The cue board was an old system, but it had always been reliable. Rachel had used it for countless shows, and she knew its quirks and idiosyncrasies. But a crack in the screen was a different story altogether.

As the curtain came down, Rachel turned to Alex and grinned. "Well, kid," she said. "I think you've just earned your place on this team."

As the minutes ticked by, the situation grew more and more dire. The audience was starting to get restless, and the performers were getting anxious.

At first, Rachel thought it might just be a minor glitch. But as she tried to test the system, she realized that the crack was more than just a cosmetic issue. The board was malfunctioning, and it was threatening to ruin the show.

Rachel looked at him skeptically, but she was out of options. "Okay, kid," she said. "You've got a shot. Go for it."