Another day in the life (open) Who: Kira What: Going home When: Afternoon Where: Subway train
I’m sorry but you’re just not what we’re looking for.
Kira wondered how often she would have to hear that very same (and tired) phrase before she’d finally be hired for a role in a musical or play. She had never expected finding a job to be easy but she hadn’t expected it to be this hard either. She was talented, she knew she was talented. But…each refusal came with the underlying message of her being ‘too Japanese’. Oh, they didn’t say it outright but she knew what ‘you’re not what we’re looking for’ meant; she wasn’t stupid. She sighed. Maybe she should cave and hire an agent… The thought made her mentally grimace; she couldn’t afford to pay an agent.
Flashing a smile at the pretty, petite blonde who was next in line, Kira left the theater and stepped out onto the busy afternoon sidewalk of New York City. She paused for a moment, allowing herself a final glance of longing at the theater. A small frown fluttered across her pretty features. “Better luck next time,” she thought to herself. Turning away, Kira stepped into the hurrying throng of people. She moved as anyone accustomed to city-living would; quickly, easily weaving her way through the crowd as she walked. She descended the steps into the subway.
As she waited for the train, Kira tried to find thoughts that would boost her spirits. All great actresses of the stage had met with struggle before finding success, hadn’t they? She knew--knew like she knew the sky was blue and that the stars burned--that she was meant for this life. She smiled a little. It would happen. Someday. She didn’t plan on giving up anytime soon.
The train slid into the station and the doors opened with a soft hiss of air. Trying not to get jostled about too much by the crowd, Kira got onto the train. She carefully sidestepped around an elderly woman with a can only to be bumped into hard by a large, sweaty, and unkempt man. She tumbled back and, cursing in Japanese, landed roughly in someone’s lap.