Et c'est là l'histoire de Manon Lescaut

When I picked her up on Wednesday night from dress rehearsal, she was in tears.

"I'm getting sick!" she croaked. "I'm losing my voice! They fitted my understudy for a dress, but I will not miss opening night!" She wiped the tears away as she stage whispered her intent.

Is there anything sadder than a Drama Queen with a head cold the night before opening night?

I put her in the shower when we got home. And at 10pm, I called Red Cross Disaster Relief and asked for advice.

My Grams (who really is a Red Cross Disaster Relief expert) suggested gargling - salt water and Listerine. Also, tea with honey and lemon.

I fed the puffy-eyed starlet tea and oranges and put her to bed. I let her sleep in the next morning. I roasted chicken and made broth with lots of garlic. I lysoled the house.

"I'm going to my makeup call," my brave Diva said when she awakened from her afternoon nap. Her voice really did sound better.

The show, as everyone knows, always goes on. Luckily this one went on with Anna. She glowed bright in her bright orange dress and hat. Her cold lent a huskiness to her character's Southern accent that was appealing.

Mary and I brought her flowers and hugged her afterwards as she whispered in my ear, "My voice is gone again." She grinned ear to ear and accepted hugs and congratulations. A good opening night cures nearly everything. :-)

We repeated the shower, gargle, tea ritual when we got home last night. This morning I made her a big thermos of hot water with lemon and honey.

"Liza Minelli swears by hot water and lemon with honey," I said.

"I love Liza Minelli!" Anna exclaimed.

"Sh. No unnecessary talking," I reminded her. "No volunteering answers in Spanish class."

Her barking laughter wracked her little body as she literally shuddered at the thought of volunteering in Spanish.

The glow of opening night will get her through school and the performance tonight. She can sleep in on Saturday before the last show.

I am glad this story had a happy ending.