That became even more apparent when she was the first to be chosen as a team leader at a Kairos Retreat organised by Immaculate Heart at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in the upmarket neighbourhood of Encino. These four-day breaks were popular throughout Catholic schools and colleges in the US. While Kairos originally comes from the Greek for the ‘right time’, in biblical terms it is better translated as ‘God’s time’.
The principle purpose of the four-day retreat was to build empathy, giving the young women time and space to talk openly about their problems and concerns without having to worry about dashing off to the next class or what grade they might be given for their homework.
Meghan was one of six seniors leading groups of eight in daily discussions, trying to make sure every girl had the chance to express themselves. She also had to give a half-hour presentation in front of everyone in which she talked in a mature way about her own life journey. It was a chance to share some personal feelings about her parents’ divorce.
Theology teacher Christine Knudsen, who organised the retreat, observed, ‘Any young person struggles when their parents are divorced, even though I think she knew that both of them loved her, and they were both in her life.’ Meghan was an ideal choice to be a leader because, added Christine, ‘she had a lot of depth, probably because of her own experience of her parents’ divorce. She’d take conversations to a deeper level.’
Meghan’s ability to share thoughts and feelings was of particular benefit to one girl, who struggled with her shyness and was the quietest and most reserved of her group. Meghan wrote her a note in her distinctive and immaculate handwriting: ‘You are so strong and so wonderful – your courage and strength in times of hardship is as admirable as your optimism and friendly nature. Never stop sharing your beautiful spirit and always remember how special you are.’ She ended the letter: ‘I am here if you ever need me. I love you. Meghan.’
Meghan was fortunate that three of her classmates and closest friends were also team leaders: Susan Ardikani, Erin Carr and Michelle Blade, who would go on to become one of the best-known artists on the West Coast. As well as their responsibilities to the Kairos Retreat itself, the classmates had the chance to talk late into the night about their aspirations. Meghan was aiming big, declaring that she was going to be president one day.
6
Like many teenage girls, Meghan was finding life with dad a little constricting. He seemed to be always around – at home, obviously, but also at school, and not just for drama; he was the man called in to help with sound and lighting for important events. Having dad lurking in the background changing a light bulb was not the ideal scenario. He still doted on her but perhaps she needed a touch more freedom.
He was involved, naturally, in what would turn out to be her last show at Immaculate Heart. She had to dust off some of the tap-dancing steps she learned when younger for Stepping Out. Originally a London stage play, it was transformed into a star vehicle for Liza Minnelli in a 1991 movie in which she played a former dancer teaching a weekly tap class to a group of women. Meghan was the abrasive Vera, memorably portrayed in the film by Julie Walters.
Meghan wanted to stretch herself dramatically, so she decided to audition for a role in a play at St Francis High School. It would give her more independence. Luis had left school by this time and they had drifted apart. He would have a startlingly successful career as a realtor in and around Pasadena and has never talked about their teenage times together. Danny was still at the school, though, and they continued to be the best of friends.
The first production she went up for was also the first involving the new director of drama at St Francis, Manny Eulalia. He wanted to come in with a bang and stage something demanding so he chose Oedipus Rex, the Greek tragedy by Sophocles, which his English class were already studying. This was a million miles away from Annie and she was the only girl from her school auditioning, hoping to be cast among forty or so other budding actresses.
Meghan tried out for the leading female role of Jocasta, the Queen of Thebes, who marries her son Oedipus and subsequently hangs herself in the last act. Manny saw a lot of hopefuls but Meghan stood out: ‘There are people who just walk in and they have that presence.’ Manny was also impressed with the work ethic that Meghan brought with her from Immaculate Heart. As it was his first production, he wanted the process to be disciplined and she did not disappoint him.
Meghan encouraged Danny to audition as well and he was cast as Creon, Jocasta’s brother, another of the leading roles. In return, Danny nominated Meghan to be Homecoming Queen at St Francis, a big deal in US school culture. Usually, co-ed schools or all-boys schools hold Homecoming Dances on the same weekend as the Homecoming Football Game (American Football). Since all-girls high schools like Immaculate Heart don’t have football teams, they don’t hold the dances.
At seventeen, she had blossomed into a stunning young woman who cast a spell over the boys of St Francis. By now the gradual process of sorting out her teeth had paid off. Dental work was a rite of passage for American teenagers. Gone was her trademark gappy grin and in its place she had a million-dollar smile.
The competition to be Homecoming Queen was fierce. Such a contest did not sit easily with Meghan’s feminist views, but she was a teenager enjoying her social life and the attention of boys. The first stage was an essay listing her achievements and accomplishments to date. Meghan sailed through that, largely due to her impressive charity work on Skid Row. Next she was interviewed by four boys, the committee, who were members of the student body. They were impressed.
The winner was announced in November 1998 at a special red-carpet ceremony during the Homecoming game between St Francis and another school team called the Chaminade Eagles from neighbouring West Hills. A school football game is a raucous event so, at half time, the Homecoming court was greeted with much hollering and cheering as they made their way onto a makeshift stage in the middle of the field.
The girls were given a guard of honour onto the red carpet by boys brandishing swords. Each one was announced over the loudspeaker and then Meghan was declared the winner. After she had been crowned by last year’s Queen, Carla Suarez, the entire court was applauded as they were driven away in a fleet of classic convertibles.
Danny was Meghan’s escort for the big dance that night. Meghan loved dancing and wasn’t usually much bothered about posing for official pictures. This evening she was a little more careful because she was wearing her Queen tiara and didn’t want to send that flying across the dance floor.
Dressed in an elegant strapless ivory ballgown and carrying a bouquet, she already looked like a Hollywood star. Her broad smile was entirely natural, however, and not one of those weary ones celebrities manufacture for the cameras as they are snapped for the thousandth time that night in the name of publicity. Danny stood proudly at her side with his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. They never dated – she had, after all, been dating his elder brother.
Meghan’s popularity was boosted by becoming the Homecoming Queen of an all-boys school. They could all see how attractive she was. One of her admirers was Nema Vand, a year younger than her and very handsome. He admitted, ‘Meghan was amazing, a woman among girls. Everyone was in love with her. She was sweet and very kind.’
Nema, who would later become one of the stars of the reality show Shahs of Sunset, still enjoys telling the story of the time when he was at the same party as Meghan and she came over and sat on his lap. Then she spoke to him in the Persian language, Farsi: ‘You are so beautiful, she purred. Nema recalled, ‘I asked her, “How do you know Farsi?” She said, “I learned it for you.” Then she walked away. She played with our hearts masterfully,’ he sighed
When word got round that Meghan was in it, tickets for the three-night run of Oedipus Rex in early January 1999 sold out rapidly. Manny Eulalia remembered that Meghan’s first entrance on stage was greeted with a round of applause, which was not exactly in keeping with such a moving and powerful tragedy.