Mrs. Chambers stood. “Please, Tanya. Sit here on the right side of the bench, and you can watch everything I do. I can always use a page turner.”
“Yeah. C’mon,” everyone chorused.
“Oh, all right,” Tanya huffed. “Just this once.”
Chapter six
For the umpteenth time, school is school!” Tanya snapped when Skye asked her how she was doing with new classes at Madison.
The three girls sat in the Chambers’ game room late one Saturday morning, all lined up at the computers along the wall. Brilliant sunlight beamed through two high windows on the wall while the wooden entrance door rattled from the sharp February wind outside.
Skye wrestled with a controller, attacking “Superfly,” her favorite motorcycle game. “Hey, are you two gonna make the honor roll? I’ve been workin’ my head off to get a B in history. Then I’ll make it.”
Morgan had her eyes glued to the screen while she played Battleship online. “Zowie! Down goes your destroyer. You’re sunk, Margie44, whoever you are.” She glanced briefly at Skye and Tanya—then looked back at the game. “I have one minor problem before I get on the honor roll. It depends on what Mrs. Price gives me on my speech this Thursday. If I get a B in English, I’ll make it.”
Tanya relaxed in her chair, calmly moving her mouse button as she read something on the screen. “Well, if you two have to know, I’ve got straight A’s right now. School’s no problem for me. Studying for tests is a piece of cake. Hey, you should see the neat stuff I found out on the Web about mares and foals. There’s tons of stuff here about how to care for them.”
Skye put her whole body into working the controller. “Get back on the road, you idiot!” she yelled at the screen. Somehow, although engrossed in her game, she picked up Tanya’s words. “Mom and Dad have all kinds of books upstairs about breeding. They’ve been into horses for years. Just ask them what you want to know.”
“I’d rather find out myself,” Tanya said smugly. “But I will ask to borrow their books. And the next time we go to the mall, I’m going to buy out the horse section of the bookstore. I have to help Belle and her baby make it through this. I just have to.”
“What’s with you and this horse?” Morgan said, never glancing away from the screen. “It’s like you’re big time obsessed with her or something. When you first came, you said you hated horses, and now all of a sudden, Belle can’t burp without you goin’ crazy.”
Tanya looked at Morgan. “Horses burp?”
“She’s just kidding!” Skye said. “You’d better do lots of reading about horses. You need it.” Skye’s game came to a musical end, and she started another round. “Hey, Tanya, have you tried to call your Aunt Barb yet?”
“Nah, maybe tomorrow,” Tanya said, eyes returning to the screen. “Oh, this stuff is really cool. It shows a foal being born and everything. It tells exactly what to do to help the mare. I’m going to print this out so I have it when the time comes.”
Skye spoke with a scolding tone. “Didn’t Mom say at supper last night that you were definitely supposed to call your aunt today?”
“Hey, get this, Skye, and get it good. I’ll call her when I’m good and ready.”
“Tanya, you’re gonna get it big time from Mom when she finds out. We’re trying to help you.”
“Don’t say we didn’t warn you,” Morgan added. “And don’t play little Miss Innocence when Mrs. C. faces you on her terms.”
“Yeah, and this would be a bad time to get yourself grounded,” Skye said. “Your parents are coming to see you next Saturday, aren’t they? How would you explain that to them?”
“Will you two just cut it out?” Tanya’s tone was sharp. “I wouldn’t have to explain anything because they’d both know it wasn’t be my fault. Nothing is ever my fault. So there!”
“And another thing,” Skye insisted, “don’t get all out of sorts over Belle’s new baby. Doc Gonzalez—and Mom and Dad—will be here when it’s born. They’ll give Belle the best of care.”
Morgan took her hand off the mouse, relaxed back into her wheelchair, and then giggled. “Four games of Battleship is enough for me. I feel a little seasick. Maybe I’ll play a few games of Scrabble, just to get my brain out of water limbo.”
“Hey, down there!” Mrs. Chambers yelled from the top of the stairs. “Lunch is ready. After we eat, Tanya, we can have a voice lesson for a while, if you’d like!”
“Be right there!” Skye answered.
