Mini Short Stories: 2020 Volume 1

Tread - Story 21

Jenny froze backstage as she heard the chanting. It was rhythmic, incessant and jubilant. The crowd was calling her name over and over as the intro for one of her hit songs teased them. Makeup was putting on a few final touches and wardrobe was adjusting her costume. She was frozen not in fear, but in anticipation. The fans were practically pleading for her to come out and perform but it was the stage's call that mesmerised her. It had always been the stage that she enjoyed. It was there that she released all her power. She smiled and stepped on the first tread.

Her very first gig had been at a school concert. She and her keyboard debuted with a cover of Rihanna's Diamonds. Her teachers and peers had loved it and she became an obligatory part of her secondary school concerts. Her genre range and repertoire continued to grow so by her final year of secondary school she was performing at different schools and community centres in her country. Soon she was playing at random gigs on the weekend. She mainly focused on covers but secretly she had been writing her own songs. She'd sing them to her mother and her mother would scold her lovingly for her shyness and fear. "Sing your songs Jenny girly. You have a nice voice and angel talent." She was halfway up the stairs as she thought of her mother's death.

Her mother's death had filled her with regret and resolve. She began to add her original pieces to her lineup. Amazingly, it exploded the attention she got. Her social media began to skyrocket as people began clamouring for more. She was amazed and a bit scared but she would always remember her mother's words about her angel talent and come alive in her performances. There had been troubles along the way. Her first manager had embezzled cash from her, the next was disorganised and she had faced bad publicity for her look, her lyrics and her ego. She faced and overcame them all. From schools and community centres, she now graced international stages and international charts. The thought always made her smile. She stepped off the final tread and onto the stage: her zone of power.

The chanting was there but she focused on the music and lighting for her cue. Her mother told her she had angel talent. As she tread on that stage she would summon and display it fully to provide everyone with an unforgettable experience. The stage was where it shined. The stage was where she felt her mom's love and returned it to her fans. The stage was where she felt free. She smiled as she walked into the spotlight.