Standing alone, center stage in the blinding glare of the theater's spotlight, I wasn't nervous. My eighth-grade drama teacher, impressed with my acting ability during class, had urged me (practically begged me!) to audition for the lead role in our school play, which she would direct. Knowing that the part was mine for the taking, my natural shyness melted away and I breezed through my audition with a new-found confidence. But that confidence was quickly replaced with a burning embarrassment when my teacher asked, with a disappointing hesitation, “Ummm. Is there any other part you'd like to try out for?”
Héctor Hernández put his degree in civil engineering to good use for twenty-seven years. He is now retired and writes whenever inspiration demands his attention.