Phoebe Finds Her Voice by Anne-Marie Conway Read Free Book Online

to get up on that stage and sing in front of everyone.”
    â€œStop stressing, Phoebs; you’ve got a brilliant voice.”
    â€œOkay, listen up, everyone,” Miss Howell called out, before I could say anything else – like what’s the point of having a brilliant voice if the only place you can sing is locked inside your own bedroom, or on a different planet?
    â€œAs soon as you’ve finished eating, I want you to make a line of chairs in front of the stage.
    â€œRemember,” she said, when we were all sitting down. “This is the song Sabine sings about all the ingredients she would need from the factory to mix her perfect dream. When you’re up on the stage performing I really want to believe that you are Sabine – all alone without a friend in the world. I want you to make me cry!” She looked along the line. “Now who’s brave enough to go first?”
    Sam said she was, no surprises there, and ran round the back. She pulled the thick, metal cord and, inch by inch, almost in slow motion, the blue velvet curtains swung open and the stage stretched out behind her.
    Nearly all the girls had a go even though it was obvious some of them were scared – maybe even as scared as me. I kept repeating to myself over and over, “I’ll go next, Miss Howell, I’ll go next, Miss Howell,” but each time someone finished their turn, the words got stuck in my throat and I couldn’t get them out. I felt like I was on death row or something, waiting to be executed.
    When Monty B got up for his turn, he pretended to be Sabine, prancing about the stage and singing in a really high-pitched girly voice.
    â€œWhat on earth are you doing, Monty B?” Miss Howell called out. “I didn’t mean make me cry with laughter !” He did a few more dainty turns on his tiptoes and then a sort of ballet leap across the stage, disappearing behind the curtain with a crash.
    Next up was Catharine, and as soon as she started to sing everyone fell completely silent. Catharine is easily the prettiest and nicest girl in the whole group. She’s in Year Eight, and not only is she totally gorgeous with these dark blue eyes and short pixie hair, but she’s also got the most amazing voice. It seemed to fill the whole room and, sitting there listening to her, I knew there was no way I could get up and sing by myself.
    I started to feel strange, like I was going to faint, or be sick. I tried to remember how well I’d sung round at Dad’s but it was as if it had never happened. I tried to imagine standing on the stage with a great big Razzle Dazzle Smile on my face but it was hopeless. I didn’t know what to do. Was I supposed to look miserable or smile? Miss Howell said make me cry, but I could literally hear Donny telling me to stick a smile on my face . How was I supposed to get up on that great big stage – by myself – and look sad and smile and sing when I couldn’t even breathe properly?
    Finally, everyone who wanted to sing by themselves had had their go, except for me. “Is there anyone else before we get on to the acting auditions?” Miss Howell called out from the front. She looked right at me.
    â€œPhoebe?”
    And that’s when I did it. I couldn’t stop myself. I opened my mouth, stretched back my lips and smiled. I showed all my teeth – every single one – just like Donny said. I thrust my head forward and stretched my lips even further until they were practically touching my ears.
    Miss Howell lurched towards me. “What’s the matter, Phoebe?” she cried. “Are you feeling okay?”
    â€œYes!” I shouted. “I’m fine. I just want to sing. I want to be Sabine. I’ve dreamed about being Sabine. I know I can do it; I’ve got a really good voice. Give me a chance, Miss Howell, please .”
    But of course I didn’t actually say anything at all – I just sat there