Audition

They examined me with tape measures in their eyes as I entered superimposing famous female faces over my own in their minds like pictures printed on clear plastic sheets placing one atop another onto an overhead projector my teachers used years ago in the classroom contemplating the magic of makeup the limits of lighting I could see in their stares what I’d learned to recognize though the expression on their faces remained stoic as if carved from cool, smooth marble True talent was to them a secondary consideration It wouldn’t matter in the least how well I delivered the lines interpreted the character or set the scene Audiences are apathetic to a poor performance if the actress is sweet enough eye candy I was more on the savory side like sage used to spice up the flavor of roast turkey and dressing I gave it my all anyway as I always did though I already knew the outcome would be the same They’d forget my name and number the moment I passed through the door behind me back out on the street my phone playing the part of a medieval monk in a monastery who had hidden himself away from the world taking a vow of silence