Light Up New York

by Natalie Grant

  So, Lulu had sung without losing control, and she’d managed to keep the Snow Angel secret. Mia couldn’t quite believe it.

  “Nice work, Lulu,” she said, impressed, as she climbed into the cab next to her little sister.

  “Thanks,” Lulu said, looking proud of herself.

  Mia showed her sisters her idea for their handshake, and they each added a move to it on the way home.

  “What’s the handshake for?” Dad wanted to know.

  “It’s a secret,” Lulu said, and she looked so full of the secret that Mia was sure she’d spill it right then. She eyed the cab driver. No, they couldn’t tell Mom and Dad here. The only safe place was back in the hotel room where no one would overhear.

  “We’ll tell you soon,” Mia said, enjoying the curious looks on Mom and Dad’s faces.

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  Back in the room, they finally told Mom and Dad the secret.

  “Amazing,” Dad said.

  “And you didn’t tell anyone at the studio, even when they were talking about it?” Mom asked. “Nice work, girls!”

  Afterward, they took out the paper they’d bought with Miss Julia. They’d planned to make snowflakes just for fun, but now they had a real reason to make them. They were Snow Angels! Mia could still hardly believe it.

  “What should the snowflakes look like?” Maddie picked up her paper and studied it. “I mean, do you think they’re all exactly like the one we got from Ruthie?”

  “Every snowflake is unique,” Mia said. “So, I think ours can each be the way we want them to be.”

  “Can we leave more than one snowflake?” Lulu asked. “Or would that give away that there is more than one of us?”

  “I don’t think the Snow Angel has ever left more than one snowflake,” Mia said. “But maybe we can give away three gifts.”

  “Oooh, that’s a great idea!” Lulu said, and then frowned at her paper. “But how do you turn it into a snowflake?”

  “First, you fold it in quarters, like this,” Mia said, demonstrating. “And then you can cut the top to make it round. And then maybe fold it again.”

  “And then, you cut shapes into the fold,” Maddie said, cutting a half circle and then a triangle. She unfolded the snowflake to show Lulu. Her half circle turned into a full circle and repeated itself around the snowflake. The triangle turned into a series of diamonds.

  “I can do that!” Lulu started folding her paper.

  Maddie refolded hers and added more shapes. Mia started cutting too, making sure to add some interesting details to the outer part of the snowflake as well, transforming it from a simple circle into a more complicated snowflake shape.

  “So, if we’re going to give three gifts, what will they be?” Maddie asked. “We don’t know people in New York . . . and the Snow Angel always gives specific gifts.”

  “What if . . .” Mia said, a plan starting to take shape in her mind. “What if we give our gifts tonight at the concert in Times Square? We know most of the people there will be homeless, right? So, we could give gifts like blankets or other helpful items, and we’d know they’d be useful no matter who we gave them to.”

  “Or maybe . . .” Maddie said. “We could choose gifts that are special in some way, and then while we’re there, we could look for the perfect person to give each to.”

  “I like that idea even better,” Mia said. “What kind of special gifts were you thinking? Like the necklace you gave Ruby?”

  “Well, this is a little different,” Maddie admitted. “We don’t know these people at all, so . . . maybe a book you love, Mia? Or I could give someone drawing pencils and a sketchbook?”

  “And I could give someone my detective kit,” Lulu said.

  “Are you sure . . .” Mia began, wondering what homeless teen would want a toy detective kit. But she stopped herself, realizing that for Lulu to give up her kit, something she had grown completely attached to, her sister was making a huge sacrifice. Maybe it wasn’t so much what the gift was, but what it meant to the giver.

  “I still think we should give a gift that will be meaningful,” Mia said. “I mean, to someone we’re more connected to. Or at least someone who we know about. Like how Shantell heard the woman talk about loving green M&Ms.”

  “But we don’t live here, and we only have tomorrow. And then we’re going home,” Maddie said. “We might just have to do our best, since there’s so little time. It’s not like we can rush out and buy something after we see the people tomorrow night. We will be too busy with the concert.”

