He came to me twice repeating that there are payment plans. And twice, I said abso-freakin'-not.

Last Saturday night as the Wangs were making their way to a hamburger dinner, we heard a radio commercial about to attract kids like a moth to a flame. "Hey kids!  Do you want to be in a commercial or on television just like Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato?  (They fail to mention future bad mistakes of Beiber or issues such as cutting.  I guess that will be mentioned later.)  There is some sort of casting opportunity while a  phone number is given.  Ching and I don't think anything of it but a few seconds later, Laurel is reciting numbers--either she has turned to Rain Main or she is very excited for her math class.  As we get to dinner, I notice that Laurel's hands are really dirty and she keeps hiding her left hand...I then notice that she wrote the phone number for this casting call on her palm.  Her old school method of writing on her hand warmed my heart but only for a moment because she wants this pipe dream of being on a Disney channel.

Ching is actually up for taking her to this "audition" because it is very close to our house---to him, this is another Saturday activity.  All she needs to do is wear a nice outfit and be prepared to read a commercial for her age group.  Fine--if Ching wants to be in a mass of screaming kids, and the epitome of a bad pageant parents while being solicited to purchase head shots and acting lessons, feel free.  I would rather stay home with Rachel (trying for attempt #4 on the potty.)

Laurel was pretty excited about this "audition" all week.  She started telling me that her new ambition in life was to be a model.  (Before this, she told me that she wanted to be a doctor.)  Oh crap, time to dial up the math.  I needed to squelch this model talk.

On Saturday, Ching and Laurel were only gone for two hours and true to form it was a racket.  Castinghub.com is an exclusive service that will place your child (for some parents, meal ticket) on a website for other casting agencies to access.  Each child has to try out and be invited to be on this site...and pay.  To be on this website, in hopes that Disney will see you, will cost $2000 for a 3 month membership.  Holy crap--it was worse than head shots and lessons.

After this infomercial that lasted 60 minutes, Laurel was asked a few questions.  Ching was told that he may be called that night to see if Laurel would be invited back the next day...to pay.  (How much would it suck to have a kid that is such a dud that they are not even invited back to pay?)

Ching understood that this company is preying on two basic weaknesses:  1.  Every parent thinks their child is smart, special and gorgeous.  2.  The underlying obsession of celebrity.  Even knowing this and understanding the racket, Ching was still weak!  (Where the hell was his God damn focus!) He got the call and Laurel was invited to pay several thousand dollars to be on the website.  He came to me twice repeating that there are payment plans.  And twice, I said abso-freakin'-not.  (My credit card has a payment plan too but you didn't see me taking advantage of it this week on Rue La La when Cartier was featured.)

Ching politely declined via text that we would not be showing up on Sunday with Laurel prepared to read again, with more school photos and lots of cash (or credit card).

Laurel didn't even ask today if she got called back.  I think she even realized that it was a sham.  When she saw that one of the "products" produced from this site was there and just a supporting character to Selena, she was disappointed.  This makes me proud...perhaps like me, she will try to lead while dancing too.