Better Nate Than Ever

This summary section includes Chapter 15: “Learning Lines,” Chapter 16: “Starmites My Life to Oblivion,” and Chapter 17: “A Salsa Crawl Is Not a Dance Move.”

Nate is nervous as he scans the script pages he’s supposed to read. When he enters the audition room once more, he reads the part of Elliott, his younger sister, his older brother, and his mother. The casting crew is especially impressed when Nate demonstrates his knee-walk by sliding across the floor.

Afterward, the casting director compliments Nate. One of the casting crew gives Nate 10 dollars and advises him to buy some deodorant. The casting assistant tells Nate that he needs to stay in town for a few more days, pending another callback. The young actor is ecstatic.

Back out on the street, Nate faces a new set of problems: He’s starving, freezing without a heavy coat, and has nowhere to spend the night. Nate goes to a drugstore called Duane Reade and buys deodorant and a cheap phone charger. Then, he takes a coat from a pile of clothing drive donations. Afterward, he goes to a Mexican restaurant offering free chips and salsa and finds an outlet to charge his phone.

Seated at a table, stuffing himself with chips, Nate can finally make a call to

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