The Second Chance of Benjamin Waterfalls by James Bird
Author:James Bird
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Lulu closes her laptop, abruptly ending the song.
She stares at me with a cocky smirk. âSo, you still think I suck?â Lulu asks.
Niimi claps. âNo. Youâre the opposite of suck. I mean, I donât condone slaying dragons or any animals for that matter, but Lulu, you are the perfect medicine for struggling ears.â
âWhat does your assistant think?â Lulu asks, and they both look at me as if I were a judge letting her know if she made it to the next round of a talent competition.
âHonestly ⦠I think ⦠youâre amazing,â I add. âIn a real fight, I think a dragon would defeat you easily, but for a song, it was really good. It definitely belongs on the radio.â
âRight?â Lulu smiles. âAnd this song has a million views. I have two other videos with double that. And next week Iâm supposed to perform at the North House Folk School in front of a room full of music executives flying in from Nashville. Iâve packed my entire life in boxes to move to the Twin Cities. My career is out there, just waiting for me, but I canât ⦠As hard as I try ⦠If thereâs a crowd, my birds wonât fly,â she says.
Niimi approaches her and circles like a vulture. Lulu shifts uncomfortably in her chair, âWhat are you doing?â Lulu asks.
âThinking. Tell me, Lulu ⦠When did you first discover this fear?â
âI used to perform for my parents when I was your age. I loved the attention. Imagine that. Theyâd watch me for hours. Iâd change outfits and lip sync to Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dolly Parton, Radiohead, Sheryl Crow ⦠I knew every song by heart. My mom and dad even helped me with my hair and makeup. Everything was in its right place ⦠But then ⦠at my eighth-grade talent show, the day after my parents separated, I was going to perform a Lady Gaga song, but ⦠I just stood there. I couldnât sing. I was Lady Nada. Nothing came out. And itâs been like that ever since.â
âBut if youâre alone?â Niimi asks.
âIf Iâm alone, I can sing to the moon and back.â
âInteresting ⦠My assistant and I are going to head back to our office andââ
âWe donât have an office,â I add.
âCorrection. My assistant and I are going to take a walk and come up with a game plan. Weâll be back shortly.â
âSo, you think you can fix me?â Lulu asks.
âThereâs nothing to fix, because you are not broken. Thereâs just a villain inside you, and that villain conquered your mind and kicked you offstage. Your songs are held captive somewhere near your throat. But the superhero inside of you is in there too. We just need to wake her up and let them fight it out. Thatâs the only way for your voice to be free,â Niimi says.
I stifle my laughter. Who does this girl think she is?
âMiigwech,â Lulu says, her voice soft with relief. âYour mother bloomed my uncle a few years ago.
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