Summary

In Chapter 1, Lara begins telling her daughters Emily, Maisie, and Nell about her past. When Lara was in high school, she and her friend Veronica opened “the school for the Our Town auditions” (1). The citizens of Lara’s New Hampshire hometown loved the play.

Lara and Veronica accepted resumes and headshots from the actors. Lara was surprised by the people who auditioned. Her grandmother checked in on her and Veronica. She “owned Stitch-It, the alterations shop” and volunteered “to make the costumes” (4).

Lara listened to the auditions, surprised by how poorly the Stage Managers read their parts. Although in her junior year, this felt like “the first day of [Lara’s] true education” (7). By watching the actors, she was learning “how to present [herself] in the world” (7). Lara had been struggling with what to do with her life. Watching “these men recite the...