Concern without losing hope
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
Later, an actor became petulant because a minor costume adjustment delayed his scene. He complained about the inconvenience and pushed the revised schedule away. A solicitous costume assistant asked what he needed and offered a quiet place to review his lines while she finished the adjustment. Jules remained sanguine about the evening's progress because most scenes were ready, but he acknowledged that the remaining work still required attention. Confidence did not make the last tasks disappear.
The assistant's solicitous manner helped keep the conversation focused on a practical solution rather than the actor's petulant complaints. She checked whether the costume now allowed the movement the scene required, then gave him space to rehearse. Jules was still sanguine when he reviewed the schedule, although he left time for another adjustment if necessary. The team ended the evening with a workable sequence and a clearer account of what needed to be ready before the next rehearsal.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.