The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 30

Like a Shadow on Me All of the cadenceVeronica drops us off in prior of the nub Hotel on Saturday, s rumping, disrupt a leg, tho a leave she pulls away. I follow Tif raw siennay into the lobby, w here(predicate) four towers of water snatch place of a w alin concert(a)oping case at least ten feet up in the air. Real fish everywherewhelm nearly in the pool of water, and signs read do non shake off coins into the fountain. Tiffany has been here in advance. She walks rightly past tense the information desk and leads me with a maze of h entirely(prenominal)ways with gold c over and swanky- computeing light fixtures that argon all large bronze fish with lightbulbs in their m go forthhs. in conclusion, we run into the hall where the saltation recital bequeath take place.Red curtains frame a large stage. A huge pennant hangs naughty above the bound infrastructure it reads dance away depression. We return to demo at a desk, and it becomes obvious that we at omic number 18 the rootage gear contestants to show up, beca use the fat char who is in charge of registration verbalizes, enroll manpowert is not for an another(prenominal) hour.We invest sincere deal in the coating row of seats. I realise around. A huge pendant dangles above us, and the ceiling is not fitting a regular ceiling, take give away has all sorts of plaster flowers and angels and other fancy things glutinous verboten of it. Tiffany is un lite. She keeps cracking her knuckles. Are you clear? I ask.Please dont piffle to me onward the action. Its unsound luck.So I sit in that respect and number superstar to lay down nervous myself, divulgeicularly since I cause a lot much riding on this emulation than Tiffany does, and she is obviously rattled. I try not to cipher ab come prohibited losing my occur to send Nikki a letter, alone of descent this is all I hindquarters think close.When other contestants bewilder to arrive, I annotate th at closely of them look akin utmost schoolhouse students, and I think this is strange, but I do not claim anything more or lessly because I am not allowed to talk to Tiffany.We register, give our unison to the great(p) guy, who remembers Tiffany from last year, I kat once, because he claims, You over once again? After Tiffany nods, we be annexe, changing. conveyfully, Im able to slickness into my tights before any of the other contestants become it backstage.In the far corner, Im thoughting my take business, sitting with Tiffany, when an ugly charr waddles over and says to Tiffany, I cheat you dancers ar jolly liberal ab come forth your bodies. yet do you really expect me to allow my juvenile daughter to tilt in app atomic number 18nt motion of this half-naked man?Tiffany is really nervous with verboten delay. I subsist because she does not curse out this ugly woman, who reminds me of the nurses in the bad place, especially since she is so out of shape an d has a poofy old-lady haircut.Well? the mom says.I manipulate a storage reasont on the other side of the room. How about I go in in that respect epoch every maven else changes?Fine with me, the woman says.Tiffany and I drop off the supply clo pot, which is full of aband wizd costumes from what moldiness nonplus been a childrens show all sorts of pajama-looking suits that would get down me look standardized a lion or a tiger or a zebra if I rear one on. A dusty disaster of percussion instruments tambourines, triangles, cymbals, and wooden sticks you bang to explicateher reminds me of the music room in the bad place and music relaxation class, which I attended until I was kicked out. And then(prenominal)(prenominal) I go for this terrifying thought What if one of the other contestants is dancing to a Kenny G song?You involve to find out what songs the other dancers ar performing to, I recognise Tiffany.I told you not to talk to me before the performance.Just find o ut whether anyone is dancing to any songs played by a smooth jazz mover whose initials are K.G.After a guerrilla she says, Kenny I close my centers, hum a single note, and mutely count to ten, blanking my mind. deliveryman Christ, Tiffany says, but then stands and dis covers the closet.Ten proceeding later she returns. No music by that person, Tiffany says, and then sits down.Are you sure?I said no Kenny G.I close my eye, hum a single note, and silently count to ten, blanking my mind.We hear a knock, and when Tiffany opens the door, I see that many a(prenominal) moms are backstage now. The woman who knocked tells Tiffany that all the dancers feature check into in and are changed. When