Author: Jackie Pick

Jackie Pick is a former teacher and current writer living in the Chicago area. She is a contributing author to multiple anthologies, including Multiples Illuminated, So Glad They Told Me: Women Get Real about Motherhood, Here in the Middle, as well as the and the literary magazines The Sun and Selfish. She received Honorable Mention from the Mark Twain House and Museum for her entry in the Royal Nonesuch Humor Writing Competition. Jackie is a contributing writer at Humor Outcasts, and her essays have been featured on various online sites including McSweeney's, Belladonna Comedy, Mamalode, The HerStories Project, and Scary Mommy. A graduate of the University of Chicago and Northwestern University, Jackie is co-creator and co-writer of the award-winning short film Fixed Up, and a proud member of the 2017 Chicago cast of Listen To Your Mother.

Sunday Shorts

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For only the third time in my life, I have laryngitis.

The first time was when I was 15 and auditioning for a part in an Off-Broadway production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. I really wanted to be part of that production. I knew it would change my life. I woke up that morning with barely a voice. I went to the audition, told the director and producers of my laryngitis and gave one hell of an audition. I was told later (kindly, because usually you don’t get this kind of feedback) that they loved everything about my audition except my voice was too scratchy.

Wall, meet my head. Repeatedly.

The second time was eighteen months ago when I auditioned for a music improvisation conservatory. I really wanted to be part of that course. I knew it would change my life. I knew that it would be a great challenge for my improv skills and a nice match with my singing and music background. I woke up that morning with barely a voice. I went to the audition, told the directors of my laryngitis and gave one hell of an audition – even the improv part! I was told later (kindly, because you usually don’t get this kind of feedback) that they all wished they could take me, but they could only take 15 people and I was their 16th choice.  I wondered if it had anything to do with my lack of voice.

So this morning I woke up with barely a voice.

I’m wondering if I missed an appointment.