Over Here: 35 - A King In Flight
Ron Pataky tells of a bad attack of stage fright.
Charles Barrett Elementary was a wonderful place for a kid to be, although I have an indelible memory of being mortified on one occasion within its hallowed, government-controlled, sheet-rocked halls.
It was the Christmas season. I've always had a decent singing voice, and had been chosen as one of several soloists for our class's choral rendition of "We Three Kings." When it came time for my solo, I drew a frozen blank. There might not have been anywhere to hide, but I did run ... tumbling down the risers and straight out the back door of the auditorium. Prior to my hasty exit, however, I turned to the completely innocent girl next to me and shoved her shoulder, the not-so-subtle message being that the poor thing was somehow the cause of my mortification. Fortunately, my shove was a light one, and the girl, although completely mystified by events, was none the worse for wear. Mom later told me that a Navy Captain, sitting next to her at the time, and aware that it was her son who'd just bolted the premises, said to her, "Oh, God bless him .. .you go be with that boy now."
She did. Out by the trash cans. And that night, I was one little guy who required a whole bunch of gentle comforting amidst the gathered, lightly-frosted rubbish!