  “True,” Mia said, but her mind wasn’t totally with Maddie. A new idea was starting to form, and as it did, her excitement grew along with it. “I have an idea.”

  “What kind of idea?” Lulu asked.

  “You know how the Snow Angel—or one of them—gave a gift to Ruthie on the tour bus and to Diane at the library?”

  “Yeah?” Maddie asked, catching Mia’s excitement.

  “Well, why do you think the Snow Angel gave gifts to them? It’s not like they’re poor, especially, or anything.”

  “Because they needed something,” Lulu said, her answer immediate and unquestioning. “I don’t think the Snow Angels think too much about who has a lot and who has a little. It’s more about helping people no matter who they are, right?”

  “So, what if instead of giving blankets or something generic, what if we gave the story we made up to the artist who made the snow globe?” Mia asked. “We nearly figured out the whole thing already. She made all those snow globes and is giving all the money she earns from them away. And it seems like . . . well, people who give a lot sometimes don’t get anything in return.”

  “I’m sure she doesn’t expect anything in return,” Maddie said.

  “Do you think she’d like to receive our story about her snow globe in the mail, along with a snowflake?”

  Maddie nodded and then frowned. “But wouldn’t that give it away, that we are the Snow Angels? I mean, we’re the only ones who saw that snow globe.”

  “Us and everyone in the city of New York,” Mia pointed out. “Jennifer held it up on camera for everyone to see. It’s possible the Snow Angel would have seen it and written a story about it. You never know.”

  “I like it,” Lulu said, clapping her hands.

  “I like that it’s something only we can give,” Maddie said.

  “That way, if we don’t have a chance to give anything away at the concert, we can still be Snow Angels.”

  “True,” Maddie said, and then added, “I think we should do it. We should write the story, and that can be our first Snow Angel gift.”

  “We can always be Snow Angels when we get back home too,” Lulu suggested. “We’ll have two extra snowflakes.”

  Being Snow Angels at home hadn’t occurred to Mia. As she considered it, she realized they’d have to be extremely careful so no one found them out. But Lulu was right. Nothing was stopping them from continuing the Snow Angel campaign at home, and maybe even spreading it around Nashville. Who knew? Maybe other kids had visited New York and already taken the idea back home with them to their own cities. Mia liked the thought of Snow Angels spreading across the country. An always-growing secret society focused on helping others.

  “Should we start now?” she asked, taking out her journal.

  “Let’s do it!” Maddie said.

  “It should start, ‘On a dark and snowy night . . .’” Lulu suggested.

  Mia wrote this down, and they were off, adding sentence after sentence, filling the page and spilling over onto the next and the next.

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  The girls set up on the soundstage during a commercial break. Mia gave her sisters a silent high five. This morning, they’d be singing on television. Television! Singing at the Opry had been one kind of special, because so many performers had sung there before. But there was something about performing live on TV, where anyone in the world could be watching. As she thought this, she realized there was definitely a downsi
de. Anyone in the world could be watching, which meant that if they messed up, their mess-up would be broadcast to the world. Plus, once a performance was filmed, it lived on forever.

  Breathe, she told herself.

  Then, she realized she was trying to do things on her own again. She wondered why her first impulse when she was worried wasn’t to pray. It was so easy to forget that God was right there, waiting for her to reach out. God, please help me, she prayed silently. Help us. Help us to sing beautifully. Not so people are impressed, but so we can point people’s hearts toward you. And so we can help many teens with the funds raised through sales.

  Maddie gripped Mia’s hand. “Whatcha doing?”

  “Praying,” Mia answered.

  “Good idea.” Maddie closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she looked much more settled.

  Before Mia had any more time to think, the cameras were rolling in their direction and the heat of the lights hit her face. She wasn’t sure if she was already on camera, but she smiled anyway, just in case. Across the studio in the living room area, Jennifer welcomed the viewers. She introduced the Glimmer girls as the youngest performers ever to be on the Rise and Shine soundstage. Then, she explained the mission of their Sparkle and Shine album.

