I loaded her stuff into the car while she went to the other end of the building for the tickets. Upon returning, she signaled me that she would be just one more second. She walked up to the conductor and thanked him. She always does this at the end of rehearsals, for every band she has ever played with. She thanked the chairperson as well. Her mother and I never explicitly told her to do this. She just did it. That’s what every parent wants: to raise a child who can go out in the world and do the right thing, even when you’re not around. I was so proud.
What she told me in the car delighted me even more. In addition to the awesome display of gratitude I just witnessed, she told me that after she had stepped away from the ticket table and was getting sorted, she overheard that the next student in line was $12 short for the tickets he needed. “Not anymore,” said Scarlett, putting the money on the table. The woman selling tickets was shocked, but after a moment recovered and stammered out a “Well that’s very nice of you!” Again, not something we’ve ever taught Scarlett. She just knew it was the right thing to do. Super-proud. This kid is alright. (We’ll ignore the fact that it was my money.)
The good vibes continued with another of those great car conversations. She told me about rehearsal, I told her about Lily’s cooking competition and the latest antics from The Donald. She didn’t even want to go to the awards ceremony after I said Lily had cried during the event, but I assured her Lily had calmed down, and prepped her for how to be cool if her sister had another freak-out.
Scarlett sustained the pleasantness for the rest of the day, straight through bedtime. One brief hiccup about what she was going to wear to 5:00 Mass, but she was sweet again by the time Mass ended. She woke up this morning in a good mood, too, even allowing her father to give her a hug. Baffling.
I wish this kid had band rehearsal every day. I think with all of the inhaling and exhaling, she ends up with the musical equivalent of a runner’s high afterward. She sometimes complains about playing French horn, but really she loves it. As far as I’m concerned, if it puts her in a good mood, she’s playing that horn forever.