AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 31
Thunderous applause rang through the auditorium as the crowd got to its feet. The actors onstage, decked out in fairy and Renaissance costumes, radiated happiness. All around them, lights twinkled and glowed throughout the forest. Cheers and whistles broke through the clapping.
From the wings, Grace gestured for the actors to take another well-deserved bow. She was close to bursting with pride in her students’ accomplishment. All three evening performances and the matinee ofA Midsummer Night’s Dreamhad gone beautifully, with only a few hiccups and missed lines. Attendance had been standing room only for all the shows.
“Miss Berry?”
Grace pulled herself out of her thoughts. One of the fairies was gesturing for her to come onstage. The boy who played Lysander was speaking into a microphone provided by a stagehand.
“We obviously couldn’t have done this without our drama club advisor and incredible director, Miss Grace Berry,” he said to the crowd. “We’d like to thank her for her support, patience, and creativity in helping us put on a performance we’ll always remember.”
Don’t cry.
Bottom and Titania came forth with a huge bouquet of flowers. With a smile, Grace walked onto the stage. Another cacophony of applause and cheers filled the air.
The lights were so bright the entire auditorium was cast in shadow. She took the flowers as Lysander fixed the mic to a stand and stepped aside.
“I could not be more honored to have been a part of this production.” Grace spoke past the lump in her throat. “And to have had the privilege of working with such a dedicated, talented group of young people. Thank you so much for your commitment and hard work. I am so—”
Her voice cracked. “So proud of you all.”
Lysander grinned at her as Titania came forward to take the flowers. “I’ll hold on to them for you,” she whispered.
The actors all buzzed with sudden excitement. Lysander spoke into the mic again.
“Many of you might not know that Miss Berry is an incredibly talented performer in her own right,” he told the audience. “And since she keeps her talent hidden in the classroom, we all thought this would be a great time for her to show the world what she can do.”
Shock rolled through her. Surely he didn’t mean—
A ukulele passed down from actor to actor before reaching her.
“We’d like to ask Miss Berry tograceus with one of her Renaissance folk songs as an encore and final performance.” The girl playing Hermia spoke into the mic while throwing Grace a smile. “Please.”
The students stepped back. Grace’s hands shook as she took the ukulele. Expectation vibrated in the air along with spontaneous hoots and calls of encouragement. She felt the gazes of almost nine hundred people fix on her.
Clearing her throat, she stepped up to the mic and encompassed the actors in a quick glance.
“I’m going to need a bit of help with this one.” She strummed a few chords of a song all her students had heard multiple times.
They gathered closer as she started.“I’ll sing you one, oh!”
“Green grow the rushes, oh!”chorused the students.
“What is your one, oh?”
“One and one is all alone and evermore shall be so.”
Once they learned the rhythm, the audience joined in the chorus. Grace led them through the song, with everyone singing louder and louder until the final“Oh!”culminated in thunderous applause. Over the noisy appreciation, a voice called out from the wings.
“Thank you, Miss Berry!” Hank Spruce strode out onto the stage. The actors parted to let him pass. “Always nice to showcase a teacher’s talent.”
Grace gave him a tight smile as he stopped at the mic.
“Thank you all for your attendance.” Spruce lifted a hand for quiet. “Traditionally, this is the time when Miss Berry announces the play choice for next year, but I’ve already informed her that we need to change things up this year. I have another announcement to make.”
The actors all shuffled and exchanged glances. The audience fell silent.
Grace’s stomach knotted. Surely he wasn’t about to announce that her position at Bliss Cove High was in jeopardy?