Mrs. Chambers yelled again, “Morgan, do you want Mr. C. to help you with the chair lift, or do you want to go outside and come up the ramp?”
“I’ll come up outside, Mrs. C.,” Morgan said. “There’s no ice or snow out there now, so I won’t slide to Antarctica.”
“Okay,” Mrs. C. said. “I’ll put the casserole out.”
“Casserole. Not again!” Tanya complained. “Whatever happened to steak and baked potatoes?”
“Unreal,” Skye said, gently placing her hand on Tanya’s shoulder. “Keystone Stables’ budget doesn’t allow steak three times a week like you’re used to.”
Tanya pulled away. “Well, even once a week would be a break from the other trash I have to eat!”
After lunch, Mrs. Chambers and Tanya headed to the living room for Tanya’s first voice lesson. Mr. Chambers went downstairs to his computer store/office in the basement, and Skye and Morgan got busy clearing off the table.
“Hey, Mom,” Skye yelled, “can we sit in there and read while you two do your music thing? You know, ‘girl’ time?”
“That’s up to Tanya,” Mrs. Chambers answered. “Some kids get nervous when other people listen to them practice.”
“That won’t bother me in the least,” Tanya yelled from the living room. “If they want to jeopardize their hearing, that’s entirely up to them.”
Mrs. Chambers added, “I certainly hope you girls weren’t planning to do homework. It won’t be very quiet.”
Morgan turned the dishwasher on and headed toward the living room. “Nah, my homework’s done. I’m reading this really neat book about the first seeing eye dog.”
The wheelchair led the parade with Skye, Tippy, and Tyler following. Morgan parked by an end table, and Skye flopped on the sofa. The dogs found comfortable spots on the floor.
“Yeah, my homework won’t take long,” Skye said. “All I have to do is finish a report on Afghanistan. I’ll do that later in my room. I’m reading this really cool story about a deaf boy who gets lost in the wilderness.”
“Okay,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Then all I ask of you two is no talking. Tanya needs to concentrate.”
“No problem,” Skye said, opening her book.
“My lips are zipped.” Morgan giggled and then pulled her hand across her mouth.
Mrs. Chambers sat on the right side of the bench with Tanya sitting next to her. “Now let’s pray and ask the Lord to help you do your best. Then we’ll review your first scales.”
Mrs. Chambers said a short prayer, and then Skye and Morgan started reading. Skye’s mind drifted in and out of her book while catching all the action at the piano. Tanya, you can be so cool when you want to be, she thought.
Mrs. Chambers switched on the digital piano. “Now remember, Tanya, singing or playing any instrument is a gift from God. I’m so glad you’re willing to try. Just have patience with yourself. You won’t master it overnight. I’ve been playing the piano for years.”
“Can I try singing that neat song you all were playing the other night?” Tanya asked. “I think it was ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine.’ ”
“That will all come soon enough,” Mrs. Chambers said. “For now you need to learn how to handle your voice and how to hit certain notes in beginner’s scales. Once we figure out your range, then we can start with some simple praise tunes. Now, let’s see you sit nice and straight and use your diaphragm to breathe. Okay, let’s try the C scale.”
Just as Tanya began, Skye’s and Morgan’s eyes met. Both girls smiled, and Skye gave a
thumbs-up sign.
“Very good,” Mrs. Chambers said to Tanya. “Now try your G scale slowly. You might not know this, young lady, but God has given you a beautiful voice. And you’re picking up these scales beautifully.”
“This is surprising me too,” Tanya said. “I just never sang much. There was nothing to sing about.” She went up and down her G scale.
“Good, Tanya,” Mrs. Chambers said. “Now try it three more times. And don’t tense up. That strains your voice, and you’ll screech like a barn owl. Take it easy,” Mrs. Chambers said lightly. “Enjoy yourself. This is supposed to be fun.”
“Okay,” Tanya said, repeating the scale. “That’s cool,” she said when she was finished.
“Tanya, I’d like to hear you sing something simple out of my book. I suppose since you’ve never gone to church much, you don’t know any hymns or praise tunes, do you?” Mrs. Chambers asked.
“Not really,” Tanya said. “But I really liked that one the group did during their practice. One thing I am good at is remembering how something sounds. Can we try that one?”
