Take Three (30 page)

By the end of
Take Three
, I could hardly wait to get the book into your hands, and I was struck by an exciting realization: There would now be much more to write about in
Take Four
! In the final book of the Above the Line Series, Bailey will take part in an adventure that I never imagined until I finished
Take Three.
That’s what happens when the characters take over the storytelling!

And guess what my next stand-alone book is? That’s right—
Unlocked
! The story has pressed in and around my heart for a few years, and I believe it will be one of my strongest ever. God gave me the complete outline on a recent cross-country flight from Dulles Airport to Portland. Twenty-four pages of handwritten notes in a spiral-bound notebook. When I was finished, I was quietly crying—the story that real and rich in my heart. I could only thank God because the outline, the story, felt like such a complete gift. And maybe one day a real-life Dayne Matthews will want to turn it into a movie. Only God knows!

Also, I have a big surprise for you at the end of this series. My next series is already coming to life, and it will involve many of your favorite characters! Stay tuned, and know that I pray for God to continue to lead me as these stories fill my heart. As always, I look forward to hearing your feedback on
Take Three.
Take a minute and visit my website at www.KarenKingsbury.com, where you can find my contact information and my guestbook.
Feel free to write me a private letter or post a public guestbook entry about how God is using these books in your life.

On my website you can check out my upcoming events page in case I’ll be speaking somewhere near you. At my events we’ll have the chance to meet and share a hug and a picture together. Also on my website, you can get to know other readers and become part of a community that agrees there is life-changing power in something as simple as a story. You can post prayer requests or read those already posted and pray for those in need. You can send in a photo of your loved one serving our country, or let us know of a fallen soldier we can honor on our Fallen Heroes page.

My website also tells you about my ongoing contests including “Shared a Book,” which encourages you to tell me when you’ve shared one of my books with someone. Each time you email me about this, you’re entered for the chance to spend a summer weekend with my family. In addition, everyone signed up for my monthly newsletter is automatically entered into an ongoing once-a-month drawing for a free, signed copy of my latest novel.

There are links on my website that will help you with matters that are important to you—faith and family, adoption, and ways to reach out to others. Of course, on my site you can also find out a little more about me and my family, my Facebook and YouTube channel, and my Karen’s Movie Monday—where I release occasional Monday YouTube clips dealing with some aspect of my family and faith, and the wonderful world of Life-Changing Fiction™.

Another way to stay in touch is to follow me on Twitter. I will be giving a free cruise passage to two of my Twitter friends this fall—so join up. It’s free and fun, and much less time-consuming than Facebook.

Finally, if you gave your life over to God during the reading of this book, or if you found your way back to a faith you’d let
grow cold, send me a letter at [email protected] and write “New Life” in the subject line. I would encourage you to connect with a Bible-believing church in your area and get hold of a Bible. But if you can’t get hold of one, can’t afford one, or don’t already have one, write “Bible” in the subject line. Tell me how God used this book to change your life, and then include your address in your email. My wonderful publisher Zondervan has supplied me with free copies of the New Testament, so that if you are unable to find a Bible any other way, I can send you one. I’ll pay for shipping.

One more thing. I’ve started a program where I will donate a book to any high school or middle school librarian who makes a request. Check out my website for details. Again, thanks for journeying with me through the pages of this book. I can’t wait to see you next time for
Take Four
, the final installment in the Above the Line Series.
Take Four
will answer a lot of questions you might have about Bailey and Cody and the future for the producers.

Until then, my friends, keep your eyes on the cross, and don’t forget to look for angels.

In His light and love, Karen Kingsbury

www.KarenKingsbury.com

1. In the early part of
   Take Three
   , Chase Ryan feels concerned about his ability to handle the pressures of producing. Have you or someone you know ever been in a job or a season of life when these feelings were an issue? Explain.
   
