Jane Morgendorffer (Part 12)
Jane counted down the days until Christmas vacation started. Until that year, she used to hate not going to school for two weeks. This year was different. She had someone who liked the same things as her to enjoy the time with. Ms. Harrison had them make Christmas cards to their parents. Jane stared down at the blank sheet of paper sitting in front of Daria. Jane wasn't the only one who noticed that Daria hadn't started the project. Ms. Harrison knelt beside the bespectacled girl and told her she could make the card for someone else. Daria nodded and began to draw a picture of guitar and notes. Inside the card, Daria wrote a little note, signed it, and placed it in an envelope. On the envelope, in the best handwriting she could muster, Daria wrote one word ... Trent.
When the school bell rang signaling the beginning of Christmas vacation, all the students ran out the door ... except for Daria and Jane. They walked up to the teacher and handed a present. She carefully opened it to find a report folder. Inside was one of Jane's short stories followed by a couple of pictures Daria had made from it. The story was about her as a super hero. She gave a little laugh and thanked them for the gift. She walked with them outside and watched as they got into Mr. Morgendorffer's car.
When they arrived home, Jane and Daria ran up to their room. Helen and Jake gave them one hour to play before they had to get ready to go to Trent's recital. They turned on the little television that was in their room and began playing video games. Quinn came into their room a few minutes later, watching as her two older sisters as they focused on the game. Daria offered Quinn her controller and let her play the next level. Daria left the room and knocked on Trent's door. As the door opened, Trent looked down to see his little sister smiling at him. He bent down so they could be face to face.
"Good luck tonight Tee. I know you're going to do great."
"Thanks Dee. I'll be looking out for you in the audience. It's a small building so I should have no problems seeing you." Trent gave a slight grin. "I have to finish getting ready." Trent reached over and hugged his little sister.
Walking up the stairs, Helen laughed when all three girls came bounding out of Jane's room ready to go. Jake and Trent were waiting in the car. During the drive to music class, Trent tried to hide his nervousness. Quinn grabbed his hand and gave it a little squeeze. Trent looked down at his now youngest sister and felt his confidence return. When they arrived at the studio, Trent grabbed his guitar and went inside. Helen and Jake led the three girls to the small auditorium that was attached to the music center. They were surprised to see Rhonda waiting for them near the front, waving for them to join her.
"I figured the girls would want to be able to see their big brother play, so I got here a little early and got the good seats." Rhonda said as she moved so Jake and Helen could sit in the middle.
"Thanks Aunt Rhonda," Jane said as she sat down next to her mother's boss.
Trent was performing three pieces that evening. The first was an acoustical guitar solo, then after intermission, he and a couple of his friends would be performing together for two songs. Jake took out his camcorder and started playing with the buttons. After a few frustrated minutes, he handed over the video equipment to Jane. She pressed a couple of buttons and handed it back to her father. Rhonda couldn't help but laugh at the smirk on the blue-eyed girl's face. Rhonda and the three girls talked about what they wanted for Christmas until the lights began to dim.
Trent waited backstage for the three acts ahead of him. His mind began to drift about the past six months of his life. He was snapped back into the present when he heard his music teacher call out his name over the microphone. Trent walked out onto the stage to see his family, front and center, waving at him. He plugged in his Martin acoustic and began playing. He closed his eyes while his fingers moved across the fret board in an intricate dance. Helen and Jake watched with pride in their eyes. Five minutes later, Trent strummed the last notes. He opened his eyes to see the five people who mattered most to him, standing up and applauding. Taking a small bow, he ambled off the stage with a content smile over his face.
The darkness of the auditorium hid another face who watched the young man on stage. Waves of sadness and regret came over the man as he listened to the melody pouring out of the teenager's instrument. As intermission began, the blue-eyed, black haired man stared as the tall thirteen year old was met with by a flurry of hugs. The man then gazed as the boy picked up his little sister and twirled her around. The man could feel the tears forming as the sound of the auburn haired girl's laughter echoed throughout the room. As a rush of people headed for the lobby, the man stood up and blended into the crowd, his presence never known. As he left the small auditorium, a gentle rain hid his tears as he walked to his car and drove away.