“I don’t know,” Maddie said.
“They never even apologized for making up a dance that purposely left us out. Then, when we showed them our dance, they didn’t have anything nice to say. They weren’t like this last year. What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know,” Maddie repeated.
“And we’re supposed to be feeling bad, while they’re over there, doing their dance over and over again. They’re the ones leaving us out. It’s not fair!”
Maddie dropped her forehead into her hands.
“Maddie?” Mia asked. “Don’t you agree?”
“I don’t know,” Maddie repeated, her temper starting to flare. “Did you have to bring up the dance again today, Mia? You knew they were already upset—”
“For unfair reasons,” Mia said.
“I know it feels that way.”
“It is that way, Maddie. You know it is. And now, they’re ‘taking space.’ ” Mia made air quotes. “Which means they won’t even come to our Opry debut. They’re our best friends, Maddie, so shouldn’t they be there for us?”
Maddie thought about it, and finally said, “I only want them to be there if they really want to be.”
At this, all the fire fizzled out of Mia. “Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
Maddie looked up, through the wind-whipped branches of the tree, at the darkening, gray sky. Clouds scudded by. A drip of water hit Maddie’s nose, and then another struck her cheek.
“Time to go inside!” Mia said, helping Maddie to her feet.
They raced the rain, ducking under cover just as the skies opened up and poured down rain. Sheets of water soaked the blacktop and playground. Mr. Shelton blew his whistle, and everyone lined up to go inside. No one complained about recess being cut short. No one wanted to stay outside in the wet and cold. Maddie thought of those cardboard boxes out in the rain. Cardboard wouldn’t keep a person dry in weather like this. No matter what happened with Annabeth and Emily, no matter how much she feared stepping out on that stage, she realized the chance to sing was a gift. By singing, she could do something to help people who truly needed help. Keep people warm and dry, she prayed silently as they filed inside. And help me to be brave.
TWELVE
Maddie and Mia peeked out of the wings, watching the band practice. The musicians had gone over one section of a song at least twenty times. Still, they kept going back to the beginning. Dad was in get-it-right mode. He did this with the girls too, insisting you shouldn’t move on from an error until you got it right. “If you practice it wrong, you’ll keep doing it wrong,” he’d say. Most likely, he was right, but that didn’t make Maddie much more patient about playing the same thing over and over. The band played the song through to the final notes . . . again.
Mom jogged over to talk with Mia and Maddie. “I’m sorry, girls, but it’ll be a while until we can rehearse your song. Do you want to hang out with Lulu and Miss Julia in the dressing rooms?”
Mia shrugged. “I don’t mind watching.”
“Maybe we can do something to help with the auction?” Maddie suggested.
“Actually, that’s a great idea,” Mom said. “I set some cloths and instrument polish on the table in the studio. Would you like to give the instruments a final polish, so there are no leftover fingerprints on them? You can also fluff the tissue paper in the baskets. We finished arranging the items, but didn’t pretty them up yet.”
“That would be fun!” Mia said.
“We’ll be careful,” Maddie assured Mom.
Mom kissed her hands and pressed the kisses against the girls’ cheeks. “I’ll come get you when it’s time for your song. I promise we’ll try our hardest to rehearse it tonight, girls. You’ve been so patient.” Mom started back across the stage, but stopped. “Oh, and if you need anything, don’t forget Miss Julia is in the dressing rooms. Just around the corner from the studio. You’ll be okay?”
“We’ll be great!” Mia said.
“Yep, great!” Maddie echoed.
She and Mia walked through the wings, wound through the back hallways, and found their way to the studio.
“Which thing would you buy, if you could buy anything?” Mia asked Maddie.
“Probably the painting that used to be in the Women in Country Music dressing room,” Maddie said. “I like it because it’s from the Opry, but it’s also a really interesting painting. I like all the texture in the landscape. It reminds me of the London painting, remember?”
“You called the London painting ‘Sun-Splattered Afternoon’ because of all the texture,” Mia said. “Yeah, I can see why you’d like that one.”
