Last September was my first month of middle school, which was completely overwhelming (不知所措的). Every day in the passages, I felt lost and not very smart. Everyone at school seemed to know who they were and what they were doing, but not me. I was desperate to find my place at school.

And then there was the school play. Hmm, costumes might be kind of fun. I added my name to the sign-up sheet for props and costumes. That’s the real beginning of this story, I guess.

I’d had an enjoyable backstage making sure all the actors had their shoes and figuring out how to make a fake pocket watch out of a bicycle chain for the Train Conductor. But then, on opening night, Mr. Bash, the director, rushed up to me.

“There you are, Maisy,” he panted (气喘吁吁). “I need you to step in for Bailey tonight. He broke his leg during lunch.”

I started sweating. “I…” I stammered (结结巴巴地说), shaking my head.

“Listen, I know this is short notice,” Mr. Bash said. “But we can’t do the show without Lost Cow. You know the cues because you’re always waiting to take the halter rope (缰绳) from Bailey and give him the straw hat.”

“But…”

“Just go onstage, get the rope from Train Conductor, do the shrug (耸肩), and walk off. After all, no one will even know that it’s you.”

That stopped me short. If I had to go out there and recite a bunch of lines, I might faint. Or else throw up. But what if I were wearing the cow head, and my name wasn’t in the program, and no one could really even see me?

Right then, I decided I’d try. Maybe it would be fun?

So fifteen minutes later, I was waiting behind the curtain. “Ready, Lost Cow?” said a voice beside me. It was Mr. Bash.

“No one knows it’s me, right?” I asked.

“No one,” Mr. Bash said.

I took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage.

“Awesome job, Maisy.” Mr. Bash said, grinning (咧嘴笑).

My stomach dropped as Mrs. Nelson said, “This is just a reminder that tomorrow is the Open Day!”

I hoped Mom to be free tomorrow so Dad would not have to come. What would people think of him? I put all negative thoughts aside with the determination that Mom would be able to come, and that was the end of it!

When arriving home, I walked in the kitchen and smelled fresh bread. It was one of Mom’s baking days! She greeted with her usual warmth, asking. “Well, hello there! How was your day?” “Nothing special. It was just another day,” I replied casually. Hearing this, her face showed her disappointment, but then here yes kept probing(探查) mine trying to read if I was being honest. It worked. She saw there was something on my mind. “Heidi, are you sure you have no news for me?” she continued.

I explained that tomorrow was the Open Day. And Dad was walking in the backdoor just in time to hear the news. I quickly asked Mom, “You are free, aren’t you?”

“Sorry dear, Ⅰ have made lots of arrangements for tomorrow. Maybe Dad will be willing to go.”

“Do you want me to come with you, Heidi?” Dad asked with a smile, “I would really love that!”

“Sure, Dad. That would be cool,” I said. But Dad really did not notice my lack of enthusiasm as his face brightened and he started talking about how much fun it was going to be.

I loved Dad’s optimism and enthusiasm. He had made life so exciting and adventurous for the family and I adored him for it. But would people see him the way I saw him? His thin body with practically bald(秃的) head was not exactly what my friends would consider a “cool dad”. Dad was also much older than most of my fiends’ parents. Their dads would be professional businessmen, doctors, dentists, or engineers. Dad was a draftsman(绘图员)and he worked in an office at home.

Well, whether I liked it or not, the next morning came.

When we arrived,we walked into my class.