― Cassandra Clare
Storm of Emotions
My lecture on Tennessee Williams went better than usual, especially since Autumn was subdued and didn't interrupt or challenge me.
As a matter of fact it went so smoothly, I had about fifteen minutes left and didn't want to start a new topic so I opted for something different just to fill in the time.
"You know when you're studying a play it helps to hear it acted out―anyone feel like playing Maggie to my Brick?"
No one responded and some of the girls actually shielded their eyes or looked away.
"Okay, I realize playing Maggie is daunting―she pretty well carries the dialogue and whoever plays her is exhausted as if running up five flights of stairs hollering fire."
My attempt to lighten the situation drew a few nervous titters from the girls but no one was brave enough to raise a hand, except for one―Autumn, of course.
"Well, Ms. Chandler, it seems you are Maggie the Cat," I smiled, "Come on down."
She was sitting near the back of the amphitheatre lecture hall, having delayed her entrance so she wouldn't draw attention walking in with me. Now, she left her seat, text in hand, and strode confidently to the dais.
The girl is brave, I mused to myself as she took her place beside me.
Just as we were about to begin, there was a rumble of thunder. Apparently, a storm was building outside.
"It looks like Nature is going to provide a melodramatic backdrop," I quipped, "quite appropriate since conflict is the soul of drama."
We started in reading our lines.
My part was easy since the laconic Brick mostly replied in one-liners. Maggie, on the other hand, was full of outbursts and exaggerated anger, not unlike the storm now beginning to rage outside.
Autumn was a natural actress and believable as the feisty and irrepressible Maggie. We quickly reached the climax of the scene where she moans, You know what I feel like? I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof.
I answered, Then jump off the roof, jump off it, cats can jump off roofs and land on their four feet uninjured!
And do what? Take a lover. I don't deserve that! I can't see any man but you. Even with my eyes closed, I just see you.
Autumn was so believable saying those lines, the class was spellbound.
At that moment there was a bright lightning flash followed almost instantaneously by a great crash of thunder―and the lights went out.
Several girls cried out in fright, including Autumn, who fell into my arms, clinging to me for safety.
The room went dead and then Frank Murphy, the class joker, broke the ice. "Well, that was a dramatic reading, if I ever saw one!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
"Well, I guess the class is over for today," I laughed, "Called on account of darkness."
With much commotion and a few guffaws the students noisily filed out.
It was only when the last stranglers were gone I realized Autumn was still beside me, leaning into my warmth.
The next moment she was in my arms again and this time we were kissing.
I came to my senses and backed off.
"I don't think your Daddy would approve of this kind of realism," I said ironically.
"Oh, I don't know about that―he thinks very highly of you. But don't worry, I won't tell him."
All I could do was smile and shake my head in disbelief. This girl was really something else, but her father no doubt already knew that.