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It is virtually becoming a routine of performances for the Chinese Yo-Yo in the Great Philadelphia Area. First, we showed off at Guanghua Chinese School, then at the Philadelphia Convention Center, and now at the North Penn High School again. Our school tells us to go somewhere and do something, and as quickly as possible, the class throws up an outline, just filling in the blanks a few hours before the stage. The only difference between the 25th Lansdale International Spring Fair is that we don’t even have a few hours.

Luckily, the group had just performed at the Philadelphia Travel & Adventure Show, and thus, the outline had already been drawn up. Now, just minutes before the fest, our teacher and classmates were madly attempting to color in the lines, not caring about the neatness. As scholars would say, it was an “Impromptu” performance, and that summed up the show. Whatever time was remaining in the performance would be simply duds. We could nod with the music or something, but hopefully, it wouldn’t come down to this.

So, I still did the combo of tricks from the last performance. At the last minute, before we came on the stage, a friend of mine had not decided on a trick yet. As a result, we did what we did best: improvised. Since I had two tricks, I gave one to him and selected a much easier trick for the substitution. Although it was easy, the change occurred right before the performance, which, in hindsight, led to a lot of trouble.

The fest stage was barely large enough to fit the small group of performers. Most accelerations of the Chinese Yo-Yo required much more space, but we made a deal with what we had. The start was a little shaky, as the first trick failed. I’m a hypocrite since I didn’t get my trick, but it was the substitute for the other one I gave away. The sheer fact that I hadn’t done that trick in months disrupted the sense of coolness I always have on stage. At least I had time for redemption with my combo. Nevertheless, if you don’t know my best trick, it’s a swing over and around the back, tossing the Chinese Yo-Yo around the arm a few times, and the Crazy Arm 2 (look it up). The trick involves a final toss at the end because the arms were twisted from Crazy Arm, and it was my Achilles Heel. The toss required the speed of the arms since you had to untangle your arms while the Yo-Yo was in midair. As soon as I approached that section, I knew the Chinese Yo-Yo was shaky. When the toss went up again, it was tilting towards me. Backpedaling, I nearly lost balance when leaning back for the catch, narrowly snatching the Yo-Yo before hitting my chest.

The last trick gave the teacher quite a scare, but in the end, all went well. It went perfectly, as the time ended precisely right, giving us enough time for a bow and no extra time for smiling dumbly. If only life worked that way.

【红霞译】

说起大费城地区，中国空竹正逐渐引人注目，起初我们仅在光华中文学校亮相，后来才前往费城会展中心表演，如今又再度来到北宾州高中献技。但凡学校一声令下，大伙二话不说，立刻以实际行动响应召唤，哪怕距离登台不过几个小时准备时间，对于今天第廿五届兰斯代尔春季国际节演出，我们事先愣是横竖找不出机会一块练习。

幸亏咱哥几位刚从“费城旅游探险展”表演归来，多少积累一点实战经验，眼下再借助国际节开幕前几分钟的工夫，师生们赶紧临阵磨枪，急得眉毛胡子一把抓，根本顾不上整体美感，用句行话来说，这真是一次地地道道的“即兴”发挥，完全根据上台时间长短来选取动作，我觉得只要与音乐节奏合拍，无论怎么做都成，但愿中间别出差错。

跟上次一样，我还是准备两套拿手好戏。就在出场前一时刻，有位同伴迟迟没能作出表演什么的决定，我们急中生智，万变不离其宗：即兴。既然我带来两招，不如分给他一个，自己再另找一个简便易行的动作代替，但是出演关头，临时更改套路肯定会留下隐患，哪怕看似不起眼的地方也能叫人翻船。

国际节所搭设的舞台不大，即使再小的团队恐怕难于全面施展才艺，更何况抖空竹需要空间宽敞，我们只得因陋就简，尽力发挥水平。开场进行得并非顺利，第一套动作便出现失误，说来我纯属打肿脸充胖子，主动把熟悉的动作让给别人去做，而自己偏要尝试没有把握的事情，关键问题在于我已有几个月没有练过这套动作。舞台失误不能不影响到本人一向自视良好的得意心态，好在后面一组混合动作让我重获机会大显身手。假如你不熟悉我要表演的项目，那倒不如听一下介绍。空竹先被悠到我后背上方，接着飞到跟前绕手臂转动几圈，这就是所谓的“狂臂”修改版动作（初级版参见以前文章）。全套动作结束前空竹最后一次拔高而起，此时我的胳膊早已弯成“狂臂”，恰巧成为最易发生状况的要害部位。高抛空竹需求手臂摆动速度，借助空竹上升之际，缠在手臂上的线绳要马上松绑，就在接住空竹那一瞬间，我意识到线绳振颤。随着再次腾空，朝我一侧的空竹出现倾斜；当它重新下降时，我只好斜着身子去接，差点失去平衡，空竹险些砸到我的胸脯。

末了那阵势倒把老师吓得够呛，但好事多磨，最终一切顺利。事实上，整套动作完成出色，而且正值音乐接近尾声。我们从容地鞠躬谢幕，尚未来得及咧嘴微笑，退场时间已到，要是生活都像这样圆满该有多好呵。