I leave the storage closet, I am shock to see that Tiffany and I are the oldest contestants by at least fifteen years. We are surrounded by teenage girls.Dont let their innocent looks fool you, Tiffany says. Theyre all light pit vipers and extraordinarily gifted dancers. to begin with the auditory sense arrives, we are given a chance to practice on the Plaza Hotel stage. We nail our routine perfectly, but most of the other dancers excessively nail their th infraing routines as well, which makes me worry we allow for not win.Just before the competition begins, the contestants are brought out before the crowd. When Tiffany and I are announced, we take the stage, wave, and the compliment is crackers. The lights make it voteless to see, but I spot Tiffanys parents in the front row, seated with footling Emily, Ronnie, Veronica, and a middle-aged woman who I nip is Dr. Lily, Tiffanys therapist, because Tiffany told me that her therapist would be in attendance. I scan the rest of the rows quickly as we walk offstage, but I do not see my grow. No Jake. No soda. No slump. I catch myself sentiment good-for-nothing, level though I did not really expect anyone but mom to show up. Maybe Mom is out there somewhere, I think, and the thought makes me note a miniatur e better.Backstage, in my mind I admit that the other contestants certain more adulation than we did, which sum their fan bases are larger than ours. Even though the woman who announced us is now endowment a speech, byword this is a showcase and not a competition, I worry that Tiffany ordain not becharm the golden trophy, which would kill my chance to salve Nikki letters.We are scheduled to perform last, and as the other girls do their numbers, the clapping ranges from mild to enthusiastic, which surprises me, because during the preshow rehearsal, I thought all the routines were teensy-weensy.But right before we are set to dance, when little Chelsea Chen concludes her ballet number, the applause is thunderous.What did she do out there to get such good applause? I ask Tiffany.Dont talk to me before the performance, she says, and I start to olfaction very nervous.The woman in charge of the recital announces our names, and the applause is a little live finesser than what we received before the competition. Right before I roost down at the back of the stage, I look to see if maybe Jake or slump showed up late, but all I see when I look out into the listening is the hot smock from the spotlights that are on me. Before I have a chance to think, the music starts.Piano notes slow and sad.I begin my incredibly drawn-out crawl to decoct stage, using but now(prenominal) my coat of arm.The male theatrical role sings, Turn around Bonnie Tyler answers, all now and then I get a little bit lonesome and youre never coming round.At this time period Tiffany runs onto the stage and leaps over me like a gazelle or some other sensual that is beautifully nimble. As the two voices continue to exchange verses, Tiffany does her thing running, jumping, tumbling, spinning, sliding innovative dance.When the drums kick in, I stand and make a huge circle with my arms so people allowing experience that I am the sun and I have risen. Tiffanys movements simila rly become more fervent. When Bonnie Tyler builds up to the chorus, singing, unitedly we can take it to the end of the line your dear is like a shadow on me all of the time, we go into the first lift. I dont distinguish what to do and Im always in the dark. I have Tiffany up over my head I am plastered as a rock I am performing flawlessly. Were living in a powder keg and giving off sparks. I begin to circulate Tiffany as she lifts her legs out into a snap off and Bonnie Tyler sings, I really motivation you to nighttime Forevers gonna start tonight Forevers gonna start tonight. We make a 360-degree rotation, and when Bonnie Tyler sings, erst turn upon a time I was dropping in love, but now Im and falling apart, Tiffany rolls forward down into my arms and I lower her to the floor as if she were dead and I, as the sun, mourn her. energy I can say, a organic shadow of the heart.When the music builds again, she explodes upward and begins to fly ball all around the stage so be autifully.As the song continues, I again make huge, slow circles with my arms, representing the sun as best I can. I know the routine so well, I can think about other things while I am performing, so I begin to think that I am actually nailing this performance evenhandedly well and it is a shame my family and friends are not here to see me dancing so excellently. Even though we will most likely not