written by CATHAL McCEALLACHAN for Christmas.TyRain.com
November 5, 2000
PART SIX
The story of Christian and Savvas continues
Early the next morning, the telephone rang. When I answered, it was Hans Hendrickx, a friend of Tineke. He asked if Savvas and I would like to travel with them to Amsterdam for the Nutcracker performance. I accepted with thanks, but was a bit puzzled over the fact that he knew we were going. I soon forgot about it.
After lunch, we both got spruced up for the outing and when Hans and his wife Nelleke arrived, we departed. After a light meal at a Chinese Restaurant, we arrived at the Theatre. I walked up to the ticket desk, and mentioned that tickets had been arranged. We were surprised when an usher escorted us to the first row. As we sat down, Savvas nudged my arm. He pointed to Tineke with Anton and the other two ‘brothers’, Alexander and Philip.
“What’s going on?” I whispered. He mumbled a response and looked the other way.
Before I could think further the Conductor appeared and the audience started clapping. The lights did not dim as usual – the conductor lifted his baton and the introduction to the National Anthem filled the House. The audience rose to their feet, for there was the Princess Margot and two of her sons, with their partners, standing in the Royal Box. After the Anthem ended and the clapping died, the audience settled down, the lights dimmed, and the orchestra started playing the very familiar overture to the Nutcracker Ballet by Tchaikovsky.
When the final curtain fell, the Director reappeared and asked the audience to remain seated. The curtain rose again and the full company was gathered on the stage. The Ballet Master walked slowly, purposefully, and proudly to the front of the stage.
With a bad microphone creating an strange echo, he said “Your Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen - sorry to keep you, but we have a very special guest in the House tonight. The Corps de Ballet and the Management of the Company have decided to award him for his contribution to the quality of dancing here and for the great work he is doing in Africa to promote classical dance. I now present to you Christian de Coninck. Chris will you please come on stage with us?”
At that moment, my whole body went numb. I could feel the cold sweat running down my back. Savvas pressed my arm. He whispered to me to go. I somehow got to my feet and two ballerinas rushed down to assist me. In a trance, we managed to get on stage whilst the House’s ovation was thunderous. Then I saw the Princess walking towards me. I bowed. She smiled warmly and handed me the small velvet covered box in which the special award coin was kept. She raised her hand, and there was immediate silence in the huge theatre.
“Chris,” she said, “you make us very proud. We all say thank you for serving your adopted country so well. For all you are doing in Africa, we applaud you. May your life be happy and full of Joy!”
Then, to my amazement, the orchestra struck up the South African National Anthem. All I could say was thank you very much and that I would like to have my ‘family’ on stage also. The next moment they were all there, Tineke, Anton, Alexander, Philip, and Savvas.
Anton hugged me and whispered, “I love you big brother.”
Savvas gave me a bear hug and a kiss on each cheek Greek-style. “You are great, my pretty Boy,” he said.
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