“Yeah, Mom,” Skye interjected. “Let her try ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine.’ I know you have the words there.”
“We can help by singing along—that is, if Tanya needs a backup group,” Morgan said, giggling.
Mrs. Chambers turned sharply toward Skye “You are supposed to be reading, young lady.” Then she looked at Morgan and smiled. “You too!”
“Oops, sorry,” Morgan said and then lightly slapped her hand across her mouth.
“Sorry,” Skye added.
Mrs. Chambers turned to the piano, then back toward the girls. “Aw, that’s all right, girls. If Tanya doesn’t mind, you two can join in. With her beautiful soprano voice, maybe we can work up some kind of trio for the missions conference as well. What do you say, Tanya?”
“Cool,” Tanya said, “even though it will be in church.”
Skye flopped her book on the sofa and stood behind Tanya. While Mrs. Chambers flipped through her chorus book, Morgan parked to the right of the bench.
“Let’s see, ‘Shine, Jesus, Shine.’ Here it is, girls, and it’s written in three-part harmony,” Mrs. Chambers said. “With the range of your voices, this should work out very nicely. Now, Tanya, you just sing the melody.”
“Okay,” Tanya said. “This is so cool.”
Skye nudged Morgan in the shoulder, giving her another thumbs-up sign and a big, wide smile.
Chapter seven
At noon the next Saturday, at a steakhouse near the mall, Mr. and Mrs. Chambers and Skye sat with Tanya and her parents.
Mr. Chambers wiped his mustache with a napkin. “It was very nice of you to invite us all to lunch, Dr. and Mr. Bell.”
“Please call me Roger,” the man across the table answered. “Chloris and I are more than glad to treat you before we visit Keystone Stables.” He took a sip of water.
Munching on a hamburger and fries, Skye studied the husky man with broad shoulders. His tight curly hair was short and boring, she decided, and there was too much gray above his ears. But his dark eyes were awesome. His soft, deep voice sounded like the Christian disc jockey who played relaxing music at three o’clock in the morning. Cool, Skye thought. Too cool.
Dr. Bell’s ruby red lips graced a cup of coffee. “Where’s Morgan?”
“Oh, she had an emergency yearbook meeting at school,” Skye said. “She wanted me to tell you that she was sorry she couldn’t make it, but she’d probably see you at Keystone later this afternoon.”
Tanya sat between her parents, zeroing in on her food. At last, she was enjoying her steak and baked potato.
Mrs. Chambers finished a bite of her salad, then her eyes focused on Mr. Bell. “Roger, I understand that you are away from home quite a lot.”
Mr. Bell casually rubbed the back of his neck. “Yes, as much as I hate it, it’s my job.”
“What exactly is your line of work?” Mr. Chambers asked.
“I own a building supply company in South Philly,” Mr. Bell answered. “We supply contractors who do large projects like skyscrapers and factory shells. Unfortunately, I have to spend a lot of time on the road or in the air making contacts with clients. I just returned from California.”
“He’s never home,” Tanya mumbled through a mouthful of food. “Neither is Mother.”
Dr. Bell played with her baked potato. “Tanya, we’ve been over this a thousand times.”
“Now, Baby,” Mr. Bell said, “you know we can’t help it. We have to work so you can have nice things.”
“But do you have to work all the time?” Tanya growled.
Skye’s glance darted around the table like she was watching a tennis match.
Mr. Chambers changed the subject. “Well, even though Tanya’s been with us only a few weeks, I think you’ll both be pleased with her progress.” He turned to Skye. “You’re such good friends. Don’t you think this is accurate?”
“Yeah,” Skye agreed, “she’s not hibernating in her room anymore since she got interested in Southern Belle and started singing.”
“Southern Belle?” Mr. Bell asked. “Is that a TV program?”
“Singing?” Dr. Bell asked.
“Southern Belle’s a horse, Father,” Tanya declared.
“A horse?” Tanya’s parents raised their voices in unison.
“Yes, a horse,” Tanya said.
“Since when do you like horses—or any animals for that matter?” Dr. Bell looked squarely at her daughter. “And what’s this about singing?”