2. Chase’s pastor asked him to consider becoming the church’s new youth pastor at a time when the idea seemed crazy to Chase. The pastor’s explanation was an easy one—he had prayed about the position, and Chase’s name came to the top of the list. Have you or someone you know ever had God present a change in careers or locations that at the time seemed crazy, but that turned out to be God working in mysterious ways? Describe.
   
3. How did Chase come to see that the change in careers was God’s plan for his life? How did that scene with Chase’s wife and daughters in the backyard of their home make you feel?
   
4. How did Keith feel when he realized he might be losing his co-producer? Give an example of a time when you felt as if God had forgotten you. How did that situation turn out?
   
5. What was Dayne Matthews’ last experience with Hollywood? Why do you think he’d choose to come back to the entertainment field at this time?
   
6. Describe your thoughts on the recent increase of faith-based films. What do you think this area of filmmaking should strive for, and how do you see it affecting today’s culture?
   
7. The book mentions that Andi Ellison cut her hair and dyed it dark. Why do you think she did this? Have you or someone you love ever attempted to change something on the outside when the real change needed to come from within? Describe.
   
8. Through most of the book, Andi is determined to have an abortion. What do you think led to this decision?
   
9. How could Keith and Lisa have done a better job with Andi through her freshman year at Indiana University? What is a mistake some parents make in raising Christian kids toward adulthood, and how can this mistake be avoided?
   
10. Tim and Bailey are in their second year of dating through most of this book. What did you like about their relationship? How was it lacking?
    
11. Who do you like better for Bailey—Tim or Cody? Explain why.
    
12. When Bailey and Cody go on the retreat to Lake Monroe, what in their conversation shows that Cody has matured from the guy he once was? Do you think it’s possible for single young women to have friendships with single young guys? Why or why not?
    
13. Bailey’s family often spends time together—like the time they all went to the summer scrimmage football game. Why is this important for the Flanigan family? Tell about a time when you or someone you know made an effort at creating family together times.
    
14. Keith and Lisa make an attempt to help Andi by taking her to a Christian counselor. How have you seen Christian counseling be beneficial in your life or in the life of someone you know? Explain.
    
15. Andi makes a decision to lie to her parents about her pregnancy, and about her trip to Indianapolis. The Bible calls the devil “the father of lies.” How is this evident in the lies Andi tells? How does lying about her situation nearly destroy Andi?
    
16. Tell about a time when lying nearly destroyed you or someone you know. How did you or that person finally come around to the truth? What was the outcome?
    
17. Andi runs into the Kunzmann family, and their intervention makes a dramatic impact on her. Describe a time when you or someone you know was affected by a stranger who came along just at the right moment.
    
18. Andi plans to arrive at the abortion clinic earlier than it opens to avoid protestors. What do you know of people who protest outside abortion clinics? What do you think about them and their mission to save lives of unborn babies? Which of their methods are effective? Why or why not?
    
19. On her way into the clinic, Andi is approached by Clarence. What is his role in her life? Explain whether you think he might’ve been an angel. The Bible says in Hebrews, chapter 13, “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” What does this verse mean to you?
    
20. Tell about a time when you or someone you know experienced what might’ve been an angel encounter.
    

T
HE AUDITION WAS MORE STRENUOUS THAN
anything Bailey imagined. If she’d known how many hours of dancing they’d do, and how they’d be expected to sing without any sign of exertion throughout, she would’ve practiced more for the opportunity. But even so, she did her best.

One thing was certain. The casting director from
West Side Story
was right about the numbers. There had to be a thousand college kids lined up around the block looking for a shot at only a couple of ensemble spots. The slight flicker of hope was that the audition had grown into a combined talent search for not just the spots open on
West Side Story
, but also a few ensemble jobs with
Wicked
and
Mary Poppins.

Bailey would’ve been thrilled with a part in any of those shows.

