The five kids sat down in the audience chairs with the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra musicians. Conductor Frances and Stage Director Hannah were sitting on the stage looking at them all. There was a discussion of yesterday’s dress rehearsal, with the kids and adults both expressing the positives and their concerns. Hannah also talked about how things might be different with the next two concerts. With an idea of what was to come, and a plan for minor changes to this next dress rehearsal, everyone went to their positions on the stage.

The morning dress rehearsal went on without a glitch and Hannah was happy with the results. Everyone was sent off and told when to return for that night’s performance.

“I can’t believe we are really going to be playing with the Tri-City Orchestra,” Jessica said as the five kids and their parents headed to the parking lot.

“We have been practicing with them for a week, Jessica. Hasn’t it sunk in yet,” George asked?

“Nope,” Jessica smiled and skipped ahead of the boys and up to Cindy and Sammie. “So, you two, my mom has insisted that you two come back to my house for the next few hours and we all do something together. She suggested a board game, but I was thinking we could make friendship bracelets and bake cookies.”

“Cookies?” Sammie and Cindy said in unison.

Jessica smiled, “We have all the ingredients to make chocolate chip cookies, and I snuck a bag of M&Ms in the cart so we can also make a batch of M&M cookies.”

Jessica didn’t think the smiles on the two younger girls could get any bigger as they reached Sammie’s car. The three girls got in the back seat as Joyce and Jessica’s Dad got in the front seats.

“Dad? Aren’t you driving in your car,” Jessica inquired?

Mr. Thompson turned around and looked at his daughter, “No sense in taking two cars when we are just turning around and coming back in a few hours. Since the girl’s booster seats were in Joyce’s car, we decided it would be best just to have her drive. And you know how much I hate driving in city traffic, this way we can go home without me having to deal with it. Unless you want to stay in the city for the next few hours?”

“No!” the three girls said in unison.

“Cindy, Sammie, and I are going to make cookies,” Jessica added. “We have to go home to do that.”

“Cookies it is then,” Joyce said as she started the car.

By the time they got in the car to return to the Tri-City Symphony Hall, the girls each had a friendship bracelet, and they had enough cookies to share with the whole Orchestra.

After delivering cookies to all the Orchestra members, the girls went to their ready room to get changed and ready. Joyce was working on her daughter, Sammie. Jessica’s Mom met them backstage and helped Jessica get ready. The Oboe player Lisa had volunteered to help Cindy get ready.

“My girls were all excited to see you and Sammie play yesterday,” Lisa said as she was trying to get Cindy’s hair just right. “I’ve never seen them so excited about an Orchestra performance before. Yeah, they like seeing Mommy play, but they're just happy to see me play on the big stage. Yesterday, however, they were more interested in you and Sammie than me.”

“Sorry Mrs. Lisa,” Cindy said as she watched Lisa in the mirror.

“Oh, don’t apologize Cindy. This is a good thing. They actually went home and played with all the toy instruments in their playroom. My oldest, Izzie, expressed interest in learning an instrument like me and her cousin Ciara. Whenever Ciara and I brought up the idea in the past, she showed no interest. Close your eyes Cindy, I’m going to put in some hairspray.”

Lisa gave one last look at Cindy and declared, “You certainly do look like a Christmas Angel. You ready?”

“I don’t know,” Cindy looked over at Sammie and Jessica. “Everyone’s so much better than me. . .”

“Cindy! ! !” Sammie and Jessica said in unison.

“Okay, okay,” Cindy held up her hands in defeat.

“Who won the Best Performer at Camp during the summer,” Sammie asked? “It wasn’t any of the other kids at camp, it was you. You’re even better than most of the adults in the Orchestra.”

“She’s right Cindy,” Lisa interjected. “You may be a better performer than all the adults in the Tri-City Orchestra. The way you did that flute solo yesterday was outstanding. Not one mistake, and you played with such feelings and emotions. It was so touching. To pull that off at such a young age is absolutely amazing. It is no wonder my girls love you so much.”

Cindy blushed.

With Sammie, Cindy, and Jessica all done up and ready for the performance, the adults had the girls stand and slowly twirl to make sure they were perfect. Then the girls were escorted out to their starting positions. Joyce and Jessica’s Mom had designated spots backstage to help if needed when the girls were not on stage.

“Now girls,” stagehand Laura said to Sammie and Cindy. “We have practiced this over and over. You two have this down. In this first part, don’t look at the audience. Your focus is on the Christmas tree and pretending like it is the first time you have seen the pretty tree. The audience is almost exclusively adults, so it should be a bit more formal than the last performance with an audience. You just need to go out there and be cute while you melt into the music you are playing.”

Both Cindy and Sammie smiled at that. This time it was little eight-year-old Sammie that was more nervous than Cindy, but both stood waiting for the directions to go out on stage.

“Okay, lights are dimmed . . . audience is quiet . . . go,” Laura squeezed the two girls’ hands and released them.

Just like the first time they had seen that tree, the two of them went out on stage in complete awe of the big Christmas Tree on stage, all lit up and sparkling. They opened their presents and took out their instruments. After a minute of admiring their new instruments and even hugging them, the two started to play, White Christmas.

The performance went off without a hitch. There was no trouble with the transitions on and off stage and every note was played perfectly. As the final bows were taken, all five kids had the biggest smiles on their faces. Backstage congratulations were given all around before the three youngest performers were directed to their backstage room. Cindy and Sammie collapsed on the couch, grabbing their American Girl dolls in the process.

“We did it,” Sammie let out a huge sigh. “We really did it. We performed on stage with the Tri-City Symphony Orchestra as their special guest performers.”

“We sure did,” Cindy responded. “That was even more amazing than the concert at the end of Music Camp this summer.”

Jessica looked at the two younger girls and smiled, “And they loved us.”

“They sure did, Cindy’s grandma said as she entered the room.”

“Grandma!” Cindy jumped up and ran over to her for a hug. “You made it.”

“Of course I did princess. Sorry I wasn’t here before the show, but traffic was worse than I expected.”

“I’m just so glad you made it,” Cindy said, still hugging Grandma.

“Okay girls,” Joyce interjected. “It is late and past Sammie and Cindy’s bedtimes.”

“Past yours too Jessica,” her mom added.

“But Mom . . .” Jessica started but then stopped when she saw the expression on Mom’s face. “Okay, time to go. We’ll all be back here in the morning.”

“That’s right,” Jessica’s Mom stated. “But for the moment, let’s get to the hotel.”

Both Cindy and Sammie were asleep, hugging their dollies, before the car pulled into the hotel parking lot.