In the Spotlight

Chapter 1

Jan. 2, 2019; Skype

"So I have this crazy idea," Leigh states with a huge smile to Ash over the video call.

"Not another story I hope. We just finished the last one a week ago," Ash states with a laugh.

"No, I couldn't do another story right now my brain is fried from the last one we did with all the twists in it," Leigh answered laughing. "No my crazy idea is you and Sean come visit me in London for the summer. I have my niece here for the summer and I would love for you to see my new place." Leigh states looking at Ash with a serious look on her face.

"You're serious," Ash states shocked.

"Yes, I am very serious. I mean I visited you two summers ago. I want my best friend to visit me here in my hometown," Leigh states in a whine-like tone.

Ash laughed, "It was cheaper for you to come here." She calmed down, "It's a lot of money coming from my little hometown to London." She paused, "Sean I'm sure would love to see everything. I think he's gotten into that Harry Potter kick, so coming would be great." She sighs, "But still that's a lot of money. It would take me a year just to save up for the plane tickets alone."

"It is January right now. Just save up money for souvenirs and I'll cover for the plane tickets. I wouldn't have asked if I expected you to pay for your own plane tickets. I know you have your son to take care of and bills to pay." Leigh sighs. "Sweetie I come from a single child home with parents who come from a single child home. I have the room here so you don't have to worry about lodging." Leigh states softly.

Leigh sees a few tears fall, "Really?" Ash smiles. "I can't believe that you'll do that for us." Ash smirked, "No trick right?"

"No trick. Just save up the money for the tourist stuff. We'll just wait for Sean to be done with school, and my niece and you guys can come to stay for the summer. This will give you time for your parents to come back from traveling."

Ash nods, "That's true." She nods and inhales, "CRAP! My Summer Drama Camp for the kids. I'm getting prepared for that. We are planning on doing Peter Pan this year." She thinks, "Well, my parents luckily do help out every year. I can just get the fliers and invitations out, and start helping out with the auditions before I leave," Leigh saw the cogs turning, "I'll think about it and see what I can do here. I do have six months. I'll see if I can find someone able to take over the Playhouse for the summer months. Good thing I don't rent anymore."

"Thanks to your parents letting you stay at the house so that they can go traveling around the states to do the traveling theater for the school season every year with their friends. Where are they now?"

Ash thinks about it while looking at her calendar, "They are in Florida right now for two more weeks, then they are going through the lower states back to Cali, and then up the west coast for home, getting back in May for my birthday and Sean's as we get ready for Peter Pan."

"What are they traveling with this time?"

Ash laughed, "Take a wild guess."

"Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, or Macbeth," Leigh answered laughing as she listed off the most popular Shakespeare plays.

"Romeo and Juliet, again," Ash sighed. "I swear I can say the damn thing in my sleep. This dead guy wrote 37 plays and they have to do this one. I rather see them do Much Ado About Nothing or A Midsummer Nights Dream." Ash's only two that she loved. "Thank goodness that I'm in control of the summer program chooses or they would be doing all William Shakespeare."

"Those kids do need to act in something other than his stuff," Leigh agreed. "What was last year?"

Ash smiled, "My favorite."