Star of Silver Spires by Ann Bryant

that. We’re going to reduce the number of acts from eleven to seven tonight.”
    We all nodded and exchanged nervous smiles.
    â€œNow, don’t worry, you won’t be stuck in this room all evening. I want you to be able to see each other’s acts and vote for them, so you’ll be called down from the auditorium when it’s your turn and then you can return to your seat when you’ve finished. So, all I have left to say is have fun and don’t worry if you don’t get through to the next round. You’ve all shown that you’re fantastically talented, both for being able to perform your songs, and some of you for writing the songs in the first place! Okay, Chloe, you’re first up, so the rest of you can go and join your friends now.”
    â€œGood luck, Chloe!” came all our voices, but Chloe looked as though she was in a world of her own, busy giving her guitar a last-minute tuning. How could she be so calm? I think I would have died if I’d had to go on first.

Chapter Six

    My friends were about halfway back and it looked as though every single seat in the auditorium was taken, right to where the teachers were sitting in the back two rows.
    â€œI’ve got your voting card,” said Georgie, flashing a yellow card at me as I sat down beside her. “I’ll look after it till you’re done. Are you okay?”
    â€œThere are so many people here,” I said shakily, instead of answering her question. “Year Tens and Elevens and all these teachers! Why is it so popular?”
    Georgie rubbed her hands together as the lights went down and the curtains swooshed open. “Because it’s good fun!”
    I gulped and stared at Miss York, who was standing in the middle of the stage. It was starting. This really was it.
    â€œWelcome, everyone! What a magnificent turnout! And don’t worry, I’m not the first act!”
    Everyone laughed. Then Miss York went on to say how exciting the evening was bound to be, and told the audience to clap all the acts equally hard, “because it’s nerve-racking performing a song in front of so many people, especially if it’s the first time you’ve done anything like that”. She then reminded everyone that each song had been entirely written either by the soloist or by a member of the band performing it, and pointed out that it was a very difficult thing to do, even for the most musical people. “I don’t think I could do it, actually!” she added, which made the teachers laugh. “And I want to thank the music department for helping us nurture so much talent at Silver Spires.” There was more clapping.
    â€œSo, let’s get the show on the road, as they say, with the first of our eleven acts this evening. Ladies and gentleman, please welcome to the stage, Chloe Canning!”
    Chloe came smiling onto the stage, holding her guitar by the neck as though she was strolling along to her next lesson. Then she put her free hand up, pretending to shield her eyes from the spotlight, which made a few people laugh. She looked completely relaxed as she sat on the high stool in front of the mike and started to play, but after only a few seconds she suddenly stopped and said, “Whoops! Forgot the title!” which caused another wave of laughter. “Okay…my song is called ‘The Clouds Block the Sun’.”
    Chloe’s song was a folky type of pop song, with verses and choruses and strummed guitar chords. She sang in a clear, strong voice and didn’t forget a single word, even though it was a very long song. I really liked the lyrics. Each verse told of a different sad situation, then the chorus came back to the idea that the clouds were blocking the sun.
    When she finished, the audience clapped and whooped loudly, then Miss York returned to the stage and my heart thudded with nervousness. Chloe bowed, then came up into the auditorium to find her friends.