I am never, ever leaving my house. Wait, I take that back. I am never, ever leaving my room! I am going to stay here until I am old and no one will remember that I messed up at my piano recital.
My piano recital was the most important thing to ever happen in my family -- next to the arrival of my baby brother. My Gramma and Gramps were flying in to hear me play. Even my busy Aunt Dianne, who is on TV every night reading the news, was coming.
My mom decided that I needed a fabulous dress, so we went shopping and found the most beautiful green velvet dress I've ever seen.
When I put it on, I felt like an actress on the red carpet at those award shows! But one thing is for sure. I will never win an award for my piano playing.
Can you practice too much? Maybe. 'Cause the more I practiced, the more nervous I got!
So there I am, onstage, in my beautiful green dress that was as soft as moss, and I sat down at the piano. But when I started to play, I hit a wrong note. I told myself, just start over. But then I hit the wrong notes again! It was as if I hadn't practiced at all!
Finally the disaster was over. I took a mini bow and ran off the stage. I couldn't understand why people were applauding. But they were. Backstage was even worse. My mom and dad had flowers for me, and we were all supposed to go out for ice cream. But I couldn't. I just wanted to go home and cry and never go anywhere again.
So here I am under my covers with my bear. Aunt Dianne just came in and sat down on the side of my bed.
"It was my first night on the air," she said. "I had never been on television before, and I made a mistake. I mispronounced my own name and the name of the news show. I called it 'Eye Witless news.' And you know what? No one even noticed but me. Just like tonight. No one noticed -- just you."
Aunt Dianne was right. I think we are harder on ourselves than anyone else is.
Maybe I will leave my room. And maybe, just maybe, I'll play the piano again.
IN MEMORIAM
"The Piano Recital Disaster," a Kids' Reading Room Classic, was first published Jan. 12, 2003. Its author, Cherie Troped, passed away on April 8. It is reprinted here in her honor.
At an early age she learned the wisdom of George Bernard Shaw: "We must look for the circumstances we want. And if we can't find them, make them."
Her more recent stories, "Brand New Year!" and "It's Get Moving Day," may be viewed at latimes.com/kids. They can be found under More Short Stories in Story Gallery.
--
More stories, Jokes and Riddles, Creativity Corner and Kids' Book reviews may be viewed at latimes.com/kids.
A new feature: Printable Kids Across/Parents Down crossword puzzles.
kidsreadingroom@latimes.com
