Finally, it was December 16.

  The day of the table read for [The Sixth Sense]. Luckily for us, it was here in LA and not in Philly or it would be very unfortable for us to move to Philly for a couple of days, only to e back for holidays, and then go back for shooting again.

  "Ready, champ?" Steve asked from the driver's seat where he had just parked the car in the Disney parking lot.

  "Yeah," I answered in my now almost real Ameri at, "Just a little nervous I guess. Haven't met anyone famous before."

  While I had worked with James Frand Michelle Williams in my first movie, they weren't very famous yet. Michelle was a series regur on a TV show, but I hadn't seen much of it beforehand. (I only watched it after she told me t shooting.)

  "You'll do fine," Steve waved off my s, "Just be yourself and remember that they are all humans, just like you and me."

  I nodded, got out of the car, and followed Steve dutifully through the building after firming our meeting at the reception. Going through the pce, I couldn't help but marvel at the grand design of the pce. On the way, we saw many Disney figures including Mickey, Minnie, Daffy, Pluto, Simba, Belle, Aldin, Snow White, and so many more.

  When we reached our assigned feren, I couldn't help but be excited and nervous at the same time. Steve opehe door a me in first. It was a big feren with at least 40 seats, many of them already filled out by now.

  I immediately reized Barry Mendel, Steve's producer friend. o Barry was the dy from the audition that Kathy had ter told me was Kathleen Kennedy, a co-producer. The other man beside her must be her husband Frank Marshall, also a producer.

  , I saw the dire. Night Shyaman. As soon as I looked at him, he smiled at me, "Troy's here. Now we start."

  I was startled at the address and quickly looked around to see that there were around 25-30 people in the room already. The film didn't have a rge cast, just four main roles; Cole pyed by me; Mal pyed by Bruce Willis, Coles' mother pyed by Toni Collette and Mal's wife pyed by Olivia Williams. Other characters all had only a se or two so it was mostly us four who had to read our lines.

  "We aren't te, are we?" I nudged Dad.

  A middle-aged balding man, who was sitting nearby sniggered at that, "No, you're not."

  I had half a mind to make a snarky ent when I saw that it wasn't just an AD or a tei. It was the male lead of the movie himself, Bruce Willis.

  Before I could freeze at his sight, I sheepishly rubbed the bay head, "Hello, I am Troy Armitage, o meet you. I'm a big fan of your works."

  With that, I offered him a handshake. He eyed me with a smile and shook my offered hand, "Bruce. So, which is your favorite work of mine?"

  "[Pulp Fi]," I stated as if it were the universal truth.

  "Not [Die Hard]?" He didn't give me the funny look people do when I say that I love [Pulp Fi].

  "It's good, but I like [Pulp Fiore," I replied nontly.

  He ughed out loud, "Yood, Troy. Tell me, is this your first film?"

  I shook my head, "Sed, the first film was released in November. [Sex Education]."

  "Ah, I've heard it's good. Maybe I'll watch it during the holidays." Bruswered.

  Hearing the deliberate cough behind me, I realized the man standing there and did the introdus, "Mr. Willis, this is my Dad, Steve Kloves."

  "We've actually met before," Steve shook hands with Bruce, "at the premiere of [The Fabulous Baker Boys]. I directed it."

  Bruce smiled as his face showed the reition from a few years ago. Before he could retort, he was interrupted.

  "Now that everyone's here," The man, who I guessed to be Frank Marshall, raised his voice, getting everyone's attention, "Why don't we begin?"

  Steve ushered me into the seat beside Bruce which had my name written in front of it. (My fug name! Fuck yeah!) Steve took the seat on my other side.

  Kathleen Kennedy spoke , "You all must remember about the NDA as no portion of the script be leaked. For this reason, the climax has been omitted from the scripts of those who don't o know. So don't go asking around others about it as they ot tell you."

  Wow, this is serious stuff. The amount of secrecy was something. I thought it began ier era where anyone could share something with a friend only for it to end oer. I mentally shrugged it off as I had the full script so I didn't mind. Luckily, because of my age, an exception was made for my parents. However, they had to sign the secrecy agreement as well.

  "Introdus first," Kathleen tinued, "I am Kathleen Kennedy, and I am a producer." Then she cued her husband. From there on everyoroduced themselves with their designation/ role.

  "Alright," Shyaman took over when everyone was doh the intro, "so the first se begins in a basement. Evening time. A lightbulb es to light as Anna oves dowairs. Light, quick footsteps…"

  (Break)

  "That was exhausting!" I huffed out as I sat down on the couch tiredly.

  We were back after the table read. The climax was a little awkward as they asked all other actors but the main four to leave the room when the se in the car where my character talked to his man.

