An Invitation to Shine

An Invitation to Shine

#### A Surprising Opportunities

The annual School Talent Show at Rockwell Elementary had been a resounding success. The performance by Aplus had left the audience in awe, and their victory in the talent show was the talk of the town. Among the captivated audience members that night was an unexpected guest, David Hernandez, the manager of Texas Stadium.

Mr. Hernandez had attended the talent show to support his nephew, who was also performing. However, he found himself completely enthralled by the young band's rendition of "House of Gold." Their raw talent and heartfelt performance struck a chord with him, and he knew immediately that he had witnessed something special.

After the show, Mr. Hernandez approached Mr. Thompson, the school principal, with an idea. "Mr. Thompson, those kids—Aplus—were phenomenal. I think they have real potential," he said earnestly.

Mr. Thompson beamed with pride. "They certainly do. They've worked incredibly hard, and their music teacher, James, has been a great mentor to them."

Mr. Hernandez nodded thoughtfully. "I'd like to meet them and their teacher. I have a proposition that might interest them."

#### Meeting the Band

The next day, Mr. Thompson gathered Justin, Taylor, Bruno, Selena, and James in his office, hinting at an exciting opportunity but keeping the details under wraps.

When they entered the office, they were greeted by Mr. Hernandez, who smiled warmly at the young musicians. "Hello, Aplus. I'm David Hernandez, the manager of Texas Stadium. I was at the talent show last night, and I must say, your performance was outstanding."

The children exchanged excited glances. Justin, ever the confident one, stepped forward. "Thank you, Mr. Hernandez. We're really glad you enjoyed it."

Mr. Hernandez nodded. "I enjoyed it so much that I have an invitation for you. We have a big NBA game coming up at Texas Stadium right before Christmas, and we'd love for Aplus to perform during the halftime show."

The room fell silent as the magnitude of the offer sank in. Then, the children erupted in excitement, their faces lighting up with joy and disbelief.

James, their music teacher, stepped forward, his expression a mix of pride and curiosity. "This is an incredible opportunity, Mr. Hernandez. What made you decide to invite them?"

Mr. Hernandez smiled. "Their talent is undeniable, but what really struck me was the emotion and passion they brought to their performance. They have something special, and I think they deserve a bigger stage to showcase that."

Taylor, still in shock, asked, "What song would you like us to perform?"

Mr. Hernandez thought for a moment. "Given the time of year, how about a your choice song? Something good and fun."

Justin suggested, "How about we discuss it as a group and then let you know?"

Mr. Hernandez nodded approvingly. "That sounds perfect. Just make sure to contact my assistant with your final decision before the performance."

Bruno, usually the quiet one, finally spoke up, his eyes shining with excitement. "We can do it. We'll make it the best performance ever."

James smiled proudly at his students. "You've all worked so hard for this. I know you'll give it your all."

#### Preparing for the Big Night

In the weeks leading up to the NBA game, Aplus practiced tirelessly. Under James's watchful eye, they perfected their performance, discussing various song options before finally deciding on a classic Christmas song that would resonate with the audience. They chose "to* ****** " believing its lively tune and festive spirit would be perfect for the occasion.

Once the decision was made, Justin called Mr. Hernandez's assistant, Karen, to inform her of their choice and to discuss the necessary arrangements. "Hi, Karen, this is Justin from Aplus. We've decided to perform 'to* ******' for the halftime show."

Karen responded enthusiastically. "That's a great choice, Justin! I'll handle the necessary permissions and make sure everything is set up for your performance. If you need anything else, just let me know."

"Thanks, Karen. We really appreciate your help," Justin replied, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.

Karen reassured him, "No problem at all. We're thrilled to have you perform at the stadium. Break a leg!"

The school buzzed with excitement as word spread about their upcoming performance. James worked closely with the band, offering guidance and support. "Remember," he told them during one practice, "this is a huge opportunity. Stay focused, but most importantly, have fun. The audience will feed off your energy."

The night before the game, the band gathered at Justin's house for a final rehearsal. They ran through the song multiple times, ensuring every note was perfect and every move synchronized.

Justin looked around at his bandmates, a determined look in his eyes. "We've got this. We've practiced so hard. Tomorrow, we're going to show everyone what Aplus is made of."

Taylor nodded, strumming her guitar confidently. "Let's give them a performance they'll never forget."

**Author note**

I keep the song a secret for the next chapter.

***End***