The On-the-whole-rewarding Award Function

 It was a bright day, so many great things I could've done. But unfortunately, my mom decided to drag me to a random award function she was going to ("You're not going to do anything at home anyway,"). I reluctantly went behind her and fumed as she picked the second row. 

"Can I sit at the back?" I asked. 

She just randomly shook her head and mumbled indistinct words and pointed at the stage (something she always does when she doesn't know how to react, non-chalantly).

I sighed, and flopped down next to her. We waited about 30 minutes (which I spent peeking at my mom's phone while she stared at her phone), and then a man climbed on to the stage, followed by another man, and then two women. They were all smiling, as they came, but who knows, they were probably wishing to have stayed home to scroll and text their friends (hint, hint).

And then the emcee/host came to the mic and introduced the people on stage, who grinned broadly and joined their hands as their names were called. I clapped. Because my mom told me to. 

And then he said, "I'd like to call our chief guest-" 

I tried to guess which one was the chief guest, out of the five. I was right. It was the man (well, one of the three. They all looked the same anyway.)

"... to say a few words before we start the award function." 

Oh no.

We all know what "a few words" mean. 

I started whining.

"Ammmaaaaa I don't even know whose award function we're at, this is SO random, can you just drop me at home I could be doing SO many better things, Amma this is a waste of time, Amma I have soooo much homework lemme go home, Amma-"

And then she gave me her classic death stare. I immediately shut up and sat still. 

"Good afternoon," the chief guest said. "First of all, I would like to..." 

His voice trailed off as one of the people nearby (I'm guessing a random assistant?) nudged him forward, closer to the mic.

"I would like to thank-" he stopped again as the random person bent the mic to adjust its height. He only pulled it off the stand. 

He fumbled to get the fallen mic, so did the chief guest, and their heads bonked (painfully). The chief guest mumbled, forcing a smile as the person fit the mic back, now perfectly angled. 

Then the chief guest continued, except we couldn't hear anything. He turned his head this way and that and the assistant came back, and their fingers fought to switch it back on. The assistant did it, and let out a satisfied sigh, and told the chief guest to continue.

"Sooo I would like to thank the community for allowing us to rent this hall for this award function, and I'm proud to see that so many of-" 

The random nosy annoying person nudged the chief guest closer and tilted the mic upwards. The chief guest adjusted the mic again, but the person refused to let him leave it as it was. 

I sat patiently, watching the drama happening. 

The chief guest said something to the person, and he edged back into the background. The chief guest continued. 

And he went on and on about young talent and opportunities for another 15 minutes, when a loud SCREEEEEEEECH interrupted, you know, the weird sound the mic and speakers make? That. 

The chief guest yelled at someone at the controls (turns out it was THE person). And he gave a sheepish smile and said what looked like a sheepish apology. 

The chief guests huffed and continued. And went on and on and on about random stuff for at least half an hour more, and I dozed off. 

And finally he ended his speech. I clapped loudly, enthusiastic now that we had crossed the hardest part of every award function. The chief guest recieved a memento from the emcee.

And then the award function started. I clapped for half an hour straight, not wanting to hurt the winners' feelings.

Halfway through, my dad and sister came over, and I was even more confused. 

Then, as they had started giving out the below 10 years vocal music competition prizes, my dad and sister hurried away.

"Where are they-" 

I was utterly confused. Was it another dream loop?My mom got her phone ready, cheerfully.

".... the first prize under this category goes to Shripradhaa."

My mouth was still hanging open. I made sure it was her - and I clapped the loudest. 

"Why didn't you tell me she was in it too?"I asked my mom.

"And how come THEY get to come later when it's HER prize distribution??"

She gave the same sheepish smile the random assistant gave. My sister came back, grinning proudly and bouncing up and down. I gave her a big hug.

*ALL EVENTS IN THIS STORY ARE FICTIONAL.*