Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur Is NOT a SINGER!

by Luke Sharpe

  “Nice to meet you all,” says Arthur.

  I instantly like Arthur. Okay, maybe I don’t like that he gives Dad some pretty bad cooking ideas, but I like how comfortable he makes me feel. I’ve known Arthur for all of two seconds, and I already feel like he’s easy to talk to. I hope he’s just as good at singing!

  “And this is Sarina Brown,” says Gemma, pointing to a girl who seems to be about my age. “She’s a makeup artist.”

  Emily’s face lights up, though it’s a bit hard to see behind her hat!

  “I subscribe to all of your beauty videos,” she says. “I love them! Especially when your dog makes a guest appearance. Like when you let him sniff out which lipstick you should wear!”

  Sarina smiles. “Copper always chooses the best lipstick,” she says. “And I’m always happy to meet a fan.”

  “I can’t wait to hear you sing!” Emily tells her.

  I’m about to ask just how Copper can help Sarina sniff out makeup since I’m pretty sure she doesn’t use the CAT-DOG TRANSLATOR, when Gemma leads us away, this time to a tall kid dressed in a glittery shirt. He leaps up from the couch, spins on his toes, then extends his hand.

  “Meet Marcus Rebu,” Gemma says, seeming to be as surprised by Marcus’s little spin move as the rest of us are. “He’s a backup dancer for Dustin Peeler.”

  “Very nice to meet you all,” says Marcus, spinning back in the other direction.

  I can see Manny’s mom, who is a podiatrist, stare at his feet. It’s like she has a zoom-in camera on them.

  “You can make your feet more flexible by giving your toes a workout, like picking up pencils or ANCHOVIES off the floor!” she says all too cheerfully for someone talking about both feet and anchovies.

  Marcus smiles at her kindly, but poor Manny’s face turns bright red.

  “One more contestant for you guys to meet,” says Gemma, sensing the awkward interaction afoot.

  She leads us around a corner in the green room. There, sitting on a wooden chair at a desk jotting down notes, is none other than NAT DEFINITE!

  “Hey, guys!” says Nat. “Long time no see, huh?”

  I’m stunned. No, stunned doesn’t even begin to cover it. I’m . . . I’m whatever is more stunned than stunned.

  “You’re singing?” I ask.

  “Yup, why not?” Nat says. “I guess all the publicity from our invisibility product helped me earn a place in this competition.” Then she turns and looks right at Manny. “Hi, Manny. It’s wonderful to see you.”

  Manny waves meekly. I can tell he is also not happy to see Nat here.

  I wish Nat wouldn’t be so obvious about her crush on Manny—especially with other people around.

  Then I think of something else. Is it fair for Manny and me to be judges since we know one of the contestants? But then again, Gemma personally invited Manny and me to judge, so it’s probably okay. . . .

  Speaking of Gemma, she puts her arms around Manny and me.

  “Let’s go meet the judges,” she says. “Everyone else, make yourself comfortable here in the green room. Help yourself to some snacks.”

  Mom, Dad, Dr. Reyes, Mr. Reyes, and Emily eye one another, then dive right into the colorful jelly beans on the counter.

  As I follow Gemma out of the green room, I feel a bit confused. Gemma’s e-mail said there were going to be six contestants, but we’ve only met four. Maybe the other two haven’t gotten here yet?

  Manny and I follow Gemma back to the studio. The far wall has a long table. Two people are sitting there beside one empty chair.

  “Billy, Manny, these are the judges,” Gemma says. “Meet Dustin Peeler.”

  Dustin, who has close-cropped blond hair, reaches over and shakes my hand.

  “Nice to see you again, Team Sure Things, Inc.,” Dustin says.

  We met Dustin when we were guests on the TV show Better Than Sleeping! We found out at that time that he was a big fan of the All Ball. Okay, so I guess it’s all right if we know Nat, because Dustin definitely knows his backup dancer, Marcus. That makes me feel better.

  “And our next judge is Nicholas Campbell,” Gemma says. “He writes for all the TOP MUSIC MAGAZINES.”

