Raised one hand.
Darian raised his.
The boy smiled and disappeared.
His father let out a breath.
I did too.
The performance began.
A light came on early.
Another took too long.
The children continued.
No one was ruined by the mistake.
At the final bow, the teacher called the crew onstage.
Max came out in ordinary clothes.
He stood near the end.
His father applauded.
The boy looked toward him once.
Then turned back to listen while the teacher thanked everybody.
He no longer needed to keep checking the chair.
Afterward, Max carried a box of cables with another child.
Darian waited.
He did not call him away from the task to claim his reward for attending.
When the box reached the correct table, Max came over.
“You saw?”
“I did.”
“The blue bit?”
“Yes.”
“That was mine.”
“I liked it.”
The boy smiled.
Then grew serious.
“The first one was too early.”
“The light?”
A nod.
“Did you sort it out?”
“Mr. Lewis helped.”
“That sounds sensible.”
Max studied his father’s face.
Then began telling him about the switches.
Which one stuck.
Why a scene looked brighter than planned.
How someone nearly stepped on a cable before the teacher moved it.
Darian listened.
At the refreshment table, Max chose a drink.
Then he looked toward the auditorium.
“You were in it.”
“The audience?”
A nod.
“Yes.”
“The proper one.”
Darian understood.
