NOT A QUITTER

Grace was a 21 year old lady, filled with so much vibe. She was so pretty, chocolate skinned and loved music so much. She was born into a music loving family, so she grew, singing almost all her life. She had two brothers, Praise and James and a baby sister, Nina. Grace loved singing and started singing at the age of six. Her immediate elder brother, Praise was well acquainted with the piano and James, her younger brother, on the other hand,  played the guitar. Very often she and her family went for musical concerts. She was really excited whenever she saw people sing. She often watched musical videos and the likes. She always sang in her church,  class, anywhere, even on the road. Wherever she went, she always had her earpiece on. She had a lot of friends that loved music too. She often brought her friends to her dad's musical studio for rehearsals and for recordings as well.

Most times, at home, everyone would come together and begin to make overwhelming melodious  sounds. Her mum sang wonderfully as well, infact she was a great role model to Grace. Their voices often blessed everyone around them. Their neighbours were already familiar with their musical lifestyle and they loved it. 

One Tuesday afternoon her friend, Angela came to her house with so much excitement, running into her room, she screamed " yeaaah! It's happening live in three weeks time"

Grace, puzzled said "what do you mean?"

Angela: remember how we always rehearsed saying to ourselves that one day we will be singing in front of multitudes"

Grace: eh he, what happened now.  Please stop playing with my emotions and talk to me.

Angela: well, yesterday in school, I was just listening to one of the songs we did, the duet titled "glorious", you remember right? 

Grace: yes I do, go on

Angela: yea, I played it with my speaker. Suddenly, a man passed and asked who did the song, I told him and he said he would really love to hear us live. He introduced himself as Mr. Benjamin. 

Grace: (exhales deeply) hmmmm

Angela: he  did not stop there, he also said that in fact he was organising a concert in the national stadium to mark his birthday in three weeks time. And he added " I would really love you guys to perform there". I was wondering who he was that he would boldly say that he wants us to perform live at his birthday concert, not until I discovered, when I looked into the card he gave me, that he was the manager of Randrings Company, that one opposite our school. I also noted that he loves music too.

Grace: wow! This is really amazing. So what do we do now? I could tell my brothers to come play for us. This is really big, it means that we have to do proper rehearsals so we don't flop.

Angela: yeah that's true. I think its better to talk to Jennifer, Mary, Andrew and Maxwell  about it on my way home so they can join us. You know we need more hands.

Grace: Exactly!

Angela continues... Ehe! He also said he was gonna pay us 

Grace: of course! He has to now

Angela: (smiles softly) yeah.

Angela on her way out, joyfully shouted "have a great day Mr and Mrs Gladwell."

Grace pondered on the news and immediately ran to tell her brothers about it as she sang her way to their room. Her mum, on the other hand, came to ask what was happening. 

Mrs Gladwell: Gracy what is it?

Grace: mum you will not believe this. I just got an invitation to sing in a very big concert in three week's time. 

Mrs Gladwell: oh my God!  Are you serious?

Grace: yes mum. It is really happening finally. I really cannot wait.

Mrs Gladwell: well you know you have to rehearse like never before because this is huge and your very first big performance.

Grace: yes mum, I thought about that too. I also informed James and praise about it. We will begin rehearsals as soon as possible. 

Grace and her music crew often rehearsed in her father's musical studio, like three bustops away from home. And as time went by, they perfected their song. She took the lead and at a point, Angela joined for the duet session.  

One week before the big event on a monday evening, after the day's work, as everyone dispersed, Grace and Angela decided to stop by at the grocery store to buy some groceries for dinner. On their way back, suddenly, Grace missed a step and fell into a swampy area.

Grace (screaming in pains): Ah! My leg!

Angela: sorry Gracy, please stand let's get home so you could change your dress. It's really in a mess. 

Grace (tries to stand but falls again) Ahh! I can't. It really hurts.

Angela: Gracy please stop it, you're beginning to freak me out.

(Grace continues to scream)

Angela runs across shouting for help...

Angela: help somebody!!

Angela sees a young man in his Mercedes Benz and begs him to give them a lift back home. 

Angela: please, please, sir we really need your help. My friend had a twisted ankle and she can't really walk right now. Can you please take us home.

Young man: it's alright, get into the car. 

They arrived and Angela thanks the man as he drives off.

As they got home everyone began to ask what the problem was. And Angela narrated how Grace fell off and twisted her ankle.

Mr Gladwell: how? Why? Where you not looking at where you were going? 

Mrs Gladwell: sweetie please don't talk to her that way. She's not feeling okay. And besides she has a big concert she has been preparing for prior to this accident. You ought to help her come out this emotional and physical stress.

Grace: mum I just hope this will not affect my performance next week Monday. 

Mrs Gladwell: don't worry dear, you will be fine.

Angela: you better be fine. I can't stand singing on that stage without you.

(Grace and Mrs Gladwell smiles chuckled as she said that.)

It was Friday and Grace was still at home as she was still receiving treatments, she was not allowed yet to leave the house so she picked up her phone and called Angela saying. .." Angie please i dont think I will sing on Monday with you guys, change of plan, remember how we rehearsed the song. Please do the solo instead. Also help me tell others."

Angela: oh God please don't say that. We believe you will recover before that day, please  don't give up now. There is still hope. 

Grace: what again should I say. I don't see myself walking properly by that monday when I'm still bedridden here and today is already Friday. 

Angela: I'm not giving up on you. That's it!

Grace sobs softly as she ends the call.

It was Sunday morning and all that was going through Angela's mind was whether to call Mr. Benjamin to tell him that they wouldn't be able to perform that evening. She was worried on how to disclose the whole matter to the crew. But all of a sudden, she shook herself and said. "We have come a long way to give up. We can do this, we definitely will.

Grace was able to walk with the help of a support. She kept pondering on the whole matter and finalised that she was going to perform in that concert come what it may. She finally put on her confidence and called Angela to inform her of her decision. 

Both laughed over the phone as a sign of great relief.

Angela: I knew you would decide. I prayed for you. We are not quitters.

Grace: thank you so much. You are a friend indeed. We must make tomorrow count, God helping  us.

It was the day of the concert, the Gladwells prepared for the big event and they arrived the venue and got a very comfortable place to seat. Whereas Grace went to meet her team and they said a word of prayer and also did one last quick rehearsal. She encouraged them to stay strong because they were all feeling so tensed. She as well felt tensed but had a way of controlling it. 

Mary: I know we have rehearsed a lot but I really feel so tensed right now. 

Grace: don't worry; by the time we climb up and begin to sing,  it will vanish instantly. 

They were called upon the next minute and they sang wonderfully. 

At the end of the concert many people kept on asking who they were and where they were coming from, due to their performance. 

Mr Benjamin, sitting with the team said "thank you very much for making today count. Everything you guys did swept me off my feet. You guys are really good. Infact I'm going to be calling on you guys when something like this comes up. You have gotten yourselves a contract". He said this and smiled as he walked away.

Angela: Oh my! We are moving! (She begins to leap in joy).

Mr Benjamin sent their money across to them and thanked them for a successful and amazing performance.

Grace: thank you so much guys, you guys made this happen. I love you all very much. I'm sure we will be sticking around to do even greater. There is no time to relent at all. 

Praise: I'm really glad you recovered and were able to join us. It was indeed awesome.

They kept talking about the experience until they dispersed.