My interpretation.

When Dolly Parton sadly passed away this week I was led down a path of reminiscence, as I’m sure many people around the world have been, about how much this incredible lady has given to us.

For me, her stand out song is ‘Coat of Many Colours’ because the lyrics are just so beautiful and have meaning for me in the fact that I, as a single parent for most of my children’s lives, made various clothes and items for them because I couldn’t afford to buy them new. Her words just ring home about what we, as parents, give up for our children and how, we hope, our sacrifices will be received.

It also made me think of other aspects of my own life, I am a performance signer and, even after many years of standing in front of large audiences, I still get nervous and wonder why on earth I do it. Why put myself through something that makes my hands shake while the devil whispers on my shoulder that I really shouldn’t be doing this… Until the music starts and my hands take over…

So, with all of this in mind, and as is my habit, pictures that demanded to be turned into words came into my mind and a piece of flash fiction was formed over the space of a couple of hours on the evening that the sad news of her passing was released.

I don’t often share my stories on here, perhaps I should more often? The short ones at least – I doubt anyone would have the staying power for a novel… but I’ve decided to send this one out into the world and let it have wings of its own.

One quick reminder though, this isn’t Dolly. I never had the privilege to know her or to know how she felt when going onto the stage. It is purely a figment of my imagination using the feelings I encounter myself and putting them onto an imaginary character in a band. It could be any band, any performer, it could be you. I hope it encourages you to let your mind wander, as mine did, and imagine a scenario that could be anyone…

Let me know in the comments how this resonates with you, and whether you would like to read more flash fiction from my weird mind…

The Performer

She stood at the side of the stage, peering through the curtains at the massed crowd waiting beyond them. They chattered excitedly with their friends, eager to hear their idol sing.

  She didn’t know why.

  She couldn’t really understand what they saw in her when she sat on the silver-painted bar stool with her battered acoustic guitar slung across her shoulder, while she gently strummed the little ditties that she made up in the privacy of her room.

  She was nervous, as always. Despite the many years that this had been her career, it never changed. The butterflies still fluttered, turning her stomach into a churning ocean of doom and doubt. The adrenaline coursed through her body, making her more inclined to flight than fight.

  She hated this bit. 

  The waiting. 

  Time moved so slowly now. Seconds that felt like minutes. Minutes that must surely be hours. 

  She tore her gaze away from the crowd and turned to see her band lining up behind her. The drummer raised his fist to meet hers in their time-honoured gesture of solidarity. It was the start of their pre-show routine, and she made her way to the other four members, repeating the action with each one in turn.

  ‘Let’s do this,’ the stage manager said, ‘let’s rock and roll!’

  The next part of their routine: the sign for the band to walk on and take their places while the stage was in darkness. 

  She took a deep, grounding inhale… exhale… inhale… exhale… until the drumbeats heralded the start of the first song.

  Her musical cue. 

  She painted on her smile as her feet found the beat, leading her onstage with her arm raised in welcome.

  The crowd erupted in euphoric unison, their cheers swelling through the auditorium now they could finally see her.

  She opened her mouth to sing and the first, perfectly pitched, notes began to ring out across the auditorium. 

  Her smile was no longer painted on. Her mask slipped as she felt the love of thousands sweep towards her, enveloping her in their arms and their hearts. 

  Her doubts and fears melted away, as they always did, because, despite what she thought in her lowest moments, they knew how amazing she was. 

  And they were going to make sure she knew it to.