Ten, nine

eight
but wait one more,

seven
Someone check the makeup on the blonde one!

six
lights on, bright white

sweat beading on the foreheads of fear-stricken girls
You’ve been waiting for this

You can’t mess up
everyone is watching

even that guy
the one in the back row with the mustache and beer belly,

yes, he’s watching


maybe he wants you to mess up
you can look for your family

five
but you don’t know if they are there



maybe they are
maybe they brought you flowers
when you told them not to
maybe they want you to mess up


but you can’t
lights brighter, squinted eyes

fingers trace over dresses, smoothing out wrinkles
wrinkles that shouldn’t be there



everything should be perfect
lights off


what just happened?
lights on


they must have fixed it

four











What’s the first move again?
Was it a chase? Or a step, touch?


vibrating speakers move the floor
that’s not the right music

panicked faces

look at the judges in their high seats
breathe sharply



lights brighter

how long have we been waiting here?
a man in tuxedo walks to the front of the stage


is he a judge too?


more sharp inhales

remember to breathe
smile wider, breathe deeper
they are all watching you


three


two

from Prospect High School-
for a moment, complete silence

Company!
the crowd is still but for a second
cheers

hearts beat faster and fingers tingle with anxiety
heels click onto the stage


smiles pasted with red lips

perform
lights off

cheers erupt and the smiles come back on
walk off stage

head held high, of course


like you were taught
forty girls back to the room













waiting


trying to be patient
moms rush around trying to calm the nerves


it doesn’t help
you did fine


you try to convince yourself


it doesn’t help
friends come by and nudge your shoulder, comforting


it doesn’t help
director comes in


nice, beautiful moving speech


it doesn’t help
the nerves are still there




piling at the pit of your stomach




three more hours
lights off
three two

lights on


Everyone did wonderfully today
Rolling of eyes and several awkward glances

Except us
The award for best crew



cheers from opposing groups
the excitement is in the air

all you feel is nerves


Grand Champion goes to...
It begins again


ten


nine

squeezing hands
eight

sharp inhales

seven

please please

six five four

come on, come on,
three two

no words














tears from your neighbor
not you



maybe next year
lights off