Sunset: 4 (Sunrise) by Karen Kingsbury Read Free Book Online Page A

she turned to Katy. “I met this girl. She’s new. Anyway, she’s in the next group, and she’s really nice. Her name’s Sarah. I think she really needs this. I’ll tell you more later.” She gave Katy a hug. As she pulled away, she whispered, “Just thought you should know.”
    Katy watched Bailey return to her seat. She loved that about the Flanigans and so many of the CKT kids. They truly cared about their peers. Bailey seemed unconcerned about the obvious competition between herself and the new girl and only wanted Katy to know that beyond this new girl’s ability to sing, there might be a greater reason to cast her.
    Halfway through the next set of ten kids, a petite girl with dark blonde hair took the stage. She smiled at the judges, and in her eyes Katy saw confidence and determination. “I’m Sarah Nordlund. I’m fourteen, and I’ll be singing ‘Home’ from Beauty and the Beast .”
    The song was a tough one, an unforgiving ballad that would reveal exactly how trained Sarah was as a singer. Katy uttered a silent prayer that she could pull off the number since Bailey seemed to believe it mattered deeply for the girl to be cast in the show.
    The music began, and partway into the first line, Sarah froze, her words forgotten. She hung her head. “Sorry. I already know the drill—no second chances.” Then she turned and started walking off the stage.
    No second chances? Katy wanted to pull the girl into her arms and soothe away her doubts. “Wait!”
    Sarah stopped and looked up. “Yes?”
    “CKT is all about second chances.” Katy smiled and hoped it might calm Sarah’s anxious heart. “Do you know the song?”
    “Yes.” Sarah shrugged. “I just blanked out.”
    “Okay, then.” Katy nodded to June at the piano. “Let’s try it again.”
    Sarah returned to center stage, appearing a little less confident than before. But when the music began, this time she remembered every word. The song grew and built, and Sarah hit the high notes with a clear voice that was right on key.
    After every audition, the kids in the room always applauded. Sometimes when the student auditioning was someone the CKT kids knew well—like Bailey or Connor—there would be an especially loud applause. But when Sarah finished her song, the room erupted into the loudest cheering since the auditions began.
    “Thank you, Sarah.” Katy marked the callback box on the girl’s form.
    Sarah’s expression shouted her gratitude. Katy had a feeling she was going to like Sarah Nordlund and that this was the first of many future auditions for her.
    The creative team focused on the next girl taking the stage. Later, when auditions were over, Katy would find out what Bailey knew of Sarah Nordlund.
    As it turned out, she didn’t have to wait that long. During the break, while Dayne and the others at the table were in the lobby getting water, Sarah came up to Katy. “Am I allowed to talk to you for a sec?”
    “Sure.” Katy adjusted her chair so she could see her better.
    “Okay, well . . . thanks for that. For letting me have a second chance.”
    Katy melted. “Honey, of course. Everyone forgets the words once in a while. We want everyone to succeed.”
    Sarah squirmed a little. “I’m . . . I’m an ice skater. Competitive figure skating.” She shook her head. “No second chances there.”
    “Oh. I see.” She smiled. “Well, I’m glad it worked out for you.”
    “Something else.” Sarah seemed nervous. “I’m a type 1 diabetic.” She wrinkled her nose. “I hate it, you know? ’Cause I just wanna be like other kids.” A sparkle came to her eyes. “So, thanks. What you did . . . it meant a lot.”
    As Sarah hurried off toward the others, Katy was overcome by a flood of emotions. Sarah might’ve needed CKT, but on this day—when Katy had walked away from a life of making movies and being on the big screen—she was the one who needed Sarah. Without knowing it, the girl had given confirmation that