The Unused Costume

Ages 12-15

Basya's costume collar is bright blue.

She folds it on top of the other clothes and closes the bag. At rehearsal, she puts the bag beneath her chair.

Her part has six lines. After the third, she is supposed to step forward so everyone can see the collar.

The rehearsal runs long.

At the front, the teacher crosses out three lines on the program. Then two more.

Basya has one left.

"We won't have the costume change," the teacher says.

Basya pulls her bag onto her lap.

Beside her, Henny reads the shortened scene. She reaches Basya's remaining line and stops.

Basya opens the bag. The blue collar lies on top.

She touches its folded edge.

"We need your line," Henny says.

Basya closes the bag and puts it beneath the chair.

She stands in her ordinary clothes.

Henny begins again. Basya waits until the last word, then says her line.

There is no step forward afterward. Henny starts the next scene.

Basya sits.

At the program, she keeps the costume bag beside her feet. The collar stays folded inside.

Her scene begins. Henny turns toward her.

Basya says the one line. She stays where she is while the scene moves on.

Afterward, the teacher draws a short mark beside their completed scene on the program.

Basya lifts her bag. The zipper catches. She opens it just enough to free the blue edge from its teeth, then closes it again.

At home, she takes out the collar. Its crease is still straight down the middle.