Maude was still fuming that evening as she stood backstage in the Morningside Theater listening to the other La Cenerentola auditions. She was also feeling increasingly nervous as she watched the other students perform for the lead roles. She still couldn't get rid of Matt's words that were echoing in her head again and again. Although she hated to admit it, his musical advice was sound even though he hadn't at all perceived her personality correctly.
To think he saw her as a pampered, spoiled brat!
She couldn't, wouldn't dig too deep in her feelings of abandonment, sadness, and loneliness she'd felt in Carvin. She'd better push them away and pretend they weren't there. She felt that if she unleashed them, they would consume her, and everyone would see who she really was: the poor, abandoned orphan whom they would all feel sorry for. Maude wanted to be able to hold her head high, not bow under the burden of pity. How would Matt react if he really knew the truth about her, her miserable, bare life in the basement of a tyrannical foster mother?
Maude forced a smile as she saw Thomas wink at her before walking on stage, faced Ms. Tragent and started to sing his solo. Thomas was incredibly at ease as Prince Charming and was a talented tenor. Nothing ever seemed to daunt this assured Prince Charming, who didn't seem to have a worry in the world, just like its interpreter. Thomas took singing very seriously.
Even in Ms. Tragent's class, his concentration rarely wavered. He never was shaken by her sharp glares and icy remarks directed towards him, which he viewed as sharp stones on a necessary road towards improvement. Underneath his calm demeanor, brewed an ambition of steel and an unvarying search for perfection, which made him a thorough artist. He was determined to get to the top and knew he possessed the talent and will to become a famous pop artist. Even if he had to go through Ms. Tragent's boring classical lessons.
Maude almost clapped when he finished singing, but stopped in time to prevent embarrassment.
"So, how was I, Queen Maude?" he asked as he joined her backstage.
"The perfect Prince Charming!" she exclaimed.
"Am I your perfect Prince charming?" he asked, looking at her with a deep, serious look.
Maude faltered, but before she could answer, Lindsey shoved her and headed towards the stage.
"Sorry. You were in my way," she said snidely.
"Good luck," Maude said calmly. "Break a leg," she added, happily imagining Lindsey limp in crutches.
"Only losers need luck. I have talent," she said and started to sing Cinderella's solo.
She did have loads of talent, Maude thought as she listened to Lindsey. Her technique was perfect, her voice assured and steady and disciplined by years of hard work and singing classes with the best of coaches. As Maude continued to listen to Lindsey she found something lacking. Lindsey was standing hands on hips, holding her head high as if she owned the world. Her attitude clashed with Cinderella's solo that was supposed to be a lament and hope for a better life.
Maude looked at Thomas, and saw by his frown that he was thinking the same thing.
"She isn't in character," Thomas, whispered, his frown deepening.
Maude nodded. Although Cinderella was a spirited character in the opera, in this song, she was supposed to be melancholic. She wasn't the least bit presumptuous like Lindsey was at that moment, looking like she would just trample over her evil stepsisters if they appeared on stage at this instant demanding their clothes and breakfast.
"He was right," Maude said softly.
"Who was right?" asked Thomas curiously.
"Matt," Maude said speaking more to herself than to Thomas. She looked at Lindsey without seeing her and didn't notice Thomas's frown at her mention of Matt.
Lindsey finished and proudly walked off stage, her heels clicking louder than ever almost covering Ms. Tragent's voice as she sharply called Maude to the stage.
"Good luck singing after me," Lindsey said coldly.
Maude didn't hear her, couldn't hear her, as she no longer was aware of anything else but the song she had to sing and the realization that Matt had been right all along. She walked on stage and stood straight before a stern Ms. Tragent who she barely noticed.
When she had arrived in New York City, she had tried to forget about her life in Carvin, and even more as she had studied La Cenerentola. But as she stood on the wide stage, alone, facing her teacher, she knew she could beat Lindsey. Lindsey could never impersonate Cinderella because she had always got what she wanted and had never known what it felt like to crave for anything, to hope for a better life.
As Maude started singing Cinderella's solo, her hands clasped to her heart, she pictured herself back at Carvin the day after she'd met James Baldwin. Mrs. Ruchet had discovered the falsified grade and had slapped her, sending her whizzing against the wall. She then ordered her to clean the entire house from top to bottom, refusing to give her anything to eat until she had finished.
