“I got three days to live,” she says.
“Fine, Ma,” I say in a low tone, my voice filled with withering sarcasm. “I’ll scratch the Bengay off the grocery list.”
I put my hand on Sid’s shoulder. I move forward.
He looks at me, confused. This is not part of our blocking.
“And, Ma,” I continue. “I might only have a short time to live, too.”
I leave my mark and turn to my friends.
I can feel their eyes on me.
“Teddy?” the stage manager says into my ear. “What are you doing?”
I move downstage until I am front and center. I lift my arms to the audience.
“I really might,” I repeat. “I have Stage 3 prostate cancer.”
The audience gasps and then begins to murmur, wondering if this is real or a part of the show.
“What?” Ron says too loudly into his mic. A loud pop explodes through the theater, and the audience groans. They look around at one another, finally realizing what is happening is completely unrehearsed. Many ignore the rules, grab their cell phones and beginning recording the spectacle.
“I didn’t know any other way to break the news to my best friends. My entire life, I’ve been a fighter. I’ve always been strong, but I lost the will to live a long time ago when I lost John. I thought cancer would be my way to exit stage right.” I turn and face my friends. “I didn’t know how to tell any of you. I didn’t want to burden you. I didn’t want your golden years to be filled with caregiving and medical bills.”
I turn and train my eyes on Ava.
“But lately I’ve found the strength to fight.”
“You knew?”
Trudy’s voice is audible on stage.
“I paid attention, Grandma,” Ava says. “I actually asked how someone else was feeling for once in my life instead of acting as if everything was going to be okay because, guess what, it’s not unless you ask.”
“Cancer is my secret,” I say. “I didn’t know any other way to tell my best friends—those I love most in the world—thanon this stage. I’m scared. I don’t want to be scared any longer, and I didn’t want there to be any more secrets in our home. I’m sorry. I hope you can forgive me.”
Sid moves downstage with me and takes my hand. I can see the audience collectively sigh and settle back into their seats, thinking the show is back on track and Sophia is going to recite her next zinger.
“I have a secret, too,” he says, taking me by surprise. “I’m in love.”
A few people in the audience applaud.
“What?” I ask. “With Leo?”
“Yes,” he says, pointing into the audience at the handsome man I recognize from Streetbar seated in the front row. Sid stops and looks at the audience, quipping in Sophia’s memorable voice, “He’s so young, and I’m so old, I just won’t buy any ripe bananas.”
The crowd roars.
“Are you really in love?” I whisper to him.
“I am.” Sid smiles at me. “And—I have one more secret, too.”
My eyes widen.
“I was attacked by a woman after my Reading Hour to kids at the library when I was dressed like Sophia.”
“What?” I exclaim, as the crowd boos what happened to Sid.
