Free Molly's Promise by Sylvia Olsen

said.
    Molly took her time. She held the microphone and breathed. It was quiet in her head. She looked out at the little crowd. They wanted her to sing. She waited until she heard music in her brain. She tapped her foot. She found the note. And she began to sing, “ Summertime …”
    When she finished, everyone jumped up and cheered.
    Nell ran onto the stage and hugged Molly. “I can’t believe it. Why didn’t I know you could sing like that?”
    Clarissa turned to Murphy and said, “No wonder you want to manage this girl. You’ve got a star on your hands.”
    â€œOkay,” Murphy said. “Enough! We’ve got business to do here. That was great, Moll. But you have to use the mic more. And remember to stand straight. No slouching. How did you feel up there, Moll?”
    She didn’t want to say, “I love being on the stage.” But that was exactly how she felt. “Okay,” she said. She stepped forward and then back, trying to find the right distance from the microphone.
    â€œHang on, Moll,” he said. “Clarissa, do you have any suggestions?”
    â€œNo,” she said. “Well, I could say two things. Molly’s a star performer, Murphy is a star manager, and these guys in the audience are a star audience. So I’m thinking you guys have a winning team. Let’s hear it for all of you.”
    Everyone clapped.
    Clarissa turned to Molly and said, “Just make that mic part of your body.”
    â€œWe’re ready when you are,” Murphy said.
    Molly put her lips up to the mic. “ I go out walking after midnight, out in the moonlight …”
    The sound reverberated off the walls of the multi-purpose room. Her voice surrounded her like a blanket. It was like the wind, the sun and a rainy day all wrapped in one. She could feel the sound and taste it. She could see its color and shape. It was as if she could reach out and touch her voice. She sang high and low, loud and soft. When she finished, she felt ten feet tall.
    Clarissa shouted, “Oh! My! Goodness! Girl!” and the audience erupted.
    â€œSit down,” Molly said. She pulled the mic out of its cradle. “I can’t sing properly just standing up here. I need to move around.”
    Danny jumped onto the stage and pulled the microphone stand out of the way.
    â€œThanks, Danny,” Molly said. She held the microphone in one hand as if she’d used one all her life. “Now, once more, Mr. Murphy Manager,” she said.
    She walked the stage as she sang. The music was alive—she was alive. She looked out into the dark room. This is for you, Mom, she thought.
    On the way out, Veronica caught up to Molly and said, “You don’t need me playing with you. You don’t need music at all.”
    â€œBut I’d love to try it sometime,” said Molly. “It would be really fun.”
    Paige and the girls were standing outside the multipurpose room, talking in low voices. From their sullen faces, it appeared they had heard Molly sing. Normally Molly would have avoided them. But today she looked first into Paige’s face, then into Dede’s and then Fi’s. They were all silent. And for some reason, the nasty things Paige might have been planning no longer mattered to Molly.
    On her way home from school, Molly thought about her promise and felt okay. One day she would sing to her mom. Just like she had this afternoon.

Chapter Fourteen
    â€œOne more day, Riverside,” Ms. Clarkson said over the PA . “I want all the competitors and their managers to meet in the multipurpose room at 12:15. I have a few announcements from the organizers.”
    By the time Murphy and Molly arrived, the room was almost full.
    Nell shouted, “Over here!” Nell and Danny had saved some seats up front. Paige, Fi and Dede were seated a few rows behind them.
    There were so many people in the room, it was hard to tell who were