Performance

Yesterday I told the 5th grade girls I teach computer to
that my wife and I enjoyed the Middle School musical
‘Once On This Island’ that they helped put on.
I said I was impressed by the professionalism of their performance,
but that I had one thought that made me feel bad.
I asked them to guess what it was.
They guessed
          they did not sing loud enough,
          that they did not dance right,
          that they moved wrong,
          that they forgot their lines,
          that the lights were wrong,
          that they did not have enough expression in their voices, faces –
I said no, no, no, and no again until they gave up and said,
“Tell us, tell us, Mr. Chang!”
So I said that the performances were so professional, I realized
they must have really listened to their drama teacher
in a way they never listened to me.
I said I didn’t want to make them sad, but
they should know that though I could never give them dance or song,
the computer skills I was giving them
would last them the rest of their lives.
At this, the entire class of 15 girls said, “Oh, Mr. Chang!”
and came up and hugged me.