  Near the end of her commentary, from behind Mia, Dad started to play quietly, leading into the song. Had Mia not known about his earpiece, she would have been completely puzzled about how he knew when to start. The tempo and volume rose, and it was time. Lulu began to sing. As the rhythm kicked in and Mia felt the song sweep her along, a smile spread across her face. On the other side of the bright lights, she could see Mom and Miss Julia smiling. The crowd was smiling too. Many people moved in time with the music.

  This song, “Sun Breaks Through,” was an original that Dad had helped the girls write. It was perfect for Lulu—fast-moving and joy-filled—the kind of song that made you want to dance. Lulu completely threw herself into the song, but also remembered what Mom said about not flailing her arms. Like in rehearsal, she glanced at her two sisters often, including them, and drawing them further into the song with her.

  In spite of the fact that they were on camera, performing for anyone who chose to tune in, Mia felt herself relax in a way she hadn’t all week. It felt like letting out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. Maybe things didn’t always go the way she wished they would between her and her sisters. Still, sometimes, in moments like this, she caught glimpses of what it could be like. What she and her sisters could be like, if they chose to be. In a way, it was so simple, all of them choosing at the same time to band together, to be there for one another. To not make selfish choices, as Mom might say. But in another way, finding moments like these, when they all did choose to be kind at the same time . . . sometimes that unspoken agreement felt like the most difficult place in the world to reach.

  The music began to rise in the final crescendo, and Mia pushed all her thoughts aside. Right now, all that mattered was the music. Just this moment. The melody seemed to take on its own weight and texture in the air around her, filling the room with joy. And then it was over, and the audience members were on their feet, clapping. She and her sisters took their bow. Then, the girls motioned to Dad, who waved and then winked at the girls. Mia could see he was proud. His pride in them was the cherry on top of the whole experience.

  Jennifer was standing too, clapping. She crossed the studio to join the girls on the soundstage.

  “What a performance,” she said, to renewed cheers and applause from the crowd. Once the noise had quieted, Jennifer said to the camera, “Now, remember, when you purchase the Sparkle and Shine album, you’re supporting homeless teens. So, not only will you be enjoying excellent music by these talented girls, but you’ll also be supporting an important cause.”

  “And Ruby too,” Maddie added. “Ruby was actually the one with the idea for the album, and she sings on every song except this one.”

  Jennifer turned to the camera and smiled. “Ruby, if you’re watching, I want to say a special thank you to you. What a wonderful idea you had. Thank you for the gifts you’re giving to the community.” She turned back to the girls. “Now, girls, can you tell me why you call this album Sparkle and Shine?”

  “We have a family motto,” Lulu said. “Glimmer girls sparkle and shine, but most of all, they are kind.”

  “Wonderful,” Jennifer said. “Wonderful. Now we’re just about out of time, but before we go, I wonder if you can help us out, girls. Our next slot was supposed to be for the Snow Angel, and try as we might, we haven’t been able to find him or her. We wonder, do you have a theory on who the Snow Angel might be?”

  Mia couldn’t have been more surprised if Jennifer had reached down and pulled the rug out from under their feet. Did Jennifer know? She couldn’t. But then why was she asking them this question? Mia’s heart thumped in her chest, and the silent words, Don’t do it, Lulu. Don’t do it! beat in her ears. But how could she expect her little sister to keep the secret at a moment like this, with the eyes of . . . everyone . . . watching?

  Mia knew she should say something, but she wasn’t sure what to say. Should she lie on national television? No, of course she shouldn’t. But what should she do?

  “I guess,” Lulu said finally, making Mia cringe. She shouldn’t have left the reply up to her little sister. She really shouldn’t have. “I guess the Snow Angel wants to keep her . . . or his . . . secret.”

  Mia’s head whipped around, and she stared at Lulu in shock. Lulu smiled, a smile that reminded Mia of the stone cat’s mysterious smile from the museum yesterday.

