happy holidate(s) pt 1
The Manhattan Youth Center finished their final performance of The Nutcracker for the holiday season and rather than feeling accomplished, relieved, exhausted, or proud, Candice felt empty.
For the past six months, Candice donated her afternoons three times a week to the Center to choreograph for their holiday production. The Center accomplished their goal of bringing the fine arts to the program. Through donations, hard work, and a supportive team, 150 Manhattan Youth were able to bring The Nutcracker to life and raised more than $2,000 to update the facilities. More importantly, Candice got to know and work with various children and teens and become part of their life, as they became part of her’s.
And suddenly, all of that felt like it was gone and she was left with a bouquet of Christmas flowers and a peacock pendant they saved their money for to give her a gift of thanks and she tried to not break down into tears. The memories she would hold onto forever were lost in the waves of confusion of wondering what to do; what was next? She was left with her thoughts in an empty auditorium.
Before leaving, Candice picked up an abandoned playbill and pocketed it because four wasn’t enough (one for her scrapbook, one for safe keeping, one to bring to her parent’s house). She cursed at the sudden, late thought of having the kids sign it. Maybe she’d return tomorrow before her flight to Pennsylvania and have the kids sign it.
The simple thought briefly braved her for the freezing temperatures of the city and immediately regret filled Candice as she ushered to haul a taxi but the streets were bare of the yellow cars. What tempted her more was an immediate, but temporary solution to the cold was the bar a few blocks down. She hurried down the salted sidewalks, holding the bouquet of flowers close to her as the poinsettia flowers tickled her face.
