Page 203 of The Silent Appeal

Alexandre Dumas died on December 5, 1870 (source: Wikipedia), so he’s going to be even harder to track down than Agatha Christie.

Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Independent Retail Marketing Consultant

To: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

From: Carol Dearing

Date: June 2, 2025

Subject: Re: Hello

What’s wrong? Something’s wrong. Tell me.

To: Carol Dearing

From: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Date: June 2, 2025

Subject: Re: Hello

It’s probably nothing. You can read too much into things. But my role in this play has been to babysit Sammy, do chores no one else wants to do, and now, finally, babysit the NADA judge. I only qualify because I’m so thoroughly out of the loop.

In the past I’ve always been there, even when I didn’t have a role, because I was at the helm of the crew, always at rehearsals, in charge or, if I wasn’t in charge, always doing something. But now it’s as if I’ve left and the space where I was has closed up. I’m not needed anymore.

Yesterday, at Big Sunday, as the stage was being cleared after set-building, I was with Nicky-Rose and Kevin. I suggested moving the telephone table away from the door to make it more central. The final scene would be more impactful that way.

They both ignored me and continued their conversation as if I wasn’t there. I repeated the suggestion. They ignored me again. They’d tuned me out. I said it for a third time and stepped in front of them so there was no ignoring me, and do you know what they did, Mum? Nicky-Rose said, with that cool dispassionate stare she has: “We heard you, but we tried the table there months ago and it doesn’t work.”

She then turned back to Kevin who, I might add, didn’t say a word. I’ve not felt this excluded since school.

Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Independent Retail Marketing Consultant

To: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

From: Carol Dearing

Date: June 2, 2025

Subject: Re: Hello

Is that all? Well, as a veteran babysitter and common drudge for the group, you’re right. The hierarchy shifts and changes. Sometimes you’re on top, sometimes you’re not. The cast is the immediate family, the crew are extended family, and you, the remote worker, unsung and unappreciated, end up like a distant second cousin at a wedding, sitting on their own at the disco.

Everything changes, Sarah-Jane. It’ll be Kevin’s turn to babysit Sammy for the next play. Then she’ll be past the toddler stage before you know it and you’ll both be back. In the meantime, you’ve got a lovely family and work is taking off again. If being sidelined at Fairways is all you have to worry about, you’re a lucky woman. Mum

To: Carol Dearing

From: Sarah-Jane MacDonald

Date: June 2, 2025

Subject: Re: Hello

But it’s not all, Mum. Kevin is having an affair with Fran and I don’t know what to do.