How to Stop Time

With winter approaching and summer crowds thinning, Tom looks for work as an inn musician. The Pembroke Men, a band of musicians, own the market on entertaining. Hearing that Tom is looking for a job, one of them approaches him. Wolstan the Tree, a giant man who played the fiddle, grabs Tom by the neck and slams him against a wall. A nearby prostitute named Elsa tells him to back off and let Tom be. Wolstan demands Tom stay away from the inns in that neighborhood and grabs Tom’s lute and threatens to break it. A “deep theatrical kind of voice” shouts for him to stop (144). Elsa recognizes Richard Burbage, London’s most famous actor. He is accompanied by actor Will Kemp and the playwright William Shakespeare. The trio demand that Wolstan return Tom’s lute. He complies and leaves. Shakespeare talks to Tom about the lute. He then asks Tom’s age. Tom says he is 16. Shakespeare believes he could be 14 and yet 18, saying his “face is a riddle” (146). Shakespeare informs Tom that the Lord Chamberlain’s Men are looking for a lutist and asks him to audition. After he plays, they hire him on the spot to play at the Globe Theatre.

The next morning, Tom and Rose discuss his new job. She confesses that she is too dull to entertain Tom in his new colorful life at the theater. They are walking back from fetching water when Mary Peters stops them. Rose greets her, and Mary looks at Tom and says, “Is this your Tom?” (149). Rose blushes. Tom feels good knowing Rose speaks of him to others. They converse for a bit before walking on. Rose tells Tom how mysterious Mary is, much like Tom. Rose is determined to solve him and asks that he tell her something she doesn’t know. He admits that he likes how she cares for Grace, made a good home from so much pain and loss, and finds beauty in everything. He continues to compliment her. They kiss. Tom heads off to the Globe thinking how love and terror are the same thing.

After class, Tom speaks to Anton. Anton looks scared and then confused when Tom asks if he likes music and if he plays. Anton confesses that his mother taught him some piano. Tom then asks if his mother knows about his friends. They aren’t really his friends but the brother and friends of a former classmate. Anton asks if Tom really did kill someone. Tom honestly says yes and tells Anton he wouldn’t advise it. While he didn’t get caught by authorities, his mind is haunted by it. They discuss choices and knowing right from wrong. Tom switches gears a bit and asks if Anton likes school. Anton thinks it’s irrelevant and mentions seeing a Shakespeare play during an English field trip. Tom shares how lively the theater used to be—how history is right there all around them. Tom sees a little glimmer of hope in Anton. They joke one final time about Shakespeare before parting ways.

At the Globe, high above the stage in the gallery, Tom sits next to Christopher the virginal player. Christopher compliments Tom, who plays well for his age, but says that he won’t be young forever. He mentions that there is a young boy out east whose mother was killed for being a witch. Tom freezes. Christopher says Hal, the flautist sitting in front of them, told him about it. Hal joins the conversation, explaining that the boy didn’t age because the mother cast a charm that killed a man to give him eternal life. Shakespeare interrupts before Tom can say anything. He moves Tom up front so they can hear the lute better.

From the front bench, Tom observes the audience. Tom enjoys playing the music that enlivens the crowd. One song brings him back to France and his mother. He finds the play As You Like It troubling. Shakespeare plays the character Jaques, who walks around “being cynical and miserable” (158). The character’s line that haunts Tom most is “All the world’s a stage […] And one man in his time plays many parts” (158).

One night, Tom learns that Mr. Willow, the market warden, gave the girls’ marketplace spot away because Grace wouldn’t give him sexual favors. The next day, Tom attacks Mr. Willow. The girls are now banned from the whole market. Rose is distraught, but Tom promises to fix things. He talks to Shakespeare about the girls selling fruit in the theater. Tom follows Shakespeare to the Queen’s Tavern and joins him at a table. Before Tom can ask about the girls, Shakespeare notes, “You possess a young face and a wise tongue. People hate that. They know it could fool them” (162). Shakespeare continues, telling a story about a young actor named Henry Hemmings. It was rumored that he “was not at time’s mercy” (162), and when people grew suspicious, he would find another troupe of players. He eventually joined the Queen’s Men but ended up in a violent fight when someone recognized him. He died, and Shakespeare replaced him in the troupe. Shakespeare implies Tom reminds him of Hemmings. He finally asks what Tom wants to speak to him about. Tom asks about Rose and Grace, and Shakespeare agrees to let the girls sell their fruit in the theater.

At the theater, Tom notices a man steal an apple from Grace. Grace stands her ground, demanding payment, until another man pushes her down and out of the way. Several people grab the apples that scatter. Grace rises. The man grabs her and tongues her ear. Tom sees Rose heading over to defend her. Grace gives the man a bloody nose. At this point, Tom jumps off the balcony to help the girls. Another man stands in their way. It is William Manning. He recognizes Tom and mentions he hasn’t changed at all since they last met. He turns to the girls and says “be aware of this, girls, for he is not what he seems. He is an unnatural malevolence, incarnate. A witch’s boy” (167). Tom is in trouble and needs to distance himself from the girls. Manning grabs Grace, asserting she, too, could be ageless. From the stage, Shakespeare demands he release the girl or else they will end the play. The whole theater supports this request and throws trash at Manning. Grace is released. They run as Shakespeare announces that “the rest of the performance was dedicated to an actor to whom he owed a debt—‘a man by the name of Henry Hemmings’” (169). It is a coded message letting Tom know they can never return to the Globe again.

Rose wants to know who Manning is. Tom tries to deny knowing him, but Rose sees through the lie. Tom tells Rose he is too young for her, and he should leave. He needs her to hate him, but she won’t. Rose asks for the truth about his mother, and Tom is finally honest. He confesses that he isn’t growing older. She kisses him, only half believing. It takes months for her to realize it is the truth.