"Take a deep breath, calm yourself, and step out with a smile," Dad suggested as our car was standing right before the red carpet. I followed his advid took a few deep breaths to calm down my thumpi somewhat (it didn't work) and stepped out of the car to innumerable fshes surrounding me.

  I was gobsmacked for a moment but my father's advice quickly came to mind and I was quick to fix a smile permaly for the duration of the red carpet at the very least. Soon I was joined by my Mum and Dad who also exited the car to camera fshes.

  "Troy! Here!" I heard a voice shouting my he moment was quite surreal for me because some total stranger knew my name. I turowards the voice to see a reporter putting a microphone near me.

  "How does it feel being the you nominee for a leading male actor nomination?" The reporter, who was a male in his te twenties asked me.

  I turned around to look at my parents to present a naive front for everyone else. Media has a way of twisting celebs' words out of text after all. After getting a nod from Dad, I turned back to the reporter, "I feel very happy. I loved w on [Sex Education] and am grateful to the audiend the critics for liking it. This nomination just adds to my happiness."

  "Have you seen your movie?"

  I shook my head, "It's not meant for people my age. I'll watch it when I'm older." That was true. I still hadn't watched the movie.

  "What about the award? Do you think you'd win?" A differeer, a dy asked.

  "I don't know," I shrugged, "I haven't seen any of the others' performances like I haven't seen my own movie 'cause they're not made for kids my age. I'd love to win, though."

  I felt a hand on my back signalio halt from saying anything further.

  "While Troy would love to take up more questions," Dad cut in, "he's tired as he flew in just a few ho from filming his film, [The Sixth Sense]. If you'll be kind enough to let us through."

  Dad maintaihat perfect smile on his face as he led me through the sea of reporters carefully. The red carpet was long and I saw many superstars there like Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, and Jim Carrey. I was literally starstruck seeing the celebrities around me walking elegantly as if they were born to present themselves in front of the media.

  I am fairly sure I walked with a slouch, feeling scious of myself among all the limelight.

  Thankfully no one ented on that, if they even found it odd.

  "Hey! Are you the one from [Sex Education]?" A female voice disturbed my inner ramblings. I cautiously turned around to see a geous blond woman in her mid-20s standing in front of me.

  It didn't even take me a sed tnize her, because she was her than Cameron Diaz.

  "Huh?" Or something like that was my intelligent response.

  "Oh yes. That's my Troy." Mum came to my rescue while patting my shoulder, "Don't mind him, he gets a little flustered easily."

  Cameron's smile wide that, "I loved your film, especially your ag. I am hoping you will get the award tonight."

  Wow. She's a goddess in real life as well.

  Cameron snickered at first then started ughing. She was joined by my parents as they all ughed together heartily.

  And suddenly it dawned upon me. I had said the st part out loud. I pced a hand on my face as if that would save me from embarrassment.

  "Aww, that's so sweet of you." Cameron cooed, bent down to get at eye level with me, and pnted a small kiss on my cheek.

  I pced a hand on that holy spot. If only I was a decade older.

  This time I had cmped down my teeth hard before I could air that thought out loud.

  "I hope you win tonight as well! You were great in [There's something about Mary]." I finally spoke to her.

  "Thank you, Troy," Cameron beamed at me, "Have you guys been allotted your seats?"

  "Oh yes," Dad answered for me, "We are iV se, table 5."

  "That's too bad," Cameron said with a downtrodden expression, "I'd love to sit with you but I'm in the movie se. What about afterward? Would you be ing to the afterparty?"

  Mum coughed loudly once, "We may e for a bit depending oe tonight, though we won't be staying long. Troy is shooting a movie in Philly so we have to go back. And the enviro may not be the best for a kid."

  Cameron nodded sagely in uanding, "Yes, it get a little… rowdy sometimes. Anyway, it was lovely meeting you, Troy."

  I smiled back at her and gathered all the ce that I could, "The pleasure's all mine, Ms. Goddess."

  She ughed out loud again, "Stop, you'll make me blush. Just call me Camie iure."

  She quickly waved me goodbye and made a beeliowards someone else whom I didn't reize.

  "My, my, I didn't realize my son was such a dies' man," Mum elbowed me with an evil grin, "Do I o get a gun to keep 'em away after tonight?"

  "No need fun, a Taser will do," I quipped back to the amusement of both my parents.

  "Let's go in," Dad motioned us toward the entrance of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, "We have to find our seats before the award ceremony begins."

  He led the way in and Mum and I followed him dutifully.

  Inside we were shown to our seats by a staff member of the Golden Globes. He even expihe order of the ceremony and when we expect our particur awards.

  The hall was divided into the movie se and the TV se. The movie se was front and foremost while the TV se was chucked towards the back like a fotten bastard in a Westerosi noble family.

