“You’re next, Carl,” Mrs. Sosa said. Carl walked nervously to the stage. Why had he let his friend Neil talk him into trying out for the play? He hated standing in front of people.

He had spent the weekend memorizing lines, but he knew he wouldn’t get the part. It was a small part anyway, not like the lead role he just knew Neil would get. Neil had already finished his audition. As always he had done well even though he hadn’t practiced at all.

“You’re trying out for a guard?” Mrs. Sosa asked. “I’ll read the queen’s lines. Begin when you’re ready.”

Carl took a deep breath and tried to picture himself as a guard, just as his mother had suggested when she helped him practice. “Your majesty,” Carl began uncertainly, “the castle is under siege.”

“Call my knights!” Mrs. Sosa responded as the queen, sounding like Carl’s mother had. He almost smiled. At first he felt silly in front of the other students, but as he concentrated on his lines, he forgot about the people watching. It was as if he had really become a guard in a queen’s service!

After Carl finished, he walked over to Neil. As soon as Carl sat down, Neil asked, “Do you think I got the part of the knight?”

“I’m sure you did,” Carl mumbled. Sometimes he thought Neil just liked hearing how great he was. “It’s not like he doesn’t already hear what a great basketball player he is,” Carl thought. Neil was confident and talented. He seemed to succeed at everything without even trying, while Carl struggled just to be average.

“You should have made your voice sound like that actor in The Bank Caper,” Neil said.

“I had enough trouble just remembering my lines,” Carl said.

The next afternoon Carl went to Mrs. Sosa’s room to see who had been given the part of the guard. His name wasn’t listed. “Figures,” he muttered.

Mrs. Sosa walked up to Carl and said, “Rehearsals start tomorrow. There’s a lot of work to do.” Seeing Carl’s puzzled face, she said, “Oh, you haven’t heard.” She pointed to the top of the list. “You’re playing Sir Trawood. You had the best tryout of anyone, Carl.”

Carl was stunned. “But what about Neil?”

Mrs. Sosa sighed. “Neil was offered a smaller part, but he rejected it.”

“He did?” Carl’s eyes widened. “But I can’t be in the play without Neil,” he said.

Mrs. Sosa frowned. “But, Carl, you’re the best actor for this part.”

Neil called Carl that night and said, “I guess you’re happy to get the best part. I have to admit I’m jealous.” Carl was silent. He couldn’t believe that Neil would be jealous of him.

“Begin when you’re ready, Neil,” Mrs. Sosa said.

Neil started to speak. “Humph,” he coughed, trying to stall. He had looked at the script that morning, but now his mind was blank. Maybe he could improvise—make up his own words now and memorize his lines after he got the part. Then luckily he remembered. “Knights of the Royal Order,” he hissed, trying to sound like his favorite actor, “this means war!”

He saw Mrs. Sosa raise her eyebrows. He could tell she was impressed. He stumbled over his words a couple more times, but he still felt confident when he had finished. He couldn’t wait to star in a real play. Most days he imagined himself as a basketball star, but sometimes he thought he would like to star in the movies. “Maybe I’ll be an actor after I retire from basketball,” he thought.

His friend Carl was next. Neil felt sorry for him. Carl looked terrified. When he started talking, he sounded as if he had swallowed a frog. Carl remembered all his lines, but he didn’t act very well. He just used his regular voice.

When Carl returned, Neil noticed that he was sullen. “Do you think I got the part of the knight?” he asked his friend, hoping to take Carl’s mind off his own tryout. “Maybe I’ll ask Mrs. Sosa to give Carl another chance,” Neil thought.

After basketball practice the next day, Neil rushed to Mrs. Sosa’s room to see who else was in the play. He noticed right away that Carl hadn’t gotten the part of the guard. Then Neil gasped. Carl had gotten the part of Sir Trawood! There had to be some mistake.

“I’m afraid you didn’t get the part you wanted, Neil,” Mrs. Sosa said. “You’ll be playing the part of a messenger.”

“But Carl didn’t even try out for Sir Trawood,” Neil protested.

Mrs. Sosa nodded. “Yes, but I think he’ll make an excellent knight.”

“He didn’t even sound like an actor,” Neil complained.

“That’s why he did so well,” Mrs. Sosa said. “You’ll see what I mean at practice tomorrow.”

“No, I won’t,” Neil said. “I’m not going to be some stupid messenger.” He stormed out. As he walked home, he kept thinking it wasn’t fair. Carl probably wouldn’t even have tried out for the play if Neil hadn’t insisted. He felt angry that Carl would be in the play without him. “But I guess I should congratulate him,” he thought. “After all, I’m the school’s star basketball player, and Carl didn’t even make the team.”