Page 12 of Perfectly Complicated
“You don’t look the part. You’re built like…” I wave my hand over his body—his broad shoulders, narrow waist, the way he’s already managed to make my classroom feel smaller. “A Marvel superhero. And you’re about as jolly as a colonoscopy.”
He barks out a laugh. “It doesn’t matter if I fit the part. I just have to convince the kids, right?”
I shake my head. “I can’t have someone who hates Christmas play Santa. He’s the main character. He sets the tone for the whole show.”
“Look,” he says, his voice suddenly more serious. “I know this was unexpected. But I’m stuck doing this community service regardless of how you feel about it. So here’s the deal: let me audition for the lead role. Give me one rehearsal. If you don’t think I’m right for the part, you can fire me and find someone else.”
I narrow my eyes, surprised by the offer. “You’d actually let me?”
“If I can’t convince you and the kids that I can pull this off, then sure. But you have to give me a chance first. That’s all I’m asking.”
I study him, wondering why he’s giving me an out. It doesn’t make sense. If he didn’t want to do this in the first place, why did he volunteer? Having him walk away might solve my problem, but it would also leaveme scrambling to find another Santa. Neither option is convenient, and the last thing I need is more complications.
“Fine,” I say finally. “You get one try. But if you traumatize these kids or ruin their Christmas, you’re out.”
“Thank you, Janie,” he says with a relieved smile.
I look him over. “Why are you thanking me?”
He blinks, then straightens. “I mean, thank you for giving me a chance, Ms. Bennett.”
For a brief second, I could’ve sworn he looked relieved, like he thought he’d found a way out of this. But before I can think about it too much, a herd of small bodies bursts through the door. They screech to a halt when they see Rourke standing in the middle of the room, piling into each other like a chain reaction.
Emmalynn, one of my smallest kindergartners, points at Rourke. “Why is there a giant in our classroom?”
“He’s not a giant, Emmalynn,” I say, automatically switching into teacher mode. “He’s trying out for the Christmas pageant.”
“For what part? A giant elf?” she asks, staring up at Rourke with wide eyes.
Rourke looks at me for help. I cross my arms and let him suffer for a bit.
“I think Will Ferrell already took that part,” Rourke finally answers.
“He can’t be an elf anyway,” Jack says next, circling Rourke slowly. “He doesn’t have pointy ears.”
“Well, I think his earsdolook kind of weird,” Lily says.
Rourke touches one of his ears self-consciously. “My ears aren’t weird.”
“Do you live at the North Pole?” asks Lily.
“Well, no,” he says, glancing at me.
Lily tilts her head. “He’s better looking than last year’s Santa, the one with the saggy neck.”
Rourke stifles a laugh. “Um…thanks?”
A few other kids wander in, all of them staring at Rourke like he’s an exotic animal from the zoo.
“I think he looks like the man on the front of one of those books Ms. Bennett reads,” Lily says.
My head flicks toward my desk. She can’t mean the romance books I read over lunch break when I don’t have cafeteria duty. Ineverlet the kids see those.
“Lily,” I say with a forced smile. “I think you must have my books confused with someone else’s.”
“Nope. I saw it in your bag this week. You know, the one with the muscly guy kissing a girl? Here, I’ll show you!” She heads for my desk and I start to panic.
Oh my gosh.Shedidfind my book.
