Sophie's Spotlight

Little Sophie loves to act and stares in her very first play-Three Little Witches.

Natalia Spring combed her daughter’s red curly hair letting the curls bounce. Her little girl, Sophie was bouncing up and down-excited for her new part in Logan Community Center’s Halloween play, The Three Little Witches. She was the head witch of the play and couldn’t wait to have her first time in the spot light. 

“Make up time, Mommy!” Sophie replied. “In a minute.” 

“Now?” Sophie urged. 

“Alright, alright,” Natalia responded grabbing the make up brushes and the blushes. She hated putting make up on her daughter. She was too young for it. Only five years old. But she did anyways. She also loved spending this time with her-that she treasured. But her little girl was growing up way too fast. 

She’s turning six this Saturday and having a big birthday party-inviting most of the neighborhood’s kids. Natalia finished up the make up and put it away. 

“Thank you, Mommy. Guess what I saw in the park today with Grammy?” Sophie asked and smiled. 

“What did you see?” Natalia asked getting up to fix dinner. It was almost six o’clock the time they always ate as a family. 

“I saw birds!” Sophie grinned her toothless grin. 

“Robins?” Natalia replied and returned the smiled. 

“How are my beautiful girls?” Natalia’s husband, Connor ambled into the kitchen. 

“You’re a cute witch,” Connor tickled Sophie’s nose. 

“No, Daddy. I’m the mean witch,” Sophie laughed. 

“How can my sweet little Sophie, be the mean witch?” Connor teased and kissed the tip of her nose. “How’s the baby?” 

“Moving,” Natalia replied, rubbing her six month belly. Natalia and Connor were excited for their second daughter, Georgina Grace Spring. Beautiful name after Natalia’s mother-Grammy to Sophie. 

“Need help with dinner?” Connor asked. 

“Sure. The dishes need to be washed,” Natalia said. “Sweet Sophie, have you cleaned up your room?” 

“No, Mommy,” Sophie said. 

“Why not, honey?” Natalia tried not to snap. But she was in a weird mood all together. But that was no excuse. 

“I’ll clean it, Mommy. Promise,” Sophie smiled again. 

“Good. Do it now please. Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes,” Natalia said. Sophie collected her Barbies and headed upstairs. 

“Are you okay?” Connor asked. 

“Fine, just had a tough day at work,” Natalia explained gently. Natalia was day shift nurse at Logan Memorial Hospital in town. She loved being a nurse able to care for the patients in need of help. Though some days can be tough and defiantly the long days on her feet like today. 

“Why don’t you relax and I’ll take care of dinner tonight,” Connor replied. 

“Sounds great to me. We need to leave at six thirty for Sophie’s dress rehearsal,” Natalia replied. 

Since the beginning of the month the little five year olds had rehearsals every Wednesday. Six weeks of rehearsals, Natalia couldn’t wait to see the play-if she could make it through the night without back aches. 

“Sophie! Dinner!” Natalia called upstairs. Sophie came bouncing downstairs with her favorite teddy bear. They prayed over dinner like they always do. Sophie ate all her pizza, two slices. Natalia finished her whole plate, and Connor ate half of the pizza. 

“Can we go now?” Sophie replied. 

“In twenty minutes,” Natalia said. “I need to get ready.” Natalia went upstairs and showered then blew dry her red hair. Natalia put on her fresh clothes, maternity pants and a blue maternity top that was her favorite. She put on fresh make up and felt better. The weird mood that was settling was gone. 

Twenty minutes later they were in their SUV heading to dress rehearsal. They arrived at the community center and the center was buzzing with activity. 

“There’s Ryan!” Natalia pointed to a little boy. Sophie smiled and went to join Ryan. Natalia and Connor went to a room with the other parents. Some were upset that Sophie got the part of the head witch. But there were some that thought in which Sophie would play the role well-even at a young age. 

Natalia was supportive of Sophie’s acting. And so was Connor. Sophie would put on plays in her little pink playroom for them. Natalia would record Sophie’s plays on the family’s video camera. They would always sit in front of the TV and eat popcorn together. 

“Someday she would be on that red carpet,” Connor smiled one night after they were watching Sophie’s latest play in the pink play room. 

“She sure will. She’s made for stardom,” Natalia replied. As they waited for the dress rehearsal to end, Natalia pulled out Sophie’s scarf she’s crocheting. A little surprise for her that she would give after Sophie’s real play. 

The colors were pink, Sophie’s favorite color. Every day Sophie would beg to put pink ribbons in her hair-she would get mad if Natalia’s didn’t. Every day Natalia would braid Sophie’s beautiful red hair-she would add those pink ribbons. 

The pink yarn felt good in Natalia’s hands. It soothed her-relaxed her. Natalia concentrated on the stitch. Double crochet, double crochet..She repeated the stitch with her hands and the hook. Chain three. She repeated the process crocheting along until the practice was finished. 

“How was it?” Natalia asked her daughter. 

“Fun!’ Sophie replied and laughed. “Ryan forgot his lines.” 

“I’m sorry,” Natalia responded. “Did you help him?’ 

“I sure did!” Sophie giggled.

“That’s good,” Connor said. 

THE NEXT DAY, the nesting mode for Natalia hit hard. She deep cleaned the basement which desperately needed organization like no other. She folded the laundry, put away clean dishes, and other chores around the house that were neglected during the week. Natalia was thankful that the hospital gave her a day off. She would get a day off once in awhile. 