She moved to the side of the room and wiped her forehead with a towel from her bag. At the same time, she pulled a water bottle from among her things and downed it in three long swigs. Her mom had given each of them two bottles, which was a good thing. Already the audition had gone for five hours. Cuts had been made every hour or so, probably based on looks more than anything. So far, she and Tim were still in the running.

“Okay, everyone. Take five.” Sebastian was running this part
of the audition and the next. He gestured to them to go their own ways, and throughout the gymnasium-sized room the dancers fell into groups of two or three and moved to the side walls. Bailey wanted to talk to Tim, but she needed to get word to her mom about what was happening.

She turned her cell phone on and moved into the hallway. Her mom answered almost instantly. “Did they make their decisions yet?”

“Not hardly.” She tried to keep the weariness from her voice, but it was impossible. She was ready to lie down and take a nap right there in the hallway. “It’ll be at least another two hours by the looks of it.”

“How’s Tim doing?”

“We’re both doing about the same. I think the directors like us, but the place is filled with so many dancers. It’s overwhelming.”

Her mom had hired a car for the day, and after breakfast the driver had dropped Bailey and Tim off. Now Bailey’s mom was making her way down the shops along Fifth Avenue, killing time until the audition was finally over. “Okay.” She sounded upbeat, her enthusiasm contagious. “Go give it your best, sweetheart. I’ll pray.”

Bailey’s heart melted at her mother’s words. In the last few years her mom had admitted only a couple times that she wasn’t looking forward to the day when Bailey moved to New York City. She and Cody had talked about it too. He made her promise she wouldn’t think about the two of them, their future. Not this weekend, with her dreams on the line. Even so, she thought about him constantly.

The break ended much too quickly, even before Bailey could connect with Tim. The next set started off with just the guys. There were maybe a hundred left by now, and Sebastian placed Tim in the front row. “Okay, follow me and pay attention. I won’t
repeat myself. Once we’re all up to speed, I’ll walk the aisles. If I tap you, you’re finished for the day. Thank you for coming out. If you remain untapped, stay here. You’ve made it to the next round.”

Sebastian launched into a difficult series of eight-counts, all set to a ridiculously fast beat. Bailey wasn’t sure what show the dance represented, but she doubted the ensemble would perform it at this speed. Probably just one more way the director could make cuts. Dancers who couldn’t keep up were eliminated. End of story.

The teaching session lasted only ten minutes at the most, and then the guys were on their own, running over the series of eight-counts again and again while Sebastian and three of his assistants walked between the rows and tapped the shoulder of one guy after another. When they’d passed by every guy in the room, only eight dancers remained.

Tim was one of them.

She wanted to stand up and clap for him, but it wasn’t the moment. She hoped he could feel how proud she was, how glad that the dreams he had were coming true right before their eyes. Enough time had passed since their breakup that they really had found their friendship again. A friendship void of desire for something more.

Sebastian gave the guys a ten-minute break and then ordered them back in the room to watch the girls. He barked out orders to the female dancers, forming them in rows similar to the guys. “Same thing, ladies. I’ll teach you the dance and you’ll perform it over and over until I’ve walked past every one of you. Same drill as the guys. If I tap you, thank you for coming out. If not, please stay for the next round.”

Bailey felt exhausted as she walked out to her place on the floor. She was in a back row, and she wondered as she took her spot whether that was a problem. Was her placement a sign of
things to come? She stretched her legs behind her, one at a time, and wished again that she’d done more to prepare for this moment. She was so tired she wasn’t sure she could learn a single eight-count, let alone a series of them.

Sebastian clapped his hands, fast and intense. “This is the beat, girls. Stay with me.”

Then he launched into a dance harder than anything Bailey had ever done. All her life she figured she was ready for an audition like this, ready to leap and twirl and soar across a Broadway stage. After all, she’d done this for CKT a hundred times. But it took all her physical and mental energy to grasp the dance, and in what felt like no time, Sebastian shouted out the order. “Ready ladies, uh five, six, seven, eight.”