The Celebrity Crush

Episode 12

SOME MONTHS LATER
I had gain admission into the university, my dream was slowly and gradually coming to fulfilment. Frederick and I always spoke but the visit was not often because I was in school, I really miss him thou but my studies comes first. My first and second choice was theater art, that was when mercy Johnson knew I wanted to become an actress I still remember her words to me ” don’t go into acting because you feel its a way to pay me Les, go for your true dream and make your late parents and I proud okay” her words melted my heart how can one person posses so much goodness in them? I quietly went into my room and brought out all the stories I have written and gave them to her, she looked at me then to the books in my hand.

MERCY JOHNSON
What’s this?

LESLEY
(I smiled) open it sis
She collected them and opened the first one page to page then looked at me before she continued again.

MERCY JOHNSON
You actually wrote this Les?

LESLEY
Yes boss ( I smiled)
She pull me to sit beside her

MERCY JOHNSON
But all this while why didn’t you say anything? By now you would have become an actress.

LESLEY
I was scared, scared that you might not believe in my dream so I just let it sliced, but when an opportunity came to go to school I felt it was time to go for my dreams.

MERCY JOHNSON
Its not too late, you know what I will go through all this and pick the best, the one that would mark you for a ‘student celebrity. ( she winked at me

I was happy, I was confident she would fall love with all my story, and she also has a lot of work to do, turning those stories into script won’t be easy but she’s an expert in acting she would know what to do.

Mercy and I never discuss it again and I didn’t ask her because I knew it isn’t a easy work, I focus on my study more.

Some months later she called me on the phone and ask me to return back from school if I’m not writing exams, I wonder what was wrong I was thankful that we were just through with our semester exams, I wanted to give her a surprise visit but now its ruin because she alright asked me home. I quickly packed my things and return home, she picked me up at the airport.

LESLEY
I really miss you sis

MERCY JOHNSON
( She laughed) but you were home three months ago

LESLEY
Han han, isn’t it enough to miss my big sis?

MERCY JOHNSON
(She laughed again) it is dear, I was just pulling your legs… I missed you too and most especially your cooking.

LESLEY
( we both laughed) so is because of food you miss me abi? I won’t cook till our school resume.

MERCY JOHNSON
(She laughed harder) I’m sorry na, please don’t punish big sis like that please, I miss you but not because of your cooking.

LESLEY
I believe you sis.

Later that evening she told me that all the stories I gave her she has turn all of them into script and have picked the one I would be acting. I was kind of surprise why would she get that kind of money from? Making movie isn’t easy I know that so where is the money coming from?

MERCY JOHNSON
You don’t seem happy about it Les.

LESLEY
I am but how will you get that kind of money from? I know its very expensive shooting a movie.

MERCY JOHNSON
(She smiled) is that why your face is like this? Common Lesley if you have connection things like this goes easy and smoothly. Well if you must know a senator is paying for it on the condition that his daughter play a role in the movie.

LESLEY
The major character?

MERCY JOHNSON
Hell no, that’s your ‘ hit mark’ Won’t let anyone take that from you.

I became happy knowing she isn’t paying for the movie and I was going to be the main character was super good. I ran and hugged her she laughed and hugged me back before she said.

MERCY JOHNSON
Get ready because you are meeting the rest of the cast tomorrow.

Wow so I’m going to be an actress? Truly now I believe when you have connection you can do things but if God is that connection you can do everythin

The next day she and I went to the venue of the shooting and I was surprise to see important actors and actress there, the way I stare at everyone mercy knew I was surprised she whispered something into my ear ” when we are recruiting new actors and actress we mix them with professionals and familiar faces so they can boost the news faces”. She told me.

It was time to share the script so everyone would know their role, I collected mine and the tittle of the script got me excited ” flower” that’s a nice name since I was the main character more attention was focused on me, I sat somewhere and read through the script, it said a prince would love a maid( I’m that maid) this story is mine and I wrote everything in it but the names mercy changed them to classy names not all those local names I used before.
She came and joined me at where I sat.

MERCY JOHNSON
I’m sure you will make me proud Les.

LESLEY
I still need time to practice every word you know?

MERCY JOHNSON
Sure, you guys need at least a month to study your script before the shooting.

LESLEY
That’s a lot of time, I think I will be ready before then. Who is the prince?

MERCY JOHNSON
It’s a popular actor, don’t worry his no trouble.

I nodded my head, after a general practice we left the venue to our home.

The whole of my morning, night I used it for practice, mercy was always there to guide me if I started to go out of line.

The other cast not knowing who he is makes it hard for me, how can I cope with him if he turns out to be a pin in the a-s?

A MONTH LATER.
Well I was fully ready for the shooting, I was totally good with my lines, mercy told me they gave us much time because we are newbies, and any f–k up the movie won’t sell well.
We got to the shooting site, everyone was ready as I was, but I was so desperate to see the person who is playing the role of a prince.
I was still busy asking everyone who looked friendly if they knew who the other cast was but they all gave me the same answer.
I saw mercy talking on the phone with someone I just ignored her I was nervous, one look at me and you will know.

When she was through she came to meet me.

MERCY JOHNSON
you look nervous Les, you gonna do just great I tell you.

LESLEY
I just want to know who the prince is, at lest to be sure he would be nice to me.

She was about to say something when the director called Me for the first scene.
I sign and ran out.

DIRECTOR
camera rolling, and action.
“Ruth/Lesley, Ruth get your dirty self out here the queen called out”
She ran out looking so scared, the queen is the most wicked person Ruth has every seen, she knew better than to spend a minute before she answer.

RUTH
My queen, you called me
The queen stare at her angrily, then used her hand to cover her nose.

QUEEN
What took you so long? Are you stupid?

RUTH
I’m sorry my lady, I came immediately you called.

The queen looked more angry, she got up and slapped her.

QUEEN
So I’m now a liar, you dirty thing you dare call me a liar?

RUTH
(She held where she was slapped and cry) I’m sorry my queen.

The queen return back to her sit

QUEEN
stupid girl, now the reason why I called you is to inform you my son is returning from the states, I want to throw a welcoming party for him, get the other maids and make preparation for my son’s return.

RUTH
Yes, your highness
She exit

DIRECTOR
And cut
Mercy ran to meet me, she hugged me.

MERCY JOHNSON
You did a great job Les, you did well

LESLEY
But the slap hurt.

MERCY JOHNSON
( she laughed) sorry about that baby.

The next scene was coming up, arrangement were being made so I used that time to go ease myself.