Any Way You Slice It

We make a lot of decisions in our everyday lives. Some, like what to eat for breakfast or which TV shows to watch, aren’t entirely crucial. But it’s the ones that are and how you handle them that really shows what you’re made of.

For kids, even the ones that make up Kids Incorporated, summer vacation presents the freedom to have all of your decisions be of the non-crucial sort; the most often made one being how to spend their days. This afternoon, Flip was busy making a decision of his own.

“Hi, Flip!” the Kids greeted him as they left the stage.

“Oh, good, I could use you guys’ help.” he said gratefully. “How do you feel about…anchovies?”

They stared at him quizzically. “New ice cream flavor, Flip?” Kenny asked.

“No.” he answered. “Although that is a good idea...seriously, though, I’m trying to figure out ways of bringing new income into the P*lace, and all of a sudden, it hit me.”

“An anchovy hit you?” Eric said.

“Forget anchovies! Listen! What do kids like almost as much as ice cream?”

“Free ice cream?” offered Haylie.

“Okay, yeah, but besides that?”

“Getting paid to eat ice cream?” said Eric.

“How would that bring in more money?” Flip asked him. “I’m talking about pizza!”

“Oh!” they all said.

“Yeah, I figure, how hard can it be? Picture it: nice soft crust, gooey cheese, a little sausage...”

“Oh, I don’t like sausage.” Robin said suddenly.

“Okay, a little pepperoni.”

“And onions. Don’t forget onions.” said Eric.

“Who would put onions on a pizza?” Ana made a face.

“I say, the more toppings, the better.” Kenny chimed in.

“Whatever pizza you guys like. We’ll make ‘em all.” Flip assured them. “Deep-dish, hand-tossed, Sicilian. It’s gonna be fantastic!”

“Wait a minute.” Haylie said. “Did you say, ‘we’?”

“Well, you’re gonna help me, right? I mean, I can’t do all this alone.”

“But Flip, we’re all thinking about trying out for community theatre.” Robin informed him. It had just opened up a few weeks ago, and seemed to be the latest craze.

“If we’re not too late. The whole town’s out there.” said Ana.

“I think it’s great that there’s something that can bring the whole town together.” said Flip. “And what better way to end a day of auditioning then with a nice, hot pizza? C’mon! I’ll give you a discount.” They glared at him. “Okay! Yours will be free!”

“We’ll let you know right after our next number.” said Kenny. They headed back towards the stage.

“What’s wrong with onions?” Eric wondered.

Flip’s pizza craze took a backseat as even he took his turn auditioning Ana had been right about the whole town’s involvement. Everyone began spending all their time in the theatre. With their stage experience, Kids Inc. managed to snag some co-starring roles, so the band took a backseat as well. During one rare break, the weary Kids gathered at the P*lace to relax.

“I’m glad they decided to do a musical.” said Haylie.

“Yeah. Too bad no one will hear us.” Eric moped. “I’m Townsperson #8!”

“Calm down, Eric. We’re all townspeople.” Ana said.

“Except Robin.” added Kenny. “How’d you manage to get such a great part?”

“Kenny, I’m an understudy.” Robin answered.

“For one of the lead roles!”

“Like I’m ever gonna get any stage time! That girl can really sing.”

“Still, an understudy’s a very important job.” Flip told her. “You’ve got to be at every rehearsal, and know the entire script in case something happens to the star.”

“Well, I’m not sweating it.” said Robin. “Speaking of sweating, why’s it so hot in here?”

“Oh, it’s my new pizza oven. Thought I’d try it out.” Flip directed their attention to behind the counter. “Guaranteed to turn out the best pizza you’ve ever had. At least, it better, since I paid a small fortune for it.”

“Do you really think that was a good idea?” Ana asked him.

“Definitely! It’ll pay for itself in days. That is, if you guys help me.”

“Well, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of time on my hands.” said Robin. “Sure, Flip, I’ll help you.”

“Great!”

“I’ve never made a pizza before.” Haylie said. “It might be fun.”

“Okay, count me in.” Kenny said.

“Me, too.” said Ana. “Eric?”

“Just call me Pizza Maker #6." Eric joked.

They planned to begin the next afternoon. Eric hadn’t shown up at the theatre to rehearse his one line that morning, so the rest of the Kids went to find him. When they got to his house, though...

“Is that a moving van?” asked Haylie.

It was, and Eric was hanging over the side of the porch throwing gravel at it. “Hey, what’s going on?” Kenny asked him.

“Looks like I won’t be a townsperson anymore.” Eric grumbled.

“But you just moved here not too long ago.” Ana pointed out.

“I don’t understand it, either.”

“I think I do.” said Kenny. “This house is cursed.”

“Huh?” said everybody else.

“Every member of Kids Inc who’s ever lived here had to move.” he explained. “And now Eric.”

“You don’t really believe that, do you?” Robin asked him.

“Sounds good to me.” said Eric glumly.

