Impractical Jokers, Practically

Chapter Twenty-Four

Well, the worst that could happen would be that I got the part. That I was the new joker, the girl fifth joker. The add-on to the show. Now, a) I have to be funny most of the time, can I do that? Would I feel too much pressure? b) What if the fans hate me? Hate that there's a new joker? Hate that this joker wasn't lifelong friends with the others? c) I'm way to stressed out, I'm about to meet them and what if we don't get along or what if they don't like me? What if? 

There were a lot of pretty girls in NY auditioning. I still don't understand how truTV and the IJ crew picked me out of all people. 

The audition went well enough. I made a few jokes, they quizzed me on how well I knew the show and the guys--which I passed with flying colors, let me tell you, because I'm a big fan--and then, that was it. They told me that they'd call me. Granted, I didn't think they'd actually would, so when I got a call from them and they said I was going to be the new joker, I couldn't believe it. I felt astonished. Flabbergasted. And now: nervous. 

I wipe my palms down my pants, hoping the guys don't notice how sweaty I am. Especially Sal. I know he has a thing with germs and with cleanliness, and I don't want the first impression of me to be gross. Or awkward. I'm in the parking lot of a grocery store where the guys are inside, shooting a challenge. When they're done, they're supposed to come outside and meet me. Even though I live in the same city as them, this was my first time meeting them. And I'd have to work with them. I hope this works out well. 

I'm chuckling to myself over my pun, when the door to the grocery store opens, and this is it. Murr steps out first, then Q, then Joe, and then, Sal. They all look so perfect and exactly the way they look on TV. Murr makes his way over to meet me first, smiling with his big, beautiful smile, and sticks out his hand which I shake. 

"You must be Alexa. I'm James Murray from Impractical Jokers."

"She knows you're from the show. Dude, she even knows who you are." Q sidesteps Murr, rolls his eyes, and then gives me an apologetic smile. "Sorry about this clown over here. I'm Brian "Q" Quinn, but you already know that." 

"Hey mustache, don't call me clown!" Murray is pouting as Joe makes his way over to me. 

I stick out my hand, thinking Joe is going to shake it, but he pulls me into a brief hug instead. "Hi, Alexa. I'm Joey." He pulls away, then asks, "Do you have a donut by any chance?" 

The guys are laughing and I'm smiling, thinking that they really are acting exactly like they do on the show. They even say the catch phrases and everything. I feel at ease. I feel like hey, maybe I can do this. This won't be bad at all. I can even, hopefully, become best friends with the guys. 

Then, it's Sal's turn to "introduce" himself and, as I make eye contact with him, I feel my heart almost skipping a beat. He comes closer, grins shyly, and sticks out his hand. "Hi, I'm Sal. Nice to meet you, Alexa." Then he stands there, in that position, and seems like he's waiting for something. Wha--Oh right, he's waiting for me to shake his hand. Duh. 

As my hand makes contact with his, I am caught off guard, not at the firm handshake, but how soft his hand is. I also feel like my palm is on fire so I pull away a little too anxiously and say faintly, "Nice to meet you, too." 

I take my attention away from Sal's face and grin at all four of them, saying, "It's nice to meet all of you. This is honestly a dream come true."

"You want to hear the even better news?!" Joe waves his arms around enthusiastically. "Because you're a joker now too, and because we're all working together, you're going to be moving in with us!"