Only a Two Star Day
Cici managed to pull herself out of bed at 7:00 on a Saturday morning, but we still left for school later than we intended. She stayed awake as we drove to school, so I showed her the sign beside the road that warned us our usual route to school wouldn't work. The road was closed for construction.
My brain mapped out an alternate route while Cici questioned how we would get to school before the competition started. Sweetie, you are usually asleep as we drive to school, I told her. Sometimes there are accidents that block our way to school. Sometimes there is road construction that causes traffic problems. You are sleeping while I am worrying about how to get you to school on time, but we always make it.
We arrived at school before Cici was scheduled to perform, but it was a little tight. I dropped her at school but stayed in the area so I could take her with me to the office when her performance was over. I used the time to get the car washed, to the shock and delight of the girls. It was a good day for that once a year ritual that I put the car through, whether it needs it or not.
I didn't do well, Papa, Cici told me as soon as I picked her up. I started, stopped, had to start over; nothing seemed to go right for me, she continued. Morning is not a good time for you to do anything, I told her. But don't worry about it. Did you notice I washed the car? No, she was too down on herself to have noticed.
We went to the office so I could meet with a new client. Cici didn't fall asleep the way she usually does. She fixed something to eat while we waited for the client to arrive, and then we drove home together. I always check to see what kind of day I will have, she told me. It almost always shows that I will have a five star day. Today, though, it said I would only have a two star day. This is not a good day for me.
Relax, I told her. Remember that there is no pressure on you this afternoon. You have two good choices no matter how you do on your audition. And remember, this isn't a competition this afternoon; it is just an audition.
When we walked into the house we had a couple of hours to wait before leaving to drive to her audition. Cici still didn't go to sleep, choosing to force herself to stay awake. She practiced playing her scales and played her audition song again. Play it for me, I asked her. No, I will be nervous like I was at the competition this morning, she said.
Wouldn't that be good practice then? I asked her. Okay Papa, I will play it for you but you must sit in the other room. She played it through with no mistakes.
Soon, off we went to the other school so she could audition again. It was a beautiful sunshiny day just like the last time we went for her audition. We went inside the school and there were a lot of people milling around and buying tickets for a play that the students were presenting. We found our way to a table in one corner of the large multi-purpose room where a lone young lady sat, waiting for those lucky enough to be called back for a second audition. She found Cici's name on the audition list and asked if she wanted a practice room. Yes, Cici told her, even though it was still half an hour before she was scheduled to perform.
The young lady told Cici how to find the practice rooms, pointing down the hall and around the corner. Someone will be waiting for you there and will help you, she told Cici. Good luck, the young lady called to Cici as she walked down the hall. Cici was surprised. Ping was also surprised. Good luck, Ping also called to Cici.
Half an hour to kill, so Ping and I walked around. We bought a small bag of popcorn and some fresh baked cookies that the school was selling. Then at Ping's suggestion we walked outside to enjoy the sunshine and get a bottle of water from the car. We walked back into the school and down one of the hallways, looking at all the things on the walls and on the many bulletin boards.
Suddenly we saw Cici walking toward us. I checked my watch. It was only then time for her audition to begin. I am finished already, she told us. They took me in early. She had a smile on her face. I feel good about it, she told us. I don't know what they thought about it, but this audition was the best I have ever played the song. Then that is all that matters, I told her. That means you did your best. Yes, she said, I feel good about myself again.
It was more than just the music that was making her feel good, we learned. Three of the girls told me that they really like my skirt, she told us. They wanted to know where I bought it. One of them said no, let me guess. You bought it in China. Yes, Cici told her, I bought it in China. I think it made Cici feel like she belonged at the audition, whether or not she is invited to attend the school.
So now we wait until March 26 to get the news.
My brain mapped out an alternate route while Cici questioned how we would get to school before the competition started. Sweetie, you are usually asleep as we drive to school, I told her. Sometimes there are accidents that block our way to school. Sometimes there is road construction that causes traffic problems. You are sleeping while I am worrying about how to get you to school on time, but we always make it.
We arrived at school before Cici was scheduled to perform, but it was a little tight. I dropped her at school but stayed in the area so I could take her with me to the office when her performance was over. I used the time to get the car washed, to the shock and delight of the girls. It was a good day for that once a year ritual that I put the car through, whether it needs it or not.
I didn't do well, Papa, Cici told me as soon as I picked her up. I started, stopped, had to start over; nothing seemed to go right for me, she continued. Morning is not a good time for you to do anything, I told her. But don't worry about it. Did you notice I washed the car? No, she was too down on herself to have noticed.
We went to the office so I could meet with a new client. Cici didn't fall asleep the way she usually does. She fixed something to eat while we waited for the client to arrive, and then we drove home together. I always check to see what kind of day I will have, she told me. It almost always shows that I will have a five star day. Today, though, it said I would only have a two star day. This is not a good day for me.
Relax, I told her. Remember that there is no pressure on you this afternoon. You have two good choices no matter how you do on your audition. And remember, this isn't a competition this afternoon; it is just an audition.
When we walked into the house we had a couple of hours to wait before leaving to drive to her audition. Cici still didn't go to sleep, choosing to force herself to stay awake. She practiced playing her scales and played her audition song again. Play it for me, I asked her. No, I will be nervous like I was at the competition this morning, she said.
Wouldn't that be good practice then? I asked her. Okay Papa, I will play it for you but you must sit in the other room. She played it through with no mistakes.
Soon, off we went to the other school so she could audition again. It was a beautiful sunshiny day just like the last time we went for her audition. We went inside the school and there were a lot of people milling around and buying tickets for a play that the students were presenting. We found our way to a table in one corner of the large multi-purpose room where a lone young lady sat, waiting for those lucky enough to be called back for a second audition. She found Cici's name on the audition list and asked if she wanted a practice room. Yes, Cici told her, even though it was still half an hour before she was scheduled to perform.
The young lady told Cici how to find the practice rooms, pointing down the hall and around the corner. Someone will be waiting for you there and will help you, she told Cici. Good luck, the young lady called to Cici as she walked down the hall. Cici was surprised. Ping was also surprised. Good luck, Ping also called to Cici.
Half an hour to kill, so Ping and I walked around. We bought a small bag of popcorn and some fresh baked cookies that the school was selling. Then at Ping's suggestion we walked outside to enjoy the sunshine and get a bottle of water from the car. We walked back into the school and down one of the hallways, looking at all the things on the walls and on the many bulletin boards.
Suddenly we saw Cici walking toward us. I checked my watch. It was only then time for her audition to begin. I am finished already, she told us. They took me in early. She had a smile on her face. I feel good about it, she told us. I don't know what they thought about it, but this audition was the best I have ever played the song. Then that is all that matters, I told her. That means you did your best. Yes, she said, I feel good about myself again.
It was more than just the music that was making her feel good, we learned. Three of the girls told me that they really like my skirt, she told us. They wanted to know where I bought it. One of them said no, let me guess. You bought it in China. Yes, Cici told her, I bought it in China. I think it made Cici feel like she belonged at the audition, whether or not she is invited to attend the school.
So now we wait until March 26 to get the news.
I'm sure she aced the audition, if she did her best.
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Thanks for the vote of confidence, Smitty.
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