The Play is Cast

By the author, Jim Doti

Everything in the narrative thus far has been preparatory to the main plot.  We know, for example, that Jimmy has a speech defect and that children laugh and ridicule him for it.  We also know a bit about his mom, his dog, Blackie, his teacher and a few of his “friends.”  The teacher has also related the story of “The Elves and the Shoemaker, which we now know will for the basis for a first grade play.

Now I need to connect the play with Jimmy.  Actually, this is a scene I still remember well from real life.  When Mrs. Lyons announced my name as a cast member, I still can recall the surprise and shock I felt when my name was called.  Even more vivid is my recollection of the heat I felt as my face flushed when several of my classmates ridiculed my selection.  I still don’t know if Mrs. Lyons picked me to appear as an elf because I was one of the shortest kids in the class or because she felt that being in the play would help me gain some self-confidence.  While I suspect now that it was the former, I think it’s important that Mrs. Lyons felt that my diminutive stature was a stronger positive for being type cast in the play than my speech defect was a negative.  This is an important point, since the rest of the story involves Jimmy coming to the realization that his speech problem is not as big a personal defect as he thinks it is.

For that reason, I decided not to offer any explanation for why Mrs. Lyons picked me.  That will be made clearer as the story continues and Jimmy finds out for himself that he has other abilities that trump his limitations.

“Well, class, Mrs. Lyons asks, “what do you think of the story?”

Mrs. Lyons’ questions always scare Jimmy.  He never raises his hand to answer for fear that the other kids will laugh at him.

But he need not fear.  Other children are shouting out answers.

“I like the meat pies,” says Terry Gondola.

“I like the cute little elves,” says Mary Brocco.

“I like the part about the elves not wearing shoes,” says Johnny Caciopa.

“Well, John,” Mrs. Lyons replies, “you’re going to find out what it’s like not wearing shoes, because I want you to be one of the elves in our play.”

Johnny gulps in response.

“And I’d like Terrance Gondola to play the shoemaker and Mary Brocco to be his wife,” Mrs. Lyons announces.

Terry and Mary’s cheeks turn red in embarrassment that they will be a husband and wife.

“Finally,” Mrs. Lyons continues, “I’d like Neal Planz, Paul Nystrom and James Doti to play the other elves, along with John.”

“Oh, no!” Johnny cries out.  “Not Doti!  He’ll ruin the play.”

“Yeah,” said Terry, “no one will understand him.”

Jimmy slides down in his chair, trying to hide from his classmates’ laughter and ridicule.  He hears, though, Mrs. Lyons responding to Johnny and Terry by saying, “I know James will do just fine.”

When I visited Reinberg Grammar School recently, I took a photo of my first grade classroom.  Though the desks are different now, I still remember where I was seated when Mrs. Lyons announced my name as a cast member.