A Girl Moment - Shared By Hundreds

OK, perhaps that title is just a little misleading - I doubt there were many present who felt the experience in quite the same way I did; but they were certainly all moved and touched by it...

A few days ago, I attended a concert at one of the schools where I work. All the students were present, all the teachers and other staff, and some of the parents. There were a series of musical / dance segments, all with a connecting theme, but I'll avoid describing the detail. The children performing were all nine / ten year olds, girls and boys. It was all quality stuff, honed to a pretty high standard, and I was duly impressed. I was particularly impressed by one of the all-girl dance sections... Well, it was all too soon very nearly over - in fact I thought they had finished - when it was announced that the concert would end with a 'very special performance'. I had not been at the school for a little while, and had no idea what this was going to be. Then a little girl walked onto the stage - nine, and small for her age. (I had not taught her before; somehow, I had not even noticed her before.) I was, well, mesmerised - just by her face, to begin with. She had one of the most beautiful faces I've ever seen, and the clearest eyes; absolutely dazzling, but in a gentle, understated way. In most situations, to say "She had the face of an angel" would be lazy cliché; but in this case, it's the most accurate description I could give. I knew instantly that this would be something very special indeed.

She sang - unaccompanied, note-perfect, the purest sound I've ever heard. It was indescribably beautiful. When it was ended, the entire hall sat in a stunned silence before she moved, denting the spell just enough to allow the deafening applause. One of the senior teachers - not usually one who was lost for words, muttered some closing comments. The only word I caught was 'magical'. To me, one of the most amazing things about it - apart from she herself - was the chance to see a large group of people, of all ages, held and affected by the otherworldly charm and power of a beautiful little girl.

A couple of days later, I was fortunate enough to be called in to teach at the school - and to teach her class. She was very sweet, very lovely, and I found time enough to talk with her, about her performance at the concert and various other things. She gave me a smile I'll never forget... And now I can't write any more - like Alice, I can feel her 'haunting me'!

Mesmerised