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. “So, you still think I suck?” Lulu asks.

Niimi claps. “No. You’re the opposite of suck. I mean, I don’t condone slaying dragons or any animals for that matter, but Lulu, you are the perfect medicine for struggling ears.”

“What does your assistant think?” 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.

“Honestly … I think … you’re amazing,” I add. “In 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.”

“Right?” Lulu smiles. “And this song has a million views. I have two other videos with double that. And next week I’m supposed to perform at the North House Folk School in front of a room full of music executives flying in from Nashville. I’ve packed my entire life in boxes to move to the Twin Cities. My career is out there, just waiting for me, but I can’t … As hard as I try … If there’s a crowd, my birds won’t fly,” she says.

Niimi approaches her and circles like a vulture. Lulu shifts uncomfortably in her chair, “What are you doing?” Lulu asks.

“Thinking. Tell me, Lulu … When did you first discover this fear?”

“I used to perform for my parents when I was your age. I loved the attention. Imagine that. They’d watch me for hours. I’d 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 couldn’t sing. I was Lady Nada. Nothing came out. And it’s been like that ever since.”

“But if you’re alone?” Niimi asks.

“If I’m alone, I can sing to the moon and back.”

“Interesting … My assistant and I are going to head back to our office and—”

“We don’t have an office,” I add.

“Correction. My assistant and I are going to take a walk and come up with a game plan. We’ll be back shortly.”

“So, you think you can fix me?” Lulu asks.

“There’s nothing to fix, because you are not broken. There’s 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. That’s the only way for your voice to be free,” Niimi says.

I stifle my laughter. Who does this girl think she is?

“Miigwech,” Lulu says, her voice soft with relief. “Your mother bloomed my uncle a few years ago.

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