Drabble: First Public Performance
As usual with simsperation prompts I am a day late, a dollar short, and a drink behind. This was a prompt back on June 18 but I have only now gotten around to writing it. It's cannon for hopefully the next Penguino chapter and as such is just a bit spoilery.
Memphis Penguino peered around the edge of the curtain at the crowd that was filling up the opera house. He was amazed by just how many people had come out to see this contest. Of course his mother had insisted that all of their relatives come out as well. He wished that she hadn’t done that. It would be so embarrassing to mess up in front of all of his cousins. He was sure that Falcon at least would never let him hear the end of it.
Suddenly he was aware of someone else standing next to him. “I can’t believe how many people are out there!” his cousin, and best friend, Viola whispered and Memphis thought he detected an uncharacteristic shake in her voice.
So turning to her he asked, “You nervous?”
“Heck yes,” Viola responded. “I’ve played piano in public before but never danced. That’s always your thing. I’m beginning to regret letting you and my parents talk me into this.”
Memphis nodded. It was true. He had danced in front of many different audiences since he was just a child. But this time was different. This time his mother’s reputation was riding on his shoulders. He just hoped that he could live up to it. If Viola messed up her parents wouldn’t let his Mom harass her too badly, but if he messed up…well…he’d just have to hope that his grandparents and Dad would be able to calm her down. “Which isn’t likely to happen is it?” he murmured to himself.
“What did you say?” Viola asked. “I can’t hear you over the crowd.”
“They’re going to be ready to start any minute now,” Memphis replied. He didn’t want to make Viola panic by expressing his fears out loud. “We should go take our places.”
Viola nodded and the two stepped back from the curtain to wait off stage until their names were called.
Memphis Penguino peered around the edge of the curtain at the crowd that was filling up the opera house. He was amazed by just how many people had come out to see this contest. Of course his mother had insisted that all of their relatives come out as well. He wished that she hadn’t done that. It would be so embarrassing to mess up in front of all of his cousins. He was sure that Falcon at least would never let him hear the end of it.
Suddenly he was aware of someone else standing next to him. “I can’t believe how many people are out there!” his cousin, and best friend, Viola whispered and Memphis thought he detected an uncharacteristic shake in her voice.
So turning to her he asked, “You nervous?”
“Heck yes,” Viola responded. “I’ve played piano in public before but never danced. That’s always your thing. I’m beginning to regret letting you and my parents talk me into this.”
Memphis nodded. It was true. He had danced in front of many different audiences since he was just a child. But this time was different. This time his mother’s reputation was riding on his shoulders. He just hoped that he could live up to it. If Viola messed up her parents wouldn’t let his Mom harass her too badly, but if he messed up…well…he’d just have to hope that his grandparents and Dad would be able to calm her down. “Which isn’t likely to happen is it?” he murmured to himself.
“What did you say?” Viola asked. “I can’t hear you over the crowd.”
“They’re going to be ready to start any minute now,” Memphis replied. He didn’t want to make Viola panic by expressing his fears out loud. “We should go take our places.”
Viola nodded and the two stepped back from the curtain to wait off stage until their names were called.