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“I knew it could have been only you. Madame Meritta, this is my little star, Orphelia Bruce. Orphelia has been an admirer of yours for quite some time.”
    Madame Meritta held out her golden-gloved hand. Orphelia stared at it until Miz Rutherford cleared her throat. Taking a deep breath, Orphelia took the entertainer’s hand in both of hers and shook it vigorously.
    â€œI am Orphelia Bruce,” she said slowly, “and I have the ut-ut-utmost pleasure of … of making your acquaintance. And I thank you for honoring us with … with your presence. I love your music and you’re so beautiful and I want to be just like you,” she finished in a rush. “And I hope you won’t get mad because I was playing secular music in church, Miz Rutherford.”
    â€œAs if it was the first time?” Miz Rutherford was still smiling. “Madame Meritta, Orphelia wants to sing and perform professionally. But we’d like for her to stay right here with us forever.”
    â€œOrphelia, your voice is beautiful. Why aren’t you in the talent show?”
    When Orphelia hesitated, Miz Rutherford spoke up. “Family reasons.”
    â€œMiz Madame, I love brass band music, and musical theater and minstrel shows, and of course religious music, and I’m so glad you don’t sing songs that make fun of colored folks and you don’t blacken up your face with burnt cork like those other minstrel groups do.” She made herself stop and take a breath.
    â€œThank you. I’ve always thought it was degrading to smear that stuff on our faces when we were already Negro. You are exactly the kind of musician that I would love to have in my show. Such passion!” Gently pulling her hand from Orphelia’s, she turned to Miz Rutherford. “She’s so much more talented than any child in my talent shows so far.”
    â€œYes, yes, yes!” Orphelia jumped and clapped her hands, then pressed them over her heart. Oh, Lord, you heard my prayers! “Would you tell this to my mother and father?”
    â€œLet’s wait until after the show,” Miz Rutherford said. “Intermission’s nearly over, and Madame Meritta needs to get back to judging. Isn’t this wonderful, Orphelia? You wanted to meet her, and you have! The Lord works in mysterious ways.”
    Orphelia proudly led Miz Rutherford and Madame Meritta from the church into the throngs of people, noting that everybody—especially Momma and Pearl, Clementine, and the Hannibal Twins—was staring at them. “And be sure and tell your mother that I brought Madame Meritta to you, ” Miz Rutherford whispered. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.” Orphelia nodded.
    She made her way back to their pew. “Miz Rutherford introduced me to Madame Meritta, and she wants to meet you and Poppa,” she told Momma.
    â€œNow isn’t that nice,” said Poppa. Momma just said, “Hmmmm.”
    Orphelia hardly noticed the rest of the show. After it ended, Madame Meritta deliberated, and Grand Master Roberts announced the winners. Clementine and Ambrose won third place, and the cellist won second. They all came up onstage when their names were called and received their prizes from Madame Meritta.
    First place, as Orphelia had expected, went to the Hannibal Twins. Madame Meritta gave them an envelope and whispered something in their ears. Then she asked the parents of all of the participants to stand, and they did.
    Madame Meritta walked to the front of the stage. “In the course of my visit here, I happened to hear a truly gifted young lady sing, and I was so impressed with her magnificent voice and piano playing that I must find some way to acknowledge her. You all have heard her perform before in the area. Her name is …” and she hesitated, turning to Miz Rutherford.
    Momma reached across Pearl and Poppa and tapped Orphelia on the arm. “What’s going on