“Oh, okay.”
She understood the implications of his word.The parent’s circle of “news” would be set ablaze for sure if she showed up to meet him there.But it couldn’t be helped if she planned to pursue this relationship until she discovered if it was forever or not, now, could it?Part of her kind of wished that it could.But another part of her wanted to just know right now if this was her forever or not.That was the part she needed to listen to.
“Are you still fine with meeting us there?”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.”And with a full new set of nerves fluttering away inside her, Esther headed toward the upper elementary hallway first to signal that they should begin forming their processional.
It was always safer to have older kids ready and waiting first.They, for the most part, were better at being patient and not overly excited to be part of a concert.Some of the older kids were a problem for exactly the opposite reason.They’d rather be anywhere other than here tonight.
At the door to the hallway, she picked up the boxes of battery-operated candles that the students would carry as they sang their way into the gym.
“It’s time,” she said as she came to the first classroom door.“Do you still have students to hand these out?”
“Davie and Yasser,” Mr.Lively called above the din in his grade six classroom.“It’s time to light up the night.”
The two boys whooped and rushed to the door to get the candles from Esther.
“Carefully,” she said as she gave them the boxes she held.“One per student, and then, leave the boxes on Mr.Lively’s desk.”
“Yes, Miss Adams,” Yasser said.“Come on, Davie.Let’s do this.”
She watched them head down the hall to the next room.
“We’ve got this,” Mr.Lively assured her.“The other hall might be more of an issue.”
He stepped into the hall with her.“There hasn’t been a concert in all the years I have been teaching here that has gone off without a hitch.And I’ve been here long enough to have taught you.”His eyes twinkled with good humour, just as they nearly always did.He had been one of her favourite teachers.“You’ve got this, Esther.Don’t think I’ve forgotten about how new things make you nervous.Because I haven’t.”
She couldn’t help the smile that sprang to her lips.Mr.Lively had always been the best cheerleader for his students.He still was.“Thanks, Jim.”It still felt weird to call him by his first name.“You know you were one of my favourites.”
He chuckled.“I’d say the same for you, but we all know teachers aren’t supposed to have favourites.”He tipped his head toward the lower elementary wing.“It’s almost time.”
She hurried away from him and peeked in each classroom down her hallway to make sure that everyone was ready.
“Do you have another candle?”Mrs.Belanger asked when Esther peeked into the grade three classroom.“Or a battery?We have one dud.”
“Oh, yes, I have more in my room.Who needs a candle?”
“Jasmine, go with Miss Adams.She has a candle for you, and once you get it, come right back.Okay?”
“Okay, Mrs.Belanger.I can do that.”Jasmine smiled brightly as she slipped her hand into Esther’s.“Miss Adams?”
“Yes.”
“Is it okay if I pray for you?”
Esther sucked in a quick breath.These were not halls where prayer was the norm.In fact, several around the school would frown upon the activity.However, Esther was not one of those.“Um, sure.”
And as they walked, Jasmine prayed, “God, thank you for Miss Adams.Thank you for her gift of music and her willingness to share it with us.Please help us to make her proud.Amen.”
Tears pricked Esther’s eyes.It was such a sweet prayer, and it was an answer to her earlier plea of desperation for calm.For Jasmine’s soft voice had ushered in a pocket of peace amid the activity surrounding her.It was as if things slowed, though they hadn’t.It was just her mind which was more still than it had been.Gone were the whirling and spinning what-ifs, and in their place was an odd feeling of confidence.It was as if God had reached down to her through the words of a nine-year-old and whispered,I created you for this.
“Thank you, Jasmine.That was exactly what I needed.”
“I know.God told me.”
“He did?”
She placed her hand on the velvety bodice of her frilly red dress.“Here.In my heart.”
