The Cone Issue #7 Fall 2015 - Food | Page 98

The teacher smiled slightly. I understand he feels pleased I asked. I let myself get carried away by the story of his life. And what a life. He is much more than a teacher. He is teaching for a living, but in reality or maybe the opposite… whatever - what makes his heart beat is acting. In fact, this man is an actor. I looked at him with amusement and suspicion. He even confesses he has a supporting role in The Lion King musical. It reminds me of the time I was a teenager, watching the show in Broadway with my parents and my sister. It was magical. I have some hot flashes and feel uncomfortable on my chair. This idea sounds impossible, but I know that the teacher is right. There is no excuse for not doing what I have always dreamed about. Parents, friends, time, money. End of my first lesson. After he left, I couldn’t help but think about my own revelation. I can’t share this idea with anybody but him. So when the second course comes I am very excited. I use the English language to talk to him in order to improve my sales speech of course. I hasten to tell him the biggest issue is my legitimacy. How to become an actress without having been an actress… ever? To him, this is not an obstacle. No need to prove who I am and what I want to do to. It is only a matter of trust. When I realized that my mouth had remained wide open for few minutes, I tell him: “That is kind of a dream”. The teacher who is not a politician either, answered with a question: “And you, what is your dream?” Without thinking, like it was obvious, I immediately answer: So, first of all, after a life (did I say a lie?) of considering only others as artists and five years as a business woman in the advertising World, I need to have no doubt that I am an actress. Then people will believe it. It sounds like a long road and a lot of courage. I don’t know if I can make it, but somehow I am excited and it seems already too late to make a uturn. “Oh, I always wanted to be an actress”. Short silence. “So, why don’t you be an actress?” the teacher-actor or actor-teacher asked me. I laugh. I laugh so loud that some people in the open space look at me frowning. Next to me, the teacher doesn’t laugh at all. He firmly fixes me with his gaze. That makes me calm down. I feel some anger that I hide with a bit of humor and ask him what he suggests I tell my parents who did their best to offer me the promise of a good future. My job in this agency was a part of the result. And above all, they have never heard the word “actress” coming out of my mouth. Never. The teacher heard about a coach working on the awareness and trust of being an actor. He will probably never apply this advice to himself, but he recommends me to send him an email and ask him to have coffee. To me, it seems to be obvious and easy to do. I promise to do it right after our lesson. Back to my office, the urgency of my projects quickly landed me in the rush of my humdrum activities. I don’t even notice as a week passes. For my third lesson, the teacher asks me if I have sent my email to the coach. I explain to him the amount of work I have to do. He doesn’t seem to listen and asks me if I know what we call this? I am surprised. He answers: “An excuse”. I feel sheepish. I promise I will not go back home tonight without sending this email. The teacher still doesn’t move a hair. I realize this was not a joke. He is looking at me seriously as if I was talking about something completely stupid. His answer should have been “come on”, but he was too polite for that.. 98 THE CONE - ISSUE #7 - FALL 2015