“I’m home!” Connor came inside the warm clean country home. 

“Ah, it’s clean in here! And smells like good ol’ lemon pledge!” Connor grinned his handsome, striking grin. That smile that Natalia always loved. 

“Thank you,” Natalia laughed. “I’ve been busy today. How was your day at the paper?” 

“Great,” Connor responded. Connor was a journalist at Atlanta Times-they lived out in the country though in Logan, Georgia-thirty minutes from Atlanta. Connor and Natalia were southerners at heart, born and raised in Georgia. 

Connor and Natalia met while going to school at West Georgia University. They met during English class. Their professors would pair them up to help each other editing their papers. Their classmates also thought they would make a cute couple. 

Connor was a bit shy and afraid of rejection when it came to women. In high school he would ask every girl out, but ask he got older-he would shy away from them. He didn’t know exactly why. But he wanted to wait until college or after to get more into a serious relationship. 

When Connor met Natalia in his sophomore year of college that changed everything about women. Natalia was smart and funny-would bring a good laugh to a bad day. Not only that she would laugh, but Connor was impressed that her heart was set to be a nurse. Little did they know they would find jobs near Atlanta, Georgia. 

ON SATURDAY, the Spring family went to the pumpkin patch. It was indeed fun and exciting for little Sophie. She picked out the biggest pumpkin there is in the patch. 

“I want to name it, Mommy! How about Sally?” Sophie giggled. 

“Sally is a good name,” Natalia replied and smiled. It was two days before Halloween, Sophie’s play was tomorrow night. They would get pictures taken of her of course and Natalia was getting more nervous for her daughter. What if she forgot her lines? But she shouldn’t be this stressed out for her daughter in the first place. Acting is supposed to be for fun, no doubt. 

The Three Little Witches will be using a real stage. The little kids will get the feeling of being on stage and under the spotlight. So exciting thought Natalia. 

“I love your pumpkin sweetheart. You did a good job picking it out,” Connor grinned. 

“Thank you, Daddy,” Sophie replied and buckled her seatbelt. When they got home they were exhausted from the day that perhaps they would carve pumpkins tomorrow. “But I want to carve them now.” 

“Mommy needs to rest,” Connor said. “We will tomorrow, honey. I promise.” 

WHEN SUNDAY ROLLED AROUND it was busy as ever. They all got up at eleven and had a home cooked southern breakfast.. Connor’s homemade biscuits from scratch-his speciality. Top it off with grits and butter. 

“Can we carve pumpkins now, Mommy?” Sophie begged. 

“Let’s clean up the kitchen’s mess first,” Natalia said. They tidied up the kitchen and spread newspapers on the kitchen table. Natalia got out the carving tools and put on Halloween music in the background. They carved pumpkins until four o’clock. Then Natalia put candles in the pumpkins and brought them to the front porch. She took pictures of Sophie in her witch assemble for the play. 

The family headed to the production of Three Little Witches. Nervous butterflies pervaded Sophie’s belly. 

“I’m nervous, Mommy. What if I forget a line?” Sophie replied. 

“You will do great!” Natalia cheered her on. When they arrived-the community center was packed. Butterflies tossed and turned even more in Sophie’s stomach. Natalia made sure her little girl was settled with her cast mates before she found a seat herself. 

At five o’clock the curtains opened. Show time. Natalia was nervous for her daughter but she knew she would do great. The three witches were “brewing” their potions on stage. They said their lines carefully and were excellent. Scene after scene was well done. Everyone applauded for them at the end and even got a standing applaud. The actors and actresses bowed as the curtains closed upon them. 

“I did it! My first play!” Sophie squealed with delight. 

“You sure did!” Natalia grinned. Connor got her red roses and handed it to Sophie. Sophie smelled them and smiled. 

“Thank you so much Daddy!” Sophie replied. “I had so much fun! I want to act again!” 

“You’re welcome, honey,” Connor smiled. 

HALLOWEEN NIGHT. 

It was Sophie’s favorite holiday besides Christmas. She of course dressed up like a witch for the second year in a row. Connor took her out while Natalia handed out candy. She was the perfect little witch, all the neighbors loved her. 

Natalia sat at home with the doorbell kept ringing. They got a lot of kids this year. When Sophie and Connor reached home-Sophie was wiped out. They spread all her candy on to the kitchen’s table. 

“Can I have some now?” Sophie asked. 

“You can have one or two. It’s near bed time,” Natalia said. 

“Okay, Mommy,” Sophie replied. 

Natalia couldn’t believe where this year was going. There were so many firsts for Sophie. First time riding a bicycle back in April, her first play was two nights ago. 

Logan Community Center allowed parents to film their first play, so the Spring family gathered all around in the pink little play room. Natalia popped the buttery popcorn and Sophie ate the candy. They all laughed as Ryan nearly fell on the stage. 

At the end of the Three Little Witches, the curtains closed. 

Author's Note

ignore grammer.

Reviews

[Austin Fern]

Not a bad story. I enjoyed the concept and children either really hurt a story or really help it, thankfully they were portrayed well here and it was a nice benefit. The one thing this story really needs to improve is telling vs showing. It can take some time to master, but in this story you tell us way to much without showing us. Beyond that, the story was enjoyable.

[AnnaEDWrites]

Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I appreciate it!