Billy Sure Kid Entrepreneur Is NOT a SINGER!

by Luke Sharpe

  I fumble, press another button, and continue:

  “What’s that you say? What’s the invention?

  It’s the Next Big Thing, and it’s on a competition!”

  Okay, now my voice sounds really deep and smooth, like some old time jazz singer. And the crowd cheers. I think I see one of the kids in the front row write my name on the poster, so now it says WE LOVE YOU, MANNY AND BILLY. I admit it: I’m starting to have fun!

  Switch number four. Let’s see what this does:

  “So that’s my story, that’s my song.

  I hope I did it right; I hate it when I’m wrong.

  The time has gone so quickly; I wonder where it went.

  Hey, that gives me an idea! Time to go invent!”

  This time my voice sounds perfect. As good as Manny’s. Smooth, beautiful, on key—I take a bow.

  There’s a standing ovation!

  “Billy Sure, everyone!” Gemma shouts. “Wow, that was fantastic. Shall we get the judges’ thoughts?”

  Dustin Peeler nods a lot. He doesn’t say much—just nods. It sounds like: “Billy Sure”—nod—“you, man, you”—nod—“you killed it, man!” More nodding.

  Gemma can’t stop smiling.

  And then she turns to Nicholas Campbell.

  Nicholas stares right at me. He looks kind of like the grim reaper—he’s got dark hair that falls everywhere and giant eyes. I prepare myself for the worst.

  “Well, I didn’t hate it,” Nicholas says. He then breaks out into a smile! “I loved it.”

  What? Wait—what? Nicholas Campbell—the Nicholas Campbell—loved my performance?

  “By far and away the most original and entertaining performance I’ve seen on any reality show,” Nicholas continues. “BRAVO!”

  At this, the audience cheers. “Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”

  Wow. I never knew you could be loved this much by a live audience.

  I bow timidly, then hurry offstage into the green room.

  Immediately, I’m met by Yamuna, who gives me a big hug.

  “That was perfect, Billy!” she says. “Your range of sounds—hilarious! Stunning. You did it!” Her smile is huge.

  “Thanks,” I say.

  The other contestants gather around me.

  “You got some smooth style, there, Billy,” says Marcus.

  “Who knew that the boy inventor had other talents?” asks Nat.

  The crowd around me breaks up, and I see Manny sitting alone in the corner. I go over to him.

  “That went well,” I say. “Maybe there’s still a chance you and I will make it to the finals together.”

  Manny stands up and looks me in the eye.

  “Billy,” he says. His voice is calm. Manny is usually calm, but this is calm even for Manny. “You can’t sing. We both know that. What are you hiding from me?”

  I look down. I don’t know what made me think I could fool Manny.

  I feel bad not telling Manny about my invention, but I’m not sure the time is right to reveal it.

  Manny sits back down. On the TV screen, Gemma heads back out onto the stage to announce tonight’s winners. The mood in the green room is pretty tense.

  All of the contestants are gathered around the big screen. What’s weird is that there must be a secret camera here somewhere, because occasionally the TV flashes to show us waiting. Nat grabs Marcus’s hand. “Let’s all hold hands so we look united,” she says. It’s a nice gesture, but I have a feeling she says that because Manny is on her other side!

  “Well, once again, all our performers were fabulous, don’t you agree?” Gemma says.

  The studio audience goes wild.

  “A very entertaining day,” says Nicholas Campbell.

  “Seeing all these great performances reminds me why I got into music in the first place,” says Dustin Peeler.

  “It is now time to announce which two contestants will be returning TOMORROW NIGHT!” Gemma announces.

  I’m holding hands with Manny, on the side that Nat isn’t. I squeeze his hand nervously, but he doesn’t do anything back.

  “And those two contestants are . . . well, I can’t say I’m surprised.” Gemma laughs. “Manny Reyes . . . and Billy Sure!”

  Everyone’s hands break apart. I look over at Manny, hoping to celebrate a Sure Things, Inc. win. But Manny looks puzzled, like he’s trying to figure something out.

  Up on the TV screen, everyone is clapping and cheering rhythmically.

