A smile awakes on my face as I take my slow steps into the gleaming golden glow of the spotlight as it shines down from the rafters. Specks of dust float slowly through the light as I examine the crowd. I stop to wink at the three people I love most sit in the middle of the crowd ready to see the show. My father winks back with a gleam of white teeth as he smiles. My mother smiles back and waves a quiet wave. And Kaitlin my girlfriend gives me a grin and eye contact that says, “Stop staring over here, nitwit.” I smiled and scanned the full rows of the auditorium and that is when She puts the music to her torso and waves a slight hand and the piano.

Walking into the junior high’s music room was a new environment. The old carpet was comfortable to walk on which was a relief because my knees were buckling in nervousness. A day of school was over and I was sitting in the room waiting for my turn. The door opened like a gust of wind could open it.

“Charles, follow me.” She said with a grin.

“Good afternoon Mrs. Carpenter how was your day?” I asked with enthusiasm and a slight crackle as my voice was slowly but surely changing.
“It was fine,” She sits at her piano and looks up at me. “Sing.”

And so I sang. I sang like I have never heard myself sing. With so much at stake and so much meaning in the lyrics. I have never felt music to be that important until this audition.  

I couldn’t hit that right note yet though. She told me with practice and dedication I will be a great singer. I took pride in those words and held them safe for a while. When I finally received the letter congratulating me on being in choir I was exuberant! I felt like I had just won the most important swim in my life!

Throughout the year I progressed and loved everything about choir. We had concerts and other events. I joined what we called BariTenors which was a small group of boys who all had different ranges and could sing very well. You could say we were the top dogs of boys choir.
Eighth grade is where I became more confident and wanted to excell as far up the line as I could. I was best in classes during the day and after school. I could always put a smile on Her face and I could also put a pinch of aggravation in her voice. Looking back I realise this was wrong of me and I should have been more respectful.

I excelled and became respectable to all the guys in the choir. My friends all asked me to sing for them. So I did! I sang everywhere I went. I was always in the groove and couldn’t get out of it!

The Concert came up so fast. Nobody felt ready but me and I would assure everyone that they looked great and that they would sound just as good. Concert Choir and The Advanced Choir did amazing. Last but not least BariTenors got on stage.

A smile awakes on my face as I take my slow steps into the gleaming golden glow of the spotlight as it shines down from the rafters. Specks of dust float slowly through the light as I examine the crowd. I stop to wink at the three people I love most sit in the middle of the crowd ready to see the show. My father winks back with a gleam of white teeth as he smiles. My mother smiles back and waves a quiet wave. And Kaitlin my girlfriend gives me a grin and eye contact that says, “Stop staring over here, nitwit.” I smiled and scanned the full rows of the auditorium and that is when She puts the music to her torso and waves a slight hand and the piano.

Mr. Curtis played the great music and we got in the groove. Looking back at my loved ones I realised that I should have never been nervous to sing in front of people and I should have learned to be confident earlier.

That night we sang until we were out of music and we walk out with a great applause tapping on our shoulders.