Okay, Ada, I thought. If you want to see a show, I’ll give you a show.
I don’t think I ever sang better. My voice was clear and steady. I don’t think I wavered on a single note. And all the while I could see Ada hunched at the door, eavesdropping on my performance.
When I finished the second piece, Ms. Watson applauded. “Dana, I’m impressed,” she said, standing up and shaking my hand again. “Mr. Margolis didn’t exaggerate. You really have a gift.”
“Thank you,” I said. “I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. My mother heard me singing along with a CD when I was three or something. She couldn’t believe I was hitting all the notes. So she started me with lessons.”
“You should congratulate your mother,” Ms. Watson said. “That was very wise of her.”
“I can’t,” I blurted out. “She died a few months ago.”
Ms. Watson’s cheeks turned bright pink. “Oh, I’m sorry.” She bit her bottom lip. Her bright blue eyes locked on mine.
“Anyway,” she said, “we need you desperately in our chorus. I know the others will be so happy to have you join us.”
I glanced at the doorway. Ada hadn’t moved. I wondered what she was thinking. Probably making hex signs.
“Thank you,” I said. “You’ll have to show me what you’ve been singing. It’ll probably take me a while to catch up.”
Ms. Watson returned to her desk and sifted through a file of papers. “Dana, have you applied for the Collingsworth Prize? I think I have an application for it here.”
“Thank you. I’ve already filled it out,” I told her.
I thought I heard Ada groan from behind the doorway.
“Well, this school is naming two finalists,” Ms. Watson said. “I think you have a real chance.”
It was my turn to blush. She was being so awesomely nice.
“I’ll try,” I said.
She handed me a schedule of chorus rehearsals. I thanked her again and strode out of the room. I swung the door open wide.
Ada must have been frozen there or something. She hadn’t moved.
Behind me, Ms. Watson let out a startled cry. “Ada? Are you still in school?”
Ada blinked several times, as if coming out of a daze. “Uh . . . yeah. I had to stay after,” she said.
“Do you have a minute? I want to talk to you,” Ms. Watson said, motioning for Ada to come in. “Have you met Dana?”
Ada didn’t look at me. “Yeah. We’ve met.”
“I’ve got to run,” I said. I pushed past Ada and hurried out the door. I pulled the door shut after me—but only partway.
It was my turn to eavesdrop!
I gripped the doorknob and stepped back from the opening. I kept glancing up and down the hall, making sure no one was approaching. But it was nearly four o’clock. The hall was empty.
I leaned into the doorway and listened.
“I don’t understand,” Ada was saying. She didn’t sound happy.
Ms. Watson replied in a low, steady voice. “I’m saying you have to bring your singing up to the next level, Ada. Or I’m afraid you won’t make the finals.”
“But . . . ” Ada hesitated. “Ms. Watson, you practically guaranteed that I’d go to the state finals.”
“Well, I didn’t really guarantee it,” the teacher replied. “And, I have to be honest with you, Ada. The competition has just gotten a lot tougher.”
Silence for a long moment. Then Ada said, “You mean Dana?”
“Yes,” Ms. Watson replied. “Dana has had a lot of training. I can’t lie: I was impressed by her. She’s a very strong singer.”
“But that isn’t fair!” Ada was whining now. “She’s too late, isn’t she? She can’t just transfer here and—”
“Dana is definitely eligible,” the teacher replied. “Take it easy, Ada. You’re getting yourself all worked up over nothing. You can still qualify. You just have to work hard. Practice a lot more. Concentrate your efforts.”
Again, Ada was silent. Then she muttered something too low for me to hear.
She came storming out, shoving the door in front of her. I staggered back. Her face was bright red, and her mouth was set in an angry scowl.
I don’t know if she saw me or not. She spun the other way and strode down the hall, her shoes thudding loudly on the concrete floor.
Now I definitely have made an enemy, I told myself.
I suddenly pictured Jamie. Jamie and Ada were such good friends. I knew Jamie wouldn’t want Ada and me to be at each other’s throats.
I decided to go after Ada and talk to her. Tell her I really wanted us to be friends. See if I could convince her to start all over.