At the Piano Recital

Richie's grand-nephew, age 5, was to play in a recital and we were invited. I didn't think it would be terribly entertaining, especially the part about not lingering over the Sunday crosswords but having to be out in the Valley at the ungodly hour of 10:30 a.m. instead.

The recitals take place in a synagogue and this one was enormous. We walked through a lengthy atrium, down another hall and finally into the auditorium.

The folding chairs were drawn up in a half-circle, facing the piano. We sat there. The kids were lined up against a wall opposite in their Sunday best and when their name was called, they got up, walked solemnly to face the audience, bowed and went to the piano.

When their piece had been played (tumultous applause) the performer would walk back to the center aisle and bow.

What made it hilarious to watch was the fact that many of them have not quite grasped the correct bow movements. Instead, they clutched their stomach with one hand and stuck out their butts.

The program listed each child's name and the title of his/her piece (all mercifullly short.) Early on, I noticed that one of the little girls was wearing what looked like a Burberry jumper. (Burberry is a plaid of red, black, brown and white which is distinctive as are their prices which are astronomical.) "Hmmm," I thought, "that parent is loaded!"

I saw it again when a little boy performed, wearing Burberry cargo pants. At last a little girl came out, wearing the same fabric. Boing! I realized that their mother (or a relative) had made all of those outfits. I was dying to see all three of the "plaid people" together, but it didn't happen.

Our Nephew performed brilliantly, not a trace of nerves. After the program, we all went to his house for brunch.