6

"And now we have Xiao Su Lee, with, Joan Osborne's 'One of Us'" a tall thin man announced, to the masses of students who turned up for the talent quest. Xiao's knees began to shake, 'oh no!' she thought, I'm gonna screw this up, I swear! She pushed herself and guitar onto the auditorium stage, and sat on a tall bar stool, centre stage, and started strumming, it was loud when it was plugged into the amps, and she drew the mic closer and sang;

If God had a name what would it be/And would you call it to His face?/If you were faced with Him in all His glory?/What would you ask if you have just, one, question?

Yeah, yeah, God is great/Yeah, yeah, God is good/Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us?/Just a stranger on the bus/Trying to make His way home.

If God had a face what would it look like/And would you want to see?/If seeing meant you had to believe/In things like heaven and Jesus and the  saints/And all the Prophets?

Yeah, yeah, God is great/Yeah, yeah, God is good/Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us?/Just a stranger on the bus/Trying to make His way home/Just trying to make His way home/Back up to heaven all alone/Nobody callin' on the phone/'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome.

Yeah, yeah, God is great/Yeah, yeah, God is good/Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What if God was one of us?/Just a slob like one of us?/Just a stranger on the bus/Trying to make His way home/Like a holy Rolling Stone/Back up to heaven all alone/Just trying to make His way home/ Nobody callin' on the phone/'Cept for the Pope maybe in Rome.

It was over, Xiao smiled as the audience applauded, that wasn't so bad, I didn't screw it up! She thought happily as she went backstage. The head of the music department, a rosy cheeked woman called out to Xiao,

"Miss Lee, you are a precious gem!"

Xiao smiled politely, "Thank you,"

"Have you considered a career in music?" she asked, Xiao, put on the spot mumbled,

"I'm not sure, I'll think about it, thank you again," and she quickly went into the small practise room where her case was and replaced her instrument carefully. She made her way to where the others were. She heard the tall thin man speak,

"And in 3rd, we have… Alan Carter, with Keeping it Out. Well done Alan!" and Alan passed through the curtain to the stage to receive his reward.

"Well done, well done, and now in 2nd, we have… Karen James, who danced to Murder on the Dance floor. Excellent work Karen!" Karen smiled widely as she made her way to receive her award.

"And now for 1st prize! A very beautifully sung arrangement of One of Us, with guitar, Xiao Su Lee!" Xiao stopped, no way! She stumbled onto centre stage again, and shook hands with the tall thin man. She was rewarded a certificate and a sealed envelope. "So why don't we give these three a round of applause?" the tall thing man suggested, the crowd obeyed, and the curtain closed.

"Congratulations Xiao!" she heard everyone say,

"Good job!" another said,

"You sounded like an angel!" she heard someone else say. Xiao bit her lip nervously, she didn't like crowds, or worse, groupies. Xiao quickly made her way out of the auditorium and found Joan leaning on a wall.

"Hey Joan!" she called, Joan looked up,

"Wow Xiao! Congrats!" Xiao muttered,

"Eh, thanks, um, I didn't sound like real bad did I?"

"Bad? How could you sound bad?" Joan laughed,

"I don't know, I always thought I sounded really stupid when I sing." Xiao admitted, Joan raised an eye brow,

"Whatever girl, you did great! And what's in the envelope?" Joan asked,

"Don't know yet, haven't opened it." Xiao said,

"Go on then!" Joan said, Xiao carefully opened the envelope. Two things dropped out, a cheque made out to her for $500, and something else…

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