Today a dress rehearsal of a school musical took place. I was staring as a soloist.

For over three months now, I have been practicing my part. It was only five lines, so I got it down smack, but the hard part was facing the world.

In third grade, I was in a musical, and didn’t have any on-stage parts except for a song, and that was required.

In fourth grade, I never went on the stage, but only stood on the risers, singing along with everybody and hoping nobody was staring at me and wondering why in the world I never got on stage.

But now, in fifth grade, everything changed.

“Face the audience!” The teacher would bark.

“Never let your back toward the audience!”

Today at the dress rehearsal, though, I forgot the last line of my solo show. Why? I think it was the nervousness that is in my body. The kindergarten and first graders at the dress rehearsal (we went ahead and did it for them) laughed at everything, but somehow, everyone went out the door.

I told my mom that when she comes tomorrow for the real deal, I hoped she had to go to the restroom when I preformed my solo.

But then again, what do I know about nervousness anyway? I’m too nervous to look…