Chapter 170
Music has a universal language all its own. Even though Sharon was far more skilled with the violin than the plano, she could eastly pass level eight without a problem.
On stage, a mother and daughter were performing a duet.
The mother’s piano playing was outstanding-steady, graceful, and confident. When the little girl missed a few notes, her mom didn’t miss a beat. She caught the mistake right away and smoothly guided the performance back on track.
Sitting beside Sharon, Matty leaned over and whispered in a low voice.
“Her name is Daisy Simmons. Her mom’s the daughter of the owner of Hart Jewellers. Daisy told me her mom’s really good at piano. She actually works part-time as a pianist. She started teaching, Daisy when she was just three.”
Sharon gave a small nod.
Daisy’s mom played beautifully, and despite her young age, Daisy held her own. She made a few mistakes, sure, but she didn’t freeze up. She quickly recovered and kept going. The little missteps didn’t take away from the performance at all.
If an adult had made those same mistakes, it would’ve cost them points. But for a five- or six-year-old? Her composure and ability to bounce back actually earned her credit.
And they didn’t just sound good-they looked great on stage, too.
Daisy’s mother was slender and graceful, with delicate features, and Daisy looked like a porcelain doll-sweet and charming.
When the piece ended, the audience erupted into applause-loud and full of admiration.
Wendy clapped along, nodding in approval.
“What a beautiful start! Oh, and Sharon, while you were changing, the kindergarten teacher came over. We’ve been moved to the final performance.”
“The final performance?” Sharon’s expression shifted slightly. “So Kelly goes before me?”
Wendy nodded, letting out a short, dry laugh.
“She needed to redo her whole look, get her makeup done again. There wasn’t enough time, but she insisted on performing before you. Honestly, shameless.”
Matty looked up, confused. “Isn’t going last a good thing, Wendy?”
Wendy explained, “Usually, yeah. The opener and the closer are the two prime spots. The opener sets the tone, the closer wraps everything up. But in today’s fast-paced world, closing isn’t what it used to be-especially in competitions. People get tired. After watching performance after performance, even the judges start to lose focus. The little details? They miss them. But mistakes? Those stand out more. And if someone earlier was amazing, everything that comes after just starts to feel… flat. It’s
impossible not to compare.”
Matty murmured, “I always thought the last spot was the best…”
“If it really were,” Wendy said with a smirk, “you think those parents would’ve given it up so easily?”
“Think about it. By the end of the show, the audience is restless. People are checking their phones, shifting in their seats. If the final act isn’t immediately impressive, they’ll start leaving. They figure they’ve seen enough. For the last slot to truly work in your favor, you need a big name and undeniable talent. Otherwise, all you get is an awkward performance in front of a half-
empty room.”
As she spoke, Wendy glanced at the scoreboard showing the judges’ ratings.
1/2
The average ninety-six.
A very high score.
“See?” she said, a hint of smugness in her voice. “In competitions, opening gives you the best shot.”
2/2
