Didn't Anyone Give You the Signal? (Cont.)
Screen 2 of 2I can even remember now how seriously I put my heart and soul into that rendition of "Polka Peony." My lip was in good shape, and since I had memorized the piece I just closed my eyes and played it with all the emotional fervor I could muster, all the time thinking how wonderful it must sound to my family, friends, and acquaintances out there listening to the program. I was even anticipating letters--perhaps even telegrams--of congratulations I would probably receive later.
Oh what bliss! Nothing like this had ever happened to me before.
But in the middle of my mental meanderings, when my ego and imagination were at their peak, I forgot the music completely. My mind just went blank, and after playing some wrong notes which sounded awful, I just stopped. A deathly silence fell on the studio. Capt. Stutzenberger tried frantically to get us started again, pointing to the place on the music where he was playing, but my efforts to get with him were futile.
Everything was ruined. What could I possibly say to all those who had been listening? I had made a complete flop of it all. I was humiliated.
Just at this moment, the station manager came noisily into the studio and practically shouted at me, "What in the hell do you think you are doing?"
What a question, I thought as I put down my trumpet and answered sullenly, "Doing? Well, I was playing this trumpet solo as scheduled. Why?"
"Well, that's too bad, young man. You've been off the air for more than four minutes and no one listening to a radio out there heard a single note you played: Didn't you "get the signal that you were off the air?" After looking up at the red light which was still on, he added rather sheepishly, "Oh, I guess you didn't get the signal. Nobody turned that light off."
A little more solicitous now, the manager continued, "We had to cut this program immediately after the second orchestra number. I'm very sorry if all this mixup has upset you and Capt. Stutzenberger."
Upset? I muttered. Not at all. My chagrin and humiliation changed quickly, first to relief and then to glee. What a break: Nobody except those in the studio had heard my terrible mistakes.
Capt. Stutzenberger was ready with a welcome suggestion. "Let's pack up our things and all go down to the corner drug store for refreshments--ice cream, sodas, milk shakes, whatever you want. I'm buying."
********** Chester C. Travelstead
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