Free Claudia and the Genius on Elm Street by Ann M. Martin Page A

face, then her hands. The camera on the crane swung above her. I don't know how she could keep concentrating.
    But she didn't make one mistake. Then, after the song was over and we cheered our lungs out, she sat down again. This time she played a slow ballad from a Broadway show, and sang along. She never looked at her fingers. She'd sing facing one camera, then smoothly look at another. Somehow she always knew which one she was on.
    I felt so proud of her!
    After her number, the Wilders and I practically leaped to our feet. I shouted "Brava!" and whistled.
    Uncle Dandy made some dumb closing remarks, and soon the overhead lights were turned on again. As we stood up, the per-
    formers began filing back into the studio.
    There were hugs and kisses all over the place. I practically smothered Rosie. "You were so fantastic!" I said.
    "Thanks," she replied with a smile.
    "Wonderful, darling," Mr. Wilder said. "As always."
    "Super!" Mrs. Wilder added.
    "The best!" Ms. Yu said proudly.
    We chatted for awhile. Ms. Yu left to talk to Uncle Dandy, who was wiping his face with a towel.
    Soon a handsome, tanned man with moussed hair approached Rosie and said, "Let me add my congratulations to everyone else's. I'm Raymond Mendez of Mendez Teen 'n' Tiny Talent. Do you have an agent representing you theatrically?" He handed a card to Mrs. Wilder.
    "Yes, I have — " Rosie began.
    But her father cut her off. "I see you have an office in New York," he said.
    "And we're about to open one in L. A.," Mr. Mendez added. "We specialize in juvenile talent."
    "And you have movie contacts?" Mrs. Wilder asked.
    "With all the studios," answered Mr. Mendez.
    The conversation obviously bothered Rosie. "Mom," she said, "I have a contract with Ms. Yu!"
    "Yes, of course, dear," Mrs. Wilder said. "But it's always good to keep your options open. Thank you, Mr. Mendez. We'll keep your card."
    When he was out of sight, Mr. Wilder said softly, "This could be an excellent career move, Rosie. Don't worry about Ms. Yu. Contracts are made to be broken."
    "But Dad — " Mr. and Mrs. Wilder were pulled aside by the parents of Crystal. They didn't hear Rosie say, "I like Ms. Yu!"
    Before long, we said good-bye to Uncle Dandy and headed out to the parking lot. As we drove off, Mr. and Mrs. Wilder launched a conversation about the pros and cons of the Mendez Teen 'n' Tiny Talent agency.
    Rosie and I tuned them out in the backseat. "Rosie, you were so good I practically cried."
    "Yeah?" Rosie said. "It was no big deal. You know, you rehearse it and you do it."
    "How did you know which cameras to look at?" I asked.
    "The one that's on is the one with the red light," she said. "It's easy."
    She looked out the window at the passing shops. I was amazed. She didn't seem to want
    to talk about the show at all. It was as if she'd just finished some semi-interesting chore and wanted to move on to the next thing.
    Suddenly Rosie cried out, "Oooh! Let's stop at that ice cream shop! Can we have a treat? I'm so-o-o-o hungry!"
    Mr. Wilder smiled. "Not tonight, sweetheart. It's getting late, and you have a rehearsal with Mr. Bryan and Ms. Van Cott in the morning for your dinner-theater audition."
    That's when the fireworks began.
    Rosie stomped her feet arid screamed, "But I want ice cream! I don't want to have a'stupid rehearsal!"
    "Rosi-i-i-ie," Mrs. Wilder said. "Behave yourself. You need your sleep if you want your voice to stay in shape."
    "I don't care about my voice! I don'i care about dancing! I don't care about that dumb audition!"
    "I know how you feel, darling/' Mr. Wilder said. "But you're a performer, and performers have to have discipline."
    "That's not what I am!" Rosie was shrieking now. "I'm a kid! I just want to get ice cream like a normal kid!"
    The Wttders just fell silent and kept on driving. Rosie folded her arms and curled into a ball.
    No one said a word during the rest of the trip. I felt so sad for Rosie. I tried to comfort her, but she shrank away from me. So I