  Nicholas nods in our direction but doesn’t say a word. I’ve heard of Nicholas Campbell. He has a reputation for being a really tough critic. He also doesn’t seem friendly at all. I get a feeling I’m not really going to like working with this guy.

  That’s when I notice that there is only one empty chair at the judges’ table, and—based on the giant sign that says GEMMA—that one’s for Gemma.

  “Um,” I say nervously, pointing to the table. Has there been a mistake? Are we not going to be on the TV show after all? I start to feel a pit forming in my stomach.

  “Where do Manny and I sit?” I ask.

  Gemma tilts her head and looks at us strangely.

  “What do you mean?” she says.

  Gemma looks into my confused face and her eyes widen. It’s like the answer has suddenly become clear.

  “Oh!” she says, laughing hard now. I can’t help but think, What’s so funny? Was this all a prank? What’s going on?

  “Billy, you two aren’t guest judges,” Gemma says in between laughs.

  “We’re not?”

  Worst fear: CONFIRMED!

  “Then why are we here?”

  “You two are contestants!” Gemma announces.

  Billy Sure, Singer???

  I LOOK OVER AT MANNY. He’s already staring at me in shock.

  Contestants? Us? Contestants?

  No, no, no . . . I do not sing. I can’t sing. I’m a terrible singer. Asking me to sing is like asking Philo to do my homework. It’s just a mistake.

  “I don’t know about this, Gemma,” I say. “I’m not really a good singer.”

  “None of the celebrities are professional singers,” Gemma points out. “They’re here, like you guys, to help out, have some fun, and raise money for charity.”

  I look at Manny. He tilts his head and raises his eyebrows.

  I know that look. It means: She does have a point.

  Then I remember Gemma’s e-mail about the rules, and another unpleasant thought pops into my head!

  “But only one person can win Sing Out and Shout,” I say. “Does that mean Manny and I will have to compete against each other?”

  Gemma nods. “Yup. Only one person can be the winner.”

  Mayday. MAYDAY!

  I’m starting to get really nervous here.

  “Well, in reality you’re both just competing for charity,” Gemma continues, emphasizing the charity part. “And I think the Young Inventors Organization could be the perfect charity for you to donate to, if one of you wins. They’re an organization that helps kids invent. A big donation could really save them—without a donation soon they might have to close down.”

  No pressure, I guess. . . .

  “So it’s all in good fun, and the real winners are the charities, right?” Gemma says, flashing her hundred-watt smile.

  “That makes sense,” Manny agrees. “Don’t you think, Billy?”

  I see immediately that there really is no way out of this. I already told Gemma I’d do it. Manny’s already told newspapers and websites and even the school paper we’d do it. I’m going to have to sing on TV no matter how big a fool I make of myself.

  But I can’t get out any words. So I just nod.

  “EXCELLENT!” says Gemma. “I’ve got a few last minute details to take care of backstage. Why don’t you two join the other contestants in the green room?”

  With that, she turns and hurries away.

  As soon as she disappears from sight, Manny puts his hand on my shoulder.

  “Here’s the thing, Billy,” he says. “Aside from charity, if we both make it to the final round as the last two contestants, it would be some really great publicity for Sure Things, Inc. Much more than if only one of us makes it. Which means we’ll sell a lot more of our products if we both make it to the end.
Doesn’t that make sense?”

  I realize now that Manny has never heard me sing. There’s a reason for that. No one has ever heard me sing except Philo, and he always runs out of the room. Of course, I haven’t heard Manny sing either, but for some reason he doesn’t seem worried about opening his mouth in front of millions of people on TV. Maybe I should be more like Manny. And like Gemma said, it’s all in good fun. . . .

  “I’ll try my best,” I finally say.

  On our way back to the green room, I happen to glance up at the technical booth, where the lighting and sound people make their magic happen. There, chatting with one of the technicians, is Nat.

  It’s weird that a contestant is up there, but I don’t think much else of it.

