A fabulous singer Grace Starlin

Chapter Three

Knowing my limits, though, I start with a small amount. I can always go back for more. If I'm up to it. So, I grab a plate and put three barbecue meatballs, a very small amount of buttery hash browns, a very small amount of creamy mac and cheese, a mozzarella stuffed breadstick, a little bit of fruit salad and a small scoop of cinnamon applesauce. Then I grabbed a cup of hot apple cider. I sat down at a table in a corner, away from being easily noticed, and a minute or so later Isabella and Anthony joined me.

"Why did you choose a table at the farthest corner from the stage? I figured you would choose a table that's closer to the stage, not the farthest."

"Oh, Anthony. Why would you not know why I would do this? For one, I'm famous. For two, I don't want to be the center of attention tonight. Three, I prefer staying on the downlow, rather than attracting attention to myself."

"That makes sense, Grace. How could you not get the purpose of Grace choosing this corner table, Anthony?"

"I don't know." Anthony looked up at the stage and smiling turned back to us. "Mayor Greyson is getting on stage. I wonder what she's going to give a speech about."

As Mayor Greyson taps on the microphone, to get everyone's attention, she looks around.

"Hello, everyone. I hope you're enjoying yourselves. As you already know, there's an assortment of things to eat and drink over on the tables to your left. In a moment I'd like someone to come on stage with me and start this Winter dance, so everyone can get up and start dancing. So, that being said, can I get Grace Starlin up here on stage with me?"

I covered my face, then looked at Isabella and Anthony.

"So much for not being the center of attention tonight. There's never a time like this where I'm not the center of attention."

"Grace? Are you here tonight, Grace?" Mayor Greyson asked, searching for me.

Everyone started to look around. So, I smiled and stood up. Everyone started clapping and cheering for me. I walked on stage and went over to Mayor Greyson.

"Let's give it up for Grace!" Mayor Greyson shouted.

As everyone cheered and I waited for them to quiet down, I went through all my songs, in my head, and found the perfect song for tonight.

"Hello, everyone. Here's a song I've written, that works perfectly for tonight. It's called 'A dance to remember'. Here we go. Everyone ready to get up and dance?"

"Yeah!" Everyone shouted as they got up and went to the dance floor. I smiled and grabbed the microphone off of its stand.

"You're alone at a concert. Everyone's dancing. You whisper to yourself, 'I wish I was dancing with someone, too'. A couple guys walk by and you smile at them, hoping one will ask you to dance. Next thing you know, you're being dragged to the dance floor by an amazing guy. A guy who didn't want you to be alone.

"As you dance with him, you think to yourself, 'this is a dance to remember'. A dance to remember for the rest of your life. This guy just made my day and gave you a dance to remember. Going to this concert alone wasn't a bad idea after all. Because, now, you're getting a dance to remember. A dance to remember and never forget.

"As you look into his eyes, you wonder to yourself, 'Why does this seem so crazy?' You came alone with no one by your side, and now you have this guy giving you the time of your life. You dance with him, like you never thought you could. He smiles at you, then spins you around. Seeing your smile, he asks, 'Is this a dance to remember?' When you look up into his eyes, you say, 'Yes, it is a dance to remember.'

"As you dance with him, you think, 'This is a dance to remember'. A dance to remember for the rest of your life. This guy just made your day and gave you a dance to remember. Going to this concert alone wasn't a bad idea after all. Because now you're getting a dance to remember. A dance to remember and never forget.

"Dancing with this great guy, all your worries disappear. You get lost in the sparkle of his eyes and the warmth of his smile. All thoughts of being worried get lost when you see his kindness. His carefulness keeps you on your feet and smiling. The only thought you have now is, 'I will never forget this dance'. Suddenly, you say out loud, 'You're the best thing to ever happen to me'.

"Being found by this guy was fate. He shows up and pulls you to the dance floor. Gets you dancing and smiling. Cheers you up and gets you moving with the music. This guy gets you swaying with him along to the music. The best thing he does is give you a dance to remember.

"A dance to remember. The best thing to happen at this concert. Yeah. A dance to remember. He gives you a dance to remember. A dance to remember. A. Dance. To. Remember."

I placed the microphone back on its stand and everyone clapped and cheered.

"Thank you, thank you. Now, I think the DJ would like to play some music. So, I'll turn the microphone over to you, Stacey. Play your stuff, girl. It's all yours, now."

"Thanks, Grace."

"Always, Stacey."

When I walked off stage, and went over to the food and drink tables, I had two teenagers, maybe eighteen or nineteen years old, come up to me. They were polite and let me get a plate of food, a couple parfait cups, and a mug of peppermint hot cocoa, before talking to me.

"Excuse me? Miss Starlin? Me and my boyfriend would like it if you could come meet our younger siblings. They're obsessed with your music, but are too shy to come meet you themselves."

"How about you go get them and meet me at that far back corner, where me, my younger brother, Anthony, and my younger sister, Isabella, are sitting. Is that okay? Or should I go to your table?"

"That's okay. We'll go to your table. Thanks."

"Don't thank me yet. Meet me there and then we can see if you'll thank me."

"Okay. We'll get them and meet you there."

They walked away and went to get their younger siblings. With that I went to my table and sat down. I ate a couple strawberry donut holes. Then, I ate a parfait cup of banana pudding. After a couple bites eaten out of the parfait cup with the apple crisp in it, the couple came over with their younger siblings. So, I set my fork down and took a sip of my peppermint hot cocoa, to wash everything down. Finally, I looked at them and introduced Anthony and Isabella to all of them.

"Hello, Anthony and Isabella. My name is Will. This is my girlfriend Paige. The two in front of me are Dawn and Andrew. Those three, in front of Paige, are her younger sisters and brother. Autumn, Daisy and Oliver. Say hi to Miss Starlin."

"Please. Just call me Grace."

"Hi, Grace." The five of them said shyly.

"Hello, Dawn, Andrew, Autumn, Daisy and Oliver. Would you each like an autograph?"

"Yes!" They all shouted excitedly.

I grabbed seven napkins off the table and signed each napkin just to them. I handed them the napkin I signed just for them and they were all so happy.

"Thank you so, so, so much, Grace. This is amazing."

"You're welcome, Oliver. And you're welcome to the rest of you. It was nice to meet all of you. Picture? So you can remember this moment?"

"Yeah. Paige, should we take one on both of our phones? Or, do you want to do just one of our phones?"

"Both phones. So we both have a picture of this moment tonight."

"Okay. Who's phone first? And the two of you get in here. No family left out."