  Steve chuckled, "That is nothing pared to the press ference when they will annouhe film."

  "Ugh," I groaned, "dodging paparazzi at school was bad enough when I have done only one film till now. It will be much worse now with the involvement of a superstar like Bruce Willis."

  "We'll be off to London after this film is done. Hopefully, you'll be safe from the paparazzi there." He said.

  I scoffed, "Fat ce. You fot the Princess Diana i?"

  Steve grimaced at that reminder.

  The death of Princess Diana was retively fresh in everyone's minds when the princess died because they sped up their car in a tuo avoid the paparazzi and lost trol. British paparazzi got a lot of fk for their role in her death.

  "You chose this life, Troy." Steve gave me a hard look, "No one forced you to. This is a packaged deal that es with being an actor. Your mother and I have warned you about it many times and it's still not too te. You do this one movie and after that, we go to London and you go live a retively normal life like anyone else ye. Your st movie hasn't been released across the o and this one may not even be a hit in the US, let alohe UK. And if you really want, I go talk to Barry about quitting this one as well."

  I looked down at my feet in embarrassment. Whealked like that, I felt like a spoiled rich brat who was pining about having too few servants to dany whims.

  Whenever child actors are talked about, people say that they grow up in a bad enviro and all the pressure from the media and their fans make them succumb to alcohol and drugs early. Those child actors say that they didn't realize what they were getting into. I 't. I knew full well what I signed up for when I agreed (read: insisted) to a movies. And now I am whining that people are paying attention to me?

  "No, I… I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound whiny rateful when I said that. I still want to act." I answered after deliberating my words carefully.

  I looked up when I felt Steve put his hands on both my shoulders lightly, "I know son. And I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said that. Sometimes I fet that you are not even 10. You are allowed to make mistakes. No one is perfect. But you must remember that you always have the ce to back out. I didn't want you to work as an actor. Ever. If you wao work in Hollywood, you could've been a director or a producer. Heck, even a swriter and that would be better than being an actor. It brings you wealth, yes, but the attention is not worth it in my opinion."

  He paused as he gave me a sidering look, "But since you have chosen this path, you'll have my full support with you every step of the way and I'll make sure you bee the best actor there ever was."

  The vi with which Steve, no, Dad said that, made me realize how lucky I am to have parents like Steve and Kathy. They weren't just Steve and Kathy to me for a long time now. I just had to realize. Steve was my Dad in every ossible. Perhaps even more than Frank Armitage ever was. There was not even a slight petition for who my real mother was. Overe with that sudden realization, I did the only thing that made seo me.

  I stepped forward and hugged Dad with all my might, "I love you, Dad." I did mean every sylble of it.

  "Love you too, son." He hugged me back, patting my head with one hand.

  (Break)

  The day at school, I was ered by Evan. Once again.

  "e on Troy! I know I made a mistake. I am sorry, please don't hate me," He said in a deeply apologetic voice. "I didn't tell it to everyone. Just Raoul. He told everyone, not me."

  I sighed.

  This was his fourth? No, the fifth time that he had apologized to me for betraying my trust. To tell you the truth, I was this close to accepting his apology eve time, but I was still pissed at his as somewhat. If he could betray me once, what's stopping him from doing it again? I 't trust him again that easily. I'm not Harry Potter (yet), and he's definitely not Ron Weasley.

  Moreover, I am going away ihan two weeks, so it will hardly matter much whether I five him or not, our friendship 't tinue long distan this era with no social media and video calls.

  So with that thought in mind, I began slowly, "I'm sorry Evan."

  His face fell upon hearing those words and he asked, "Why?" He en book, showing every emotion he was going through.

  "I'll still go away in January," I said as a matter of fact.

  "It's okay. It's only for two months, right?" He asked hopefully to which I shook my head.

  Seeing his fused expression, I expined, "I was mad at you. After the fight with Jeff and his ies, Dad asked me if we wao move to London directly after the film shoot. I said yes."

  Evan was silent for a few moments as he took everything in before saying, "So yoing away because of me?" His voice pinched me much worse than his betrayal did. Yet, I khat I had to make it clear to him.

  "Yes."

  "It doesn't matter," His words surprised me. "We still be friends, right?" He asked in that hopeful voice. "'t you expin it to your Dad? Maybe then you stay here longer."

  "It doesn't work like that, Evan," I shook my head resolutely. "I haven't fiven you yet. You 't just apologize and expect everything to go back to the way it was. Moreover, even if I were tive you, our tickets have been booked. Pns have been made for our stay there. Even my tutors have been arranged. Nothing be done now."