win the audiences loudest applause especially afterwards Chelsea Chen obviously brought every single one of her family members to the performance I begin to think we will win anyway. Tiffany is really good, and as she move by me so many times, I begin to admire her in a way I had not previously. She has kicked her adventure up a notch for the competition and is now showing a part of herself I had not previously seen. If she was scream with her body for the last month or so, whenever we practiced in her studio, she is weeping uncontrollably with her body tonight, and you would have to be a stone not to feel what she is offering the audience.But then Bonnie Tyler is singing, Together we can make it to the end of the line, which means it is time for the spot lift the hardest one so I lower myself into a squatting position and place the backs of my give on my shoulders. As the song builds, Tiffany stands on my palms, and when Bonnie Tyler sings, I really select you tonight, Tiffany bends her knees, so I immerse my leg muscles and toil upward as fast as I can, extending my arms, elevating my palms. Tiffany shoots high up into the air, does a full flip, falls into my arms, and as the chorus dies down, we gaze into individually others eyes. Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now Im only falling apart. Nothing I can do, a total eclipse of the heart. She falls from my arms, as if dead, and I universe the sun set, which means I lie back on the floor and use only my arms to slowly push myself backward and out of the spotlight, which takes almost a full minute.The music fades.Silence. For a second I worry that no one will clap.But then the phratry explodes with applause.When Tiffany stands, I do too. Just like we practiced so many times, I hold Tiffanys hand and take a bow, at which time the applause thickens and the audience stands.Im so keen, but at the selfsame(prenominal) time I am sad because none of my family and friends came to support me but then I hear the loudest Eagles chant I have ever heard in my entire life. E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES I look up toward the back rows, and not only do I spot Jake and Caitlin and Mom, but also Scott and the fat men and drop curtain and the entire Asian usurpation. They are all wearing Eagles jerseys, and I start to express emotion when they begin to chant, Baskett Baskett Baskett BaskettIn the front row, Ronnie is pull a face at me proudly. He gives me the thumbs-up when we make eye contact. Veronica is also smiling, and so is little Emily, but Mrs. Webster is crying and smiling at the same time, which is when I witness that she thinks our dance was really beautiful enough to make her cry.Tiffany and I run offstage, and the high school girls congratulate us with their gaping eyes and their smiles and their chatter. Oh, my God. That was so amazing they all say. It is easy to see that every one of them admires Tiffany because Tiffany is an excellent dancer and a talented choreographer.lastly Tiffany faces me and says, You were perfectNo, you were perfect I say. Do you think we won?She smiles and looks down at her feet.What? I say.Pat, I need to tell you something.What?Theres no gold trophy.What?There are no winners at Dance away(predicate) Depression. Its just an exhibition. I made up the part about the wreath just to motivate you.Oh.And it worked, because you were beautiful out there onstage Thank you, and I will be your liaison, Tiffany says just before she embracees me on the lips and hugs me for a very pine time. Her kiss tastes salty from the dancing, and it is strange to have Tiffany cuddling me so passionately in front of so many teenage girls in tights especially because I am shirtless and my torso is freshly shaved and also I do not like to be touched by anyone except Nikki.So now that we are do dancing, can I talk about Eagles football game again? Because I have a lot of Eagles fans out there keep backing for me.After nailing the routine, you can do whatever you want, Pat, Tiffany whispers into my ear, and then I wait a long time for her to ensure hugging me.After I change in the storage closet, Tiffany tells me there are no more naked teenagers backstage, so I go to greet my fans. When I hop down off the stage, Mrs. Webster grabs my hands, looks into my eyes, and says, Thank you. She keeps looking into my eyes, but the old woman doesnt say anything else, which makes me feel sort of weird.Finally Veronica says, What my mother means to say is that tonight meant a lot to Tiffany.Emily points at me and says, mamillaThat s right, Em, Ronnie says. Uncle Pat.Pap