  Our table was located towards the back of the TV se. Yeah, I was feeling like quite the outcast. It doesn't matter much because I wasn't ied mu the awards ceremony at the moment, just the after-party.

  "Hello there!" A cheery voice made us turn towards the other oct of our table in unison.

  It was an old bald man that even a blind man would reize. I could only look at him, a little starstruck.

  "Sir Patrick Stewart!" I squeaked in amazement seeing the future Professor X sitting casually on our table.

  "I assure you, young man, I am not a knight," He chuckled at my enthusiasm, "For that matter, I am not even an MBE."

  Unsciously, I put a hand on my mouth for essentially spilling out a little of my future knowledge.

  "Well, you should be!" I tried to salvage the situation, "Your work in [Moby Dick] is very good."

  Mr. Stewart couldn't help but chuckle more, "Thank you, young man."

  "Oh, yes, I am Troy Armitage and these are my parents, Steve and Kathy," I introduced our family. Usually, Dad begins the introdus in these situations and I take a backseat, but today they were letting me be the driver as it was supposedly 'my day'.

  After exging pleasantries with my parents, Mr. Stewart turowards me, "I hear we are peting for the same award."

  I shrugged my shoulders, "I'd love to get the award, but the fact that I am sittioday for my first ag role is enough reition for me."

  "Spoken like a politi," Patrick grinned, "Sure you don't wish to be the Prime Minister iure?"

  I shook my head vehemently, "No thank you, sir. I am happy being an actor. Besides, I aly a politi in a film when I'm older."

  Patrick Stewart ughed and we tialking for a few more minutes. It was so easy to talk to him that didn't even realize that the ceremony had begun.

  1998 was a year that articurly infamous for questioning the legitimacy of the award shows in general and the Oscars in particur. All because of one movie: [Shakespeare in Love].

  The movie received praise from critics but almost everyone unanimously agreed that [Saving Private Ryan] was the better movie and should've won the Best Picture Oscar. To be ho, I liked [Shakespeare in Love] a lot. It's a very well-made film and it is a travesty that history will always remember it as the film that unjustly beat SPR.

  This is where the Golden Globes may seem superior to the Oscars if only a little. They have two types of awards in major categories like Best Picture, Actor, and Actress, namely edy/Musical and Drama.

  This allows them to easily vote for two movies as best without angering the person who lobbied for their award with their words (aka threats.)

  By now, you all must have guessed the big bad wolf I'm talking about.

  Knowing this reality of the award shows, I didn't have any hope of winning anything tonight. Plus it all seems like a hassle to win an award after lobbying for it. If your work is really good, the academies should reize it without you telling them to vote for you.

  The more I describe it, the more it seems like a political ele than anything else.

  As, I am noart of this industry so I 't go on bad-mouthing the award shows publically or it would be detrimental to my own career prospects. If I have learned ohing from my future knowledge, it's that don't gain publicity fative reasons. It may be good for you momentarily but in the long run…

  "To present the award, please wele Samuel L. Ja."

  My thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the host.

  Wow. The man whom I admire greatly is finally on stage to present an award. The worst part is that he is giving away the award that I'm nominated for.

  "All the best," Patrick Stewart murmured beside me and I could only nod back at him in nervousness.

  "Tonight, I have the honor to present one of the most anticipated awards of the night," Samuel began his speech, "A category filled with immealent from all age ranges."

  Suddenly a camera zoomed in on me and Patrick, who pced a hand around my shoulder and showed two fingers in the victory signs. I couldn't help but ugh at his impromptu as.

  "Here are the nominees for Best Ainiseries or TV Movie,

  Staucci- Winchell

  Peter Fonda- The Tempest

  Patrick Stewart- Moby Dick

  Christopher Reeve - Rear Window

  Bill Paxton- A Bright Shining Light

  Troy Armitage- Sex Education"

  Like every other nomihe camera zoomed on to me when my name was called so I waved at it with a smile. Hopefully, that was cute enough for everyog at home.

  "And the Golden Globe goes to…" Samuel slowly opehe envelope in his hands. Reading the name, a manic grin spread on his face as he looked somewhere right in the dire of our table.

  Ah. Of course. So Patrick Stewart won the prize. That was the logical clusion that I drew immediately. I turo Patrick with a smile. Even if I couldn't win, I could be the first person to gratute him at the very least.

  "Troy Armitage for Sex Education."

  Wait. Did I hear it right?

  My houghts were interrupted by the squeal of excitement from beside me. The moment, I was being crushed against Mum's bosom tightly, only to be released and quickly hugged by my Dad .

  "gratutions son," He whispered in my ear while huggio me, those words were much better than the appuse ringing around me from everyone.

  "Put on a smile, go out there with fidence, and speak clearly. You've ear." He patted me on my back with his huge hand and separated from me. After shaking hands with a few more people, including Patrick Stewart and others who were sitting at the table, whose name I didn't bother remembering, I made my way to the stage while a voice was announg in the background.

