My parents run a small store in San Francisco. They always keep a big box by the entrance where people can donate (捐赠) something to our local food bank.
"For some reason, our food- donation box just isn't filling up recently," said my dad.
"Maybe it's time to think of a way to remind people about the food bank," said my mom.
"What about a talent show?" my dad suggested.
"OK, ▲ " said my mom.
So while my parents posted information online, we kids made some signs. My friend Mareya came over to help out.
"I'd like to do an act in the show, but I don't know what to do," I told Mareya.
"Well, since the food-bank thing is about sharing," said Mareya, "why not write a song about that?"
"Writing a song is not a problem," I said. "But it's hard for me to sing it alone!"
She said," What if we sang it together?"
Since Mareya has the world's prettiest voice and also happens to play the guitar, I agreed.
Mareya and I practiced and practiced, and I was feeling pretty good about our act. But on the morning of the performance, Mareya called that she had a stomachache and was not in any shape to perform.
"There's no way I'm going on without you," I told her.
"You've worked so hard," she said. "You'll be great!"
But great is the last word anyone would choose to describe my performance! Without Mareya's guitar and voice to guide me, my song was completely in a mess. And I even forgot half the words.
Remember the sick, heart-racing, hot-faced feeling I was talking about? Well, that's what I was experiencing- more than I ever had before.
Once I was off the steps, my mom gave me a big hug.
"I want to disappear! I've never been so embarrassed(尴尬的) in my life," I said.
Ollie smiled," I think you are really brave."
Indi added, "I now know that you truly can survive(幸存) a lot more embarrassment than you think."