#Chapter 26 Friends in Fast Places

I stare at her with wide eyes, shocked.

“But…why?”

“What do you mean ‘Why’? You were great up there! Not only did you and Alex help refine the script and storyline, but your performance was fantastic! Carter still sent me the details. I know you adlibbed that line during a titular scene. And it fit well! It’s a waste to have you stay in the background, so I want to see you on stage more.”

For a moment, I’m speechless. Anxiously, I look back at Alex, who gives me two thumbs up. But that’s not reassuring at all!

“…What about the, uhm, sss…stuttering?”

She hums. “What about it?”

“Won’t that rrr-ruin some of the linesss?”

“Oh, hon.” She starts counting off with her fingers. “Bran Walden, Yearny Easton, Emilia Frank. That’s just three of my favorite actors who stutter or had one at some point. Emilia Frank’s is neurogenic, so she always takes slower-speaking roles. Still, isn’t she amazing?”

“Ah…”

Mrs. Taylor walks over and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“Having a stutter doesn’t mean you can