  "This is Troy Armitage's first Golden Globe win and nomination. At the age of 10 years, he is the you persoo win a Golden Globe in a leading actor category."

  My smile widened a little hearing that phrase, but I didn't waste any more time and increased my speed before reag the stage where Samuel L. Ja was standing with a smile as he handed me the trophy. Before I could say anything else, he bent down and hugged me while patting my back, "gratutions."

  "Shouldn't it be gratutions, motherfucker?" I quipped back with a grin seeing one of my idols in front of me. Thankfully we were far enough from the mike for it to not be telecasted to the whole world. That too live.

  He ughed out loud at that, "Go, give your damn speech. We talk afterwards."

  Bowing to him in surrender, I went to the mic which was thankfully lowered to suit my smaller stature.

  "Ever since I was little I always dreamt of being a good actor," I said with a smile.

  Instant ughter roared across the hall at my pun.

  "Then I met my parents, Steve and Kathy. I dedicate this award to both of them who gave me hope when I the most and made me believe in the power of dreams. To every kid out there, you do it too, just believe in your dreams whatever they are, and work for them with everything you got."

  People all around me cpped loudly at that.

  I tinued after a few moments, "Also I'd like to thank Mr. Samuel L. Ja for inspirih his work. There couldn't have been a better person to get this award from. And stly, Thank you to the HFPA for this honor."

  With that, I stepped away from the mic when I saw a staff member from the ceremony motioning towards the back where Samuel L. Ja and I exited.

  "That was one fine speech," Samuel ented as we made our way towards the backstage.

  "Thank you, Mr. Ja." I smiled back at him, "I meant every word though. While preparing for my role, I had to curse a lot so I took a little inspiration from you."

  Samuel shook his head, "ing from a kid, I don't know whether I should be hohat I could inspire you or sad that it was the nguage you picked up on."

  I ughed out loud at that.

  "Troy," A staff member from the Golden Globes interrupted our further versation, "gratutions on the win! If you gh that door over there, then you answer a few of the questions from reporters."

  I groaned audibly, "Do I have to? 't we wait until after the award ceremony?"

  Yeah, I know that's unprofessional, but I'm a kid here. I don't think anyone would be too offended if I skipped the ceremony for some time. After all, [Sex Education] was also nominated iegory of Best TV Movie or Miniseries and I wao be there if my parents were to receive the award.

  The maated, "How about just 5 minutes? Please? I would be in a lot of trouble if you don't give the interview now."

  I sighed but acquiesced to the man's plea. He led me to an interview area which was surrounded by reporters of different media houses.

  I kept a fident smile on my face as I was bombarded with a ton of questions.

  "Troy, how does it feel to be the you actor to win a Golden Globe."

  "I feel happy," I answered with the same fidence, "I never imagined I would be winning this here tonight."

  "What about your parents? Do you think they'd be happy?" Asked a different fel.

  "You saw them there, didn't you?" I poiowards the s that was showing the live telecast of the show, "They looked quite happy to me."

  "Your birth parents," The person crified, "You were adopted by Steve Kloves in Londht?"

  That question took me off-guard for a moment. Never in any possibility had I imagihat the media would find out about my other Dad and the bitch who provided their DNA to make this body of mine. I know my adoption is a matter of public record, but dammit! It's my life!

  Taking a deep breath to calm myself, I kept a serene smile on my face while answering, "I like to think they'd be happy, but at the moment I have only two people I sider my parents and they are Steve and Kathy Kloves."

  "But…" He tinued.

  " question!" I cut him off and poio a nice dy who had her hand raised, "Yes, you!"

  "How different is adapting to a life in LA after London?" She asked.

  I smiled warmly at that, "Not much different except the weather, I prefer London though. That's where I was born and have many friends there."

  Not really, but they don't o know that I'm kind of anti-social with most kids my age.

  Pointing towards a different person, I heard the question, "What ? Do you have any other projects ing up?"

  "Oh yes," Finally something I talk endlessly about, "I am currently w on this amazing film called [The Sixth Sense] alongside Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, and Olivia Williams. Directed by M. Night Shyaman, it's a psychological thriller film expected to be released this summer."

  This went on for a few more minutes where the reporters asked me questions about the movie and whatnot. Then after a photo session with my Golden Globe trophy, which took eoo much time in my opinion, I was finally free from the clutches of the hyenas.

  I heaved a sigh of relief when it ended. And finally, it dawned upon me. I had achieved something for my work. While I might have said that I don't expeything from the Golden Globes, deep down, I would've been disheartened had I not won it. Now that I have, I feel like it is one of the happiest moments of my life.

  "Troy!" Mum squealed when I sat down on my allotted seat beside her, "Are you alright?"

  "Yes Mum," I gave her a rge grin, "I am more than alright."

  ____________________________

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