Geisha boy

Performance

  I take one last look in the mirror before gulping and stepping out from behind the changing curtain. Some of the girls had already gotten in line to enter onto the stage, while others were finishing up with final looks.

I make my way over to the line. Luckily, the line was in alphabetical order so 'Lan' gets to be in the middle. Which makes me feel pretty good because the pressure is always on the beginning and ends.

Mushu is squirming around my sleeve trying to get comfy as I nervously rock my body in place.

" would you cut it out, you're making my sleeve-sick", his groans before flashing a proud smirk. " You do realize you're not as funny as you think ", I reply with an eye rolling of annoyance. In all honesty I'm not annoyed with Mushu, it's more of me being scared out of my wits. The dragon tries to assure me that he won't let anything bad happen, but I'm not convinced. Especially when out of nowhere Ling turns the corner and begins to hand fans out to all of us.

What the heck am I supposed to do with these ?!

I glance around to see what everyone else is doing with them and try to mimic their moments. Some girls are whipping them open with ease and fluttering them gracefully in dance like motion, while others aren't using them at all. These girls are focused specially on their singing. Their voices are soft and beautiful. Meanwhile I've never sang before!!

" uh oh ... " is all I'm able to say as stare down at the fans in my hands. I can Mushu already can tell by my face that this isn't going to be good. Panic rushes over his face " Hey now, don't you dare tell me that you're talentless ! ". " I'm not talentless ! " I hiss back " I just don't know what my talents are exactly ..." . The dragon face palms while shaking his head in utter disappointment. " How the hell are you talentless !! "

" Would you shut up! You're going to get us caught ! Just stay calm, I got this ... "

Mushu flashes me an unsure look before disappearing back inside my sleeve.

Ling gives us a signal and the line begins to move. I watch as the girls disappear around the corner and I follow reluctantly behind. When I turn the corner Lights blind me instantly and I can hear all of the other geishas around me beginning to sing.

Luckily, I know the song.

I take a deep breath. Close my eyes. Open my mouth and...

Lip-sync for my life.

Granted I'm not proud of cowardice, but I don't have any other choice ! I don't even know how to sing !

My lips move along emptily with the words as I watch the girls around me do dances. However, I'm standing... Frozen... Like a stripper pole... Mouthing my life away to a song while a few the Warriors continue to play their song.

Finally the song finishes and I rush off stage in the most organized way possible. So many of the girls are giving me looks of shock and confusion. I can practically read their minds.

'How the hell did she get in here !?! '

I wasn't my choice ! Trust me ! I can feel Mushu trying to make his way out of my sleeve to scold or mock me , but it looks like Ling was going to beat him to it.

" Lan !, what was that ?! "

" It was uh um... I'm sorry.. "

I can't believe that I'm actually doing this. I shyly move an out-of-place hair behind my ear and force my eyes to tear up only slightly. I was already flustered so no acting was need there. But it still feels disgusting acting all girly like this, I would never act like this naturally!

But hey you gotta do what you gotta do...

" oh now now, none of that. You're just very lucky you're beautiful. So I don't think anyone noticed ", I can't believe he's actually assuring me !

I give a shy nod before quickly heading off to my tent when out if nowhere I feel a tug on my shoulder.

" Hey you, wait up ! "