Standing alone in the living room, dusting the furniture, her stomach growling loudly from lack of food, Maude had wished with all her heart that she could leave the Ruchets once and for all. And at that moment, remembering her encounter with Mr. Baldwin she had felt a new, developing sense of hope. Hope that she would be able to sign a contract with his company, hope that she would leave the Ruchets and their dreary basement, hope that she would be able to do the thing she loved the most without having to hide. As she sang in her clear mezzo-soprano voice, Maude allowed her emotion to surface, without it consuming her. She dug deep in her sorrow to share Cinderella's pain.
Thomas, still backstage, looked at Maude with solemn admiration. While she sang Cinderella's song of hope, her dream wrapped in a sad, poignant lament, Maude seemed transformed, her whole body inhabited by the sorrow her character felt. Thomas looked at Lindsey and was satisfied to see her arms crossed and eyes ablaze.
Maude ended Cinderella's solo and came back to reality with a start. She was no longer in Carvin and Mrs. Ruchet was nowhere near her, although she could almost feel a faint sting left by the violent slap.
She looked at Ms. Tragent. The stoic teacher's face remained as impenetrable as that of a gargoyle in Notre-Dame.
Maude walked off the stage towards Thomas, who was eagerly waiting for her.
"You were great, Maude!" he exclaimed.
"Don't lie to her, Thomas," Lindsey said haughtily. "Her technique is far from perfect. You added way too many tremolos in the last sentences, and you should really learn to stand straight while you sing or Ms. Tragent will kick you out of this class."
"Your tremolos were perfect, Maude. It gave a lot more depth and feeling to the song. Maybe you should try that next time, Lindsey. You know, showing feeling. You looked like you walked straight out of Wagner's Valkyrie, ready to smash everything standing in your way!"
"I guess it's easier for Maude to relate to Cinderella. She is, after all, nothing but a poor orphan herself, isn't that right Maude?" Lindsey asked wrapping her venom in a fake, sweet smile.
Maude wondered why everyone (and by everyone she meant Peter Longarm and Lindsey Linton) was so keen on reminding her she was an orphan. As if there was an actual possibility that she might forget it.
She smiled sweetly back and said, "You are absolutely right. What really puzzles me is why your parents still haven't given you up for adoption, Lindsey."
And with that, she swept past an angry Lindsey, Thomas closely following her as they left Morningside Theater.
"I guess you and I will have the leads," Thomas said as they walked outside.
"We don't know that for sure. I'd rather not jinx it. Besides, Lindsey is right. Her vocal technique is far better than mine. Ms. Tragent might choose her for the role of Cinderella. At least, I put up a good fight."
"Your technique has greatly improved in the month you've started class. And what you may lack in technique, you make up with character. Give yourself some credit. I am positive that you will be the Cinderella to my Prince Charming."
Maude's playful laughter resounded like a waterfall, and Thomas couldn't help but look at her admiringly.
"The Cinderella to your Prince Charming?" she asked mockingly. "You seem to be forgetting that Cinderella, as the eponymous character, is the main character, and Prince Charming is nothing but an accessory to her happiness," Maude teased.
"That's because Rossini didn't know I, Thomas Bradfield, would one day play this part and that I would completely eclipse Cinderella."
"I think I should warn Ms. Tragent not to choose you because your ego would ruin the entire opera."
"And what makes you think she would listen to her newest, bluest student?"
"Hey! Didn't you just say I had greatly improved in the past month?" asked Maude in mock indignation.
"I said you'd improved. I never said you would become Ms. Tragent's personal and trusted confidant."
"For sure," Maude acknowledged. "I don't even know if she has any friends or family. She's so stern and cold. I guess not everyone can have a Thomas Bradfield as a friend."
"I guess not," he answered with a pleased smile. "The good thing is we'll only have to wait a couple of days for the results."
Maude nodded and suddenly felt a lump in her throat. Even a couple of days felt like years to her. She certainly didn't want Lindsey to get the part. And as she looked into Thomas' eyes, she felt she wouldn't mind being the Cinderella to his Prince Charming in the least.