"Ladies and gentlmen," she began. "This has been a wonderful Singathon for us. All the contestants were very talented and the judges all told me it was so hard for them to choose. First of all, I'd like to thank all the contestants for making the first year of this Singathon so wonderful and enjoyable!" Everyone clapped and clapped. After that, she just thanked like two thousand people da, da, da, da, da. Everyone started getting fidgety, so she went on.
"Mr. Fitzgerald, would you please hand me the results?" He walked up the stairs and gave a tiny sheet of paper that couldn't even fit two letters of my name to the lady. He turned, flashed a grin that made everyone chuckle and walked back down. The lady sighed and said,
"Now, the winner is (drum roll please)......" Everyone sat up in their seats. I saw Corissa turn back and glare at me. I felt pleased for a moment. But my mind switched back and I also sat up in my seat, very tensed. The lady cleared her voice and, "Nicole Cartland!" Everyone started applauding and I heard tons of whistling and yelling. "Come on Miss. Cartland, come up here!" Alexis was patting my back and I heard Corissa whining. I walked up to the stage and I looked out in the crowd. I saw Jeff whooping for me and he gave me a thumbs-up sign. Finally, everyone shushed down, and the lady spoke - again.
"Well, Nicole congratulations!" I said thanks. "You're voice sounds so wonderful! How long have you been using it?" "Uhh, I never really sang until now." She looked surprised. "Wow. You're smart to show it now! You may have a future career that would make you famous and rich!" Everyone cheered. "Well, I guess you're waiting for the prize, right? So, here it is! A check for $10,000..." She handed me a piece of paper. I waved it to the crowd and they cheered again. "...and and paper with a time, date, and location for a meeting with a record company, we are still not sure who though. Nicole," she put her hands on my shoulders, and I even heard a few chuckles from the crowd. I've never been so embarassed. "You sang wonderfully, and we'll pray that your meeting will be succesful. Enjoy!" She waved to the crowd and left the stage to talk with the judges. I waved my treasures to the crowd and I skipped off the stage.
Everyone stood up and started walking out the door. I got kind of lost in the crowd and I felt a few pats on my back and a few congratulations. I tried to answer them except I was moving along with the flow, I guess. I heard my name being yelled across the auditorium, but I did not recognize any of the voices. I just ignored it and let the crowd push me on. Somebody rudely and let's say, savagely, grabbed my shoulders with big, muscular hands and pulled me out of the crowd and onto the trampled grass. I turned around ready to snap someone's head off, but I realized who this person was. None other than Jeff. He playfully slapped me on the shoulder.
"You did great, Nikki. I'm proud of ya," he grinned. I stared into Jeff's eyes for a few seconds and I thanked the Lord for letting me have such a great friend like him. He could get aggravating at times, but he was my friend. "Thanks, Jeff. It took a lot of work, but I'm done, and I'm the winner!"