It Really IS a Wonderful Life: The Snowflake Falls but Hearts in Love Keep a Home Warm All Year Long Read Free Page A

to be so nice? He’d rejected her once already and she didn’t want to like him. Didn’t he even remember doing so? Yet like a landscape drawing one in for a closer look, her dislike ebbed with each smile he gave her. She handed him her uncompleted form.
    “Yes. Thank you.”
    Dorie followed Jamey into the audition area. He graciously folded it without peeking, then zigzagged through the crowd to where Danny sat. The two talked as if they were lifetime friends, a warm scene.
    Will I ever find that comfortableness with anyone from Midville besides my parents?
    Dorie looked for Zeke, who mingled on the other side of the room. Great, abandoned by Sulu the Great without so much as sayonara . She leaned against the wall as Danny Riley took center floor, her heart only flipping once this time.
    “Thanks for coming, everyone. What a great turnout—better than I’d hoped. We’ll read in a group tonight. I might need to do callbacks for the leads; otherwise I’ll notify every one of their assigned parts within three days. Jamey, Evie, and Zeke—come on up. Begin with the opening scene.” As they read, Danny sat at a desk and wrote on their audition sheets. “Mrs. Davidson, would you come up, too?”
    Dorie pinged her forehead. The lady from Mom’s church. That was her name. Gillian Davidson. Best tuck it away for future reference in case the tryouts came up in conversation Sunday.
    Danny gave everyone a script. “Let’s read the scene where the town descends on the Savings and Loan.”
    Jamey read the part of George Bailey with convincing professionalism, especially compared to Zeke and Evie’s more obvious amateur renditions. Then Danny switched scenes and had Jamey read Clarence, while Zeke and Evie took the leads. Evie as an ingénue? Not even in Midville. But Jamey, though much thinner and younger than the movie’s version, made a very believable Clarence.
    Danny closed his script. As the first group took their seats, he picked out more forms. “Now I’d like Dorie Fitzgerald to come up.”
    He called a few other names—names she’d never remember. She walked the imaginary plank to her doom while the rest of the group confidently sauntered forward, among them a shapely brunette with gyrating hips.
    Danny handed all the readers a script. “Let’s go back to the first scene with the townspeople. Dorie, would you please take the part of Miss Andrews?” He spoke to the female Elvis next. “Susan, would you be the other townsperson for now?”
    Susan flicked her long curls. “Whatever.”
    Put the distraction aside. Focus on how someone might feel if they were about to lose every cent they owned . Dorie remembered how Daddy had fumed at selling some stock at half what he had paid. As she read, she modeled Daddy’s anger.
    “That’s good,” Danny said. “Thanks.” Sincerity covered his words of approval. Dorie took her seat feeling a little more confident than when she’d entered the building. Maybe the night wouldn’t be a disaster after all. She watched the remaining try-outs with reserved amusement. Like the dichotomy of wealth prevalent in the North Country, talent stood side-by-side with absurdity. Danny and Jamey huddled for a few minutes, and then Danny took center again. “That’s all for tonight. I’ll be in touch.”
    The hopeful cast put on their coats. Some lingered to chat while others paraded to the parking lot. Dorie joined the latter group, their pace a little shy of a full gallop. She had done the best she could do, and Danny had seemed pleased. Now she’d have to wait for his call.
    “You read well, Dorie.”
    When had Jamey caught up to her?
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. I thought you did a great job tonight.”
    She’d accept the compliment, even though he didn’t think she was good enough to work in his store. She stammered an acknowledgement and resumed her brisk clip.
    He kept pace. “I’ll probably see you at read-through next