Was the world really this wonderful after all?
8 My Turn to Shine
"There's someone I'd like you to meet," Miss Hamilton told me when the crowd began to thin out.
Mommy. Daddy and Grandmother Beverly had left while I cleaned off my makeup and changed. They were waiting in the lobby. I turned from the makeup mirror and looked up at a tall, thin man with small dark eyes, a sharp straight nose and a squareboned, cleft chin. He had thin, arrogant lips and styled dark brown hair. He looked impeccably dressed in a gray, pin-striped suit and tie. There was a small twist in the right corner of his mouth that made him look lofty, condescending.
"Cinnamon. I'd like you to meet a good friend of mine. Edmond Senetsky."
"Hello," I said, gazing quizzically at Miss Hamilton. It was obvious to me from the way she was gloating that this man was important to her.
He extended his
right hand, a slim hand with long fingers, one of which was dressed in a gold and diamond band. It wasn't a wedding ring, just a very expensive piece of jewelry.
I stood up quickly and shook his hand. He had a soft, unremarkable grip, more like the grip of someone just letting go.
"Edmond is a theatrical agent. Cinnamon. I once had illusions of him representing me," Miss Hamilton said. She laughed, but he didn't.
"I think the worst thing you can do to someone is give them false hope," he declared firmly. He looked at Miss Hamilton and added. "Those who can, do: and those who can't, teach."
She didn't stop smiling, but I thought that was a mean thing to say and stopped smiling at him.
"He's right. Cinnamon," Miss Hamilton said quickly. "There's no disgrace in being the teacher either. You get to live on through your students."
"Precisely," Edmond said. He wasn't English, but he tried to speak so perfectly, he sounded like someone imitating a distinguished Englishman.
"Anyway, honey, you might have heard me mention Edmond's mother. Madame Senetsley who was once a very famous Russian stage actress and who now operates one of the most prestigious dramatic arts schools on the East coast. Actually, she takes on only a handful of new students every year. Edmond thinks you could be one of them."
"I didn't say that exactly," he corrected quickly, showing some annoyance. "You've given a passable performance tonight for a high- school."
"Passable, Edmond?" Miss Hamilton pushed.
"Well, perhaps somewhat more remarkable than that. but I must warn you, the creme de la creme auditions for my mother every year. It's one thing to compete with your classmates in a school this size, but quite another to go head to head against the best in the country."
"You're going to frighten her away, Edmond," Miss Hamilton told him.
"If I do, she's meant to be away," he said. He drew a step closer to me. His eyes were beady, his lashes long enough to make any girl green with envy. "Let me tell you this one truth about the theater, the movies, television, modeling, anything that has to do with performance. Miss..."
"Cinnamon," Miss Hamilton said. "Cinnamon Carlson."
"Yes, Cinnamon. All of it is at least thirty percent perseverance. Then there is about thirty percent luck, being in the right place at the right time. The rest has to do with talent. If it's in you to do it, you'll do it, if not..."
"I'll teach?" I countered. Miss Hamilton laughed.
"Or take tickets at the entrance," he shot back. He turned to Miss Hamilton. "You will have the information you need," He looked at me. "Good luck."
"That's thirty percent," I said.
He almost smiled. His eves brightened with some appreciation. Then he nodded, thanked Miss Hamilton for inviting him and left.
"Who was that?" I grimaced.
"He really is a very powerful agent. Cinnamon, and his mother's school is really the most sought after in the county. All her graduates go on to find success in a most competitive world. I want you to think about auditioning. Two weeks from now, in New York. I'll go with you, if you like. I'll get all the information to you and your parents."
"I don't know. Miss Hamilton."
"Talk it over with your family. I'll mention it to your mother and father when I see them out in the lobby now. You were wonderful. Cinnamon. Really wonderful."