The Day A Star Was Born

   When I was a child I used to sing myself to sleep at night. I love to sing.

So when my first-grade teacher asked for volunteers to sing for our Principal, I happily raised my hand.

I volunteered every year, and we sang our principal’s favorite song,” “Que Seras Sera,” from Alfred Hitchcock’s, “The Man Who Knew Too Much.”

We sang the same songs every year, which was bizarre, but the oddest thing is that no one seemed to notice, well, it was the principal’s favorite song.

Anyway, I met a friend in the sixth grade who also loved to sing, and she had a great idea, she said that we should sing in the bathroom, which was great. We sang in the bathroom during lunchtime and recess.

It was so much fun, then I had a great idea. I suggested we check out the stage in the auditorium, which we did, it was wonderful.

Behind the stage, we found costumes, which we tried on, and then we found a microphone and an amplifier.

I was on cloud nine, I plugged the amplifier into the microphone and began singing, “I Want to Hold Your Hand, by “The Beatles,” which was blasting in every classroom, and office in the school.

My friend realized that it was going through the P.A., and frantically tried to stop me, which she did, and we tried to run, but we didn’t make it, we couldn’t escape.

The principal; ran toward me and grabbed the microphone out of my hand, as if it were a gun. I was extremely inquisitive, as well as impulsive, which always got me in trouble. It never entered my mind that the entire school heard me singing.

I was so excited about the microphone. that I never considered the fact that I was using school property, you should have seen the principal’s face when I told her that I didn’t realize that it would go through the P.A.

The expression on her face changed like she was someone else,, a stranger. I think she thought I was being disrespectful, but I was being honest. I guess using the school equipment was disrespectful, so I knew I was in a lot of trouble, and I knew my mother was probably on her way.

I hate feeling misunderstood, although I knew I was trying to justify my behavior. I was eleven so I didn’t think I did anything wrong, but I was embarrassed. I did like the song, and I wanted to use the microphone.

My heart began to race when I saw my mother march into the auditorium. I knew I was going to be punished for the rest of my life.

The principal’s back was facing me as she spoke to my mother, so my mother would slowly tilt her head, and look at me over the principal’s shoulder like I’m going to kill you when we get home.

The principal reminded my mother about the time when I blew a whistle in class in the third grade. Then, she said that I was singing a Rock and Roll song for every student to hear.

“Ann will be punished for this incident, and I apoligize for her behavior. I will definitely speak to her about this incident, "

As she spoke to the Principal, I could feel her blue/green eyes piercing through me over the principal’s shoulder.

I thought, well, I know that look, there goes my Beatles album.

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2Judy Ward and Pamela Green Tannehill