Starting a measure before the trouble area, she kept playing the piano and added her comments of what she wanted to fix. Finally, the period ended with the chainsaw bell making people rush out. I stayed in my seat until most of the students were gone. I grabbed my stuff and headed for the door.
"Madeline, dear, come over here, please I would like to have a word with you," Her gentle brown eyes investigated mine while she sat on the computer chair at her desk. She was probably doing her attendance late again.
Timidly I walked over to her.
"You have a beautiful voice, don't be shy. You could have such a strong voice if you just came out of your shell."
Mrs. Cage arms flared out in the open to exaggerate her point yet. Her words made me turn red. I thought I had no problem hiding my voice behind the others; apparently, I wasn't doing it well enough. I could feel the embarrassment across my face realizing she could hear me against the other thirty-nine voices.
"Thank you," I whispered, shifting my weight from one leg to another nervously.
"I want you to do a solo for the concert. I know typically Chamber Choir does the solos, but after going through your schedule, you won't be able to switch into that. Now the solo will be for the concert. Oh, you'll have so much fun with this!" Mrs. Cage spoke with pure excitement as she made her way across the room through the cubbies. She kept all the music in. "I'll be giving this music out tomorrow, but you can have it the day before to go through it. Now here is a pass. Where are you going?"
She took a piece of computer paper out of the printer and started to write out a pass for me while my stomach became uneasy.
"Lunch," I finally answered, then she handed me the paper as I rushed out of there to lunch.
My books were pressed against my chest like a life preserver. My nerves were shaking all over, making my stomach so not ready for lunch. Before I realized it, I was at the lunch table, not sure how I got there. Pulling the chair out with one hand as the other, I placed my books down. Trying to take deep breaths to calm my shaking nerves, I curled into a ball on the chair, not believing what had just happened.
"Madeline?"
I nearly fell off my chair as I turned to look to see who the owner of the voice was. Feeling my heart racing from the shock, I turned to glare at Sawyer.
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?"
I looked into his brown eyes seeing a few specks of green starting to show up. Knowing I couldn't even be mad at him.
"Mrs. Cage wants me to do a solo for the choir concert."
He started to smile.
"Are you serious?"
I just nodded my head.
"You'll do fine."
"She'll do fine with what?" asked Ricky carrying a tray of food while joining the table.
"Our little Maddie just got a solo for the choir concert," answered Sawyer.
"Our little baby is growing up!" Ricky patronized me, causing me to glare at him.
"Well, it's not a whole song, but it's still me singing…by myself…in front of all those people," I spoke, pausing in parts then giving a final shudder.
"Are you telling me you have stage fright?" queried Ricky.
"Yeah, remember every time I've been on a stage has been with Dr. Vodola."
"I don't remember ever hearing you sing or mention doing choir," Ricky commented after taking a bite out of the sub on his tray.
"Don't be offended Ricky, I live with the girl and have yet to hear her sing."
I covered my face in my hands as my elbows rested on the table. I was going to be sick. Why did Mrs. Cage have to pick me to sing? There were so many other people in the choir.
"When is the concert anyway? I'll go with Sawyer to hear you sing."
I was about to open my mouth when Justin sat down across from me.
"What concert and whose singing?" he inquired, looking at everyone at the table.
"Our little Maddie has a solo for the Choir concert. Now Maddie, could you answer my question before he interrupts again?"
"December twentieth, I think."
I started to open my mouth then Sawyer cut in.
"That date sounds familiar," Sawyer said with his face scrunched in confusion.
"I can't think of why it would."
Justin turned to look at Sawyer as if he was crazy for saying that.
"Maddie, when is that dinner?" Sawyer asked slowly.
"December third," I responded with a sigh.
"Are you sure?"
I glared at him.
"Yes, I'm sure! I know every day of that schedule that Dr. Vodola calls my life."
Sawyer shrugged and went back to eating.
"So, what song do you have to sing?" questioned Justin trying to get me to meet his brown eyes.
"I haven't looked at it," I answered; glancing at the folder, I shoved the music into it. "All I know is that Mrs. Cage said she wasn't picking any holiday music because she was sick of people complaining that there wasn't the right balance between the holidays."
Ricky laughed as he took my folder to get the music out. His eyes went a little big then connected with mine.
"This is a major solo piece. You need a nice strong voice for this song."
Justin stared at him in disbelief.
"Why would you know that?" Justin asked, raising an eyebrow at his friend.
"Play nice, Justin, or he won't drive you home. He'll probably put you in the trunk," Sawyer spoke while smiling with Ricky joining him.
Ricky then became serious.
"This is a full solo song, Madeline."
"Are
