Then opening night arrived.
The school auditorium was packed with families.
Parents searched for seats while children hurried backstage carrying costume pieces and programs.
Michael sat beside me.
Noah was helping behind the scenes.
When the curtain rose, I immediately recognized a familiar blue vest on one of the actors.
Its pocket was still crooked.
I smiled.
Grace hadn’t changed it.
After the performance, we found the children putting costumes away.
Grace wasn’t wearing her wig.
She had taken it off because the backstage area was warm.
Noah barely seemed to notice.
He was too busy trying to untangle a costume from a hanger.
Michael approached his daughter.
“I saw your vest.”
Grace grinned.
“The pocket’s still crooked.”
“I noticed.”
“Dad!”
“What?”
“You’re not allowed to criticize my pocket.”
He raised both hands.
“I wasn’t going to.”
She laughed.
Then Michael turned toward Noah.
“Thank you for helping her find something she enjoys.”
