Caught Me Dreaming 2

by Sophia Jenkins

  “What do we gotta do?” I ask.

  “I’m not all the way sure. I think it’s an audition.”

  “Aight, just let me know. We’re gonna do whatever it take.”

  Me and Shawna fist-bump just as somebody’s coming out on stage. I sit up in my seat and take my phone out to try and get pics.

  The dude comes out with the mic and says, “Hey everybody! Y’all ready for a show?”

  The crowd starts clapping and screaming. We got some good-ass seats, down front. I wanna stand, but I know my tall ass is gonna be in somebody’s way.

  “Alright,” the dude says. “We got the first opening act coming up. She’s an alumni of Morgan State University, and a hot young singer around the city of Baltimore. I want y’all to make some noise and make her feel good. Give it up for, Neeci Leeeeee.”

  Her mama, Mocha, and Shawna all jump up, screaming and clapping. I settle down to get a good shot and get ready for the show.

  Come on, baby, you’ve got this. Show ‘em what you’re made of!

  Eight

  Shanisha

  I been stressing out all day. My stomach’s been in knots. Sha’quan been tryna make me feel better. Even with his and Shawna’s funny-ass speeches and my mama’s hugs, I was just all nerves. But as soon as I stepped in front of that curtain, as soon as I knew I was about to go on stage, all that shit just went away. All that other shit might be a mystery, but what I know is singing. The stage is where I belong. When I hear the MC say my name, I automatically just walk out. There’s a whole lotta people out here, but I'm ready for ‘em. I hope they’re ready for me.

  I can hear Shawna, Mocha, and my mama screaming, so I look down and find them. I look for Sha’quan and see him with his phone pointed at me. He has the biggest, goofiest smile on his face. I smile back at him, and then I turn my attention to the crowd.

  I step up to the mic and say, “How you doing, B-more!” I get a weak response, so I say again, “What’s up, B-more!”

  This time they’re louder.

  “Like he said, I am an alumna of this university, and if y'all don't mind, I got some songs I want y'all to hear. Is that alright?”

  They make a lil’ noise for me, which is cool. I take a breath and start strumming my guitar.

  I decide to get the crowd on my side and show off the pipes with hometown favorites, Billie Holiday and Toni Braxton, so I do an acoustic version “Good Morning Heartache” and then move into “I Love Me Some Him” and “Unbreak My Heart”. I hit some notes that get some applause, so I know I got ‘em. Then, I go into my own stuff.

  I start singing this song I wrote about Sha’quan called, “He’s More Than Enough”. I sing with all my heart and look over at Sha’quan a few times to make sure he knows it’s for him. He winks back up at me. I close my set with a soft melody for the guitar, but big vocals, enough to fill the building. At my finale, I hear the crowd egging me on, and I go for it. As I close with a long note at the top of my register, the crowd erupts. It scares me a bit because I can’t believe it’s for me. I take a bow and make my way off stage.

  I'm feeling amazing. I gave it everything I had, and the crowd loved it! I can’t believe I just performed at my first real concert. I try to hold back my tears. As I walk back, I spot Mr. Richman. He walks to me smiling and puts his hand out.

  “Wow, Neeci!” he says. “You were absolutely incredible. That was a star’s performance. I hope DJ doesn't get mad that you stole his spotlight.”

  I laugh and thank him. Just then, I see the headliner, who everybody really came to see coming towards us.

  He moves Mr. Richman out the way and says to me angrily, “What the hell do you think you’re doing? This is my show. How you gonna upstage me?” Before I can say anything, he breaks into a smile and hugs me. “I’m just kidding. Naw, but for real, you are amazing. Who are you, and where can I get your music?”

  “Thanks,” I say, blushing. “I’m Neeci Lee, and right now I don't really have much recorded.”

  “Well, you need to fix that and make sure I get a copy of your project. You keep that up and I'll have to take you on the road with me.”

  I laugh and thank him. He walks off, and Mr. Richman winks at me. He congratulates me on a good job, hands me an envelope, and says he’ll be in touch soon. I'm on such a high, I damn near moonwalk out to my seat. When I get there, my mama hugs me tight, followed by Shawna and Mocha. Sha’quan comes next and says I did a dope job, and he got good footage. His mother and sister hug me, too. I still can’t believe it. It's like a dream come true. I’m floating on cloud nine, the whole rest of the show. At the end, DJ calls me back up on stage and has me take another bow. I wave to the crowd, and then go meet the group to go.

  When we make it out to the parking lot, Shawna starts telling me about this contest I gotta get in. She says it will be my big break. I'm still a bit outta it, so I just nod. Sha’quan says we should do something this weekend to celebrate. He says everybody can come over to our place, and we’re gonna have a lil’ party. I hug everybody goodbye and get in the car then Sha’quan gets in and takes off.

  Once we’re moving, he grabs my hand and says, “I told yo ass! I told you that you were gonna kill it! You gotta see these videos I got. You’re a star, baby! You’re a star!”

  I love how hype he is. I love how much he believes in me. It's like, not only am I moving towards my dream, but I also mighta found my dream man. He tells me to look up the contest or whatever Shawna’s talking about on my phone. I look it up, and it does seem like a huge deal. There’s some really big names involved, and it’s gonna be live-streamed online. I start getting even more excited. It says I gotta submit some songs, and then if I pass that stage, I get to audition. I tell Sha’quan I would need to get in a studio, which costs money.

  “Fuck that!” he says. “We’re doing it! I don't give a fuck what I gotta do. We’re making it happen.”

  I lean over and give him a big kiss.

  Not so long ago, I was out here fucking miserable, in a job I couldn't stand. Now I'm really working on making it. Plus, I got my fine-ass, down-ass man by my side. I feel like pinching myself. Our shit ain’t perfect, but it's so good, so who cares? Imma start recording and start getting my music out there. Imma keep performing and enter this contest.

  I know I can do it. You know why? Because my baby told me so.

  Ready to find out what happens next? Get Caught Me Dreaming 3 here – http://bit.ly/2JOSeo3

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