Talent Show - pencil drawing by Nigel A. JAMES
All Singing from the Same Song Sheet -
Last night, a story stepped out of the back of my mind. It was all about one of those amusing little corners of life which took place just a little over 4 years ago. And this is what happened.
At the time, my son, Maxi, was at primary school in Vienna, and it was holding its number 1 party of the year; its carnival party. And, the biggest pull of all at this party of parties was the talent competition. And 32 kids had decided to take part in this chance of all chances to show off and win a good prize.
The hall was packed with parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles and all other forms of other imaginable relatives; and, judging by the nervous looks on their faces, one would have been forgiven for believing that it was they who were about to stand in the spot light, and not the bunch of assorted little darlings who were giggling impatiently behind a curtain which was about to go up.
Little Susie came first, her song was as good as could be expected, and she performed it in a well practiced little school girl way. But then came little Martin from 2b, then after him Sarah from 3e, then after her came Marlene of 4a, and so-on and so-on . . . . . . . and all of them had chosen to sing the very same song!
Before too long, the general mood of the audience was beginning to wither; their little darlings were, more-or-less, all the same; and, on the scale of monotony, all pretty well near to the bottom. But then came entrant number 26, Christine from 4d. She had chosen something different to sing. A visible sigh of relief spread like a magical wave across the sea of bored-to-tears faces.
The audience woke up, and, for a while, it looked as though enthusiasm was about to break out. But the dawn that had dawned had been a false one. After Christina of 4d had finished, the show went on as before! When would it end?
But, everything that starts must have an end, and everyone who took part were given a book as a prize, and, Christina got two for originality.
All of the kids were happy. They had taken their chance to show off, had done it well, and only one had been different. And that’s what talent shows are all about; they belong to the moments in life which are fun!
Language Assistance
Primary school – Volksschule
Carnival – Fasching
To show off – angeben
Giggling – kichern
School mistress – Lehrerin
Niceties – nette Worte
Contribution – Beitrage
Wither – austrocknen
More-or-less - mehr oder weniger
