A Celebrity Encounter (New Edit To Include Dramatic Reveal)

The most amazing thing happened to me last week. I had an encounter with a genuine, bona-fide celebrity.

Well, perhaps I should clarify. I didn't really meet this person, she was my substitute on Friday. However, since my absence provided the reason for her presence, I consider myself deeply involved in the entire affair.

Secondly, I should qualify "celebrity" as "former contestant on a reality show." Yes, I had a bona-fide former contestant on a reality show celebrity as my substitute last Friday.

Lest you think I am about to indulge in a snide snark-fest, let me make it clear that she was not on a lame, personality-based reality show, like Rock of Love or the nightly news. She was on a show based on talent. Her show was one of those talent-based competition shows, like American Idol or America's Next Top Model (though she was not a contestant on either one of them).

Anyway, this young lady was the substitute for my music classes last week, and she couldn't have been more lovely. She didn't mention her celebrity status to anyone, until some of our older students recognized her. She was very gracious to the kids who demanded autographs. However, what really impressed me was this: the students in the classes before and after the one full of autograph hounds had no idea who she was! She didn't bring it up at all.

In the interest of protecting our anonymity, and to keep the paparazzi away, I won't say who she is. I will say that I'd hire her any time, but I sincerely hope the next time I need her, she's far too busy.

Edit: My celebrity sub was a young lady named Charlye Nichols, from a show called The Pussycat Dolls: Girlicious, or something like that. She didn't win the show, but they picked four, and she was number five. Here's a link to one of her performances on YouTube. She sent me the nicest e-mail today about how wonderful my students were.