  By the time Manny and I get back to the green room, Mom, Dad, Manny’s parents, and Emily have left. The production assistant at the door tells me that they went to get seats before the show begins. They will all be watching from the studio audience.

  Yamuna asks all of the contestants to gather round, and we do. She is very short, but knows how to command the room. I’m impressed!

  “Okay, now that we’re all here, let me explain what’s going to happen,” Yamuna says. “I’ll be writing individual songs for each of you, based on who you are, what you do, and your individual personalities.” She smiles. “Just remember, that’s the key word here—personality. None of you are professional singers. That’s not what this show is about. This show is about the viewing audience getting to know you. That’s why we call this reality TV!”

  Well, that makes me feel a little better.

  Yamuna continues. “The first time you appear onstage, the people watching are going to want to see your personality shine through. They’re going to want to meet you in a certain way, as if they are getting an inside glimpse into who their favorite celebrities really are. People always ask me what I do on my days off. This is your opportunity to show them what a day in your life is like. You’ve got to win the audience over before you sing even a single note.”

  Hmm. That makes sense. Maybe if I can get the audience to like me before I sing, they won’t notice how bad a singer I am. And then Manny and I can be the last two contestants standing, and we will be guaranteed to donate the prize money to the Young Inventors Organization!

  “So let’s get started,” Yamuna says. “I’m going to call each of you into the rehearsal studio, one by one, so you can work with me individually on your song. I won’t expect you to remember the lyrics, so they’ll be available karaoke-style on a screen offstage. Manny, why don’t we start with you?”

  Manny steps forward.

  “See ya, partner,” he says to me. “Good luck!” He follows Yamuna into the rehearsal studio.

  Meanwhile, I join Arthur, Sarina, Marcus, and Nat on the cushy green room couches. Everyone is a little quiet.

  “Anyone else nervous about singing?” I ask.

  Good icebreaker, Billy, I think. Way to be MR. COOL.

  “You know, Billy, I never even thought about singing,” Marcus says. “I always focused on my dancing. So, yeah, I guess I am little nervous.”

  “I know what you mean,” I say. “I’m not only competing against my best friend and CFO, but Nat here is also a business partner of mine, as well as a competitor.”

  Everyone stares at me blankly.

  “Um, it’s a long story,” I say.

  “Well, I think singing is a lot like cooking,” says Arthur. “You must think about all the individual ingredients—the tone of your voice, the lyrics of the song, the feel of your costume—all of it. Then, like in a great meal, you must combine these ingredients carefully, and in the right proportions, so that the flavors blend perfectly.”

  I can definitely see why Dad likes this guy. If there’s one thing Dad likes to do it’s mix up individual ingredients—whether they go together or not!

  Sarina speaks next. “I like what Yamuna said about showing your personality. That’s what I try to do when I put makeup on someone. I use colors and shades, not to hide, but to bring out the REAL PERSON. And that’s what I’ll be doing when I sing.”

  Some of the contestants have really been thinking about this. I have no idea what I’m doing or how to show the “real me.” The real me would probably be hunched over my workbench. Or sleep inventing!

  “What about you, Nat?” I ask. “Are you nervous? I mean, you don’t seem like the nervous type.”

  “I’m pretty confident,” Nat admits. “But, you already know that. Why are you nervous, Billy?”

  I really don’t want anyone to know that up until five minutes ago I thought I was going to be one of the judges. That would be embarrassing.

  “Well, I’ve never sung in public before, so I guess that makes me a little nervous,” I admit.

  “Nothing to it,” says Nat. “You just set your mind on what you want and go for it!”

  That’s Nat. Enough confidence for everyone in the room.

  The door to the rehearsal studio opens and out comes Manny. In his place, Arthur walks in.

  Manny joins us on the green room couches and sprawls out.

  “So, how’d it go?” I ask Manny.

  “Pretty good,” he says. “Yamuna is terrific. Very patient. And she wrote a pretty cool song for me to sing. She obviously did her homework about who we are and what we do. I think you’re going to be just fine, Billy.”

  It goes on like that—each person in and out of the rehearsal studio—until finally . . .