The room was dark, so Mia fiddled with the light-board switches. “Where do you turn on the lights, anyway?”
“Are you sure you should be touching that?” Maddie asked.
Mom was always telling them not to touch light- or soundboards. Technicians set them specific ways and didn’t appreciate people moving the dials around.
“We can’t just trip around in the dark back here,” Mia said.
“I guess that’s true,” Maddie said.
“There!” Mia said, as the lights blazed to life.
Stage lights hung on pipes that stretched the length of the studio. Their colors mixed to throw a warm glow over the tables and auction items.
“How do people bid on the items?” she asked Mia.
“That’s what the clipboards are for. Once the items are in the lobby, people will write their names and their bids—”
“What?” Maddie asked, as Mia’s voice trailed off. Mia had such an odd look on her face.
“The guitar,” Mia said. “Where is it?”
“Ms. Carpenter’s guitar?” Maddie asked. “It’s right next to the middle table on the—Wait.”
“Yeah.” Mia motioned to the empty stand. “Shouldn’t it be right there?”
“We should go tell someone,” Maddie said.
“But we can’t interrupt the rehearsal,” Mia said.
“So, let’s find Miss Julia then,” Maddie said. “Someone. Mia, we have to do something right now.”
“Yeah, okay,” Mia said. “Come on.”
Maddie took off running after Mia, silently arguing with herself. No one would have actually taken the guitar. It must be misplaced or something. All she could think of was that empty stand with no guitar in it.
“Where are you girls off to in such a hurry?” Charles asked from behind the security desk as they blasted past.
Maddie made the effort to slow down and answer. “Did you see where Miss Julia went?”
“She and your sister are back in the Cousin Minnie room,” he said. “Is everything okay?”
“I think . . .” Maddie started to say, but Mia was already off running again. “We’ll explain in a minute!”
“Miss Julia, Miss Julia!” Mia called as they careened down the hallway and around the corner.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa!” Miss Julia caught Mia before she barreled her over. Maddie was only steps behind, but breathing hard.
Miss Julia held Mia at arm’s length so she could look into her eyes. “What is it?”
“The guitar is missing!” Mia said.
Only then did Maddie realize Lulu was wearing boots that came up to her hips. “Where did you get those?”
“Focus, Maddie!” Mia said.
“They’re for my costume!” Lulu said, swinging her arms wide to show off the rest of her ensemble.
“No—we’re trying on some Opry costumes,” Miss Julia corrected. “Your mom will want to dress you up in something that fits you properly. We’re just having fun.”
“Isn’t this hat bea-u-tiful?” Lulu asked.
“Didn’t anyone hear me?” Mia asked. “The guitar is missing!”
“It is.” Maddie gasped, and as she said this to Miss Julia, the weight of the situation settled in. Ms. Carpenter had donated a valuable guitar, and now it was gone. Completely. All the money the guitar would have raised was lost too. What would Mom say? For
that matter, what would Ms. Carpenter say?
“Which guitar?” Miss Julia asked. “Slow down, Mia, and explain.”
“Earl Eldridge Jr.’s guitar,” Mia said, only slowing her words the slightest bit. “It was on the guitar stand at that middle table, and now it’s not there.”
Miss Julia shook her head. “I’m sure it’s there somewhere, girls. Guitars don’t sprout legs and walk away.”
“It’s worth a lot of money,” Maddie said.
“No one at the Opry would walk off with a guitar,” Miss Julia said. “And there’s a security desk with staff watching the building all the time.”
“But you don’t have to pass through security to go to the studio,” Mia insisted. “You can go straight across from the loading dock without coming backstage. Anyone could have come in through the doors and taken it.”
“Before we panic, let’s go take a look,” Miss Julia said. “I’m sure you’re mistaken.”
“I can’t walk in these,” Lulu complained, tripping over her boots as she started down the hallway.
“Right,” Miss Julia said. “Take them off and put them back in the dressing room. But then, put on your shoes. I don’t want you walking around backstage without shoes on.”
