Bab 10: NINE(Noel's Mom)
"Attention, the young master has landed, please secure the perimeter." George announced into the walkie-talkie.
Mia just watched as two random guards from nowhere came running to the door of the Rolls Royce Immediately, they opened the door and quickly led Mia and Noel to the school auditorium. On reaching there, Mia and Noel had to wait outside the door while a security check was carried out.
'All these for a kid who just wants to show the world his talent.' Mia thought,
At the same time, a guard announced to George through the walkie-talkie that it was safe to go in.
George carefully led them inside the school auditorium where other families were already seated, waiting to see their kids show their talent. Mia was given a seat on the third row while Noel was escorted to the backstage by George where he was registered as a participant.
"So I don't deserve an extra protection?!" She mumbled.
Soon everyone got settled and the talent hunt competition began with a beautiful speech by the Principal.
She thanked all the parents for coming and announced that the show would serve as the "End of Term/ Christmas party."
"....So don't be in a haste to leave Mom and Dads, it's a free for all party!" She grinned as the guest cheered.
The show finally began and Mia was thrilled to see all the wonderful display of talents, some sang, some danced, some played a musical instrument, some read out beautiful poems probably written by their parents and others?....Well they told really bad jokes or said some stuffs no one really understood.
'Wow! Back in my days, the only talent I had was....nothing.' Mia thought.
It was soon reaching Noel's turn, and Mia couldn't wait to see him perform, He had been registered as '030,' the last act for the night and currently, '029' was literally killing it with her violin. It was terrible, and Mia and pretty much everyone wished she would just stop.
Just then, she received a text from George saying they needed her backstage, so she quickly rushed to see what had happened since it sounded very urgent.
On reaching there, she met a very terrified Noel seating on a chair and fiddling with his fingers....He had suddenly developed cold feet.
"....He's scared of playing in front of a large audience, it's his first time." George told her.
Mia quietly walked over to him and crotched down to his level.
"....Hey little man." She called sweetly,
"I hear you're scared of playing in front of these people."
"Uh-Huh." He admitted,
"....I'm really nervous, what if I miss a key or play it wrong and everyone starts laughing?" He said shyly.
"....Well....If they do, then join them." She told him.
Noel simply gave her a puzzled look, and at the back of her mind, she wasn't sure she had given him a good advice, but she continued,
"....Well yeah, if they do....Join them, that way it's going to be less embarrassing, it always works for me.... But! I doubt anyone's gonna be laughing at you tonight, because....I heard from a really reliable source that you play like the legendary Beethoven, and if they're correct, then instead of loud laughs, you'll be getting loads of cheers and a standing ovation." She smiled as she gently ruffled his hair.
"....I believe in you, I know you can do this little man, I'll be in the audience watching, play like I'm the only one watching and you'll be fine. I promise." She smiled.
"....Pinky promise?" He said in a small voice as he held out his pinky,
Mia smiled as she held out her finger over his and replied.
"....Pinky promise."
"Thanks Miss Anderson, I feel much better now." He grinned.
At the same time, they heard the Principal announce,
"....That lovely poem was written and read by our dear little angel, Chloe. A round of applause for her please, up next, we have Noel! A big round of applause as Noel takes the stage."
"....Go kick their asses Little Man!" She said fiercely then quickly returned to her seat
Noel sat on the piano bench then smiled at Mia who smiled back and gave him a thumb up. He nodded, then took a deep breath and exhaled, shut his eyes and then he began.
He was playing the piano version of Beethoven's Fur Elise. Mia watched his fingers gently caress the keys like he was made for them, all the shyness and nervousness had suddenly disappeared into thin air; it was indeed a beautiful sight to behold.
When he finished the two minute presentation, there was a brief silence before the guest erupted into a loud cheer and eventually a standing ovation.
He got on his feet and took a bow then grinned at Mia who gave him a knowing smile. After a few minutes, the performers were asked to return to the stage while the judges calculated their scores as they discussed among themselves. Soon they slipped a paper containing the results to the principal so she could announce.
She took the time to thank the parents for making out the time to attend and quickly went on to announce the results and hand them the prizes.
A singing duet came third place, a dancing girl came second and finally, Noel came first. At the end of the announcement, the entire hall erupted into loud cheers as the curtain fell and as if on cue, Mia quickly left her seat and went backstage and gave him a tight hug.
"I knew you could do it!" She grinned as she held up his trophy,
"You were on fire! Congratulations!" She exclaimed.
"Once I got on the bench, I wasn't that scared anymore." He grinned.
"I could tell, once you took a deep breath and exhaled, I saw you do your thing, you were all classic and professional in your fine blue suit, like....Tadatadatadadadadum....!" She mimicked with her fingers while Noel laughed.
"Noel's truly a rising star." The Principal interrupted while they were still indulged in their conversation.
She walked up to them with a smile,
"You must be Noel's Mom, right?" She began as she held her hands out for a handshake.
"....Um....Y....Yeah, I am." She stuttered as she swallowed hard and shook The Principal's hand.
'I only signed up to be "Chaperone" tonight, Not "Mom" or "Mrs Regal.' She thought.
"Ahh! Madam, I understand you and your husband are very busy people, it was so nice of you to grace us with your presence tonight." She smiled.
"Pleasure's all mine." She smiled politely, she had decided to play along.
"....And may I just say, you're so young and beautiful, now I know where Noel got his pointed nose and thick lashes from. He looks a lot like you too." She laughed,
Mia simply smiled and nodded at the woman's flattery.
'People would tell lies to simply get favors.' She thought.
"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself.... I'm Grace Harper, the principal of this prestigious institution." She grinned proudly.
Mia mouthed an "O" as she realized why the woman had been so chatty.
"Well it's nice to meet you Mrs Harper, you can call me Mia by the way—"
"Oh no Ma'am, you may be young but it'll be inappropriate to call you that." She grinned'
Mia wished she would just shut up.
"By the way, would you like to stay for the Christmas party afterwards, we'll have a PTA meeting while the party's on and I'll introduce you to the other parents—"
"Oh that won't be necessary—"
"Ma'am." George called,
"Yes George."
"....You have that meeting scheduled to hold in the next thirty minutes." He announced, and Mia smirked.
"Oh that's right! That meeting. Thank you for the reminder George." She smiled,
Turning to Mrs Harper, she began with an apologetic smile,
"....I'm really sorry to disappoint you Mrs Harper, but as you can see, I have a really tight schedule and I'd have to leave now."
"Oh I truly understand, and before I forget, thank your husband for his wonderful donations to the school, the board really appreciates it—"
"Yes. We'll be on our way now."
"See you some other time then." She grinned.
Mia gently took Noel's hand and walked to the car. Once they got in, she dropped the posh act and broke into a rather boisterous laughter.
"Oh my goodness!" She exclaimed,
"Your Principal is freaking annoying!" She laughed,
"How do you kids even cope with her?!" She asked rhetorically, as Noel laughed out. A small smile formed on George's face as he eavesdropped on their conversation from the front seat.
'She's good medicine for the kid.' He thought.
"Principal Harper's freaking annoying!!" Noel said out loud.
"Shhhh!!" Mia hushed,
"Now there, there, we're not allowed to say such words in front of your father okay??" She calmly told him.
"Do you promise not to use that word again?"
"I promise." He grinned.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone