Diary of a Daughter (Based off of "Moments")

Thirteen: The recital

3/23/20

Dear Diary,

Tonight and tomorrow are my recital performances. I've been given the solo and I have practiced really hard on it. I'm so nervous I might mess up and let everybody down, and possibly make Mrs. Diana angry. I am one of the only few people she gets mad at, and I want it to stay that way.
Hopefully it's not all that bad, and I will do great! Wish me luck!

Em

---
The day of the recital, I got picked up from school early. The entire ride home, I couldn't stop smiling. Not because of my recital, but because Daddy S said he would try and put makeup on my face and do my hair. I knew it could probably go horribly wrong.

As soon as we got home, I sat down in the kitchen table. I told Daddy S how my makeup and hair should be, trying to be as detailed as possible. I could tell he wasn't getting any of it. But he sighed and tried to do it anyways.

He started off by doing my makeup. I decided to put on my foundation and blush myself, since I knew how to put that on without any help. Then, I had Daddy S do my eyeshadow and fake eyelashes.

I closed my eyes as Daddy S started putting eye shadow on my eyes.

"Wow, I'm actually doing okay!" Daddy S said. "Maybe my next job will be a makeup artist!"

I smiled, trying not to laugh.

As my eyes were still closed, I could suddenly hear him yelling.

"Hey! Stop recording!" Daddy S yelled at Daddy M.

I opened my eyes, seeing Daddy M recording him. I couldn't help but laugh.

"This isn't going online I promise, this is just for family videos!" Daddy M assured.
"Yeah, sure!" Daddy S nodded sarcastically.

Daddy S then took out the plastic bag with my fake eyelashes.

"What the hell?" Daddy S asked confused. "How the hell do you do this?"
"I'll make my friends put them on for me." I said.
"Good..." Daddy S said putting it back in my bag.

He then looked at me.

"You ready for the hair to be horribly done?" Daddy S asked.
"I'm sure it won't be that bad!" I responded.

He then nodded and started doing my hair.
---
As I entered the dressing room area with all the other petite girls, they paused and saw me with my hair up in a bun, but all droopy. The girls didn't bother asking, they right away helped me out.

"Who did your hair?" One of the girls, Alexis asked.
"One of my Dads." I responded.
"I'll give him an A for the makeup and a D for the hair." Another girl, Vicky, said.

I laughed.

Within minutes, my hair was up and looking better. Then, I put on my fake eyelashes and my lipstick. I was then joined in with the other girls for a bunch of selfies.

After about an hour of waiting, it was time for us to perform our first dance. It was the dance with my solo. I took a few deep breaths, getting ready to approach the stage.

Of course my solo was first before the entire group joined in. It was only 32 counts, but it would probably feel like an eternity.

"You'll do great! Don't worry about a thing!" Another girl, Gabby said.
"You can barely see anybody in the audience! Pretend nobody is even there!" Alyssa said.
"Thanks, guys." I said.

Next thing I knew, we were all waiting backstage for the other performers to finish their dance.

Then, the lights dimmed, and I was running onto the stage, prepping myself.

"Up next is our petite jazz group choreographed by Mrs. Diana!" The announcer said.

Suddenly, I could hear two voices in the crowd.

"GO EM!" I could hear Daddy M yell.
"BOOPER DOOPER!" Daddy S yelled.

I couldn't help but let out a laugh. Although I quickly had to go back to my serious face for my performance.

My heart suddenly skipped a beat as the lights came on. But for that split second before the music came on, I realized what the girls had said earlier was right. I couldn't really see anybody in the crowd. Maybe the first two rows and that was it.

And sitting in the second row right in the middle were my Dads.

My insides suddenly turned into excitement and joy rather than nervous as I saw them. Suddenly, nobody else was there, just them!

Then, the music started, and I was breezing through the solo as if I had been on this stage a million times. As if I were just rehearsing this back at the studio.

Before I knew it, my solo was over and I hit my ending pose. There was a pause in the music and cheers and applause before the music continued and the rest of the girls joined me.

After another minute and a half, the entire song was over and our routine was done. There was cheering and applause in the audience, and then the lights dimmed as we quickly ran off stage.

As soon as we were back in our dressing rooms, all the girls cheered, and I could feel myself being picked up by the girls.

"THAT WAS AMAZING!" One girl cheered.
"YOU DID SO GOOD!" Another girl cheered.
"I HEARD YOUR DAD YELL BOOPER DOOPER!" A third girl said.

Suddenly, the cheering subsided as Mrs. Diana came in. That emotionless-serious look on her face made me nervous. Had I somehow messed up?

Then, she finally spoke.

"That was quite a performance out there, girls." Mrs. Diana claimed. "Keep up the good work with your other performances."

We all nodded and watched as she left the room. We then realized we didn't have too long to prepare for our next performance. So we quickly got changed into our other costumes.
---

3/24/20

Dear Diary,

My recital was this weekend! It was probably the greatest moment of my entire life! My Dads were both there for both performances! They couldn't have been more proud of what I have been able to do these past few months. After our last performance, me and some of the other girls huddled up. Some shed a few tears because they would be moving up into the Junior Dance Group. But I kept my head held up high knowing the others would be staying with me.

I already can't wait for next season!

Em