Make 'Em Laugh

On Easter Sunday Cambel made his debut with the children's bell choir. Kevin and I were very nervous that stage fright and his  timidness would overtake him and he would be rendered unable to perform. But he surprised us and stood front and center and played his bells with much focus and intensity. We swelled with pride and relief. 

The choir performed again on Mother's Day. And there was Cambel again, front and center with his yellow bells. 

Only this time there was no trace of timidity or fear.

I blame this fearlessness partially on the gum he was chomping. Because I have a personal theory that the very act of chewing gum gives you a sense of boldness and carelessness. 

And chomping your gum leaves you nearly fearless. So if my theory is right, the gum chomping was a bad omen. 

But the real trouble started when Cambel missed one of his cues. He thought this was funny, and he announced that--very loudly--which of course got a laugh from the congregation. 

As if the gum wasn't enough, the laughter further emboldened him and now Cambel saw himself as invincible. 

From there on he turned into a veritable Johnny Carson. 

He danced, he made strange monkey noises, he fell down, he laughed. 

Much to my horror and dismay, the choir did not stop with just one song. Kevin and I tried in vain to catch his eye and somehow communicate our desire that he just play the bells, and maybe even get a little afraid. But he was too busy basking in the glow of his newfound ability to make everyone laugh. 

Thankfully the choir was done after two songs. Any more and I think we would have had to intervene. 

Later in the car we tried discussing with Cambel the difference between being confident and performing a one-man comedy routine. 

Our little comedian innocently replied "but I thought they were all laughing at me."

So that kind of derailed that parental discussion. 

(Un?)Fortunately, we did not get Cambel's latest performance on camera, but for your viewing pleasure, here is Cambel playing the bells pre-comedy show.