  Jennifer shook her head and shrugged regretfully. “I guess you’re right, Lulu.” She turned out to the cameras. “Well, New York, I guess it’s up to you, then. When we come back, we’ll hit the streets and ask you for your theories, since we can’t hear from the Snow Angel him- or herself. And maybe one day, the mystery will be solved.”

  After this, the lights began to slowly decrease in intensity, and the cameras rolled away.

  “Girls, that was astounding,” Jennifer said, hugging each of them in turn. “Thank you so much.”

  There wasn’t much time to linger onstage, because Jennifer had to move to her living room stage again and prepare for the next segment of the show. Dad and the girls went backstage, where Mom and Miss Julia were waiting.

  “Girls, you were incredible. I’m so proud of you,” Mom said, and then leaned in close to whisper to Lulu. “And you didn’t tell. Wow!”

  “I know,” Mia said.

  “Lulu, you’re the best,” Maddie said.

  Then, everyone started hugging everyone else, until Mia wasn’t sure how many times she’d hugged anyone. She started to laugh, and soon they were all laughing. Laughing their way out of the studio. Breaking into laughter again every time they caught one another’s eyes in the elevator. Even laughing as they climbed into the cab. When they arrived at the hotel, Mia’s stomach hurt from laughing so much, but still she couldn’t stop.

  TWENTY-NINE

  Before the concert that night, the girls slipped their finished story along with Mia’s snowflake into a thick white envelope. Mia had won two rounds of rock-paper-scissors, making hers the one they chose. They agreed to save Maddie and Lulu’s snowflakes for Snow Angel missions back home in Nashville. With Miss Julia, they took the envelope down to Grand Central Terminal to drop into the mailbox. So many people passed through Grand Central, it seemed the perfect place to post their mysterious letter.

  While they’d been at Rise and Shine that morning, Miss Julia had asked a receptionist for Thea Vance’s address. She’d explained that the girls wanted to send a thank-you note for the snow globe. Mia suggested they should send the thank you after they arrived home. Thea would receive her thank you from Nashville and hopefully never connect the girls with the Snow Angel envelope. Plus, they’d printed and bound the story in the hotel’s business center. Mia hadn’t expected it to come out looking so professional, but th
eir finished book looked elegant. Maybe Thea would suspect the story was written by children, but maybe she wouldn’t. In any case, she hoped their Snow Angel secret was safe.

  The girls couldn’t wear dresses for the concert that night, since they’d be singing outside in the cold. Fortunately for everyone who was sleeping outside, the snow had stopped. The temperature hovered around 40 degrees, which was very cold, but still warmer than it had been all week. The girls bundled up in sweaters and tights, and then pulled on their hats, gloves, and scarves.

  “We don’t look very sparkly,” Lulu said, eyeing her outfit in the mirror.

  “You’ll be happy you have those hats and gloves when you’ve been outside for a little bit,” Miss Julia said. “I’m bringing the blankets too. When you’re not singing, you’ll probably want to watch the concert, and it will be cold.”

  In the end, Mia didn’t feel much of the cold, really. When they arrived in Times Square, everyone bustled around, setting up, welcoming people, passing out votive candles. Covenant House set up a station for anyone who needed blankets, coats, socks, gloves, or hats. Everyone involved in the sleep-out was directed to gather a few blocks from Times Square. Mia could see it was a good mix of people who’d chosen to sleep out as part of the event and others who had no choice but to sleep out on the streets. Tonight, whether you had a fancy house or nothing at all, you were the same as everyone else. Just a person, sleeping out on the hard concrete, surviving the cold. When the concert began, everyone would light their candles and stream into the Square, filling the space with light. Mia couldn’t wait to see it.

  Backstage, there was an area for the performers to gather, with heat lamps and hot tea, coffee, and hot cocoa. Lulu would have filled her entire mug with marshmallows, but Miss Julia noticed in time and gave the girls a limit of three each. Good thing, or their song might have been a sugar-high disaster, Mia thought. Excitement sparked backstage as performers arrived and the time for the concert approached.