The Scary Solo Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Copyright Page

  This is Jack. This morning Jack is in a jittery mood. He wants to try for a solo in the school concert.

  Jack likes singing, but he feels too shy to try out by himself. So he has asked his best friend Billie to stand with him while he sings.

  Billie and Jack practise singing in the playground. They are going to be stars!

  ‘Next, please,’ calls Miss Winters. She is in charge of the school concert. Today she is choosing children for the solo parts.

  Now it is Jack’s turn to try out for a part.

  Jack walks onto the stage.

  Billie follows and stands next to him.

  Jack gets ready to sing.

  But all of a sudden Jack feels nervous and wobbly. He hops from one foot to the other like he has ants in his pants.

  The music starts. Jack knows all the words but when he opens his mouth, nothing comes out!

  Jack stands with his mouth wide open. His tummy squeezes tight.

  Billie pokes him in the ribs. ‘Hey Jack!’ she says. ‘What’s wrong?’

  Jack closes his mouth. It’s no use. He is much too scared to sing on his own. He feels silly for even trying.

  Miss Winters smiles kindly. ‘Perhaps you can be in the chorus, Jack. Now, Billie, are you trying out too?’

  Billie nods. The music starts, and Billie sings loudly and clearly.

  Jack feels cross and sad at the same time. He wishes he was as brave as Billie.

  ‘Well done, Billie!’ says Miss Winters when Billie has finished. ‘You can have a solo. You sing very well.’

  Billie jumps up and down in excitement.

  Jack frowns. But I can sing, too! he thinks crossly. I can sing as well as Billie! It’s just that…

  Jack sighs. He hangs his head as he and Billie leave the hall.

  Billie runs out into the playground. Jack mooches along behind her.

  ‘I can’t believe it!’ says Billie. ‘I got a solo!’

  All the kids in the playground stand around Billie and cheer for her.

  Jack can see that Billie is happy. He wants to be happy too.

  But right now he just feels cross. It was his idea to try out for a solo in the school concert. Not Billie’s!

  Jack scrunches up his face and kicks the ground.

  He feels a big dark monster inside him grumbling to be let out.

  ‘It’s only a stupid school concert!’ Jack shouts. ‘Who wants to sing a solo anyway? Only stupid people!’

  Billie turns to Jack. Her mouth drops open and her eyes grow wide.

  ‘Jack!’ she says. ‘That’s mean!’

  Jack knows it’s mean. But he can’t help it. It’s the big grumpy monster talking, not him.

  Jack runs away from Billie to the other end of the playground.

  For the rest of the day, Jack and Billie don’t speak to each other. Jack glares at Billie and she glares back.

  Jack wants Billie to say sorry. He doesn’t know why.

  It’s not fair that she got a solo in the school concert and he didn’t.

  But soon the grumpy monster in Jack’s tummy goes away. He knows it is up to him to say sorry.

  ‘I’m sorry for being mean,’ he says. ‘I’m happy that you got a solo, Billie. Really. Friends?’

  ‘Friends,’ Billie says, smiling. ‘Forever.’

  ‘Hey, maybe you can help me practise my solo?’ Billie adds.

  Jack nods. ‘Sure,’ he says. ‘I’d like that.’

  All that week and the next, Jack helps Billie practise her solo for the musical.

  They sing everywhere. In the kitchen and in the bathroom. In the garden and in the house.

  They sing as loud as rock stars — except when it’s time for Billie’s baby brother to have a nap. Then they sing baby Noah to sleep.

  Jack can’t wait for the concert!

  Finally the day of the school concert arrives. Jack and Billie’s families drive to the school hall.

  Billie and Jack are both wearing shiny silver tops. This is the costume their class is wearing for the concert.

  Billie also has glitter in her hair. She looks just like a rock star.

  Jack feels a teensy bit jealous when he sees Billie’s hair. He wishes he had a solo, too. He knows being in the chorus is an important job, but it’s not as exciting as being a solo singer.

  ‘Good luck, Billie!’ their parents shout excitedly. ‘Hey Jack! Good luck!’

  Billie and Jack wave to their parents. They run back stage. Jack skips with excitement.

  Soon it’s time for the concert to begin.

  Every class is doing a different song in the concert. Jack and Billie wait with their class until it is their turn to go on stage.

  They wait and they wait. Everyone is nervous and giggly.

  Sometimes Miss Winters pokes her head into the back room and frowns.

  ‘Shhh!’ she says with her finger on her lips. But this just makes everyone giggle even more.

  Jack and Billie practise their song very quietly together.

  Only two more songs and they are on!

  Jack feels his tummy flipping like a fish.

  ‘OK!’ Miss Winters whispers to Jack’s class. ‘You’re up next!’

  Everyone in Jack’s class runs onto the stage and stands in their positions. Billie stands in front, ready to sing her solo.

  ‘Go, Billie!’ Jack whispers.

  The curtains open. The music starts. The spotlight shines on Billie. Everyone waits for her to sing.

  Billie lifts up her microphone. Her mouth opens. But no sound comes out!

  Oh no! Jack thinks.

  He knows exactly what’s wrong with Billie. He knows that her legs will be wobbling like jelly.

  The music stops. Everybody looks at Billie, waiting… waiting…

  Poor Billie! thinks Jack. She has no-one to help her!

  Billie is still standing at the front, frozen.

  Wait a second, thinks Jack. I know this solo!

  He runs to stand next to Billie. Then he grabs the microphone and holds it between himself and Billie. He begins to sing.

  The music starts up again. Jack sings loud and strong. He knows all the words off by heart.

  Billie stands with her eyes wide open.

  Still singing, Jack jabs her with his elbow. He looks at her and smiles.

  Finally she starts to sing too. Quietly at first, but then louder and louder.

  Soon Jack and Billie are singing at the top of their voices. Just like at home.

  When Jack and Billies class has finished the song, everyone claps and cheers.

  People stomp their feet on the ground and shout, ‘More! More!’

  Jack and Billie’s parents cheer the loudest of all.

  Jack’s smile stretches across his face. He looks at all those cheering people.

  He feels a big warm burst of sunshine in his chest.

  He is a star!

  The Scary Solo

  published in 2012 by

  Hardie Grant Egmont

  Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street

  Richmond, Victoria 3121, Australia

  www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

  eISBN: 9781742737850

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.

  A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia

  Text copyright © 2012 Sally Rippin

  Illustration copyright © 2012 Stephanie Spartels

  Logo an
d design copyright © 2012 Hardie Grant Egmont

  Design by Stephanie Spartels

  Typesetting by Michaela Stone

 

 

  Sally Rippin, The Scary Solo

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