Second Chances

Amanda Kinsworth grew up in Taft, California. A small town with not much to do except use your imagination. This is how she discovered her gift for creating stories. During her high school years an English teacher encouraged her to pursue her writing. The smash hit of a play written for the local drama club was all it took. Being a successful playwright became her goal. Her writing gave her notoriety at school and rewarded her with popularity, and this brought her face to face with Johnny Perez.

           Johnny, a talented transplant from Texas, was known by his teachers for his intellect, and by the girls for his smiling green eyes. Even the guys liked him for his ability to throw a 55-yard football pass, and a baseball pitch that came cross the plate at 95 miles an hour. Johnny’s career goal was to win a baseball scholarship to a college, play ball through school and still earn a degree in civil engineering – just like his late father.

           Both Amanda and Johnny were goal oriented, serious about their futures, and drawn to each other like magnets. They began to think more about right now and less about later. Their relationship became intense and passionate.  Developing and evolving insidiously into a bond that would be held for life.

            Foolishly, they hadn’t thought past graduation. Johnny was successful at getting picked up by a southern California college with a great engineering program. He was going to move to San Diego. Amanda had applied to several schools and was accepted to USC. She was moving to LA.  They vowed to stay monogamous and see each other often. Still, there was no talk of long-term plans, and commitment to one another was taken for granted.

           The distance between them began to grow. Schedules were hectic and visits became infrequent. Each had made decisions about life that didn’t include the other. That was ten years ago.

           Johnny’s life plan changed, he’s a starting pitcher and loving professional ball. He’s dating a super model and the gossip rags are hinting at a summer wedding. Amanda went on to receive her Master’s in Creative Writing from USC and had been hired to help revive a dying TV channel by writing scripts for new shows.  

           The latest project given to her and her partner, Breezie, needed to be exceptional. The producers were looking for one with a twist. Amanda was thinking about a dating show with a surprise old flame showing up, the show would be called Second Chances. It was during this process that Johnny had popped into her head. She hadn’t thought about him in years, and now she realized her desire for him was still there. Her thoughts led to longing and self-pity over losing him. She began to question her decisions and slipped into a daydream about their passionate involvement.

           Breezie interrupted her thoughts.

           “Earth to Mandy, earth to Mandy.” She was the only one that could get away with calling her that. Amanda would correct everyone else. Johnny had called her that, but only when they were making out.

           “Sorry, I was in a different part of the world. What’s up?”

           Breezie took in a deep sigh and let it out slowly while pulling her long blond hair back behind both ears,

           “We have a submission to finish. If we don’t, we can kiss this gig goodbye.”

           Amanda looked into her friend’s eyes and held the gaze while she pondered her new idea.

           “What’s wrong, do I have a something hanging out my nose?” Breezie was rubbing her nose and wiping her face with her hands.

           Amanda rolled her eyes, “No, but how would you feel about changing our idea. I have an idea and I think the producers will love it. I haven’t thought it completely through, but it should be do-able.”

           Breezie spoke hesitantly, “What do you have in mind. You know how long these things take, so it better be good.”

           After hearing about the idea, Breezie loved it. They went to work on the details and scripts, the schematics of contestants, transportation issues, timing of shows, and prize ideas for those that chose to take the “Second Chance” for love.  One week later, with long days and little sleep, they had their appointment to pitch the idea to the producers.

           During the long hours of getting ready Amanda told Breezie about Johnny, even about the sex. Breezie had guessed there was someone because Mandy would never join the others for girl’s night out or and celebrations. She kept to herself and stayed immersed in her work.                       

Breezie was also surprised to find out Mandy had been Johnny Perez’s first love.

           The producers loved the idea of Second Chances and got an instant green light from the station owners to get it ready for the fall line-up. Amanda and Breezie had done their part, the rest was up to the station to work out the remaining details. Amanda was still holding her breath, and she would until ratings came after the first show.

           Basically, there would be one contestant, male or female, and a panel of four people behind a curtain. No names would be revealed until after the show. During the initial interview process a contestant was asked to reveal the name of a person that ‘got away’ and if they would like a second chance to fix what had been broken in that relationship. The station would then call that person and let them think they were part of a  randomly selected panel.  The contestant and the panel would be clueless, except for the concept of the show. The panel would not know if they were the expectant Second Chance person.

           The show would start by introducing the contestant under a fake name and a few details about a love gone awry.  He, or she, would begin by asking a series of vague questions pertaining to love, careers, habits, and specific traits. The contestant would have to guess, based on answers from the panel, which one was the Second Chance. If it was a correct choice, they were given a huge weekend away to become reacquainted. The remaining panel members were given token runner-up gifts. If a wrong choice was made, then no one would win on the show, but the contestant would have a second chance meeting backstage.  

           September finally came and the PR for the show had brought a great response. Advertisers had been easy to acquire and were as anxious for viewers, as promised. You could cut the anxiety with a knife.

           The first contestant was a female bartender, she had chosen her childhood sweetheart from the fifth grade, he had given her a memorable first kiss. Today he’s 22 years old, a college student, and available. The show went exactly as planned and even after twelve years apart she selected her Second Chance. They were re-introduced on the air and after a long kiss the contestant could be heard saying,

           “It’s even better than the first kiss.”

           It was a perfect pilot program, well received by millions of viewers and advertisers that were eagerly planning the next several weeks of ads.

           Amanda and Breezie were an instant success as co-writers of the script. After 4 successful weeks of Second Chances they were nominated for an Emmy.  And now Amanda felt like she could breathe again.

           Breezie bounded into Amanda’s office, “Let’s celebrate, finally we can call our own shots, we can be more selective about who, what, when, and where we work. I think we need to let our hair down, Mandy. Don’t you?”

