The Cannibals by Cynthia D. Grant Page B

all so excited before she showed up on the set today to have publicity pictures taken. Everybody, except Campbell, was waiting outside the gym, including hundreds of junior high school kids waving Little Tina Fan Club signs.
    The tech crew made everybody stand behind barricades so they couldn’t get too close, except for Jason Wittington, who plays her boyfriend in the movie, and The Girls and I, who play her gang.
    For the record, I would like to state that Campbell is every bit as good-looking as Jason, whose skin, in real life, is not too great. Why Campbell refused to play the basketball captain, Jason’s best friend in the movie, I’ll never understand.
    Then the longest limousine I’ve ever seen pulled up and people started screaming and flipping out.
    â€œHere she is!” Mr. Goldman shouted, and he ran over and opened the door—and this tiny little person got out. I mean, I always knew Little Tina was small, but she’s practically—I hate to say it—a dwarf . She looks so much bigger on TV!
    She was wearing a cheerleading outfit just like ours and carrying red-and-black pompoms. But I couldn’t believe it: She was smoking a cigarette! In her book, it says she never smokes!
    Then a bunch of fans ran over and tried to touch her and somehow knocked the cigarette out of her mouth, and one of the pompoms caught on fire.
    Principal Brown rushed over and stomped it out and told Little Tina that Hiram Johnson High is a tobacco-free zone.
    â€œWhat makes you think it’s tobacco?” she snapped.
    So things weren’t off to a very smooth start. I agree that smoking is a very bad habit, but the least Principal Brown could’ve done was to welcome her to our campus. For heaven’s sake, she’s a star , not a student! It’s not like he can put her in detention!
    Unfortunately, the incident seemed to affect Little Tina’s mood, and she wouldn’t even look at me and The Girls when Ms. Stuart introduced us.
    Then she asked, “Which one is Jaycee?” which is the name of my character, the leader of the cheerleader gang. When Mr. Goldman pointed me out, she got this expression on her face, like I was a plate of dog food or something, and said, “No, her look isn’t right.”
    Excuse me, please? My look isn’t right? This was clearly a case of professional jealousy because, in all modesty, I’m just as beautiful as Little Tina, and at least six inches taller.
    To my horror, Mr. Goldman seemed to agree with Little Tina and started saying maybe Jaycee should be played by one of the other Girls, possibly Shelby! I thought for sure The Girls would say no, it’s got to be Tiffany. But it turned out that they all wanted the part, except for Ashley, who hates it when we argue, and got an instant migraine.
    Luckily, Ms. Stuart took my side and explained that Shelby was a little too porky—she put it more nicely—to play Jaycee, and the decision had been made and it was final . If Little Tina didn’t like it, Ms. Stuart said, she could talk to her agent. In the meantime, could we please get the damn pictures taken?
    But there’s one thing I’ve got to say for Little Tina: She is a true professional. She put aside her differences, wrapped her arms around us, and posed for all those pictures with a big smile on her face.
    It’s just kind of disillusioning. Little Tina seems so nice on TV! On her talk show she always gets tears in her eyes when somebody tells her a sad story.
    I know that a big star like her is under a lot of pressure, and the microscope of constant public scrutiny. But if it weren’t for us fans, she wouldn’t be anybody . When I’m famous, I’ll never be one of those stars who refuses to give autographs and complains that they can’t get any privacy. Come on, people! It’s called show business, not no -show business. If you want privacy, drive a cab or be a teacher!
    Speaking of