Two parts.

  Billy was in Los Angeles for a st-minute event. His agent had uedly arranged for his participation in a televisiram, a particur episode that needed some extras—youths aged 15 to 18—for a ercial, paying 400 for a full day of work from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, including some lines.

  That's why Billy found himself traveling o flight of the day, intending to wake up early the m. His grandfather apanied him, and his grandmrumbled about his involvement in something seemingly senseless. The traffic was light, but the sn of his grandfather in the waiting area indicated the te hour.

  Passeraveling to Los Angeles, please proceed to Gate 12 for b.

  His grandfather was dozing in a deep sleep.

  -Grandpa, e on, we o board immediately, - Billy said to Richard Carson, aking up with a gentle shake on his shoulder.

  -e, son, stop sleeping. It's not fair to your sweet grandpa to have to deal with all this, - Richard Carson said, grabbing their bags.

  -Yrandpa doesn't even know where the b gate is. These gadgets are getting more plicated, - Richard Carson grumbled.

  -This way, - Billy said, leading the way to Gate 12, with his grandfather following, still trying to wake up from his nap.

  Sed-hand tickets in ey css made passengers unfortable, and Billy could feel the cliché of a g child throughout the jourwo men bickering over the window seat added to the otion. His grandfather was in a bad mood until he remembered the small bottle of alcohol in his pocket, which he gulped down with great pleasure, ughing as if he were a child.

  -Ah, there's nothier than a drink to soothe the throat, son. When you reach my age, having one of these to endure pain is the best option. Those pills are garbage, - Richard Carson said.

  Billy could only look at him; his grandfather was quite the character. He now partially uood his grandmother's frustration with his grandfather's stant inappropriate behavior.

  -Grandpa, please stop drinking. - Billy said. -We still have to get to the hotel. -

  -Oh, e on, I'll stop drinking when you stop ag like Helen. Cut me some sck, Billy. Your old grandpa has a bad back, and this pne is shaking like a horse-drawn carriage, - Richard said, asking for a small bottle of alcohol.

  Billy ignored his grandfather's behavior. After a while, he khat nothing would make him ge his mind about alcohol, even after being prohibited by the doctor during his st five visits.

  Billy was feeling anxious, even though it was just a small role in a television ercial. He khat beginnings were always like this—small jobs, climbing up, gaining some practice, and theually gettier opportunities in the market. With more visibility, he could secure better roles. All that experience was valuable for ndier movie roles.

  Los Angeles was just as he expected it to be. These trips from San Jose to Los Angeles and back had bee somewhat of a tradition.

  -Son, that pretty girl who showed up for lunch didn't e back. Even yrandma has asked about her, - Richard Carson said.

  Billy thought about the meetings he had with Alice. He couldn't help but pare her to Cudia. Alice was different from Cudia—lighter in her approach to things and more proactive in spending time with Billy. The st time they went out, they watched a movie, had an ice cream trip, and talked about various things. She even apanied him to San Francisco to deal with some issues at Pixar, waiting for him for four hours in the clothiion and greeting him with a kiss. She was so easygoing that being with her felt like fiding in a close friend.

  -She's a very dear friend, and we're still getting to know each other, -- Billy said. -- She'll start studying medie at the beginning of August, so I don't think she'll have much time for me.-

  -Ah, son, you're missing out on the romance of the good old days. This geion disappoints me more every day. You could show up uedly one day and bring her some beautiful flowers, the kind that women love. Buy some chocotes, maybe a nice perfume, one of those that women adore. You afford it, son. With a smooth voice, invite her to di a pce, keep plimenting her until her smile 't leave her face. She'll melt like the chocotes you bought. If you follow these steps, son, that young dy will make time for you, even if she has to schedule the date at a library, - Richard advised, his breath carrying the st of alcohol.

  -Was it like this with Grandma? - Billy asked.

  Richard just furrowed his brow, reminisg about the passage of time. - Not at all. Yrandma is different from all the others. She be very tough, but she's sweet. After a while, I learo give her the pleasure she so desired, - he said, with a hint of sadness.

  The versatioled down like a still pond after a few hours, undisturbed except for the occasional sip of water. A sip to cool off; the scorg summer heat be oppressive for those aced to colder climates, and hot weather be deadly.

  They hailed a taxi, and Billy couldn't sleep very well due to the curious anticipation of how his first appearan a produ would go. Even though it was just a cameo on the beach, he was excited about the small role. He would say a few lines, and that would be it.

  When they arrived at the rec studio—a small beach with various equipment scattered about—Billy was handed a swimsuit. He lined up with the others and was met by a director, coordinator, or perhaps an assistant who ied him from head to toe. She looked at his fad body and, to his surprise, disapproved of his muscur build, so she instructed him to keep his clothes on. She asked the same three questions to everyone:

  - you act?-

  -Do you have any experience?-

  -Do you have a?-

  She reviewed the roster, and to Billy's fortune, he caught the attention of Jim Waitt, a from CAA. This e proved to be quite helpful, and his approval based on looks nded him another role ihan thirty minutes.

  Two guys were participating in the audition, one was quite muscur, much more so than Billy, while the other was thin, tan, and had very white teeth, possibly thanks to some dental work.

  The same coordinator who had been asking the questions approached them and handed Billy a small two-part script. It seemed that the main character was getting into a fight with a beach bully, and as a sedary character, Billy would have to try to break up the fight. The script provided detailed instrus on what as and lines he o perform while the main character was gettien up.

  -Alright, go ahead ae the script, young man, - said the person who resumably the director.

  Billy posed himself and tried to embody the role of the young peacemaker who was attempting to calm down the main characters after a scuffle. The script indicated that he should be somewhat out of breath since he had run to separate them. The main characters nodded as they saw the otion they had caused.

  After finishing his audition, Billy sat down, awaiting a response. Jim Waitt had arrived.

  -Billy, it's great to see you here, - Jim said.

  -Sir, it's great to see you too, - Billy replied.

  -I just watched your audition. The uys didn't do as well. Your ag skills are quite impressive for such a young guy. It's tough to find teenagers with ag abilities these days, - Jim ented.

  -Thank you, sir. I do my best, - Billy said.

  -Well, your best got you the small role. Don't be nervous, don't look at the camera, and aatural. TV series directors don't care much about ag as long as it's passable. So, don't put too much pressure on yourself. They won't demand star-level performances like in a movie, - Jim advised.

  Jim Waitt observed Billy's posure and didn't detect the nervousness often seen in newers. It's great that he's so calm, - he thought with optimism. If Billy could excel in business as well as he did in ag, Jim was fident that he would go far in the industry.

  -Thank you, sir, - Billy said.

  -Get ready, I have a meeting to attend in 15 minutes. Stop by for support if you need anything. You call me anytime, - Jim Waitt said.

  ...

  Hello everyone, sorry for the dey, I had a lot of work yesterday and I arrived home very te, I could not write, but today I have time, I hope you had an excellent day and a good week.