The best part about this performance was when Tess dedicated her song to her Dad.
She was the first one to perform that evening and feeling a little nervous so Tom was trying some of his very Tom-esque way of calming her pre-performance nerves (a little gentle reverse psychology/sarcasm)
Tess: I'm nervous. I don't think I can do this. Can we just go?
Tom: Really? You're nervous? I guess we don't really know if you can sing well or not so that makes sense that you are nervous. We know that I sing well, but you're right we aren't sure if you do.
Tess: eyes roll, annoyance peaks, she is called up to sing
Tess had never dedicated a song before that night and gave us no indication that she was planning on it. We then heard..."testing, testing, 1, 2...Okay, I'd like to dedicate this song, to my Dad...because he can't sing."
Oh snap.
Tom was so proud.
My brothers, one in particular, provided me with a healthy dose of sarcasm my whole life which I think actually served me well (although painful at times). I am grateful to them and love them for it. Somehow in the moment of Tess's unsolicited dedication I feel extremely comforted that she was well on her way, at the early age of 9, of holding her own in any setting. She is beautifully sensitive and sharp.