“Don’t feel bad, Eric.” Ana tried to cheer him up. “C’mon. We’ll make you a pizza with extra onions for the road.”

“Nah.” he said. “I’d better stick around here. Consider this my resignation. Later, guys.”

“Later.” they echoed half-heartedly. So now they were down to four members. Thank goodness for community theatre, or they’d be in deep trouble. They broke the news to Flip.

“Curse, huh?” he mused. “You know I don’t go in for that sort of stuff. It is bad news, though. But hey,  maybe the theatre will unearth some hidden singers out there who’ll wanna join the band.”

“I’ll find out.” said Robin. “I’ve gotta go down there now. The main cast’s dress rehearsals are tonight. Save me some anchovies!” she called back jokingly as she left.’

“Okay,” Flip clapped his hands and adopted a bad Italian accent, “Let’s-a make-a some-a pizza!”

“More sauce!” Ana wiped her hands on her apron.

“No, more cheese!” insisted Haylie, adjusting her chefs hat.

“No, more sauce!”

No matter how close friends are, they almost always disagree over pizza. So far, Flip and the Kids had been working approximately 5 hours, and had made approximately 2 pizzas, one of which they had eaten.

“Haylie, that’s way too much cheese already!” whined Ana.

“You didn’t leave any room for the pepperoni!” added Kenny.

“No fair! We already made a pizza your way, with everything but the kitchen sink on it!” Haylie complained. “Why can’t we have one with just cheese?”

“You’ve got nothing but cheese! What’s pizza without sauce?” said Ana. They started arguing.

Sudden1y, Kenny picked his head up. “Uh, guys?”

“Oh, sure, add more sauce - if you want tomato soup on your pizza!”

“And just how do you expect to cut a pizza with that much cheese on it? It’ll stretch out for days!”

“Hey, you guys, there’s something...” Kenny tried to say.

“Don’t be silly, Ana.”

“I’m silly?”

“Would you two pay attention to me for a minute?” Kenny finally got out.

“WHAT??” they yelled.

“Do you smell something burning?”

Together, they managed to pull out the charred remains of a pizza from the oven. Kenny slammed the oven door shut to cut off the black clouds of smoke, and Haylie ran to prop open the P*lace’s doors.

“Oh (cough!), great!” said Kenny.

“That was our best one!” Ana complained, coughing.

“Well, if you two hadn’t been busy (cough!) arguing, maybe we could have saved it!”

“Well, why didn’t you get it?” snapped Ana.

“My job was rolling out the crust, remember?” he tossed back. “Haylie should have gotten it!”

“Hey!” Haylie protested. “I was cheese and toppings. Besides, I can’t carry a whole pizza by myself.”

“There’s too few of us to go around.” Ana pointed out.

“Where’s Flip? This was his brainchild.” said Kenny. “So far, we’re the ones doing all the work.”

“I wish Robin was here.” said Haylie. Quietly, she added, “Bet she’d like extra cheese.”

“I wonder what’s keeping her.” Ana said. “She can’t be that busy.”

“Maybe she fell asleep!” joked Kenny, and the girls laughed.

It had gotten so late that the theatre director gave Robin a ride. “You sure this is where you want me to drop you off?” he asked as he pulled up to the P*lace.

“Uh-huh.” she answered. “I’ve got some major explaining to do to my friends.” 

“Sure is a lot of smoke coming from inside there.” He accompanied Robin inside. “Is there anything I can do for you kids?”

“Not unless you’re Italian.” muttered Ana.

“Robin, where have you been?” asked Haylie. “We could have used your help.”

“I’m sorry, Haylie, but believe me, I would have rather been here making pizzas.” she said, and then added, “Guess who’s in the play now?”

“You? What happened?” Ana asked.

“Dinah broke her leg, and won’t be able to perform opening night.” the director said. “You’d have been proud of your friend tonight. She was brilliant.”

“Wow, Robin, you’re a star.” Haylie told her.

Robin and Kenny exchanged glances, and Kenny said, “At least for one night, anyway.”

“Maybe not.” said the director. “After tomorrow night’s show, I’ll be putting a troupe together. I’m going  to ask Dinah if she’d join up with us, but I thought I’d ask you first.”

Robin took a deep breath. “Thank you, but no. See, I’m part of a group, and I know firsthand how it feels when one person gets more attention than the others.”

“That’s very honorable. But I hope you’ll at least think it over. See you tomorrow night.” He left.

“Robin, are you crazy?” Ana asked her. “Why’d you say no?”

“I meant what I said, Ana. It’s not fair to the rest of you.”

“We’ll get over it!” said Haylie.

Robin laughed. “I mean, were all brilliant on stage. Look at Kids Inc. – or what’s left of it, anyways. No one person shines more than another. If I’m a star, then we’re a constellation.”

“You know we’ll support you, whatever you decide.” Kenny told Robin.

“Thanks. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you! We were short one townsperson since Eric quit, but this new girl, Nicole, showed up just in time. She’d be great for us.”

“Looks like Flip was right!” said Ana.