  “Billy!” Yamuna calls in a chipper tone. “Your turn.”

  My hands start shaking. Oh no. My hands shake when I’m nervous. Somehow I manage to get up. I can’t really feel my legs. I stomp into the rehearsal studio, one, two, one, two, one, two. . . .

  The studio is smaller than I would have guessed. The walls and ceiling are covered in soundproof tiles. There’s some recording equipment and a few pictures of elephants. I wonder if Yamuna likes them or something.

  Yamuna sits down at a large piano and smiles.

  “I can see that you’re nervous, Billy,” she says. “No worries. Let me reassure you that first, all of your fellow contestants are nervous too.”

  “Even Manny?” I ask. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Manny nervous. At least, not that he’s shown.”

  “EVEN MANNY,” she says. “It’s natural. This is new for all of you.”

  I feel calmer than at any time since Gemma told me I’d be singing. I can see why Yamuna is so successful. She’s really good at her job. And I haven’t even heard the song she wrote for me.

  “Before we talk about your song, I want to say again that the most important thing you can do out there on that stage is to show the audience what’s special and unique about you.”

  I nod, though I’m not really sure how I’m going to do that.

  “I know that there’s another kid inventor on this show,” Yamuna continues. “And, of course, your business partner. But just because you’re good at the same thing doesn’t mean you’re the same person.”

  You can say that again!

  “Neither of them are exactly like you, Billy. Show your humor and likability to the audience and to the judges. The winner of this show will use his or her special talent to win—and, you might be surprised to hear this, but your special talent might not even be singing. The competition is just for fun and the most important thing is that the judges and the audience love you.”

  You know what? Yamuna is right. I’m starting to feel better about all this.

  “Now, let’s try out your song,” she says, handing me a sheet with lyrics on it. She starts playing the piano. Thankfully the tune is easy to follow.

  I take a breath and start to sing:

  “I’m so suuuuure about inventing;

  I’m real suuuuure about creating.

  I can put together what doesn’t seem plain.

  If you ask me how I do it, I’d be glad to explain.

  I am suuuuure about the inventions I’m bringing.


  But I want to tell you now, I’m not suuuuure . . .

  About SINGING!”

  As I sing out the final note, my voice CRACKS! I sound like a chipmunk whistling between his two front teeth.

  Before I can say anything, Yamuna smiles.

  “That’s okay,” she says. “Just go out on stage, sing this song, and make people laugh. You may score pretty low with the judges on the stage, but most of the votes come from the TV viewers anyway. Just go out there, use your special talent, and make yourself lovable! I know you can do it. I’m going to work on a couple more verses for the actual performance.”

  “Thanks,” I say. Then I leave the rehearsal studio.

  “How was it?” Manny asks back in the green room.

  “Not as bad as I thought,” I reply. I don’t need to tell Manny about that last note.

  Manny checks his watch.

  “Looks like we have a little time to practice our songs,” he says.

  I look around the green room and see all the contestants practicing by themselves. Manny sits down next to me.

  “All right, let’s hear your song first,” I say.

  Manny takes a breath and then starts to sing:

  “My name is Manny.

  My skills are quite uncanny.

  I can crunch the numbers, make a marketing plan-y.

  I’m the business genius, I’m the mega-money man-ny.

  There is no question, there is no doubt,

  I am super psyched to be on Sing Out and Shout!”

  My mouth drops open. No. Way. MANNY?! Manny, my best friend—my business partner—is absolutely, 100 percent, an INCREDIBLE singer!!!

  Lights, Camera, Sing Out . . .

  “MANNY!” I SHOUT. “YOU CAN probably win this thing!”

  Manny shrugs, clearly embarrassed, even in front of me . . . but there is no doubt in my mind. Manny can sing.

  I feel really bad admitting it, but knowing Manny can sing makes me even more nervous. I thought we were both just clueless seventh graders on a reality singing show. Just two kids trying to make it to the end of the competition. But now that I know Manny can sing . . . it makes me a little jealous. I’m certainly not going to win, but Manny could.