The Prophet Calls
Page 19
Her mom nods at my brother. “Tanner’s already agreed to play with you in the festival again next summer.”
“Yep.” He raises his chin with pride and then adds, “And don’t even think you’ll get to play the lead just because you have a new violin. I’m still the oldest.”
I shake my head. “This can’t be real.”
“I know it’s a lot to take in,” Talia’s mom says.
My body buzzes with possibility. “You want me to play?”
She smiles softly. “Of course we do.”
“Come on,” Talia says, leading me to the stage. Once we climb up, she gestures toward the table. “Which one do you want to try first?”
I immediately grab the chestnut violin she was playing and place it under my chin.
She nods with approval. “Good choice.”
The wood still feels warm in my hand.
They settle in the front row; Rockstar plops at Amy’s feet. She strokes his golden head and side over and over, whispering, “Good dog.”
I pick a bow from the table and glance over the scroll at Tanner. “What should I play?”
My brother shakes his head with a smile. “This time, you choose.”
With a grin, I touch my bow to the string. Then, I play “Red-Haired Boy.” Within a few measures, the music takes over. Like it always has. It runs through me. I feel free.
As I play, I think of Father. Mother. My whole family. Some in Watchful. Some in Waiting. And some out here with me. Then, I think of Channing. And the new friends I’ve made.
When I finish playing, everyone jumps and cheers. Talia whistles. Rockstar wags his fluffy tail; it smacks against Amy’s leg, making her laugh.
I bow, grateful. I don’t have to think about the end of the world anymore.
Now, I’m only looking forward to the beginning.
Acknowledgments
First off, thank you so much to Sonali Fry for trusting me to tell this story. Your support and enthusiasm have made my debut experience better than I could have ever imagined. Thank you also to Gayley Avery, Nadia Almahdi, Lauren Carr, and Crystal McCoy for fielding my approximately one billion questions with patience and grace. You are the best! Also, thank you to Colleen Tighe for your beautiful cover art, to David DeWitt for your fantastic design, and to the entire Yellow Jacket team for loving Gentry’s story.
Thank you to Rick Richter for believing in my writing. I’m so grateful for your invaluable acumen, determination, and experience.
I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to J. Suzanne Frank, writing instructor and community creator extraordinaire, for your faith in my early work, for always welcoming me back into the Writer’s Path community, and for listening.
Thank you also to Daniel J. Hale, master plot instructor and ceaseless cheerleader, for saying I had the “moxie” to tell the stories I wanted to tell and for all of your encouragement, advice, and wit.
Hema Penmetsa, thank you for sharing New York with me seven years ago when all we had was a manuscript and a dream. I’m so glad I experienced that time with you, and I’m incredibly grateful we get to continue this journey together. Thank you also for inviting me to join the best critique group ever. Hema, Polly Holyoke, Pam McWilliams, and Robert Eilers: Thank you for your brutal honesty, your beautiful writing, and most of all, the laughs. You all are awesome!
Several Dallas-area children’s writers also deserve my many thanks, especially Laney Nielson, Karen Harrington, Karen Blumenthal, and Marci Peschke, who have welcomed me into this community with open arms. Thank you for your advice and support and making this debut journey a whole lot more fun.
Years ago, I took my first religious studies course in college. Little did I know then that the spark of curiosity had ignited a fire in me that would feed a lifetime of wanting to learn more. Thank you to Dr. Richard Cogley, that first instructor and my college mentor, and to the Religious Studies Department at SMU for your collective wisdom and passion for your field.
To my mom, thank you for expressing your love of books from as far back as I can remember. I’m so grateful you also encouraged determination (though some may say “stubbornness”) in me, while always demonstrating the importance of compassion for others.
Thank you to my amazing Madeline for believing in me. You were the first person to read Gentry’s words, and she is a better character because of you. Thank you for asking me each day how the writing was going. I’m so blessed by your insight, honesty, intellect, humor, and love.
Last, but definitely not least, I am so grateful to you, Shane. Even when I first expressed an interest in writing (but didn’t have a clue as to how to start), you told me you’d love to read my work. And at times when I felt like I might give up, you told me I couldn’t. Thank you for supporting me always, believing in me always, and loving me always. I’m so fortunate I get to share this life with you.