  Evan seemed like he would cry at any moment, so I said my final words to him. "Bye, Evan." And proceeded to walk back to the .

  In my mind, it was better for both of us to steer clear of each other. Childhood friendships rarely st that long after getting separated. It's better for Evan to find more stable friends in LA with whom he grow up.

  (Break)

  When the day was over, and I was ready to go to my martial arts css, I was surprised to see the number of reporters he school entrahere were more thahat I could spot from the sed-floor window itself.

  The reasoill tried to ambush me near school is that when there are no visible reporters in the viity, I go in through the front door and have even been photographed a few times. I didn't mind that, as long as they didn't get up close and personal. But when there was such a visible media storm out there, I had no i iing out my fledgling martial skills.

  I walked towards the back exit, hoping that this was due to something some other kid did for onaybe a teacher. Seriously, ag iV movie and you'd think that the reporters don't have anythier to do with their lives, but little old me. I haven't eve enough fans that it would warrant such rampant media attention. What the fuck is wrong with celebrity culture?

  I shook my head at the absurdity of the situation when I reached my mother's car parking spot. As I saw her I was fused seeing the rge griched on her face. She got out of the car and hugged me tightly, "Troy! You won't believe it! Something amazing happened."

  "Dad won a million-dolr lottery?" I asked specutively.

  "No," She shook her head dramatically and ushered me towards the car. She began only when we were seated inside, "[Sex-ed] got two nominations at the Golden Globes! Best TV Film for your father and I, a Actor for you."

  My brain froze for a moment. Golden Globe Awards. One of the most prestigious awards in America. Even above Oscars, Emmys, and SAG.

  Okay, jokes apart, ly prestigious, but they were very popur because they hohose popur actors as well who are usually ignored by the Academies (Oscars and Emmy).

  Getting nominated folden Globe meant a major increase in popurity, both for me and for the movie, resulting in increased DVD sales. Overall a very good hat may my parents even more than the one million they would have gotten from the lottery. Not immediately, but in, say, the 5 years.

  "That's superb!" I excimed, grinning like a lunatic.

  "Do you know what it means?" Kathy asked.

  "Does it have anything to do with the reporters present at the front gate?" I said after p for a few moments.

  "ly. A major Hollywood award nomination means we'll have to do a ton of things. First, we'll have to get a few suits for you. Then, as you guessed, there will be media attention towards you. We'll have to selectively choose who to talk to and who not to. Most adult actors would probably appoint a publicist at this point, though I hardly think we need ht now. There will be parties, before and after the awards and so much more. The most important thing for a newer like you is to make es at the parties. Though being a kid, hardly anyone would mind if you don't go."

  While expining the ws of the award show system in Hollywood, Kathy was driving me home, "While I would love it if you could get an award, it is uhat they will give it to you so don't get your hopes too high."

  I nodded solemnly, "Yeah, I know that. I am young now so they will prefer giving it to older people."

  "That's why Steve and I think it's not good for us to hire a publicist. It would've been a different issue if the awards iiohe Oscars, but then again for those, most of the expense is borne by the film panies." Kathy said.

  "Won't HBO support us if we wao hire a publicist?" I asked curiously.

  Kathy shook her head, "he TV movie department has the most representation from HBO, and they rarely lose. Even if we win, HBO will still win. No point in wasting money when they have an assured win."

  I hummed in ption, "Wait, whehe awards? Won't we be shooting [The Sixth Sense] during that time?"

  Here Kathy smiled once again, "I got a call from Barry when the nominations came out. Disney sees it as cost-effective marketing if you win the award."

  I was baffled for a moment, "So?"

  "...The produ team would provide you the time off to go and attend the awards. If you do win by some miracle, they'll allow you to take a couple of extra days off and do some interviews provided you talk about [The Sixth Sense] as well."

  Of course. Everyone is looking after their own is after all.

  "That won't ge our schedule by the way." Kathy tinued, "We'll leave for Philly on the 2nd of Jan and start shooting oh. The Globes are scheduled oh, so we'll fly back to LA on the 23rd. If you win, we'll fly back by the 27th, otherwise oh. Sounds good enough pn for now?"

  "Yup," I answered suctly.

  We drove in silence for a few minutes when I said, "I still don't uand why I am attending a ceremony where I know I am uo win and when I am not very ied in parties."

  Kathy sighed audibly, "sider this a part of being an actor. Attend the award ceremonies with a smile. Talk to people and make es. That's how you get future roles when other actors or directors reend you for a role with your demographid ag talent in mind. At least that would be the se until you get a or manager and that won't be happening until you are all grown up. So if you want roles other than what you already have, then py nice."

  I wisely kept quiet for the rest of the way.

  _________________________

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