- #5: March 7th, 2012 This was my 16th birthday. In honor of the occasion, I wore my cape to school. It got a great reaction. I think that RS cheered when I took it out of my backpack to put it on. I only took it off in 3rd period, when we had a Peter the Great simulation/feast in Mrs. K's class. I had contributed these huge cinnamon rolls, and there was so much good food that I went back for several helpings. In fact, only about half the cinnamon rolls were eaten. I spent lunch, as usual in the chorus room, but didn't eat any lunch. I was too stuffed. At musical rehearsal, my mom dropped off cookies to give to the cast, and there were still too many of those. At dance class that night, I got the traditional singing of "Happy Birthday" while the entire class chasséd around me. I gave out the rest of the cookies, which was well received. Fun time. At the end of the year, Ms. M remembered the cape in her final speech about me.
- #4: August 29th, 2012 The day was pretty uneventful until that evening, when I got out of dance class. I look at my phone, and saw a text message from my mom. Mr. V had announced that QVMS would be doing The Little Mermaid Jr. for their fall musical. I, like last year (see #1) would be doing the choreography for the show and had suggested to Mr. V the idea myself. This result was one of the first times in my life that I had begun to feel relevant. The first thing I did was text JI, and I had already told Miss B and Miss L before she could reply. On the way home/later that evening, I texted RH, OB, KM, JD, RS, AF, SS (knowing that MS's texting had been turned off), AR, and even OS. I am so ready to do the show.
- #3: August 8th, 2012 Our family was on vacation in Amelia Island, FL. For the first time in two years, C, A, and JN were also down there at the same time. That day was one of the craziest ever. It started at the pool, where CN, AN, A, V, and myself all played a variety of games, while J and JN were golfing. After lunch, we went on a Segway tour. Anyone's who's done one of those knows that its not about the tour, it's about the Segway. Then, everyone came over to our place to play Monopoly, where I just was banker. We ate dinner with our own families, and then watched an excavation of a sea turtle nest that had already hatched. Although most of the findings were shells, two live turtles were found buried, and let out to sea. Afterward, we all went to go back to the beach in front of our place, and let off eight lanterns à la "Tangled". Then was just some night beach time. First was some game where one person did a move, then the next person did that move plus one more move, and the next person did the first two plus one more move, and so on. It started out as a competition, but that fell by the wayside. Then, we spontaneously started playing Duck, Duck, Goose. It was me, J, A, V, CN, AN, and JN, and we had such a good time. Who knew Duck, Duck, Goose was so much fun, especially when you could hardly see each other? Then, our families separated, and we watched a little of the olympics.
- #2: April 11th, 2012 That day, me, KM, MS, and JD all went over to JD's house to work on a project for AP World. Enough work was done, but it wasn't the work that was memorable. At one point, JD was intimidating MS with the disappointed voice that he does so well. I chimed in with the angriest voice I could, with reply, "Isn't it always assumed that the British want their tea?!!" I had both MS and KM freaked out, and JD was cracking up laughing. I had established a really scary angry voice, that I had only previously used at WAS. When KM went to the bathroom, returned, was asked if she turned the faucet off, and replied that she was 99% sure, I saw my opportunity to use it again. Shortly after, I went to the bathroom, checked to see if the faucet was really turned off (which it was), and came back. I glared at KM, and said
KM(fearing for her life): Did I?
Me (still angrily): You did! You're lucky!
KM took a moment to recover, and then joined JD and MS in laughing. Literally, everyone was rolling on the floor, for the next three minutes, and it was at least five minutes before anyone was able to do any work on the actual project. I didn't quite join in their hysterics, but anyone watching would have been completely confused. At the end of the work session, I got their phone numbers, which I had been meaning to do for a while. For someone who has had a hard time making friends, this was amazing.
- #1: December 3rd, 2011 This was a long anticipated day: the performance of QVMS's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie Jr. I had choreographed almost the entire thing, and was completely nervous for the performances. I had a voice lesson that morning, but I couldn't have told you what I sang if you had asked me the next day. When I arrived, the first thing I did was talk to SC, who had literally almost been killed a week before. Her neck brace had just come off that day, and her status in performing was uncertain. However, she said that she okay, and she would be performing. For two hours I made various assistances for various things, including a physical warmup and a review of the stenogs' routine. About ten minutes before the show started, I made a final speech to the cast, and took my place in the seats. The place was sold out. Just before the show started, Mr. V did something that surprised me. He thanked all of the high schoolers who had helped with the production. Although JM got most of the thanks, me, AH, RG, and AF all were congratulated. Then came the opening number, which was amazing. At the beginning, GZ opens with a brief solo, and the spotlight didn't come on her right away, bringing back memories of my own opening solo in 6th grade. Then, the moment the cast started dancing, you could hear a definite rustle throughout the audience, as you could tell they were not expecting a dancing performance. All in all, the first show went very smoothly, and got a great reception. Afterwards, between this show and the evening performance, was dinner for the cast. I was socially one of the cast, and ate dinner as their equal. After dinner was a grand match of Stella Ella Olla (is that how you spell it?), where I beat CB in the final two to win. The cast sang so loud that Mr. V concluded that no vocal warm up was necessary. The cast prepared for the next show, and I snuck down to the chorus room to play piano all by myself (one does need a break from high-energy middle schoolers). Eventually, the cast caught up with me. Shortly after, I was wandering the hallways with EM, when I found out that the orchestra room was unlocked, and the string instruments were completely accessible. So much for security. When I returned to the chorus room, WV was showing everybody his piano skills. I conquered Pirates of the Caribbean with Phantom of the Opera. I checked with SC to see if she would be okay for the second performance, and she said she would do it. Then Mr. V came down, gave another speech, and I went to my seat. Before the show started, I saw CK in the audience. I realized that she used to dance at KP's and would have known GZ. I planned on saying hi to her after the show, but I couldn't find her. This was a big moment, as no one in my dance studio cares about musical theater. Anyway, Mr. V thanked all the high schoolers again, and the second performance ran, though not quite as smoothly as the first. After I talked to the cast for about 30 seconds (SC said she felt terrible), I went to my locker, where I had stashed my cape and top hat the previous day. I put it on, greeted the cast, who loved the cape, and just felt really happy. Everyone I talked to congratulated me on good choreography. So many people were there, even JF, who I wasn't expecting. I helped the cast clean up their stuff a little from backstage, and then went to the EC for the cast party. I wore my cape the entire time, and only took off my top hat when me and CB tried to see how long it would be before anyone noticed we had switched hats. I spent most of the party with BF and KR, and a lot of the time bowling. I had such a good time. I found out later that a bunch of people had gone to Eat 'n Park, thought about inviting me, but didn't want to take me away from my "fan club". I would have said no. For someone who has always had a hard time making friends, this was heaven. The party ended at 10, with farewell hugs and an awkward goodbye from SC. I walked home, still in my cape. This was the happiest day of my entire life. To have accomplished something, gotten praise for it, spend time with some of my best friends, and have had that much fun was more than I could have hoped for. The goodbyes weren't that hard, because I knew I would see almost everyone, at the worst, next year. Most people I have seen since. I still hug BF every time I see her, and I saw several others at PAC. I can't wait for The Little Mermaid.
That's it. I hope I haven't bored you, but I had to sum up the past year in one post. Not one person was present for all 5 of these things, and I loved every minute of them. Remember, if you don't want to read, don't feel like you have to.
-NM
Nick, darling, I miss you. A lot. You should come visit me. I love reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteIt seams like you dislike the term "fan club"
ReplyDeleteI really do.
ReplyDelete