Light Up New York

by Natalie Grant

  “It would have been impossible to do the . . .” Maddie glanced over her shoulder to see if anyone was listening, and then raised her eyebrows to say, “You know. Tonight.”

  “Yeah, I’m glad we chose the story,” Mia said.

  “Shhh!” Lulu hushed them.

  Mia grinned. “It’s okay. No one knows what we’re talking about. And no one’s listening.”

  “I didn’t think we were going to solve this one,” Maddie said. “I thought we’d have to break our mystery-solving streak, for sure.”

  “And we wouldn’t have solved the mystery if you hadn’t spotted Shantell, Lulu,” Mia added.

  Lulu gave a little curtsy. “You’re welcome. It was probably because I had the detective kit. Thanks to you.”

  “Girls, do you want to go around the side to see the candles?” Mom asked. “I’ll be up on stage, but Miss Julia can take you around to watch and then make sure you’re backstage in time for your song.”

  “Yes, yes, yes!” Lulu said, clapping her hands.

  “Yes!” Mia echoed. She’d been waiting all week to see the candles. It was Light Up New York Week, after all.

  Mom kissed each of them, and then headed for the stage. Miss Julia led them out of the backstage area. The crew had set up a small platform off to the side where people could see the stage and the entire Square. Mia looped her arm through Maddie’s as the band struck the first chord. Soon, music filled Times Square.

  “Look!” Maddie pointed to the far distance, where pinpricks of light could now be seen. As the crowd slowly approached, with people holding their votives out in front of them, the light crowded out the darkness. Soon, Times Square flickered and glowed, filled with light and warmth and people.

  “What do you think it would feel like,” Maddie asked, “if you lived on the streets, and you were cold and lonely, and then you saw . . . this?”

  Mia blinked hard, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “I think I’d start to have hope. At least a little bit. I’d start to hope things could be better.”

  “Me too,” Maddie said.

  “Me three,” Lulu piped up, pushing her way into the middle.

  They relinked arms, with Lulu in the middle. The girls stood, letting the music wash over them, watching the candle flames flicker and dance.

  “They lit up New York,” Maddie said, as the song ended.

  “They did,” Mia agreed.

  “Are you ready to go sing, girls?” Miss Julia asked.

  “Time to sparkle and shine!” Lulu said.

  “Time to sparkle and shine,” Mia and Maddie echoed, the light of hundreds of flames dancing in their eyes.