I spent the rest of the week perfecting my tricks on the job and at home when Vince and I weren’t trading hotspots in town. I was finally making some good tips and only once did someone try to run off with my jar. I made a mental note to speak to aunt Melody and the Council about the crime rates here in the Valley after I spent the rest of my energy chasing the thief all the way down the beachfront. That said, I was developing some serious juggling skills too and beginning to introduce those to my routine. I remembered what Ramiro had said about having a set for the stage and had started to try some things out. Nothing felt ‘just right’ yet but I knew how I could make what little I had in my arsenal look good.
Vince was constantly drawing a crowd at the park these days. By the end of the week he had regulars that would stop by on their way to and from work or school and would donate handsome tips. It wasn’t always a consistent income but he never came home empty handed. When he wasn’t performing to the town he would be running all over doing Sing-o-Grams for every occasion. His favourites were the celebration and cheering up ones and he would always roll his eyes and shudder when asked to deliver a flirty one.
“It’s weird standing there while they’re trying to get in the mood!” He exclaimed one Saturday night after a particularly heavy shift. If anything was motivating him to get onto the stage it was that.
I continued to juggle my acrobat training and time with Topher and it was a lot of fun initially. We were always meeting at his work for lunch or dinner and I was waiting for him to suggest we go somewhere a little more private. It was late one Sunday afternoon after our usual post-busking meet up and I thought he might have been about to ask me back to his place. Except while we were talking, I noticed a woman behind us exclaim in a loud whisper.
“What?!” The stranger hissed. I looked over my shoulder but she had her head in her hands. Topher looked a little shocked, too, but continued playing with my hair and started talking again. Just as I was about to push for an invitation, a woman appeared from inside the restaurant.
“Topher!” She ran over and practically shoved me into the road to reach him.
“Natalie?” His face paled. Before I could chime in she began shouting in the middle of the street.
“So THIS is where you’ve been going? You probably should have checked my shifts before you chose this spot to bring your little side piece.” She scoffed.
“Hey wait-” I tried to interject.
“You and I are DONE.”
“Natalie, I’m s-sorry. I’m so stupid.” He shook his head and pulled his hands down his face.
“No kidding.” She crossed her arms over her chest and stood firm.
I remained in place, unable to find an exit or the words to respond. We’d been on so many dates I had no idea he was seeing anyone else. I didn’t see a ring on her finger so breathed a silent sigh of relief. Before I could make any comment, Topher turned back to me.
“Winnie, babe, this is all just a big misunderstanding.” He leaned in to wrap his arms around me and I recoiled instinctively as if he were a python with an open jaw.
“Whoa! Nu-uh, I am not getting in the middle of you two any more than I apparently already was.” I stepped into the road and almost bumped into Natalie. “Natalie is it? I had no idea that you and Topher were, uh, anyway I’m going to head out. Topher, don’t call me.” I turned and got into my car. Stunned and amazed at what had just unfolded, I found myself driving down to the beachfront.
The drive helped me clear my head a little and I realised that Topher had just been one big distraction. He was never really my type and I had just used him to get out of committing properly to the one thing that terrified me – pursuing my dream career. So as I pulled up outside the beachfront park I gave myself a talking to, changed back into my work clothes and marched up to Ramiro.
“I’ve been working so hard on my tricks, I really think I can put on a show.” My voice lilted with double-entendre as I blinked my doe eyes.
“Is that so, just Winnie?” He laughed in shock.
“It really is. So are you going to give me a shot or what?” I crossed my arms in defiance.
“How about this, you audition like everybody else and, if I’m nice enough to find you a slot, you let me take you out to dinner.” He crossed his own arms in response.
“Fine.” I shrugged. My heart pounded in my chest as I began to plan my audition performance.
“Go on then.” He stepped back and indicated to the grass at our feet.
“What, now?” My jaw dropped slightly.
“Oh sorry, I thought you were ready…” His lips twisted into a closed grin.
“Fine! Now it is.” I huffed. My brain raced even faster as I replayed the routines I had mocked up in practice sessions. I took a deep breath and replaced the scene around me with a sea of cheering fans.
I began with a simple act; a mime stuck in a box, pulling a rope, fighting against the wind, and I finished up with handstand – walkover combination. He clapped in what I hoped was a sincere appraisal and nodded in mock-defeat.
“Ok, you can take the stage. Tomorrow you can have the 4pm slot.”
“Tomorrow?” I stepped back in shock.
“Unless you don’t think you’re ready?” Ramiro tapped his foot with amusement.
“No! It’s great. Thank you.” I resisted the run away and hide.
“Then we’ll head straight out after, there’s a concert at the stadium you’d probably like.”
“Oh you think so?” I hated to admit I liked his confidence.
“So you got a gig and a date?” Xavier laughed when I finished telling them the story. “I never liked Topher anyway.”
“Did you even really like Topher?” Vince chimed in.
“He wasn’t that bad. It just wasn’t all that serious, or interesting.” I shrugged and my brothers chuckled.
“So when’s your first gig, Vince? Or date.” Xavier winked but Vince didn’t bite.
“All in good time. We have to graduate first.” He rolled his eyes.
“That’s tomorrow?” I gasped. “But how will I prep my routine? How am I supposed to graduate, do my first ever gig and then go out with Ramiro?”
“Looks like somebody bit off more than they can chew by flirting with the proprietor.” Vince smirked. I flicked water over him and the three of us ended up drenched in a water fight.
Graduation was a blur of nerves and excitement when Vince and I donned our caps and gowns and arrived at City Hall. A strange sensation washed over me as I realised that my mother and grandmother had walked these exact steps at this point in their lives. So much had happened for them after this milestone and I couldn’t imagine what was coming for me.
Vince and I tossed our diplomas into the air for a number of photos. My mother and her mother had delighted in capturing the moments and the milestones so I knew I couldn’t refuse her. Just like I couldn’t refuse any of them showing up to my first gig.
The park was mostly empty, littered with just a few townspeople busy in their own conversations and activities. As I took to the stage in an outfit I had purchased last minute at an online secondhand store, I had a wave of doubt. I had always been so confident in my ability to reach the top it had never dawned on me how many of these hurdles I would have to face first. Despite the park goers largely not being interested in me, my family stared up at me in anticipation and I knew the show must go on.
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