  “Well, what are you guys waiting for?” Nat asks. “Get out onstage! Everyone is asking for the winners!”

  Manny and I hurry out onstage and the crowd gets even louder. Half the crowd is cheering, “Billy!” while half the crowd is cheering, “Manny!” It’s surreal. I don’t know why, but I’d expected them all to be cheering, “SURE THINGS, INC.!”

  I wave to the crowd, not sure I really want to say anything right now. Gemma wraps up the show.

  “That’s it for tonight. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for an epic Sure Things, Inc. showdown!”

  And we’re off the air.

  “You guys were awesome,” Gemma says, a little too brightly. “See you tomorrow!”

  Manny and I meet up with Mom, Dad, and Emily—who gushes about how Gemma complimented the Christmas lights on her hat—outside the theater. Mr. and Dr. Reyes stand there too, each wearing a shirt that says “MANNY IS OUR SUN” with Manny’s face in the sun.

  “I never knew you had so much talent, honey!” Mom says to me as we get into the car.

  Emily and Dad join in with choruses of “you were great!” and “no broken mirrors!” I, however, say nothing. I ride the entire way home in silence, wondering what Manny is wondering.

  The Final Word

  I TOSS AND TURN THAT night, both from excitement about the next day’s finals and from worry. I’m really happy the Young Inventors Organization is getting our prize money no matter which one of us wins, and that Sure Things, Inc. will get another day of publicity, but I need to tell Manny what’s going on. Manny is my best friend!

  I finally drift off to sleep and have a dream in which an opera singer, a gospel singer, and a hip-hop star chase me across the Sing Out and Shout stage, all trying to get the Magical Microphone out of my hands. They’re screaming at me.

  I wake up screaming too and then relax, remembering it was just a dream. Nothing to worry about but nerves. Luckily, we have to get to the TV studio super early the next day, so I don’t have much time to dwell on my dream. And I don’t see Manny before he gets there because he drives over with his parents. The car ride to the TV studio is pretty quiet. Even Emily’s latest hat—a tall tower of a cowboy hat, a straw hat, and a baseball cap sewn together and sitting on top of one another —doesn’t spur any conversation.

  I just need to get through tonight’s show. But Mom and Dad seem kind of quiet too. And even a little bit tense?

  I’ll just be really glad later tonight when this is all over.

  As soon as I get to the studio, I see Manny and Gemma.

  “You guys ready?” Gemma asks.

  “Ready!” Manny and I say in unison.

  “Okay, so tonight’s competition is going to be a little different from the last two nights,” Gemma explains, scribbling something down. “The two of you will sing a karaoke-style duet onstage together. The lyrics—written by Yamuna, of course—will be on a screen for you to read. Part of the fun is that there’s no practicing.”

  She looks at us, as if waiting for a response. I don’t have one, so I shrug. Manny doesn’t say anything either.

  “All right, then,” says Gemma, pretending we just shouted from the top of the world that we love Sing Out and Shout. “Good luck, you two! We’ll be on shortly. Enjoy yourselves in the green room!”

  Interestingly enough, although there are fewer people in here, the green room is packed with food today—even more than before. In addition to all the food, candy, and soda that is out, there are cakes decorated to look like Sure Things, Inc. invention
s. “Manny, check this out,” I say, eyeing cake that’s decorated with some kind of DISAPPEARING REAPPEARING ICING thats inspired by one of our first products, Disappearing Reappearing Make-Up.

  I try to make small talk a few more times before we’re called back onstage, but Manny doesn’t want to talk. Maybe he’s nervous about tonight’s performance, or maybe he’s still suspicious of why my voice sounded better last night.

  But before I get a private moment to tell him about the Magical Microphone, it’s time for the show to start. “Welcome to the third and final night of Sing Out and Shout!” Gemma announces from center stage. “Who knew that the faces behind Sure Things, Inc. were such a musical duo?”

  The audience applauds. Gemma is a pro. She announces Manny and me, then goes on to tell some jokes. She also recaps some highlights from the past few days. I would have never guessed this on Friday, but I’ve had a lot of fun.