“Yes, tell us,” Mr. Bell said, reaching over and patting Tanya’s hand.
Tanya grabbed her glass of soda as though her father’s hand had never touched her.
“This is a new you,” he said with enthusiasm. “Have you learned to ride too?”
Tanya sipped her drink. “I will in the spring when the ice and snow are gone.”
Mrs. Chambers worked the knife and fork on her steak. “Tanya’s really interested in caring for the horse because Southern Belle is going to foal in the spring. When Tanya’s not doing homework, she’s down at the barn. Oh, speaking of school, tell your parents how it’s going.”
“Straight A’s,” Tanya said between bites of potato.
“That’s the way,” Mr. Bell said. “Chloris, I told you she’d keep those grades up in her new school. You did all that worrying for nothing.”
Dr. Bell sipped more coffee and sampled her salad. “Have you made any friends?” she asked.
“Nah, not really. They’re not my style,” Tanya spouted off.
I guess that includes me, Skye surmised. “Hey, Tanya, what about the kids in our Youth for Truth group—and the music ensemble?” Skye gave Tanya a quick smile.
“Oh, yeah,” Tanya said like she had deliberately forgotten. “They’re all right, I guess.”
Mr. Chambers smiled. “Tanya, please tell your mother about your singing lessons before she has a cardiac right here in the restaurant.”
“You’re taking singing lessons?” Dr. Bell asked, surprise written all over her face.
Tanya cut another piece of steak and took her time chewing it.
Mrs. Chambers’ words flowed out of her as she looked at Tanya. “This is the biggest surprise of all. This young lady has a wonderful gift from God. Tanya, go on. Tell them.”
Tanya finished chewing and then guzzled a big drink of soda. “Oh, all right,” she finally said, “but I still don’t see what the big deal is. Mrs. Chambers says I have a really nice voice and that I should keep taking lessons.”
“Well, that’s super, Baby!” Mr. Bell said. “We’ve been wanting you to have an interest in something other than reading—not that there’s anything wrong with reading. But…we…are you going to sing something for us later?”
Dr. Bell agreed. “That is very good news.” She shot her glance from Tanya to Mrs. Chambers. “She’s learned to sing in just a few weeks?”
Mrs. Chambers wiped her mouth with the napkin and pla
ced it back on her lap. “Your daughter has a natural God-given talent, Dr. Bell. With the proper training, she could develop a beautiful style.”
The Bells hung on every word. Tanya chewed delicately and quietly, finishing her baked potato and washing it down with a glass of soda.
Mr. Bell emptied his glass of water. “That’s great,” he said. “If you really like singing, when you come home you may take all the singing lessons you want. Would you like that?”
Tanya shrugged, never looking at her father.
Tanya, when will you ever appreciate what you have? Skye wondered.
“Miss,” Dr. Bell said, flagging down a passing waitress. “More coffee, please.” She turned back to the table. “Neither Roger nor I have any musical interests except to play CDs and the radio. It would be quite interesting to find out if anyone else in Tanya’s family is musically inclined. Mrs. Chambers, you say she has a—how did you put it—a God-given talent?”
“Absolutely!” Mrs. Chambers said.
The waitress brought a pot of coffee and refilled Dr. Bell’s cup. “Anyone else?” she asked.
All declined.
“Thank you,” Dr. Bell said, refocusing on the discussion. “After we’re finished at Keystone Stables, we plan to visit Tanya’s aunt Barb. Tanya can ask her about any singing talent in the family.”
Tanya just shrugged.
Dr. Bell continued, “Well, when we get back to Philly, I’ll call Tanya’s grandmother. If anyone knows anything about that family, it would be her.”
“Father,” Tanya said, perking up in her chair and flashing her eyes at her dad, “can we go to the bookstore before you leave?”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“I’m looking for books about horses, especially pregnant ones.”
“Maybe your mother could help you. That is her line of work,” he answered.
“Not really.” Dr. Bell chuckled. “I might have worked on some old gray mares and young fillies, if you know what I mean, but never on a real horse.”
Everyone joined in the laughter except Tanya.
Mr. Bell’s laughter reminded Skye of the Santa at the mall in December. Double cool, she thought.
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