In the Spotlight
My Dad’s at work until 6:00. Andrew’s at soccer practice. Angelina is over at her friend’s house. My Mom is at the store. This means only one thing: I’m home alone. I glance at my iHome. I have 30 whole minutes to do whatever I please. And what do I do? I clear my throat and I sing. Now, you are probably thinking these 3 things: 1) Why is it such a big deal that you’re home alone? 2) Why do you choose singing of all things? And 3) Who are you, anyway? Well, I can answer all of these questions. My name is Amber Johnson, and I live with 4 other people, so I never get any time alone. And why do I sing? Because it makes me feel free. When I sing I’m in my own world and I have no worries at all. It feels like I’m flying through the clouds. But I have one small problem: I’ve never sang in front of anyone. I’m in the middle of singing my favorite song when I hear the garage door creaking open. I grab a random book off my shelf and pretend to read as my family climbs out of our minivan. I sigh. I never get a moments peace. As they bust through the door, I look at my Hamilton Broadway poster. How will I ever get in if I can’t sing in front of anyone? The next day as I’m walking to my pre-algebra class, a bright blue poster catches my eye. I practically climb over students as I grab a paper. It says School Talent Show May. 5 Audition Now! Show off your talents! In big, bold letters. My eyes grow as big as saucers. I run down the hallway in search of my friend Erin.
“ERIN ERIN LOOK LOOK LOOK!!!!!” I screech in her ear as she gets a talent show flyer to the face. After she gets me off of her she smiles and says “that’s great, Amber! But you might want to work on confidence before you dive into a talent show.” I cringe. I’ve told her countless times about how great a singer I am, but I’ve never actually let her hear me. “Yeah, I know.” I say as we walk to class together, heart sinking. I guess she’s right. Maybe I won’t audition after all. I get home and flop down on my bed. I want to join soo bad, but at the same time I want to burn the paper in the fireplace. After laying there for what feels like hours (but was probably only 5 minutes) I finally make a decision on what I should do. I stand up. I am a 7th grader on a mission. On my way out the door I pin the flyer to my bulletin board. I nod in satisfaction. Now I just need to find my family. I’ve gathered them all on the couch. None of them know what I’m doing. They just stare at me with curious eyes. I look at them, sweat all over my forehead. I really want to climb into a hole but I am determined. I sing the first word, then another. I’m flying in my own world now, joyful and free.
When I float back to reality, I look up and blush. My family is still staring at me. Did they think it was bad? I’m about to say something when my brother says “that was awesome! Sing us more!” and my family claps for me and begs for an encore. I smile. I sing them all I know. I’m still in another world, but this time my family is with me. It feels even better knowing I’m not alone. I walk to Erin’s house, not sure whether I really want to do this or not. In fact, as soon as I step in her yard, I want to turn right back around. Unfortunately she sees me and I have to tell her what I’m doing. She starts jumping up and down excitedly. “Ooooh, you’re FINALLY going to sing for me!” she says and ushers me inside. If I thought singing for 4 people was bad, then it should be 3x as embarrassing performing for 12 (Erin has 9 siblings and her 2 parents). But surprisingly, it’s not as bad. As I jump into my first song, I feel free again. But this time, Erin’s whole family is with me. And Erin’s flying right next to me, smiling brighter than ever. Erin invites me to sleep over that night. She felt like we didn’t actually know each other, and so that night, we talk the whole time. I find out so much about her. I learn about her hopes, her dreams; she wants to be an artist someday, painting beautiful pictures like the Mona Lisa. She finds out about mine, too. I tell her about how I've loved music my whole life, how it speaks to me louder than any loudspeaker. We really bond that night. We become better friends than we were before. I’ve made a true friend. “So, What’s your next step?” says Erin as we walk to science on Monday. I take a deep breath. “I’m going to sing for the choir class” I say. I'm even more nervous than before! The students in choir were some of the best in school, and I was planning to perform for them during their class after school. Erin smiles and squeezes my shoulder as we walk into class.”You’ll do great. Trust me. And you impressed my brothers. That takes some serious talent”. I laugh and take my seat in the front row. Honestly, I shouldn't be that worried. 16 people have told me how good I sound. But then again, this is the choir. They are taught to sing by a teacher every day. I can’t pay attention to the information my teacher is telling us about genes and DNA. I can’t do this! I’m in the choir room, 27 eyes on me. Erin is there, supporting me. But after I stand there like a doofus for 5 minutes, Erin sits down at the piano bench in the corner room and plays the accompaniment to my favorite song. The choir teacher gives me a warm smile. I take a deep breath and my lungs be filled with sweet music. At the end of my “performance”, everyone claps and cheers. The teacher comes up to me and says “I expect to see you in my class” and gives me another smile. Me and Erin walk out of the room, and the cheers eventually fade away. She grabs me and says”seriously. What are you afraid of? You’re AMAZING!”, and I smile.”But YOU were amazing,too!” I say, and she blushes. “I couldn’t believe how...professional you sounded!” She just shakes off the comment. “I was fine, but you shouldn’t be focused on me. You should be focused on rocking you auditions tomorrow!” Erin is sitting in the back of the room for moral support. The “judge” is in the front with a clipboard, very serious looking. I probably look very shiny with all the sweat dripping down my forehead. I look towards the back. Erin gives me a thumbs up. This was my test. I was being judged this time, no screwups. I close my eyes. My voice comes out squeaky. I can’t say anything! I freeze in place, not knowing what to do. Erin sees me struggling and helps me out of the room, saying to the judge “don’t worry, she’ll be back tomorrow!” But I don’t think I really will be. “Amber, you can’t just give up!” Erin says as she combs my hair with her fingers. We’re sitting on my bed, and I’m taking very deep breaths, trying to calm myself down. “But I just froze! I couldn’t speak! What if it happens again?! “ I say,but Erin puts her hand over my mouth. “No. You won’t. I believe that you can do it. Just find your happy place!” she says. I smile, and give her a hug. “Thanks, Erin. I wouldn’t be this far without you”. Erin is sitting in the back of the room for moral support. The “judge” is in the front with a clipboard, looking at me in a way that says “are we really doing this again?”, clicking his pen over and over. I look to Erin. She is smiling. “You can do it, Amber. Find your happy place”, she whispers. My happy place comes to me when I’m singing. So I sing. And from the look on the judge’s face, I’m pretty sure I made it in. “You’re in!!!!!!” Erin and I squeal when we see the schedule for the talent show a few days later. We hug and talk excitedly on our way to lunch, full of excitement and joy, and a large amount of nervousness, too. My final test was performing for the whole school. I’ve got this. The night has come. People are in the audience supporting me, but I still feel like puking. My act is next. I’m so nervous that I was probably shaking the whole stage with my chattering teeth. They call my name. I step up to the microphone. I look at my family, Erin, the choir class, the judges. I think about my journey. I take a deep breath. As I’m singing for the audience, I’m on the top of the world, and everyone else is there with me.
The end