The Weight of the Brass Bell
October 24
I am staring at my sneakers, trying to decide if I am a terrible friend or just someone who is completely exhausted by being the glue that holds everything together. My desk lamp is buzzing, casting a low, yellowish circle over my notebook, and every time my phone vibrates on the mattress behind me, my stomach clenches.
Today was our first full technical run-through of the fall one-act play. For three weeks, Mr. Henderson has reminded us that the regional competition only accepts twenty-minute productions. That means every light cue, every prop transfer, and every sound effect has to hit down to the second. I am the stage manager, which sounds prestigious until you realize it mostly means writing down twenty people’s blocking in pencil and wiping dust off folding chairs. Marcus is my best friend, but he is also our primary sound technician. More importantly, he is the only person who knows how to operate the antique brass school bell from the tech booth during the climax of Scene Three.
- prestigious:
- Having high status, honor, or respect in the eyes of others.
- blocking:
- The precise movement and positioning of actors on a stage.
- climax:
- The most intense, exciting, or important point of a story or play.
- console:
- A control panel housing switches and monitors for electronic or audio systems.
- proscenium:
- The frame or arch separating the stage from the auditorium.
- reverberation:
- A continuing sound that echoes and vibrates after the source has stopped.
- allegiance:
- Loyalty, devotion, or commitment to an individual, group, or cause.
- ensemble:
- A group of actors, musicians, or dancers who perform together as a coordinated team.
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Main Idea
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Summarize
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Point of View
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Purpose
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Structure
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What specific dilemma does Jordan face when Mr. Henderson asks about Marcus's absence?
- 2How does the setting of a strict, twenty-minute regional competition increase the conflict of the passage?
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About this diary entry passage for 8th Grade
“The Weight of the Brass Bell” is a diary entry reading passage about loyalty and responsibility, written for 8th Grade. It takes about 7 minutes to read (1,069 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.