Home   You   Spirit   Friends

"Come along Katherine dear, we're going to be late"

I sat next to the stereo letting the beat dance through my mind. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Come on honey, we don't want to be late for Swetha Swapna's performance.

"I anxiously stood up, not believing what I was going to do tonight. The house was a mass of confusion. There were bodies everywhere, a strained look on my mother's face as she called my brothers and sisters. Finally we were all grouped together in one room. Mom examined us all to ensure we were clean and tidy. Satisfied she pointed to the door and we all streamed out.

I have two brothers and two sisters. I'm the youngest of them all�I'm nineteen. Going to this "entertainment night" at our school was becoming a family tradition ever since my brother's Varma and Vamsy entered secondary and played his drums for the school. My whole family had entered at some point in their high school career. This year Swetha Swapna would be playing piano.

I walked into the cool night thinking about my plan and thinking about what people's reactions would be. I thought about how no one's ever asked me if I was interested in entering in "entertainment night" one year. People just assumed that I wouldn't. It was almost like they forgot me; or maybe there were just trying to protect me. I find it hard to be the youngest. There is a lot to live up to.

My parents bought me a violin three years ago. I spend hours hidden away in my room practicing. To others it probably sounds horrible when I Practice, but I'm just excited to be making music. My parents never listen to me play or practice. I used to play for them when I was younger but they haven't heard me in a long time. That would soon change.

Quickly jumping into the back seat of the car. I casually glanced into the trunk. It was still there! Covered by a blanket. My palms began to sweat as I thought about what I was about to do.

I had been planning it for a long time. Tonight I would finally play. Not letting my parents, or anyone else know, I signed up to play my violin. Tonight I would finally be noticed.

We pulled out of the driveway. Everyone was cheerfully chattering around me. I turned and looked outside at the dark sky. I started into the millions of stars; pole star and tried to connect them with invisible lines, making patterns in my head. The moon became the center of my web. It was like a destination that the lines would never meet up with. I wondered if anything ever met up with this destination. I got lost in my thoughts and was startled when a hand was waved in my face.

"Halo... we're here!"

I snapped back into reality and gout out of the van, carefully leaving the back door unlocked I absentmindedly followed my family into the space central school auditorium. We sat down in the plush chairs. Swetha Swapna left us to get prepared backstage, and that was when it hit me. What I was doing? How was I going to get away from my parents? What if I totally messed up? I wish I could just forget the whole thing and just relax... but I couldn't. The lights dimmed and a teacher walked on stage to give an opening speech. It was hard for me to see her.

The night dragged slowly on. Students performed, hands clapped, people cheered. Swetha Swapna did wonderful, mom looked so proud. Then the time came. My performance was after 2 more people. I whispered to mom,

"I have to go to the bathroom." and then left

I walked casually out of the auditorium and quickly rushed outside in the direction of the car. Oh, no! What if the door was locked? I began to walk faster. I reached the car, lifted the handle and... yes. It was open. I grabbed my violin and hurried inside.

The act two places before me was just ending. I saw an empty chair beside the girl performing after me. I sat down. She looked nervous but smiled politely. I wiped my hands on my pants as I waited for the person on stage to finish. I thought about my song, letting the pattern of the notes fill my mind. My stomach felt tense and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. I opened the case of my violin and made sure everything was in place.

The cool wood was comforting and I held it close as I tried to forget about the crowd behind the curtain. The black curtains suddenly made me feel extremely closed in. I felt a little faint. Suddenly my heart leaped as the performer ahead of me exited the stage. I stood up, steadied my legs and walked to the curtain, I could tell my name and had been called because I was receiving several nods from the supporters backstage.

I took a deep breath, parted the curtain, and stepped into the light of the stage. The audience was a big blur as I focused on what to do next. I set up my music on a stand in the middle of the stage. My hands were shaking and a wave of panic rose inside me. My fears were pushed aside though, as I lay my violin in place.

I focused on the music ahead of me and just let my hands do their work. Each note vibrated through my entire body. The feeling of fright was replaced with something else. A glowing feeling � an immense feeling of pride and accomplishment.

As my song came to a close I took it strong right to the last note. I held this last note a little longer. As if expressing a sigh of relief. Happiness flooded through me. Silence came and then the stage began to vibrate as the audience clapped.

Tears stung my eyes, as everyone began to stand up and clap. I could see people cheering out loud. I felt like I had wings.

Somehow in the mass of people I spotted my mom. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she clapped. That night, as I stood looking out at all these people, I knew I had reached my destination, my own moon. Thought no one believed it would be possible for me to create such a profound voice.

For no one in that theater thought that such a beautiful music could be created by someone that was deaf.