Silentious (Summit Middle School)

by Shannon Freeman

  They moved quickly around the house, getting ready for their guests. Everything was in place, even the bedrooms for their out-oftown guests.

  “They’re here! They’re here!” Lan yelled as the doorbell rang.

  “Calm down, Lan,” her mother said soothingly.

  The Pham family started filing in, bringing gifts to present to the matriarch of their family. There was a special chair decorated just for her, but Lan beat her grandmother to the seat.

  “Lan, get up! You know that’s Grandmother’s seat,” Mai warned her.

  “She is fine,” her grandmother told her. She lifted Lan’s hair from her face and moved it behind her ears. She bent down and whispered in her ear. Lan ran off to let her grandmother have her special seat.

  “How are you?” she asked Mai quizzically.

  “I’m fine,” she said, feeling uneasy. She thought her grandmother knew something about her that she wasn’t sharing.

  “That is a beautiful necklace you are wearing.”

  “Thank you, Grandmother,” she said. She dropped the charm inside her dress instead of answering more questions.

  “No, no, my dear. Don’t hide your talents. Celebrate them.”

  “You know too?”

  “Yes. If I have my say, your father will give you a little room to spread those wings of yours.”

  “You approve? But Father won’t, Grandmother. Don’t waste your time.”

  “He is my son. He will listen.”

  “Thank you, Grandmother.”

  The doorbell rang. Mai kissed her grandmother and went to open it. I love that woman. She opened the door and there was Cara. What a great surprise! Her cousin gave her a tight hug, greeted her family, and sat with her grandmother a while.

  Before they began eating, she grabbed Mai and led her upstairs to the bedroom. She fell on the bed and grabbed Mai’s new iPad that she’d won in the talent competition. “Hey, no,” she protested, but Cara was too quick.

  “Seriously, Mai,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Everyone in the family knows. You should have called me. Told me about all of this too.”

  Mai was embarrassed. She thought that she had kept it a secret. The only people who were aware of her other life were the people at Summit, or so she thought.

  “Honey, once Aunt Yen found out? She sent it to everyone in the family, including your father. I was going to call you, but you know my professors keep me crazy busy. It’s like they are trying to break me over there.”

  “Well, it’s like he’s trying to break me over here! Father is crazy. Do you know he wants to send me to boarding school if I don’t stop singing?”

  “But you are so good! I have all my friends at school watching the videos. They love you.”

  “People in college are watching me?” Mai asked, confused. “No way.”

  “Yes way! You know I’m the proud cousin.”

  “Look at this necklace Mother bought me.” She proudly showed her cousin. “That’s beautiful, Mai,” Cara said, studying the necklace. “So, what are you going to do about everything?”

  Mai didn’t know. But she knew she had to figure it out. She just shrugged her shoulders. “I’ve been thinking about giving it all up, honestly. I can’t win against my father.”

  “Well, you don’t have to make a decision tonight. Let’s get back to Grandmother’s party before they start looking for us.”

  They joined their family and dined on all the wonderful foods that Mai’s mother had made: salad rolls, spinach, chicken, steamed fish, and a slow-cooked pork with rice.

  Later, they brought out the birthday cake. It was exquisitely decorated with flowers and seventy candles. They sang “Happy Birthday to You.” Then ate cake. Mai’s grandmother opened presents. Her grandmother loved every minute of the party that she had protested against having.

  When her grandmother was done opening her presents, Mai told her that there was one more. Mai stood in the middle of her family. She knew half of them held onto beliefs from the old country. The other half embraced the new.

  She was nervous. It was easier to stand in an auditorium full of strangers than in the middle of her family. The silence was profound as they watched her curiously.

  Then she began to sing the song she had written just for her grandmother. Her grandmother closed her eyes as Mai told her life story through song. It was simple. Beautiful. Mai’s voice was angelic. When she was done, her grandmother was in tears. She grabbed Mai’s face and looked directly in her eyes.

  “You, my dear, are something special. Thank you,” she said, kissing her on the forehead. Grandmother turned to the family. She announced, “Now, someone get this child her own recording studio before I do.”

  Mai saw her father leave the room and head toward the kitchen. When the party started up again, she joined him. “You don’t have to worry. That was my last song.”

  Her father turned to her with a tearstained face. “No, it’s not. I won’t hear of it.”

  She searched every part of his face, trying to understand the words that had just come from his mouth. Was he joking?

  He grabbed his daughter and hugged her tightly. He hugged her like he did when she was little. She could feel the love as it was transferred from him to her.

