Pre-School Musical

May 24, 2008 - Saturday

Several weeks ago, we heard that High School Musical was coming to College Station. We talked about taking the boys, but things like that are always pretty expensive, and we've had some behavior issues lately - especially with Keaton. I just couldn't see taking him to see the show only to end up fighting with him all night about not getting his way. I pictured him screaming at the top of his lungs, disrupting the show for everyone in a 2 mile vicinity. So we decided not to go.

Then yesterday morning a miracle happened. Both boys woke up in a good mood. They were nice to each other. Keaton was asking nicely for things (that's HUGE around here), and Tucker was kindly giving him the chair he wanted or whatever. They got dressed without arguing. It was a spectacular morning at the Hickman house.

So I got to school and emailed Trey that we should get tickets. They had been so good, and this would be a great way to reward them, and honestly I couldn't wait to see their faces when we told them we were going that very night.

Later that night on the way to the show, we stopped at McDonalds to meet my nieces (they were going with us) and have a gourmet Mickey D's dinner. Wouldn't you know, Keaton did not get the Speed Racer Happy Meal toy he wanted. He flipped out, screamed, threw things - he just acted like Keaton when he doesn't get his way. I began to worry about the show.

We trekked over to Reed Arena, picked up our tickets at will call, and visited the terribly over-priced souvenir booth. After changing their minds one million times, the boys finally got hats and light-up spinny things. We went off to find our seats.

Then the show started, and we were suddenly in the happiest place on earth! Tucker knows all
of the songs, and he loves HSM, but he mostly just fast-forwards the movie to all of the basketball parts. So he enjoyed himself in a cool, calm, collected way - singing along when appropriate and remarking on the amazing ability of the skaters.

Keaton, on the other hand, became one with the show. He immediately got up from his seat and stood in front of his chair so that he could accurately perform each and every dance move. He sang every word to every song so loud that the people in front of us turned around to watch and listen and ask how old this little HSM prodigy was. He could not stop smiling. I missed the whole first act watching him mesmerized by the lights and the songs and the music.

During intermission, he went to sit on the end of the aisle with his cousins. When the second act began, he flew from his seat to stand on the steps in the aisle. Apparently he did not have enough room to get his groove on during the first act. He needed to spread out. There is no way to describe the performance that ensued. His smile was replaced by a serious, studying face, and he performed every single move the dancers did, one beat behind. At the end of each number, he threw his hands into the air and surveyed his crowd with a wide, proud smile. He only took a break in between songs to get a refreshing drink of lemonade from his $12 souvenir HSM squeeze bottle. I've never - I'm serious here, not being dramatic at all - NEVER seen him so happy.

Just before the show ended, Trey had to take Tucker to the bathroom (the $12 lemonade hit him), and Keaton began an authentic Keaton Hickman Freak Out. He screamed, cried, and generally threw a fit. It was after nine by this time, so I'm sure he was tired, but I also think he couldn't decide what to do. He wanted to go with the boys (he would never miss a trip to the bathroom), but he didn't want to leave the show.

The show ended and life began again. Keaton screamed most of the way home. When we got home he wanted a pop tart with butter, then he wanted a bowl of Apple Jacks instead, and as soon as that was ready he wanted some grits. It was 10:30 by this time and I just wanted him to eat something and go to bed. So he calmed down as I let him pour the instant grits into a bowl.

It was finally - finally quiet. I opened the drawer to get a spoon for him, and found there a pound of sausage. Yes. One pound of Jimmy Dean hot sausage sitting, lukewarm, in the kitchen drawer. Trey and I looked at the sausage and at each other, wondering where to begin.

Keaton said, "I put that in there. It wouldn't fit back in the refrigerator."

And we could only laugh. I don't know where God found this kid.