So, they had to wait while Lulu pulled off her boots, and then wait again until she found her shoes. Then, they had to wait some more as she tied them up, insisting she didn’t want any help. Then, finally, finally, they were off again.
THIRTEEN
When they reached the studio, Miss Julia stopped and stared at the empty stand. “The guitar was right there.”
“And now it’s gone!” Mia repeated, her voice rising in frustration. Not being believed was one of Mia’s least-favorite situations, and Maddie knew her sister was about to lose it.
Miss Julia crossed the room, as though taking a closer look at the stand would help. No guitar. She did a slow walk of the room, looking behind and under the tables.
“It’s not here.” Mia paced, back and forth, back and forth. Maddie didn’t blame her. She couldn’t stand still either.
“That doesn’t mean that someone took it—” Miss Julia began, but before she could finish her thought, Lulu was already running out of the room.
“Where’s she going?” Mia asked.
“Lulu, wait!” called Miss Julia.
Maddie figured Lulu was headed straight for the stage. Mom wouldn’t be happy to have rehearsal interrupted, but maybe Lulu was right. Mom and Dad should know about the guitar right away. Who knew how long it had been missing? Maybe if they looked right away, they could still find the thief. If, in fact, there was a thief.
Miss Julia hurried after Lulu, with Mia close behind. Maddie brought up the rear, wondering whether they should stop and tell Charles. Everyone else blasted past his desk, so she kept going too, not wanting to be left behind.
“The guitar is missing, the guitar is missing!” Lulu called as she ran onto the stage. “Help!”
The music broke off abruptly as Mia, Maddie, and Miss Julia joined Lulu. Eight pairs of eyes turned to stare.
“What . . . Miss Julia, what’s going on here?” Dad asked.
“Didn’t you hear what I said?” Lulu asked, a perfect echo of Mia from just minutes ago. “The guitar is missing!”
“Earl Eldridge Jr.’s guitar,” Mia clarified.
Maddie nodded in agreement.
Mom blinked at the girls as though she wasn’t quite processing what they were saying. “I’m sure you must be mistaken.”
“That’s what I told them,” Miss Julia said. “What I was about to say, Lulu, before you ran off, was that someone must have taken the guitar off the stand for a purpose. Maybe someone is tuning it, or adjusting the bridge or something. I’m sure the guitar hasn’t been stolen.”
Maddie knew Miss Julia meant to be reassuring, but as soon as she said the word stolen, no one else said anything for almost a minute. The possibility of the guitar actually being gone—gone for good—settled across the stage.
“No . . .” Mom finally broke the silence. “No one would have taken the guitar off the stand. We didn’t want to do any repairs or tuning. Part of the guitar’s charm is that it remains unchanged from when Earl Eldridge Jr. himself used it.”
“Did anyone move the guitar?” Dad asked the rest of the band members.
Silently, all heads shook no. The stage was nearly as quiet as it had been yesterday when Mia, Maddie, and Lulu had been alone in the wings.
“I looked all around the studio, under and behind tables, but didn’t see anything,” Miss Julia said.
“I suppose we should speak with security, then.” Mom placed her microphone in the stand. “Maybe Charles or one of the others saw something. Or maybe someone moved the guitar without mentioning it to us.”
“And if they didn’t, we can look in all the rooms,” Lulu said. “A Grand Ole Opry treasure hunt!”
“This isn’t a game,” Mia told Lulu.
“I know it’s not a game,” Lulu said, hands on hips. “But how are we going to find the guitar if we don’t look for it?”
“Come on,” Maddie said. “They’re leaving without us.”
Everyone—Mom, Dad, Miss Julia, the band, and the girls—filed back through the wings, around the corner, and crammed into the small entryway by the security desk.
“What’s happening? The girls ran by a few minutes ago, but no one told me . . .” Charles must have seen the grim look on Mom’s face, because he said with concern, “What is it?”
“One of the auction items—Earl Eldridge Jr.’s guitar—is missing,” Mom said. “We’re hoping maybe one of your staff moved it for some reason.”
