“I think it’s pretty good—there’s a peephole in the curtain if you want to look.”
“No, not tonight—”
“Have fun, Dad,” Michael said to his father as Howard Miller took his place beside Peggy.
“How do you feel, Peggy?” Mr. Miller asked.
“Nervous!” Peggy smiled. “Break a leg, Dad.”
“House lights!” they heard Gus call to Michael, who was at the lightboard. “Music! Spots!”
Peggy took a deep breath and adjusted the little beret she wore for her entrance. Suddenly her knees felt like water. “What’s my first line?” she thought frantically. “I don’t remember what I’m supposed to say—”
“Curtain!” Gus said, and the heavy drapes swept back.
There was dead silence for a moment, and then Peggy heard a gasp from the audience followed by a wave of applause for the set. It was evident they hadn’t expected anything so charming and good.
“Morning, Mis’ Wilkins.” Mary Hopkins entered with her first line.