I stand, peering out at the crowd. Tim, my friend, has just finished his performance. He passes the mike off to me. With clammy hands, I grip the mike nervously. I swallow down the lump that was in my throat. Chester, my mentor, jogs past me, giving me an encouraging slap on the back, and says softly,

“You’ll do great” in my ear. “Yeah, if I don’t pass out on stage” I mutter.
This is my first performance ever, and it was in front of over a hundred people. They’ll be lucky if I don’t throw up all over them I think to myself. I peer out at the crowd anxiously. They sit in their seats, talking to each other. They don’t look too bad… I try to convince myself. I know I can sing, by myself, I’m just not sure about how I’ll cope with all those eyes watching me…
Chester, posing as the MC for this concert, begins his speech, introducing me and telling the audience how hard I’ve worked over the years and how proud he was of me. He was the one that introduced me to the music industry, and found my hidden talent. I had never known I could sing before he came along. He was like a second father to me and I was glad we had met.
Once he finishes talking, he calls me out. I take a deep breath and begin to walk out onto the stage. He throws a warm look at me, giving me a boost of confidence. Once I reach the middle of the stage, I turn and face the audience. A hush has gone over them, and they wait expectantly for me to begin.
My music begins, and I close my eyes. I can feel the nervousness fluttering like a butterfly in my chest. I pretend I am at home in the shower, as Chester told me to do, and I begin to sing. My performance goes a lot smoother than I expect; I don’t lose my voice, my voice doesn’t crack and I don’t vomit all over the people sitting in the front row. I remember all the words, and I can even open up my eyes once I get started. The entire crowd stands up when I am finished, and with my cheeks flushed, I rush backstage to get feedback from Chester. He smiles his crinkly-eyed smile and hugs me.
“That was excellent! I’ve never seen you sing so well in front of anyone but me!”
I smile back at him. “I was pretending I was in the shower” I admit.
He chuckles. “I always used to do that while performing,” and beams at me.
The rest of the backstage crew dashes up to me, congratulating me and telling me how great I was, hugs and handshakes all around. Tim tells me that I might have done better than him, which was something I had never heard from him before.
I sit backstage while the rest of the singers perform. An upbeat feeling settles itself backstage, emanating from everyone there. The feeling carries the rest of the performers through their songs, and everyone does exceptionally well.
When we exit the concert hall, several people come up and compliment me, including my parents. I had no idea they’d even come. Neither of them had taken to my music career very well, especially my father. He reaches out and hugs me.
“I’m glad you came” I whisper to him.
“Me too” he says.
I know he means it. We exit the hall together, and I have a feeling that everything is right in my world tonight.