Free Rising Star by Cindy Jefferies

scared! ”
    Danny ducked as her flailing arms nearly hit him. “I’m sorry,” he begged, ducking another blow. “It was all I could think of to help you find your voice. We thought you’d shout because you were angry at the trick, not because you really thought Ben was in danger.”
    Chloe took a deep, shuddering breath. “Of course I didn’t realize it was a trick,” she said, her voice wobbling. “He’s only little, and I thought he might drown ... ” Her voice trailed off, and she began to sob in earnest.
    Lolly and Pop put their arms around her. Danny looked to Marmalade for help.
    â€œDon’t cry, Chloe,” Marmalade told her, trying to sound upbeat. “He really is all right. We’re all sorry we scared you so much, but it did work. You have found your voice.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll be able to sing at the next concert,” Danny added.
    Pop let go of Chloe in a panic.
    â€œThe concert!” she gasped.
    Lolly ignored her sister. She gave Chloe another hug and then took hold of her arm. “Come on,” she urged. “You’re frozen and you’ve had a bad scare. Let’s get you back to Paddock House so you can change.”
    Chloe’s friends were chilled to the bone as well. Pop and Lolly’s dresses seemed intact, but even though they weren’t torn, they had been splashed horribly with muddy water. The gauzy fabric hung in rags, the jewel colors dulled. And their delicate shoes looked ruined. Marmalade and Danny were as soaked as Chloe with the battle they’d had to drag her out of the lake. Long strings of green weed slimed all over their sodden jeans, and their tennis shoes would never be the same again.
    Chloe’s heart was still thumping with the scare she’d had but, slowly, her fury at her friends for tricking her was giving way to relief that Ben really was safe. Her anger faded even more as she realized why they’d done it. Even though their trick had gotten out of control, they’d done it all for her. And on this, of all days, when they needed to be thinking about the concert.
    â€œThank you,” she said quietly. Then she remembered, and sang it for them. “Thank YOU!” Her voice soared. The sound poured out of her lungs, pure and sustained. She could feel the power deep inside her. This was what she had lost and her friends had helped her find. She looked at their pale faces; they were all still watching her with such worried expressions.
    â€œWell, go on!” she urged them, relief making her almost gleeful. “You’d better go and get ready, shouldn’t you? Your parents will be waiting for their lunch, and then it’s the concert!”

15.
    Chloe’s Voice
    Back at school, they all parted company. Everyone needed hot showers and dry clothes, but even though she was dripping wet, Chloe wanted to tell someone her news. She pushed her way through the crush of parents, students, and teachers in the main hall. There he was, Judge Jim Henson, talking to an elderly woman who looked very elegant in bright clothes and matching headdress. He caught sight of Chloe and raised his eyebrows. She must have looked a strange sight in her dripping clothes.
    â€œI’ve got my voice back!” she told him happily. “I can sing again!”
    Judge Jim’s face lit up and he nodded slowly. He smiled at his companion and said, “This here is young Chloe Tompkins, Joan. She is either up or down, this child. There’s nothing in between. Just now, as you can see, she’s up. Joan is a singer too, Chloe. She’s been singing for more years than you can imagine.”
    â€œWhy, Jim, that’s not very complimentary for a lady,” Joan teased him. Judge Jim just smiled, crinkling his face into even more wrinkles. “Pleased to meet you, Chloe,” Joan went on, holding her hand out for Chloe to shake. “It looks as if you’ve