Jade’s Stage Letter

Jade is getting ready for the school play. Her character must carry a letter onto the stage. Theo gives her an empty envelope to practise with. She puts it in the pocket of her long coat.

Jade walks through the stage door. She reaches into her pocket, but the envelope is gone. Theo sees it on the floor behind her. “Your secret letter is not very secret,” he says. Jade laughs.

They try again. The envelope falls out once more. Jade takes off the coat and looks inside. There is a hole at the bottom of the pocket. “I cannot keep it in here,” she says.

Theo finds a small sewing kit. Jade asks their drama teacher for help. The teacher shows her how to keep the needle safely in its case until they are ready. They sit at a table away from the stage.

With help, Jade closes the hole with a few stitches. She puts the needle back in its case. Theo checks the floor for any fallen pins. Then Jade slips the envelope into the pocket again.

This time, she walks, turns and sits down. The envelope stays in place. Theo watches from the front row. “Can you reach it easily?” he asks. Jade pulls it out without looking down.

They practise the scene once more. Jade steps through the door and takes out the letter at the right moment. Theo gives his reply. This time, neither of them has to stop to pick anything up.

After practice, Jade hangs the coat carefully. She leaves the envelope in a box with the other props. Tomorrow she can think about her lines. Her pocket is ready for its part in the play.