Applause for the Right Audience

Humorous fiction. The scene, Pai's thoughts and dialogue are invented; the illustration is stylized.

Mikhail finished watching a concert and started clapping.

Pai immediately stood in the middle of the room.

“Actually, that's for the musicians,” Mikhail explained.

Pai glanced at the screen. The musicians were far away, and he was right here. Why complicate the delivery of appreciation?

Dilyara laughed and clapped too.

Pai made a small circle and sat down in front of his audience again.

“I think someone wants an encore,” she said.

“But he hasn't performed anything!”

Pai gave Mikhail a meaningful look. Lying quietly for two hours while the humans watch a concert is, actually, a solo performance.

And not every artist can manage it without an intermission.