In Perfect Harmony || Episode 1, The Audition

Hello friends!

Firstly, I apologize for not posting last week. I was sick, but I’m hoping that I’m getting back on track! I have a lot of post ideas that I’m excited about for 2023.

Secondly, Today I have the first episode of In Perfect Harmony! You guys voted to see this pilot episode first, so that’s what we’re doing!

Also, I know I planned to share the first episode of each series before picking which one to edit and post. However, after seeing how excited y’all were about In Perfect Harmony, I’m considering just going ahead and writing this and postponing the other episodes? What do y’all think?

Anyway, let’s get into the first episode! I really hope y’all like it!

“What will you be singing for us today?”

I fight to reply, but the words cling to my tongue. Dizziness washes over me. Why did I let Swirl talk me into this? I can’t go through with this. I have to get out of here.

I freeze. It’s too late, I’m already standing on stage. The three judges stare straight past my guitar, at my terrified face. In a wave of  horror, I wonder what they are thinking of me. Deep down I know their impression of me can’t be good. I’ve stood here for too long without announcing my song. For a moment, I wonder what the judges would think if I walked offstage without a word.

I close my eyes and a reassuring thought enters my mind. They’ve seen thousands of performers like you. Someone walking off stage will be more memorable than a mediocre performance.

I clear my throat to find my voice. “My name is Petal Caramel, and I will be singing ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’”

The judges nod. I wonder if my song choice was poor. I’m sure that the judges have heard this song many times over, but will my version stand out? Do I even want it to?

I let my fingers fly over the guitar strings. Not many things could help my social anxiety, but music always could. I stop worrying so much about what the judges must be thinking of me and immerse myself in the chords of the song. My worries are nearly washed away.

Slowly, I begin to sing the lyrics.

Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high

There’s a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true

Someday I’ll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops

That’s where you’ll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow

Bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why can’t I?

As I complete the song, the last note hangs in the air for a moment. I’m afraid to look at the judges. I don’t know if they approve of me or not, and I won’t know until they call me back in a week. Once I muster enough courage to meet their gaze, their faces are impassive.

I shiver. I know the judges can’t share who made it to the competition yet or not, but would it be too much to ask for them to give some indication of what they thought of my performance?

“Thank you, Petal,” Rose Valentine says, “You may exit to the right.”

I’m a little starstruck when I remember who is standing in front of me. Rose Valentine is one of my favorite singers. Is she really speaking to me? I fight the lump in my throat and I start to feel faint. I can’t pass out here. Not in front of Rose Valentine. I have to do what she says and exit the room. Meekly, I grasp my guitar and head through the exit.

Starburst, my adoptive mother, is waiting for me, along with my sister, Swirl, and my brother, Oswald. Swirl notices the look on my face and rushes to give me a hug. Swirl isn’t just my sister; she is my best friend. It’s hard to make friends when you have social anxiety, which is why I’m so thankful for my family members. I know I never have to worry about them judging me. Swirl knows me better than anyone, so she quickly notices the way my  audition has left me feeling.

“Did they not like it? I could hear part of it from here and you sounded amazing! The judges would be silly not to let you through. What did they say?”

“You know they don’t decide who goes through until they see all the auditions,” I remind her. Though, if I am truly being honest with myself, I was hoping that I’d be one of the good ones. If you blew the judges away with your performance, they’d automatically send you past auditions. You’d know instantly, and you wouldn’t have to spend a week in agonizing anticipation. It was a rare occurrence, but that hadn’t stopped Swirl from encouraging me with the thought.

“Well, okay,” Swirl decides, her enthusiasm still strong. “You just have to wait a week. But we all know what their decision will be, you’ll make it!”

I gulp. Deep down, I don’t even want to make it to the competition. Depending on how far I made it, I would be on TV and even possibly a world tour. I wasn’t sure if my nerves could handle that.

I turn to Swirl, nauseated by her confidence. “Remind me again why I let you talk me into this?”

Eee! Did you like the first episode of In Perfect Harmony? I hope you do! Anyway, let me know if you’d like to see the other pilot episodes or if you just want me to continue with this series.

Just so you know, there isn’t really any of this series written yet beyond this point. So it might be a little while before you see episode two, if that is what you guys choose. I’m hoping I can post this series sometime in the spring. But don’t worry! I have something special planned for February, and while I haven’t planned anything yet, our blogiversary is coming up in March!

Let me know what you think of In Perfect Harmony, and I should see you back here next week!

Advertisement