My Big Solo (独唱)

The day had finally arrived: the day of my big solo. Everyone was there; my mom and dad and my little brother. And it was a big event: the Spring Fling Choir Concert. The whole class was dressed up. My name was on the cover of the program in bright yellow characters. I couldn’t believe it when I saw my name. Not that it was my name, but that it wasn’t Renee’s. Renee and I had been classmates since kindergarten. She was always ahead of me. Dance class needs a big finish? Renee was picked. The school plays? Renee would have the leads while I was cast as her mother or sister or neighbor. I even played her dog once. The only time I ever came in ahead of Renee was at roll call (点名). Cindy comes before Renee. I count that as a victory!

The choir concert tryouts were stressful. We waited in the library as Ms. Jenkins called us individually into the choir room. By the time she called me, I was shaking. When I came back to the library, Renee smiled at me. Ms. Jenkins called her name and Renee calmly followed her. She was still calm and smiling when her tryout was over

When Ms. Jenkins announced who had made the special choral group (合唱队), I wasn’t surprised when Renee’s name was on her list and mine wasn’t. “So, what else is new?” I said under my breath Sudden clapping brought me out of my bad mood. Everyone was looking at me. I’ve missed something here, I thought. Ms. Jenkins smiled at me and said, “Cindy, you will have to start practicing with me.The solos take extra preparation.” Solo? I got the solo? I glanced over at Renee. She smiled broadly and gave me the thumbs-up sign. Oh, that’s another thing. She is always so nice

Now the day had come. We filed onto the stage and took our places. I was front and center. Ms. Jenkins raised her baton (指挥棒) and we began to sing. My parents were smiling at me, cameras flashing.

My big moment came.

The rest of the solo went well.

My second year in college had started. I hadn’t decided whether to fly home for Thanksgiving yet. Although I had missed the holiday the year before, I didn’t have the money for the ticket, plus I wasn’t sure I could get enough time off from my part-time job.

All that wondering changed when my mom called. She got right to the point: “Your grandmother isn’t doing well. Your dad and I decided you should fly out there for Thanksgiving. We thought you would want to come along so I covered your ticket. We’ll fly from Alabama, and you can fly from Minnesota. We will meet in Northern Califomia the afternoon before Thanksgiving. Your dad and the younger kids will join us shortly later.”

I met her at the Oakland airport, and we took a taxi to our hotel. When we got in the door, Mom called my grandpa, “We would like to come over and enjoy this Thanksgiving together, Dad.” Mom was anxious to see her parents, especially her mother, who was really fragile. When we finally got to their house, we got to say hello and then Grandpa helped Grandma lie down again and led us to the living room, telling us we would eat Thanksgiving dinner at noon. Then he went into the kitchen.

Soon Dad, my brother Peer and my sister Mary arrived, joining us. Mom paced the floor. Finally, I asked her what the matter was. “He can’t cook,” she murmured. “How’s he supposed to fix a Thanksgiving meal for us?” I tried to reason with her. “Can’t you smell the dinner? Grandma is upstairs resting. Grandpa is the only one who could be cooking.” But we couldn’t see through the kitchen door.

She had an idea. “Let’s sneak out of the front door and see what’s going on. Then we will know how Grandpa is really cooking.”

I followed her around the house to the kitchen windows.

Seeing the cut on Grandpa’s finger through the windows, Mom hurriedly pushed open the kitchen door.

Every week I save all the change and $1 bills I have in my purse. Then every Christmas I cash it in for as many $100 bills as the saved money gets me. I then wait for a family in need. I split the money in half and give half to the family in need and the other half to my nine-year-old son, Say’ Veon, who puts it in his savings account, to teach him about delayed satisfaction. Then he helps me get gifts or give the money to the family.

I adopted Say’ Veon after his mother, a close friend of mine, passed away from cancer before his fifth birthday. Even though Say’ Veon has dealt with great loss and sadness at such a young age, his generous spirit and loving heart shine through. He has given money to someone else who needs it more, such as his friends or classmates. Say’ Veon’s acts of kindness always blow me away and I feel blessed to have him in my life.

This week I got a call from a friend, DeeDee, who is 77 years old. She was upset because she had been cheated, and the cheaters took all the money out of her checking account which she lives on, and now she didn’t have the money to pay her rent and bills.

This morning, I took the money and showed Say’ Veon how much I saved this year. I told him what happened to DeeDee, and then asked him if he would be willing to give his half along with my half and donate it to her as our person in need this year.

He said, “Yes, of course.” This year our total was $400.

We went to visit DeeDee and my son handed her a Christmas card with the money. She opened it and said, “Thank you.” She then looked again and stared at the $100 bills.

DeeDee froze there with her eyes wide open.

Suddenly, Say’ Veon said to DeeDee, “You are our family!”