Summerlost Read Online Free

it. They both looked big.
    â€œIt’s the smallest one they had,” Lindy told me.
    I ducked into the employee bathroom to get dressed and I pulled out my ponytail because I’d noticed the other girls all had their hair down. I left my shorts on under the skirt but I balled up my T-shirt and put it on a chair in the bathroom, hoping no one would take it.
    â€œThat looks all right,” Gary said when I came out.
    Gary and Leo showed me all the things they sold out on the yard (as Gary called it). I’d seen some before when I’d been to the festival. Fresh tarts—raspberry, lemon, and cream cheese. They looked like tiny folded-up purses. I wanted to eat one. Bottled water, with the words SUMMERLOST FESTIVAL and the logo, the theater, printed on the labels. Old-fashioned candy in cellophane packages—lemon drops, horehound candy, and taffy in wax-paper twists. Chocolates. And programs. Fancy, printed-up programs. Leo took a basket of those and so I did too.
    Gary had lots of final instructions. “Remember,” he said, “no flip-flops tonight.”
    â€œI understand,” I said.
    â€œTake care of your costume. Delicate wash only. You don’t want Meg from the costume shop mad at you. Trust me.”
    â€œAll right.”
    â€œDon’t forget that you’re in England,” he told me. “In the time of Shakespeare.”
    I nodded. I didn’t point out that I’m part Chinese-American and so the odds that I would have been in England back in Shakespeare’s time were highly unlikely.
    â€œAnd,” Gary said, “you’re a peasant.”
    That part felt kind of true thanks to the outfit.
    â€œStay in character,” he said, “but don’t use an accent unless you’re given specific permission. The only kid here who has permission to use an accent is Leo.”
    â€œOkay.” I followed Leo toward the door.
    â€œWhere are you?” Gary called after me.
    For a minute, I didn’t get it, but then I did.
    â€œI’m in England,” I told him.

10.
    â€œI’ve actually been to England,” Leo said. “That’s why I can do the accent. Because I’ve heard it in real life.”
    â€œLet’s hear it,” I said.
    â€œOh, you will. Soon.”
    We walked across a brick courtyard with a big tree in the middle. A wooden bench was built all the way around the tree. “It’s not as busy for the matinees,” Leo said. He had a lively voice and talked fast, but not so fast that I couldn’t keep up. “People don’t wander around much when it’s hot. They stay in the gift shop and buy their stuff there or go straight to the theater. The nighttime shows are the big ones, as far as we’re concerned. That’s when the real work gets done. That’s when I break records.”
    â€œWhat kind of records?”
    â€œ
All
kinds of records,” Leo said. “Most programs sold in an hour. Most programs sold in a night. Most programs sold in a week. Gary keeps track of all of it. I’m gunning for most programs sold in a single season, and I’m a lock for that if I keep up the way I’m going. But what I’m most proud of is thatone night I outsold
everyone
in concessions. Do you know how much harder it is to sell programs than water? We’re in the desert. But I did it. One night. One awesome night two weeks ago. And I’m going to do it again.”
    It seemed like Leo had more energy than anyone I’d ever met.
    â€œSo,” he said. “Why did you want the job? What are you saving up for? And don’t say college or a car.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œThat’s what everyone says.”
    â€œWhat’s wrong with wanting to go to college or get a car?” I didn’t think far enough ahead for either, but something about Leo made me want to play devil’s advocate.
    â€œIt’s fine,” Leo said, “if