“Brainstorming time!” Maddie said. “And just remember, like Ms. Gibbons always says . . .”
“ ‘When you brainstorm, there are no bad ideas,’ ” everyone said together, repeating one of their teacher’s favorite sayings.
“I’ll make a list,” offered Sam.
“No singing,” Bella reminded him.
“And no dancing,” added Emily.
“So far this is a list of things we’re not doing,” Sam pointed out.
Bella sighed. “Well, we can’t exactly code a computer game onstage,” she said.
Emily nodded in agreement. “Or build a tree house,” she added.
“Guys, I hear you,” said Maddie patiently. “But let’s keep thinking. I’m sure something great will come to us. Like, we could do a fashion show.”
“Or paint something together,” suggested Sam. “I’m not sure how, but I’m going to write it down anyway.” He added his idea and Maddie’s to the list.
“Hmm . . . we could build a robot and show how it works onstage?” Bella said.
“Or something out of wood might be a little easier?” Emily added.
“This is a good start,” said Sam, after adding both ideas. “My dad will be here soon to take me to my art class, so here’s our list so far. Add more ideas if you think of any, okay?”
He pinned the list to the clubhouse wall and then left to meet his dad.
The girls crowded around to take a look.
Finally, Emily spoke. She said what everyone was thinking: “There aren’t any bad ideas here. But I’m not sure there are any great ideas yet, either.”
Chapter 4
Inspiration Strikes!
When Sam got home after art class, dinner was almost ready. His little sister, Yasmin, was at the table drawing.
“Hi, Mom! Hi, Yazzy!” called Sam. He hung up his backpack and kicked off his sneakers.
Sam quickly set the table and gave Yasmin a piece of naan to nibble so she wouldn’t complain when he swapped her paper and crayons for a place mat and dishes.
“Such a busy day at work today!” said Sam’s mom, who was a high-school art teacher. She carried a steaming bowl of chana masala to the table. Sam’s mouth watered. Usually he didn’t like chickpeas. But somehow his mom made them delicious!
“You should have been an architect instead of a teacher,” teased his dad. “Much less stressful.”
“Oh, really? What about that time you cut your finger building that model of the museum?”
Sam’s parents laughed.
“When you guys were in school together,” said Sam, “did you ever have to do a talent show?”
“Sure,” said his dad. “At our school talent show, I got everyone on their feet with my rock and roll.”
“You did?” Sam was impressed.
“Kind of,” admitted Sam’s dad. “Mostly because they got up to use the bathroom when I played. I was pretty bad. Your mom’s the real musician.”
“You played rock music?” Sam asked his mom.
She smiled. “Classical guitar and jazz.”
“I really want to find something I can do with my friends,” Sam said. “We tried to figure it out today, but we just don’t have any good ideas.”
“Give it time,” said Sam’s mother gently.
“Inspiration can strike when you least expect it,” added his dad.
Sam waited for inspiration to strike all through dinner. He waited for it as he helped clear the table. He waited for it through his science homework, then math.
Stumped by a division problem, Sam began tapping his pencil. Come on, inspiration. Where are you? he thought.
“You about ready to call it a night, Sam?”
Sam looked up and saw his dad standing in the doorway. “Oh. Uh, sure. Just a few more math problems.”
“Okay,” said his dad. “Nice beat.”
“Beat?” Sam looked down and realized that he was still tapping his pencil against the desk.
“Sounds good. You’re already a better drummer than I was a guitar player,” his dad said.
Sam grinned. Then, all of a sudden, an idea hit him. If he could make a drum out of a pencil and a desk, maybe he and his friends could create other instruments too! Then they could perform a song while showcasing their crafting talents. And they wouldn’t have to sing or dance!
Sam tried to turn his attention back to math, but he kept tapping his pencil excitedly. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends!
Chapter 5
Cereal Boxes and Jingle Bells
At school the next day, Sam shared his idea.
“I love it!” said Emily.
“Ooh, and we’ll need something cool to wear as a band,” said Maddie. “I’m on it!”
“Awesome!” said Bella. “What instruments should we make?”
Just then their teacher walked in.
“Come along, everyone,” said Ms. Gibbons. “We have music first today.”
“Perfect!” whispered Bella as the kids lined up. “Now we can look at everything in the music room and figure out what instruments to make.”
The suggestion sounded simple enough. But there were so many different instruments in the music room: triangles, drums, guitars, shakers, tambourines, and more! The four friends all took note of the instruments and how they might re-create them. They didn’t have a chance to talk about their ideas for the rest of the day, so they were all excited to meet up at Bella’s house later.
“We’ll definitely need a guitar,” said Bella, putting some homemade cookies on a plate for them to take out to the clubhouse. “I took lessons, so I know how to play. I just have to figure out how to make one.”
Sam picked up a wooden spoon from the counter and pretended to play it like a guitar.
“Hey, wait a second!” Emily took the spoon and positioned it by a box of cereal that was nearby. The spoon formed the long neck of the guitar and the box formed its body.
“Awesome!” said Bella. Then she went over to the kitchen recycling bin. “What if instead of the spoon we used this?” She pulled
