Chapter 27: Five Years Later

There were many changes at 5 Hardwood Court since Julie’s “marriage” to Theo and Sylvie. Now 15-years-old, Cosette Garnier had rejected every attempt to enroll her in the local public high school. Instead, she was expecting to take and pass Indiana’s High School Equivalency (HSE) test as soon as she could (when she reached 16). She was already enrolled in a bachelor’s program at Indiana Wesleyan University just down Interstate 69 southwest of Fort Wayne.

What Sette had not plotted out like her academic career was her social life. She was handicapped by not attending high school. But she found another way to socialize with other teens with her love of literature.

None of the nearby high schools (four public, two private) could support theater programs on their own. Instead, the county’s adult education program offered a program open to all, aged 14 on up. The program had limited access to the renovated movie palace downtown: the 2400-seat Embassy Theatre.

The program’s director chose Arthur Miller’s The Crucible (about the 17th century Salem Witch Trials). Anxiously hoping for the leading role of Elizabeth, Sette studies the lines and auditions without holding a script. She gets the part after impressing the director with her acting and her memorization skills.

The top male role is John Proctor, played by Dennis Hastings. It turns out that Dennis and Sette live only a 20 minute walk from each other. Which is handy, because she is immediately attracted to him.

For his part, he’s intimidated. Her intellect and knowledge are so obvious, and he finds his tongue gets tangled up when they are trying to make ordinary conversation. She’s aware of his discomfort, but it’s not the problem for her that he thinks it is.

And then there’s an opportunity. They get to the part in the script where Elizabeth needs to kiss John, her husband. Mischievously, she climbs on to his body and drags him to the floor while aggressively kissing him with loud smacking noises. Surprised, he is unable to restrain her.

Before releasing him, Sette whispers in his ear.

“There will be more kisses after rehearsal, delicious Dennis.”

Everybody is laughing as Sette and Dennis struggle to their feet. He does the kind of shaking whirl that wet dogs do as soon as they get back inside your house. Which triggers even more laughter.

Their director, who teaches drama at one of the high schools, asks, “What the hell was that?”

Sette replies, “Method acting.”

“Argh!” The director seeks to regain control as the others around him continue to laugh. “Listen, everybody, we only have 40 minutes before Barry Manilow takes over this stage. Run it back to when...”

At the end of rehearsal, Sette has a question.

“Dennis, did you drive here? Will you drive me home to Hardwood Court?”

“I don’t know, you might attack me again and I’ll drive right into a ditch.”

“Oh, don’t you worry, Dennis. I WILL attack you again, but not while you’re driving, and not in public.”

“Uh-oh, I’m in trouble.”

“I can think of two, no, three reasons you are resisting me. (1) You’re gay, (2) You have a romantic partner besides me, or (3) you’re a virgin and want (or think) that you have to take things slow. So, Dennis, pick a number.”