           Amanda looked up over her reading glasses and, just as Breezie expected, said,

           “I have a mountain of paperwork, another script to finish by the end of the month, and we haven’t even started on pitching for next season. We need to get on board or get left in the dust. Breezie, you know how this works. We are not at that point where we sit back and tell someone else how to do our job.”

           “Come on, just for tonight, have some fun. Do you remember what that is? I’ll be you haven’t had any since high school – and I don’t mean fun!”

           Amanda was startled but had to laugh.

           “You’re right, I’m a stick-in-the-mud,” her mood switched to serious, “but I just can’t bring myself to do something that my heart doesn’t feel and I’m okay with working for now, I can’t get involved in anything else, especially a relationship or a one-night stand. Sorry, Breezie, not my style. Besides, I need to get ahead of my work so I can go home and see my parents. Mom says dad’s not doing well.”

           Breezie shrugged, “Have it your way – again. I’ll be at the Blue Moon if you need me.”

She turned and glancing over her shoulder, gave Mandy a wink.

           Amanda knew the wink was code for ‘I’m not sleeping alone tonight.’

           Sitting at the bar and on her second Manhattan, Breezie thought about Amanda and her lost love. Too bad Mandy couldn’t get a Second Chance with her baseball pillow-pal. An idea came like a bolt of lightening to Breezie and she wondered if she could pull it off.

           The following week Amanda left to spend time at home, and this gave Breezie plenty of time to talk the producers into her scheme.

           It was time for the final show for the season, everything was in place and Amanda was set to go home and watch it on TV, like everyone else.  Breezie broke through the door,

           “Sorry, bad news. One of the girls from the panel was in an accident on the way to the studio and we don’t have a replacement. I’m scheduled to sit in the booth with the producer and discuss changes for next season.” Her face wrinkled in hesitancy, “I know this is an odd request, but can you sit in on the panel? Before you say no, it’s just to answer questions, no one expects anything more. Please.”

           Amanda looked at her in disbelief.

           “Are you serious? There isn’t one other woman on this set that could do such a lame job? I was actually on my way home to watch the show and be surprised at the ending, for once.”

           “I’m sorry, Mandy. The producers felt that since this is your baby you would be best suited to do this and not screw it up. You are the only one that would remain calm and stay with the script.”

           “You’re right about it being my baby, but not so sure about the rest. Okay. Do I have time to get to make-up first? And who’s on tonight?”

           “Make-up is waiting for you, and it’s just some middle-aged guy looking for a quick romance.” Breezie ran out the door.

           It was completely different being behind the curtain, Amanda was making a list in her head for next season.

           “Number Two,” came the call from the contestant, “are you still on your career path or are you there?”

           “I’ve achieved my goal that I had as a little girl.” Amanda replied.

           “Number Two, did you have any distractions along the way?”

           Amanda thought it was an odd question, “Not really, I was slowed down in my early college days, but that’s all behind me and I’ve been a steam-roller ever since.”

           The audience chuckled at her answer.

           The contestant moved on, “Number One, have you had many distractions on your career path?”

           “Well, I’m not really on my path yet,” Amanda could see her, and thought she’s your typical ‘let someone else do that’ person, looking for an easy way through life. Number One continued demurely, “and yes, I have a lot of distractions – if you know what I mean.”

           The audience laughed, but the contestant gave a quizzical look into the camera.

           “Number Three, where do you picture yourself in two years?”

           “Hawaii, I hope.” Came the feeble attempt at being funny.

           Not the answer the contestant was looking for, he felt sorry for her.

           He continued with his questions, most of which required a more intelligent answer than what was received, except for Number Two, there was something about her voice that was sound and direct.

           “Number One, if you were hiking and came upon two paths, one that led uphill into a dense forest, and the other was open, downhill, and you could see a town; which path would you chose?”

           “The downhill, of course.”

           “Number Four, same question, which path would you pick?”

           “Same for me, I’d want to get to town and have some fun.”

           Number Three had the same response, the easy way.

           “Number Two, I’m guessing you’d pick the same path also.”

           “No, I’d talk to my partner first, which ever path we decided on, we would do it together.”

           The MC approached the microphone,

           “Before we reveal our contestant’s name, please tell us which number you selected as your hopeful Second Chance.”

           “Number Two.”  

           “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to reveal our contestant and see if he has indeed selected his Second Chance for love.” He came waling out from behind the curtain, “folks meet Johnny Perez, a professional baseball player who’s familiar to all the young ladies. Johnny let’s meet the girl you chose and we hope you get your Second Chance.”

           Meanwhile, behind the curtain the remaining three ladies were taken off the set. Amanda was left sitting alone. She couldn’t hear yet who the contestant was. but she felt bad for him for making the wrong choice. No one anticipated this and she immediately began to imagine how the producers would handle this unforeseen consequence.

           This was the finale for the season, and they hoped for a better outcome. Now there will be disappointment on the contestant’s face and sighs from the audience.

           Suddenly the curtain had been pulled back and Amanda reluctantly stepped forward, seeing Johnny again for the first time in ten years and all the old feelings came rushing back.

           “This must be a mistake," was all she could think of to say.

           Johnny couldn’t believe his eyes; he had wondered if he would ever see her again. She hadn’t changed, still beautiful and had the same gorgeous smile as the first time he saw her.

           They didn’t wait for introductions; they immediately fell into an embrace that lasted until well after the show had ended.

           The MC went on to explain,

           “Folks, you guessed it. This is Amanda Kinsworth, our writer, and her high school sweetheart. Neither of them knew about this set-up and as you can see, true love prevailed.  Johnny chose his Second Chance and it looks like he’s going to get it. Good night and see you next season.”

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