Sid

Laura asked him, "Mr. Akin, from someone just seeing Sid sing in a talent contest, how could they possibly think that she can act and dance?"

He jokingly told the story of how they discovered Lana Turner on a barstool in a soda fountain. He couldn't or wouldn't rationalize how the company made decisions on who they hired as actresses. He knew they had talent scouts all over the country; they were the ones who decided who showed enough talent to make a screen test.

"Sidney, you're not the first teen the company has signed. I personally have signed two in the past five years. You do understand this is not all glamorous. It takes weeks and weeks of rehearsal. Since this movie is acting, singing, and dancing, it will be even more strenuous work than a normal movie. You'll be dead tired and still have to be lovely, irresistible, charming, and beautiful for the cameras. Sometimes you'll be so tired you'll think you can't go on, but you must. Once you sign this contract you become committed to Pacific Wind Production Studio." He was not a humorous man–rather, totally business.

He concluded by stating that his job was to represent the studio, to deliver the contracts, and get the prospective actors or actresses contracts executed for the studio. Again, he advised Sid that discussing this with anyone but her attorney would be inappropriate until she had executed a contract. He stated he would be available for her attorney if he needed to discuss the contract after reviewing it.

As they shook hands good-bye, he reminded her again of the period in which she must give her answer.

As they drove from the hotel, Laura remarked, "Sid, he sure did seem genuine to me. This is the weirdest thing I've ever head of."

"Mom, do you think I can do this? Do you think I can make a movie? From just glancing at the script, I noticed that the main character not only sings and dances, she is involved in some love scenes. It's quite scary just thinking about it. I wish I could talk to Janice or Les, but I can't because of that confidentiality clause he mentioned. I guess I better not discuss it with them. I don't think Janice would believe me anyway." Sid had stress in her voice.

"Sid, you can do anything you set your mind to. I know you. You can handle this if you want it. Mr. Akin told you that you would have acting, singing, and dance coaches. They don't expect you to know what to do. They train you. Just don't do anything you don't feel is right for you. Honey, we all have choices, and this one has to be all yours. I'll call the bank attorney in the morning. I know him and trust him–he will advise us on the contract. Then we can decide what to do. Honey, don't get stressed out over this. You've never ventured past your ability to achieve and have always tackled everything head-on. I don't expect that you'll start looking to stay in a safe zone now," Laura said as she gave Sid a hug and a smile.

They sat up late talking. Laura would joke and call Sid her little movie star. Sid was planning how fifty thousand dollars could help get Roger out of that POW camp. She was planning another trip to Washington to meet Les. He was trying to get a meeting with another senator that expressed interest in helping them.

"Mom, if I do sign any kind of contract, I want to have free time to make trips to Washington. Make sure our attorney knows to negotiate that in the contract. Roger is more important to me than anything. God, listen to me, talking about signing contracts and negotiations. I must be crazy!"

"Honey, if you're crazy, so am I. My mind hasn't quit spinning since that meeting."

"I'm going to write Roger now. I'll read this script tonight and see just what kind of movie this is supposed to be." Sid said goodnight and headed outside for her nightly ritual of looking at the moon and thinking of Roger. She wrote him every night and put all the letters in a special box. One day he would read them all and know how much she had missed him and loved him.