beth glanced down at her own chest and groaned inwardly. She
was so thin, there was practically nothing there. Not that it mattered . . .
most of the time. But didn't famous actresses always have great shapes?
    She glanced at Laura again, this time through narrowed eyes.
Maybe being in "The Witches' Caldron" wasn't going to be so
wonderful, after all.

CHAPTER 4
    When Beth got home, she stretched out across her bed,
staring at the ceiling and thinking about Laura McCall.
    Beth had felt little tingles race up and down her spine
sitting there in the auditorium after Mr. Levine had made the casting
announcement. He had called them "the good witch" and "the bad
witch," but she knew what he meant—and so did everyone else, she was sure
of it. Mr. L was just too kind to say "the beautiful witch" and "the
ugly witch."
    Of course she had wanted the better part, she thought, the
one