  “So, now ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Billy and Manny, who will be performing a brand-new duet called ‘The Best of Best Friends,’ written by Yamuna Stone!” Gemma announces.

  Manny and I walk onstage side-by-side, each holding a microphone. I’m sure, like me, Manny just wants this all to be over. After all, I did have to convince him to do this TV show in the first place!

  The kids in the front row all have their signs again—I’m surprised they managed to get tickets for another night. A few other people have signs too. I notice Emily in the audience because of her hat. Just another performance, I tell myself as I switch on the Magical Microphone. Then music swells and lyrics appear on a big screen in front of us. My lyrics are first:

  “What’s it mean to be a pal? What’s it mean to be a friend?

  It means sticking together, beginning to end.”

  Then it’s Manny’s turn:

  “Friends are one thing, good friends another,

  But being best friends is like having a brother.”

  The music plays on as we try to catch the beat. Then my lyrics come up again, and I know it’s my turn, so I sing:

  “Best friends are always honest, they never tell a lie.”

  And then it happens. As I sing the line, the Magical Microphone glitches. It CRACKLES! and SQUEALS! sending out a high-pitched tone! Oh no, oh no, oh no—my voice changes back to its normal, horrible sound. Then it cracks, like it did the first time I sang! I try to keep going.

  “They help each other always, they’re always there to tryyyyyy . . .

  No such luck. SMASH!

  A glass of water that had been sitting on a stool on the side of the stage shatters, sending shards of glass and water flying! The broken glass doesn’t hit anyone, but the pieces fall all over the floor!

  The audience laughs. They think I’m pulling the same stunt I did last night, where I’ll be good in the end. Honestly? I hope that’s what I’m doing, but I don’t know!

  As Manny sings his part, I try my best to switch the Magical Microphone on again fast.

  Fortunately this time a nice singing voice comes out.

  “Manny and Billy, the best of best friends,

  Working and playing, then doing it again.

  Billy and Manny, the best of best friends.

  Together at the start, together . . . at . . . the . . . eeeeeeend!”

  The lights drop.

  “A GREAT DUET!” Gemma shouts, coming up to join us onstage as the lights come back on. “The finest of songs. A big thank-you to Yamuna Stone, who wrote every song you heard during the last three nights. We’re gonna go to a commercial break while the judges choose the winner of Sing Out and Shout! We’ll be right back!”

  The camera operators motion that they’ve stopped filming, and Gemma walks toward the studio audience.

  “Well, what did you think?” she asks them. She tries to poll them to see who they think will be the winner—but it’s right down the middle. I have that nervous feeling in my stomach. I didn’t want to take the spotlight from Manny. I wanted to use my special talent. I wanted the Young Inventors Organization to get the donation. I wanted Sure Things, Inc. to get the publicity from both me and Manny appearing on all three days of the show. But, if I’m being honest, I guess I wanted to share the spotlight with Manny too. Nat got to my head. I did feel jealous and now I feel bad.

  After Gemma’s little poll, Manny turns and hurries back to the green room. I chase after him.

  When we are both alone in the green room (checking to make sure the hidden video camera isn’t on), Manny turns to me.

  “I know what you did, Billy,” he says. “I heard that glitch. I heard your voice change, then change back again. I knew it the instant I heard you sing last night.”

  What can I do? I have to tell him what’s going on. Like the song says, we are the best of best friends. But Manny’s not finished.

  “Did you invent something to help you sing better?” he asks. “Some kind of special microphone?”

  I don’t know what to say. Is Manny happy we both made it to the final round or upset with me?

  “Well, I wanted us both to get to the final round and so I used my special talent, and I guess I was also a litle jealous,” I begin when Gemma sticks her head into the green room.

  “We’re coming back on, guys,” she says, absolutely giddy. “Get ready!”

  We have no choice. Before I can tell Manny the whole story, we leave the green room to go back out onstage, and I’m shocked to see Nat standing in the hallway talking to one of the show’s producers.

  What’s she doing here? I think. She’s not competing tonight.

  I don’t have a lot of time to think about that, though, because a few moments later we’re back on air, and back onstage with Gemma.