“Oh, no, Gloria,” he said. “We’d never have moved any of your items without asking you first.”
“Yes, I thought that was likely the case,” Mom said.
“So, it is stolen?” Lulu asked, her voice rising.
“We don’t know that,” Dad said, wrapping his arms around all three girls and pulling them close.
Charles stood and consulted his monitors. “When was the last time you saw the guitar?”
“I wish it had been tonight,” Mom said. “I took some cloths and polish back there and set them on a table on our way in. I didn’t think to turn on the lights or check the auction items. So, the last time I’m sure the guitar was there is last night.”
“That’s a long stretch of time,” Charles said. “I can start to review security footage for you, but reviewing that much video will take at least until tomorrow. I don’t have a camera facing the studio, but we do have one by the stage door, and a few others scattered through the building. We may be able to find someone who looks like he or she isn’t supposed to be here. That would be a start, anyway.”
“Thank you,” Mom said.
“Can we look around?” Lulu asked. “Just in case?”
“Yes, I think we should look around.” Mom checked her watch. “But it’s getting late. We’ll need to leave in about twenty minutes. Girls, I don’t think we’ll have time to rehearse your song now.”
“I don’t feel like singing right now anyway,” Mia said.
Maddie didn’t either. Of all the items—even the painting that she loved—having the guitar go missing was the worst. Not just because it would probably bring the highest bids in the auction. E. E. Jr. had loved his guitar, and Ms. Carpenter had treasured it. Most valuable things could be replaced, but this guitar was a loved and treasured item, one of a kind. What would they tell Ms. Carpenter?
“I’ll check the wings,” Mia said. “I saw a big guitar rack. Maybe the guitar was accidentally mixed in with the others.”
“That’s a good idea,” Maddie agreed.
“I want to come too!” Lulu said.
Everyone split up. The girls and Miss Julia went to the wings to check the guitar rack. Mom, Dad, and the band handled the studio, the area around it, and the dressing rooms.
“We’ll find the guitar, Mom, I’m sure we will,”
Lulu called.
Maddie hoped Lulu was right, but she wasn’t so sure.
FOURTEEN
Back through the darkened wings one more time, Lulu made a beeline for the guitar racks. Light from the stage made enough of a glow that they could see, but only dimly. Miss Julia took out her phone and used its flashlight function to look more closely. Maddie walked a full circle around the racks, hoping she’d see a worn-out-looking guitar. Unfortunately, none of the guitars looked anything like Earl Eldridge Jr.’s guitar.
“We should pick them each up.” Lulu lifted one slightly and tried to check the bottom.
“Careful, Lulu!” Mia said.
“Mia’s right, Lulu,” Miss Julia said. “I’m not sure we should pick them up.”
“But how are we supposed to look for a chip when they’re all smoothed together in the rack like this?” Lulu asked, bending down, trying to see.
“The rest of the guitar would look worn-out too,” Mia said. “Remember how old his guitar looked, Lulu?”
“But if someone polished it, it might be shiny and new-looking like these.”
“Maybe . . .” Mia said.
“Definitely,” Lulu said.
“How about I lift them and you look underneath,” Miss Julia suggested, handing Lulu her phone, so Lulu could shine the light on each guitar and look more closely.
Maddie didn’t have much hope that they’d find the guitar this way, but she didn’t have any other ideas to suggest. This summer, when they’d seen a thief steal a painting off the wall at London’s National Gallery of Art, it hadn’t been like this. They hadn’t had to poke around in the dark with no idea who had taken the painting. Maybe tomorrow, once Charles had reviewed the tapes, it would be easier to do something. Right now, the whole thing felt a little hopeless.
“You okay, Maddie?” Mia asked.
“It hasn’t been a very good day,” Maddie said.
“Yeah, you’re right,” Mia said.
“I was thinking about what you said, about whether I wanted Annabeth and Emily to come to the concert,” Maddie said. “I’m still nervous about singing, especially now that we didn’t practice tonight. But I do wish they’d come. I mean, I really want them to want to come.”
Miracle in Music City Page 5
