The County Fair’s Final Song

The county fair’s talent stage was nearly empty when Sofia hurried backstage with a music folder. She had spent weeks arranging a song for the closing show. If the judges chose it, the fair might use her arrangement again next year. Carlos, the stage manager, pointed to a dark patch on the floor. “The rain blew in through the side entrance. The floor is slippery, and we need to close this stage until it dries.” Sofia frowned. “But the closing show starts in ten minutes. The audience is waiting. We can’t cancel now.” She thought Carlos was being too cautious. The musicians had practiced for weeks, and she worried the judges would think she was unprepared. Brianna, who was scheduled to dance during the song, looked toward the open entrance. “I know everyone is excited,” she said, “but someone could fall. Could we move the performance to the covered food pavilion?” Carlos considered the idea. The pavilion had a dry floor, but it was farther from the main stage. He worried that people might not hear the music there. Sofia imagined the audience drifting away before the song began. Brianna, however, pictured the dancers slipping on the wet floor. Sofia looked again at the puddle. “I didn’t realize how slick it was,” she admitted. “Let’s move the performance. I can tell the audience where to go.” Carlos checked the pavilion’s sound system, and Brianna helped guide the dancers. The show began a few minutes late. From the back of the pavilion, Sofia saw the audience leaning in to listen. Her song sounded just as bright in its new setting.