Take a bow

The day’s nearly done. When things are wrapped up, finishing touches are run, and the curtains are hung, the crew wonders. Did the crowd applaud because they wanted or did they do so because it was proper? By the end of the presentation, the crew walked back and forth, paced uncontrollably, and bit their fingers vigorously. “Did they like it or was it just another play?” they simultaneously thought.

There it was and the curtains shall hang. And when the light strikes the stage no more, applause was heard but still they think otherwise. The fear that the applause was superficial was there. Finally, they were ready to step back out on the stage to greet their audience half expecting for the seats to be half empty. But as that bright spot light overhead shone to present the actors momentarily taking away their sight, they were greeted with a louder cheer. Blood pumping, rushing through their hearts, they raised their hands, held them together and took a bow.

Not until they saw that standing crowd in an ovation, they doubted the crowd’s applause. Because in their minds, the best could have done better.

And all they needed was to see the appreciation of the crowd. An evidence so to speak, that their, seemingly worthless play that could have gone better, was good enough to please their audience. A proof. A testimony.

And at some point, the actors and the crew long for that same crowd that once they performed for. In hopes that one day, the crowd will no longer wait for their bow but will bow with them instead.