“Where is he, anyway?” Robin asked.

“On my way to the poorhouse!” Flip said angrily, brandishing a huge stack of bills. “This pizza oven is eating through my bank account! I don’t know if I can afford to keep it at this rate. You guys’ll have to make 2 million pizzas before this thing’s paid off.” Ana, Haylie, and Kenny groaned.

“How hard can it be to make pizza?” Robin said innocently. They looked at her, looked at each other, and threw their hats at her. “Hey!”

Opening night was everything the director hoped it would be. The only people not in the audience were the actors themselves. Even the mayor had come out. Backstage, people ran around half-dressed and frantic as last-minute mending and rehearsing went on. Robin, decked out in her costume, sat as far away from the madness as she could, dazed.

“Are you okay?” Ana asked.

“Oh, yeah.” she said. “It’s kinda like what we go through at the P*lace before every show, isn’t it? Only not this crazy.”

Kenny and Haylie had been handing out programs at the door. “It’s a full house out there!” exclaimed Kenny.

“This is so exciting!” gushed Haylie. “Are you ready, Robin?”

“I’d better be.” said Robin nervously.

“There’s our star!” the director called as he came over. “Look, I know you said you didn’t want to, but I’ve talked to our cast, and they all agree you’d be great for this.”

“We think so, too.” Kenny said.

“Maybe we should just get through opening night first.” All of a sudden, the room seemed a lot smaller to Robin.

“We’d better get to our places.” Ana said. “Good luck, Robin.”

“Yeah, break a le- sorry!” Haylie chuckled.

Alone, Robin took the opportunity to go over her lines. Why hadn’t she paid more attention during rehearsals? Too bad she hadn’t broken her leg, too.

The first act seemed to go on forever. When intermission finally came, the director was jumping up and down triumphantly. “Everybody, gather ‘round!” he called. “You won’t believe our luck! One of our waterside companies is willing to sponsor a traveling theatre company. If we’re a hit here, we’ll be taking it on the road! And they want the whole cast,” he explained, catching Robin’s frozen stare of sheer terror, “so when you go back out there, be sure to give it your all, ‘cause I’m counting on you!”

Robin couldn’t breathe. Every word the director said after that sounded like he was underwater. When no one was looking, she fled out the side door.

“All packed, Mom.” Eric called out. Even though he hadn’t wanted to move, it would go much easier if they got this whole thing over with as soon as possible. He stepped out onto the porch for one last look at the neighborhood he so briefly called home, which is when Robin ran up.

“Eric! I’m glad I caught you!” she gasped breathlessly.

“Hey, Robin. Nice outfit. Oh, yeah, the play’s tonight.”

“And the show’s gonna have to go on without me.”

“What? Robin, you can’t quit now.”

“Can’t I?” She filled him in on her situation.

“Well,” he said, “it sounds to me like everyone just wants you to succeed. It’s a good opportunity, you know. They don’t come around every day.”

“But I’d have to do what I swore I never would, which is leave the band.”

“But they want you to go, right? It’s not like you’re abandoning them. Not like me.” he added glumly.

“Hey, a curse is a curse – I should know, right?” Robin said. “You’re not abandoning us, either. Besides, maybe the kid who moves in here will wanna join us.”

“What makes you think there’s gonna be a kid living here?” Eric asked.

“Trust me. If Kenny’s right, your replacement will be here any day now.”

Robin got back just in time for the break to end “Hey, where were you?” Ana asked, worried “The director’s freaking out!”

“Just getting some inspiration.” Robin reassured her. “C’mon, let’s get this show on the road - literally!”

When the curtain closed for the last time that night, Robin felt more confident about her decision than she’d ever been. She received her applause and her bouquet of roses, and went to find her friends.

“Robin, look who showed up!” said Haylie.

Robin smiled. “Eric! What’d you think?”

“Two thumbs up! Congratulations!” said Eric. He turned their attention to the boy standing next to them. “Meet my new buddy Jared – soon to be your new buddy Jared. He moved in today.”

“Told ya.” Robin smirked.

“Eric’s been telling me my house is cursed.” Jared said. “What’s up with that?”

They laughed. “It’s a long story.” said Kenny. “And we’ll have plenty of time to explain it to you.”

“Looks like Eric’s covered.” Haylie observed. “Now all we need is someone to replace Robin.”

“Haylie!” scolded Ana. “She hasn’t said yes to the director yet.” To her cousin, she said, “Is she right? Are you joining the theatre company?”

“It depends.” Robin answered. “Are you gonna hate me for the rest of your life?”

“No, just half.” Ana joked. “I’ll miss you.”

“Oh, Ana, I’ll miss you, too. But everything’ll work out okay.”

Sure enough, as she spoke, a girl was heading their way. “Hi, Robin. You were great tonight.”

“Thanks, Nicole. You, too.”

“Coming to the after party?”

“Yeah, in a little while. Oh, Nicole?”

“Yeah?”

“My friends and I have this band, it’s called Kids Incorporated, and I was wondering...”

The End