7. Leslie Ann Cummings
Leslie, age 11, will sing a medley of Cole Porter songs. She says her favorite songs are show tunes and she doesn’t much care for modern music.
8. Julie Rose
Julie, age 12, will recite several of her own poems. She is president of the student council. She says she wants to be a poet when she grows up, but adds that she wants to make money too.
9. Marsha N. Posey
Marsha, age 13, will perform several tricks on roller skates. “I just like to skate,” says Marsha.
10. Alex Roth
Alex will perform Bach’s Inventions Nos. 1 and 8 on the piano. He is 13 years old and has been taking piano lessons since age 5.
Gary turned the page, but there were no more contestants listed. He checked again to make sure he hadn’t missed his name. “Where am I?” he shouted.
“In the school auditorium,” said the red-haired boy, who apparently was Fred Furst, the bird imitator.
“I’m not listed in the program!”
“Are you sure you’re supposed to be in it?” asked the girl with braces.
“Yes!”
“You weren’t at rehearsal,” said Fred Furst.
“What rehearsa
l?”
“After lunch today,” said the girl. “It wasn’t really a rehearsal. We just went over what we would do, how we wanted to be introduced, entrances and exits, stuff like that.”
“I didn’t know about it,” said Gary. “Nobody told me. Brenda!”
Both Julie and Brenda turned around. “What’s your problem?” asked Julie.
“I’m not in the program,” he told Brenda. “Did you ever tell Miss Langley that I wanted to be back in the talent show?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Remember, I told you I wanted to be back in the show, and you didn’t even know I quit? Well, I had quit, and you were supposed to put me back on the list.”
Brenda made a face. “Don’t blame me for your problems.”
He jumped up. “Miss Langley!”
She was talking to the principal, Mrs. Ward, at the other side of the stage. He went over to them and waited for a pause in their conversation, but Mrs. Ward never paused, so he just broke in. “Miss Langley!”
Both of them looked at him.
“My name’s not in the program.”
Miss Langley seemed to be thinking about something else, but managed to focus her attention on him. “Your name’s not in the program because you told me you wanted to quit the show.”
“But then I said I wanted back in.”
“And I told you to talk to Brenda Thompson.”