  “The judges have made their final decision,” Gemma says, more seriously than she’s said anything on the whole show. “Folks, we have a winner of Sing Out and Shout!”

  There’s thunderous applause.

  Gemma continues.

  “For his versatility, humor, excellent showmanship, and most importantly, his ability to entertain, please give it up for our winner . . .”

  I take a deep breath.

  “BILLY SURE!”

  It’s like a madhouse. Everyone cheers. People hold up posters that say I’M SURE FOR BILLY SURE! and confetti falls down all around me. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the former contestants are in the seats in front. They cheer loudest of all.

  I wave my hand and the music stops. Then I switch on the Magical Microphone and hold it up to my mouth.

  “I have a confession to make,” I say. I wish I’d told Manny before it had to be on live TV, but nothing much I can do about that now. “This is a Magical Microphone, which I invented. It turns any bad singer into a good one. I’m sorry, everyone. The real winner here is Manny.

  To my great shock, Manny snatches the microphone from my hand!

  “Billy, you would have won anyway with how you always made the audience laugh,” Manny says. “Besides, the real winner isn’t me and it isn’t you. It’s Sure Things, Inc. and all of our customers! Say hello to Sure Things, Inc.’s Next Big Thing—the MAGICAL MICROPHONE!”

  Manny displays my invention for all to see. “Billy used his special talents to invent the Magical Microphone, which takes the worst of singers and turns them into superstars. Billy, please demonstrate.”

  I smile. Manny just turned this into a win for everyone. That’s reason #888 why I’m super glad he’s my best friend and business partner!

  The lyrics to our duet come back up, and I sing a little bit with my own voice.

  Terrible. No surprise there.

  “Now Billy will use the Magical Microphone,” Manny says. He switches it on and hands it to me. I sing the final lines of our song, and, of course, I sound FANTASTIC.

  “And there you have it,” Manny says when I finish. “Sure Things, Inc.’s Next Big Thing. But in this case, all proceeds for the Magical Microphone will be split between the charities our fellow contestants have sung for. Thanks,
everyone! Good night!”

  Just like that, the cameras go off. The lights dim. The show is over.

  Gemma walks up to us holding the TV show rankings on her smartphone. She breaks out into a smile. “I have to say, if a TV show wants high ratings, all they have to do is put you two on it! Thanks, Sure Things, Inc.”

  She shakes our hands as Emily and Mr. and Dr. Reyes join us onstage. Marcus, Sarina, and Arthur come up too. They are thrilled that their charities will get so much money from the sales of the Magical Microphone. Meanwhile, Mom and Dad stay seated—I see them talk about something quietly. They keep whispering and looking in our direction.

  “And now it’s time to grab food with Em.” Gemma beams. “I know the perfect late night sushi place!”

  Emily smiles. Then, arm in arm, Gem and Em head off to the restaurant—in Gemma’s limo, no doubt.

  How is it that I win a reality TV show, and my sister ends up winning for real?!

  “Thanks for everything,” I say to Manny.

  He shrugs. “No problem. I just wish you had told me what you were planning. I knew something was going on, but I didn’t know what. We should always tell each other about things like Magical Microphones or feeling jealous. We’re a team. NO MATTER WHAT.”

  “Really? No matter what?” comes a voice from behind us.

  I spin around and see Nat walking out onto the stage.

  “I definitely didn’t expect that ending—especially not on a TV show sponsored by my company, Definite Devices,” Nat says.

  What?

  “Sing Out and Shout is sponsored by Definite Devices?!” I yelp. I look up at the TV monitor where the end credits of the show are running. It hits me now that I’ve never seen the credits. Why would I have? I was on the show! But sure enough—Nat Definite is listed as a producer!

  “You planned this all along!” I shout. “That’s why you said you’d be jealous of Manny if you were me! You planted that seed in my head. You did all this—put on this whole show, went through all this trouble—just to get us to argue, and to get Manny to join your company. Again!”

  Nat sighs. “You’re right,” she admits. She sounds bored. “Don’t worry. Gemma and the rest didn’t know. All this just ended up being great publicity for Sure Things, Inc. Obviously, not my intention.”