Stage show is prelude to coming attractions
I have called her Kennie Sue in this column since she was born. But she recently ordered me to use her correct name or stop writing about her. Well, I suppose I had better comply. I need all the subjects for this column I can get. Her name is Kendra Lee. She is still our 10-year-old friend, she still knows how to wheedle cash out of me and she still has her own room in our house when she comes to visit.
I don’t know why I started calling her Kennie Sue. Maybe because it sounds good. I sure haven’t been able to disguise her identity with that name. I don’t know how many people in passing have seen her with my wife and I and have immediately asked, “Is this Kennie Sue?’ So, from now on, she is Kendra.
And she is growing up.
Lately, she has been excited and nervous about performing in her fifth-grade talent show at school. Although she has never been bashful, she was concerned about getting in front of her peers to perform a vocal piece, “Stand By Me.’ I was all for it until I learned it was a duet and the other singer was a boy in her class, Jarrett. She’s way too young to be fraternizing. I figure she can start that when she’s 50 or I’m long dead, whichever comes first.
Anyway, one of our freak ice storms canceled the show on its first play date. Rescheduled for the next week, the show came off without a hitch.
My lovely wife and I attended most of it, certainly the portion featuring Kendra. It reminded me of the shows, plays, concerts, etc., we did at that age. I know she was nervous, although she didn’t show it.
We listened to a couple of her classmates, one who did a vocal and another who played the flute. Both were pretty good performances.
But that wasn’t why we attended. We were there to see Kennie…er…Kendra.
Of course I don’t know who was more apprehensive about the number. In the audience were her parents, aunts, grandmother, family friend and us (we aren’t quite blood relatives but we are also more than friends so I have to categorize us as us).
The announcer intoned the introduction. Her classmates applauded and whistled. And out walked this young woman in a black dress and jacket with fashion model hair and makeup. I did a double take because I thought someone had made a mistake.
I had heard about the dress. Kendra and her father had shopped for it. But Kendra’s mother felt it was just a little too mature so she found a little jacket for her to wear over it. It was obvious her mother had contributed the coif and the makeup. I have seen her in similar display. Putting it all together made Kendra look more like a 20-year-old than a fifth grader.
My wife later said the vision “Took my breath away.’ All I could think of were images of the young girl as an infant, toddler and kindergartner. I saw her, as she was the last time she visited complete with ponytail, T-shirt and tennis shoes.
This person holding a microphone and singing along to recording was a stranger. She and Jarrett did their duet, the audience loudly applauded and they left the stage.
Once she was in the crowd it was easy to see our Kendra.
All the fancy dress, makeup and high-tone coiffure can’t disguise the little girl personality. She dashed through the refreshment line, appearing at the other end with a can of pop and four cookies. Yes, she will soon reach age 11. And, the way time goes nowadays, she will likely be 18 before we know it. But I have a photo in my desk at home, one her mother gave me some years ago, of a tiny person with skinny arms and legs seated in a baby swing, crying so hard her head was back and her mouth was open so wide it appeared you could drive a locomotive through. Just looking at the photo I can almost hear her.
I’m saving that picture for some future special occasion. Then I’m going to publish it.
At least that’s what I’ll tell Kendra. Think she’ll believe me? Better yet, think I’ll do it?
I figure it’s good for getting her to help clean the house, rake the leaves and maybe even take out the trash.
What do you think?
Have a good day.
Jim Pletcher is the Herald-Standard’s business editor. E-mail: jpletcher@heraldstandard.com