Memories

Singing

After the water had boiled, Luke made himself a hot cup of tea and sat in his rocking chair in front of the fireplace. It had become his favorite chair. It was a relatively new addition to his quaint home: He had bought it at a garage sale two months ago along with the small round rug on which it was placed, but he loved it so much that it felt like he always had it. Luke stretched his feet towards the fire and the action reminded him of a winter some years back...

"Come on, girls! We're going to be late!" I shouted from the front door. My wife was passing by me and gave me a kiss on the cheek, then sat in the driver's seat of the car.
"Coming, dad!" came the reply, but I still couldn't see any small figures in white ponchos and jeans.
"Any sign of them?" my wife asked, but I shook my head in denial. She started the car, a sure sign that she was losing patience. I decided to trick them in order to get them downstairs.
"First one in the car gets-" I began, but was suddenly pushed away from the door as my two daughters scrambled to get in the car first.
"I got here first!" Lucy shouted as she pushed her sister away.
"No, I did!" countered CeCe, aggressively pulling at Lucy's poncho. I chuckled and locked the house. Their mother rebuked the pair of them and they silently shuffled onto the backseat. I joined my family in the car and fastened my seatbelt.
"Seatbelts?" I asked the kids.
"Check!" They replied.
"Bags?" My wife asked.
"Check!" Came the reply.
"Any hard feelings?"
"Not a speck!" CeCe replied enthusiastically, but her sister was wringing her hands together, a tell-tale sign that something was up. We had made this saying just before every trip to check our daughters' wellbeing and if they're forgetting anything. 'Not a speck' was the usual answer, but if there was something wrong, the answer was to be...
"Just a fleck," Lucy said in a small voice. My wife looked at me with concern on her face and stopped the car.
"What's wrong, sweetie?" she asked her.
"Umm... I'm sorry, dad, for pushing you when I was running out the door," Lucy said as she looked down to her wrung hands. My concern melted away into affection. I turned in my seat to face her.
"It's okay, dear. Don't worry about it." That was so mature of her, I thought to myself. I promised myself to buy her something on the way back.
My wife started the car again and we prepared to leave when she looked through the rearview mirror and said to our daughters, "But if anything like this happens again, there will be consequences, okay?"
"Yes mom," Lucy said, but her sister remained silent.
"That goes to you too, CeCe," she added sternly.
"...Yes mom," CeCe reluctantly replied. I held back my chuckle and we drove off. The night was crisp and cold and the streets were illuminated by thousands of Christmas decorations as we drove to the Community Hall. Lucy and CeCe's school had prepared a Christmas performance. Every grade was presenting something different from the others, with the exception of the first three who were going to sing together.
I watched my daughters bounce with joy as they watched the lights in all shapes and sizes passing by, mesmerized by their beauty. Their eyes lit up as they pointed and laughed at the many different ornaments and decorations on people's lawns- depictions of Santa, reindeer, snowmen and even characters from kids' movies.
"Are you ready? I asked CeCe backstage. We had gone as far as we were allowed to go as CeCe's escorts.
"I'm going to sing extra loud for you, daddy!" she promised as she hugged me. She then turned to her mother and they kissed goodbye. Lucy waved as we left to join the audience. The crowd was buzzing with excitement as we all waited for the the show to begin. We applauded as the lights dimmed and the spotlight shone center stage. The curtains drew back to reveal a choir of children. CeCe, being one of the shortest, was in the front row. Her eyes scoured the masses for a familiar face and she waved when she saw where we were sitting. Her teacher Dennis calmed her down and soon they were ready to begin. My wife leaned over to me and whispered Lucy's name in my ear and pointed at her with her thumb. Lucy was watching the choir keenly with a sparkle in her eyes. I wasn't sure what my wife was implying. "CeCe wanted to sing with her so much but she's too old, so Lucy said that she'd wear the same outfit as her as the least she can do," she explained. I looked over to the choir once more and realized that they were all in blue jeans and white ponchos. I had never been more proud of her, I was so happy.
The concert was amazing. They sang a few Christmas classics: Jingle Bells, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, Silent Night, and We Wish You A Merry Christmas for their closing song. Every voice was so clear and it was so wonderful to hear them sing merry Christmas.
"CeCe, you were amazing!" Lucy said as she shook her sister's arm in the backseat.
"Yes, you were! Oh, and that solo was divine!" my wife exclaimed from the passenger's side.
"Why didn't you tell us about it?" I asked her through the rearview mirror.

"Surprise!" CeCe said and we all laughed. She was smiling so hard. CeCe had a solo part in Silent Night, and it truly was divine. She hit every note, her voice resounding clearly and beautifully throughout the hall. I think she was the best in the whole choir.
"How about a cup of hot cocoa, a la me when we get home? What do you say, girls?" I asked and they shouted enthusiastically. This was a good night, I nodded to myself in satisfaction as I drove home. A good night indeed.

Luke stretched and yawned in his seat as he finished his cup of tea. His cat, Luna, had curled up and fallen asleep on his lap. He pet her gently and she stirred in her sleep, purring softly. It was time to go to bed.