Never Stop Singing

Never Stop Singing

Since she was seven years old there was only one thing in the world that Cassie wanted to do: sing. There was something so powerful about the rich voices and captivating lyrics coming from her grandmothers old record player. She cherished the old days when nanna would blast the music of Aretha Franklin, James Brown , Tina Turner and the rest of her beloved collection of talented artists. Cassie smiled as she remembered dancing around in the kitchen, belting out whatever toon was playing into that hairbrush she declared a microphone. She would prance around, performing for nanna as she cooked at the stove. Nanna was always cooking. She would lift up her spatula on occasion and wave it at Cassie. “ Listen to me baby-you never stop singing...Never stop.” The crowd roared outside and interrupted Cassie’s thoughts. Cassie closed her eyes and inhaled. The rain had been coming down hard less than an hour ago and the air was wet and humid. There was something about the rain that was always relaxing to Cassie. She leaned her head back and took in another deep breath. Backstage, everyone seemed to be assigned a task. The whole arena was full of noise, laughter, screaming and chaos. Yet there was something about today that kept bringing Cassie back her childhood memories.

Perhaps it was the feeling of satisfaction. After all those years of hard work, wondering if she was just wasting time. She had finally made it.

“ Cassie! Carlos was shouting again. “Janice needs you in hair and make-up right away!” Carlos was one of her managers assistants. He rarely ever smiled and always seemed to be shouting at someone. Cassie reluctantly got up from where she was sitting and followed his quick steps. As they were about to enter the dressing room she heard someone call her name. It was a young girl from the stage crew, Kayla.

“What is it,” snapped Carlos. “We don’t have time for any interruptions.”

The young girl looked startled as as her big brown eyes widened. Carlos clearly scared her. Carlos scared everyone.

“Its just, there are some people who want to see Cassie,” the girl stammered. “ A few kids...” Her words trailed off as Carlos snarled.

“Cassie is far too busy to see anyone right now, let alone children.”

Cassie cleared her throat just as Kayla turned to leave.

“I can take a few minutes.”

She turned around to see Carlos raise his eyebrows before turning a violent shade of red.

He sputtered a few angry words before turning and walking away.

Cassie laughed. Kayla looked relieved.

“ Don’t worry about him,” Cassie smiled. Kayla looked nervous again.

Cassie had forgotten for a moment that people acted differently towards her now.

She followed Kayla to a group of young children standing eagerly backstage.

They all stared at her with bright, wide eyes as she approached.

Cassie smiled as she made small talk and signed pictures. She remembered being this age. They were all so young and so full of life. One girl in particular stood out to Cassie. She had curly, dark hair and sparkling eyes. Out of the group she was definitely the smallest, hardly reaching Cassie’s waist. She was staring at Cassie with such curiosity and awe that Cassie couldn’t help but chuckle. She bent down and looked into the young girls eyes. “ And what is your name?”

“Sara,” the girl breathed. Before Cassie could respond, the young girl hurriedly continued. “ Did you always want to be a singer?”

She looked up at her with anxious eyes and Cassie could see so much of herself in the small girls innocent face.

Suddenly Cassie felt a surge of pain for this child. As she examined the excitement and hope written all over Sara’s face, she remembered how she had gotten here today.

“ Sara, do you like to sing?”

“More than anything in the world!” the little girl exclaimed.

“ Will you promise to listen to what I’m about to tell you?”

“ Yes, yes I will!”

Cassie smiled as she slowly spoke her next words: “Never stop singing.”

The young girl looked confused even though she remained smiling.

As Cassie turned to leave she had a feeling that the Sara would treasure those very three words some day.

Sinking into the make-up chair, Cassie closed her eyes again as her stylist, Janice, started examining her hair.

Her mind wandered back to a classroom erupting with laughter. “Cassie, you ain’t never gonna be no singer!” shouted Kel, the class bully.

She remembered running into her grandmother’s arms after school, choking back tears.

“Baby,” her grandmother told her. “Never stop singing.”

“But maybe those kids are right. Look where we’re from. Look where we live. I’m never gonna be a singer.”

“Baby listen to me. Don’t you ever think that where you come from defines who you are. You have an amazing gift. Don’t ever stop.”

Cassie came back to reality at the sound of Carlos yelling out orders to everyone. She missed her grandmother. But more than anything, she was thankful for those words of encouragement her grandmother instilled in her many years ago. She would always remember her grandmother. She would always remember her neighborhood. She would always remember her upbringing. She would always remember those who loved her and those who condemned her. She would always remember words of encouragement and criticism. She would remember her late night shifts waitressing and those months where she barely made the rent. She would remember her first gig at that old club down the street from her house and how excited she was to receive her first paycheck from singing there. This was who she was, this was how she got here.

“Cassie, You’re up in five!” yelled Carlos.

As Cassie stood behind the curtain she caught a glimpse of the large outside arena and the thousands of people that filled it. Her mind flooded with images of the years that preceded this moment. As her name was announced, the audience cheered and she made her way to the center of the stage. She lifted the microphone, opened her mouth and knew one thing: she would never stop singing.