Pap PapWe all laugh, but then I hear fifty Indian men chanting, Baskett Baskett BaskettBetter go greet your punk fans, Ronnie says, so I walk up the aisle toward the sea of Eagles jerseys. Other audience members I dont know pat me on the back and congratulate me as I weave my way through them.You were so good up there my mother says in a way that lets me know she was surprised by my excellent dancing skills, and then she hugs me. Im so proudI hug her back and then ask, Is Dad here?Forget Dad, Jake says. You got sixty or so wild men wait to take you to the most epic tailboard party of your life.Hope you werent planning on getting any sleep tonight, Caitlin says to me.You agile to end the Pat Peoples curse? Cliff asks me.What? I say.The Birds havent won since you correspondped watching. tonight were taking drastic measures to end the curse, Scott says. Were quiescency in the Asian Invasion bus, right outside the Wachovia parking lot. We s et up the tailgate party at daybreak.Ashwini is control around the block right now, postponement for us, Cliff says. So. Are you ready?I am a little shaken by the news, especially since I just destinationed such an excellent dance routine and was hoping to simply enjoy the proceeding for more than ten minutes. I dont have my clothes.But my mom pulls my Baskett jersey out of a duffel handbag I hadnt noticed before and says, You have everything you need in here.What about my meds?Cliff holds up a little plastic bag with my pills inside.Before I can say or do anything else, the Asian Invasion begins chanting louder Baskett Baskett Baskett The fat men take me up above their heads and carry me out of the auditorium, past the fountain full of fish, out of the Plaza Hotel, and onto the highroads of Philadelphia. And then I am in the Asian Invasion bus, inebriety a beer and singing, Fly, Eagles, fly On the way to victory In South Philadelphia, we stop at Pats for cheesesteaks whi ch take a long time to prepare, as there are sixty or so of us, and no one would dare go succeeding(a) door to Genos Steaks, because Genos steaks are inferior and then we are at the Wachovia parking lot, pose just outside the gate so we will be the first fomite admitted in the morning and therefore will be guaranteed the lucky parking spot. We drink, sing, throw a few footballs, and run around on the concrete we roll out the Astroturf and play a few Kubb games under the streetlights, and even though I have only had two or tether beers, I begin to tell everyone I love them because they came to my dance recital, and I also tell them Im sorry for abandoning the Eagles mid-season and that it was for a good reason, but I just cant say what and then I am on a bus seat and Cliff is waking me up, saying, You forgot to take your night meds.When I wake up the bordering morning, my head is on Jakes shoulder, and it feels good to be so close to my brother, who is liquid slumberous. Quie tly I stand and look around and acquit that everyone Scott, the fat men, Cliff, all fifty or so Asian Invasion members is asleep on the bus. Two or triplet men are sleeping in every seat, with their heads on each others shoulders. everyplace brothers.I tiptoe to the front of the bus, past Ashwini, who in the drivers seat is asleep with his gumshield wide open.Once outside, on the small patch of grass between the street and the sidewalk, I begin the same push-up and stay up routine I used to do back in the bad place, before I had access to free weights and a stationary bike and the Stomach insure 6000.After an hour or so, first light comes.As I finish the last set of sit-ups, I feel as though I have burned off my cheesesteak and the beers I drank the night before, but I cant help notion like I should go for a run, so I run a few miles, and when I return, my friends are still sleeping.As I stand next to Ashwini and watch my boys sleep, I feel happy because I have so many fri ends a whole busful.I realize that I left the Plaza Hotel without saying goodbye to Tiffany, and I feel a little bad about that, even though she said I could do whatever I wanted after we performed so well. Also I am very eager to write my first letter to Nikki. But there is Eagles football to think about now, and I know that an Eagles victory is just about the only thing that will smooth things over with my father, so I begin to hope, and I even say a little prayer to God, who I bet was pretty impressed with my dance routine last night, so maybe He will cut me a break today. feel at all those sleeping faces, I realize I have bemused my green-shirted brothers, and I begin to anticipate the day.