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hoped Murphy was right and that her mom would understand. If Molly wanted to sing, people would hear her. The idea both terrified and excited her.

    As soon as the boys jumped off the bus Monday morning, Molly knew Murphy hadn’t kept his promise not to tell.
    â€œAmazing Mollgirl,” Albert said. “Can I have your autograph?”
    Jeff jumped off the bus next and said, “Molly, you are going to be a star.”
    Danny followed Jeff. “I hope you’re not singing stupid songs from some old dead singer,” he said. “Who’s going to want to listen to that?” Obviously, Murphy had told him about Molly’s favorite song, “Summertime.”
    By the time Murphy got off the bus, Molly was furious.
    â€œYou promised,” she said. “Why did you have to tell them?” She turned and stomped toward the school.
    Murphy and Jeff ran to catch up with her. “It’s okay,” Jeff said. “We’re going to help you.”
    â€œOh, sure you are,” she said, looking at Jeff through watery eyes. “I don’t need help like yours.”
    â€œYes, you do,” Murphy said. “You need an audience to practice in front of.” He turned to the others. “Billie Holiday might be dead, but she’s still famous. She started singing when she was a teenager. She never had any professional training. The songs she sang are perfect for Molly’s voice.”
    Molly looked at Murphy in amazement. “How do you know so much about Billie Holiday?” she asked.
    â€œI Googled her,” he said. “Mom and I watched as many of her YouTube videos as we could.”
    â€œYou got your mom involved?” Molly asked.
    â€œMom said she’d be your costume designer,” Murphy said. “And by the way, Moll, I didn’t promise I wouldn’t tell anyone. You asked me not to tell— that’s different.”
    â€œThank your mom for me,” Molly said. “But I don’t need a new outfit.”
    â€œOh no, you don’t need nothing—no practice, no costume, no help—’cause you are soooo good,” Danny said.
    Albert told Danny to shut up, but then he said, “Danno’s right, Molly. How do you expect to win if you won’t let anyone help you?”
    â€œI don’t care if I win,” she said. “I just want to sing for people.”
    â€œThat’s not good enough,” Murphy said. “You are a great singer. It’s a cop-out to say you don’t care about winning.”
    Murphy usually had a way of setting Molly straight without getting her angry. This time it didn’t work.
    â€œIt’s not a cop-out,” she said. “You don’t understand.”
    Murphy and the boys shrugged their shoulders.
    â€œDon’t ask me what she’s thinking,” Murphy said.
    â€œI told you she’s crazy,” Danny said.
    Maybe I am crazy, Molly thought, if I want to sing but I don’t want anyone to hear me. Why am I entering the competition? Why did I break my promise to my mom? It was better when I sang to myself.

Chapter Nine
    â€œGood wonderful morning, Riverside,” Ms. Clarkson said. “Fourteen talented Riverside students have entered the Valley Talent Competition. Way to go. Clarissa Eng, a dance teacher from Vancouver, will be in the multipurpose room at lunch today. She will talk about how to make the best of your performance. All the contestants and their managers are invited to attend. Bring your lunch and listen up.”
    Murphy gave Molly a thumbs-up from two desks in front of her. She frowned, shook her head and mouthed the words, “I don’t want to go.”
    She imagined Paige and her friends hogging Clarissa Eng’s attention. And besides, Molly couldn’t think of one thing a dancer would know about singing.
    Paige can win, for all I care, Molly said to herself. But the truth was, Molly hated the thought of Paige