I was going to throw up.It was opening night and my stomach kept reminding me of that fact.

I stood in the wings, with Morgan, waiting for the house lights to dim and my piece to have its premiere.

I peeked out from behind the side curtain and saw the crowd.

The place was packed.

I could see Drew, Eric, Fran-- and even Ned-- sitting in the audience. They'd all wished me luck earlier in the evening and I invited them all to the party afterwards.

Ned, looking over at Morgan, declined my invitation saying that the two of us had a busy day ahead of us in court tomorrow.

We'd been having busy days for a long time now. I'd been on the witness stand enough times I was beginning to feel like I was in some bizarre O.J. Simpson clone trail. Ned told me in the beginning that I'd be on the stand for awhile since I was the prosecution's chief witness. I had to be on the ball at all times since the defense's strategy was to make me out to be some kind of junkie trying to get revenge on the two cops who'd busted him earlier.

I tried to forget about the trail. I tried to forget about everything but my work.

The house lights dimmed, the music started and the first dancer hurried past me to hit his mark.

*****

The first time I performed on stage was when I was six.

My mother made my older sister take me with her to dance classes so she could keep an eye on me.

The teacher asked if I'd like to dance with them. I said whatever, I didn't have anything else to do.

I didn't want to do it at first-- hang out with all those girls. Then I started to like it. I liked the way the music helped me express myself, how I got to run and play.

I was Prince Charming in "Cinderella" at my first recital. It wasn't because I was a great dancer. It was because I was the only guy.

All the parents gave us a standing ovation after the performance. Everyone but my Pop. He sat in his seat, pissed off, for being forced to watch his son become a fruit on stage.

*****

Morgan pushed me on-stage.

The applause was deafening. A standing O.

The lead dancers gave me a bouquet of roses.

It went perfect.