  “Your grandmother was right. You are something special. It’s my job to protect you. To guide you, not shelter you.” He moved her away from him so he could see her face. “I’m going to follow your lead as long as you choose the right path. Your grades—”

  “Will never drop! I promise! If I have to get up at the crack of dawn, I will. Oh, Father!” she jumped up and hugged him again. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”

  She ran to find Cara. She had to tell her what just happened. It felt like a dream. The only way to make it real was to let someone else in on her miracle. She passed her mother on the way. She didn’t have to say anything to her. Her mother had a way of knowing, especially when it came to her daughters. She simply gave her a nod of approval and went back to tend to her guests.

  “Cara!” she yelled. But all of her cousins were hot on her trail. She told them what had happened with her father in the kitchen. Her older cousins were ecstatic. And she instantly became an idol to her younger cousins.

  Chapter 13

  The Red and White Ball

  The winter cold was not letting up. Most every day meant waking up to freezing rain, cold temperatures, and icicles. Some days they would have to cancel school. Other times they would start late after the ice on the roads had a chance to melt.

  Today was not that day. Instead, kids were out in freezing temperatures. But it was not cold enough to get them the school break they wanted.

  Mai sat in her mom’s Range Rover. She was looking over her homework when she received a text message. It was Elise. “Red and White Ball. Friday night. Ur performing!”

  Yeah , she thought. Ugh.

  What she really needed was a break from singing. She didn’t want to perform at all. But she didn’t want to tell Elise. She was giving up all of her free time. It wasn’t fun anymore. It felt as though she was juggling balls all the time, and it was obvious that one of those balls was going to hit the ground at some point.

  There was hot chocolate in the cafeteria that morning. The teachers wanted kids to warm up after running in from the cold. Carson and Emma were already at their table. Mai joined them with her breakfast.

  “It’s Moan-day,” Carson said sadly. “I didn’t want to come,” Emma added. She blew the steam from her mug of hot chocolate. Her eyes were barely opened. “I was enjoying my bed.”

  Mai didn’t respond to either of her friends. They looked at each other, knowing that something was wrong with their friend. “What’s eating you, Mai?”

  “Nothing … I mean … I don’t know. I think that I’m tired of this whole singing thing.” She sent the marshmallows in her cup spinning in circles.

  “ ‘Tired of the whole singing thing’?” Carson mimicked, looking surprised. �
��Are you crazy? You’re like a MyTube

  star. Do you know how many views your

  videos are getting now?” Emma asked her. “I know. I know. But now Elise wants

  me to sing at the Red and White Ball. I’m not

  feeling up to it. I need my time to rest too,

  ya know? Everyone’s assigning projects right

  now. I have to focus on my schoolwork too.” “Look, it’s Monday morning. It doesn’t

  feel doable right now. By Friday night you’ll

  be fine.” Carson was the voice of reason. “I guess you’re right.”

  “And whatever you need, we have your

  back,” Emma added.

  “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you.”

  Mai sent Elise a text, letting her know

  that she was in.

  From there, it seemed like the week flew by. The weather never warmed up. And the cold beat down on Texsun City. But Friday night, just like her friends had said, Mai was ready. Her mom drove her to the school at seven, an hour before the show.

  Elise met her in the parking lot. She was always so professional and catered to her artist’s every need. But she was also no-nonsense. That was why Mai had agreed to the performance. She needed to keep their relationship intact.

  Elise spoke to Mrs. Pham. Then she helped Mai bring her things into the cafeteria. There was a side room set up for her to put the final touches on her outfit and makeup. “You nervous?” Elise asked her.

  “I’m always nervous before I have to get up and sing. But this is for the eighth graders. It’s different than for my own class.”

  “Look, these are my people. We are all Team Mai. They would love you even if you got up and sang ‘Yabba Dabba Doo.’ No worries, okay? Let me make sure everything is in place. Relax. Get yourself together. And, Mai, you’re going to do great.”

  Elise closed the door behind her. Mai stared at her reflection in the mirror. Why did I agree to this? She finished her mascara and applied a tad more blush. Before she knew it, it was time to go on.

  She was a bundle of nerves. Her stomach was turning in circles. For a brief second, she thought that she might vomit. At least there was a trash can in her makeshift dressing room.

  “It’s time, Mai,” Elise said, popping her head in the door. “Are you okay? You look green.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, not actually feeling fine.

  Elise went to the stage to introduce her. “Let’s give a warm welcome to our own hometown celebrity. Winner of Summit’s Got Talent. MyTube star. The sensational Mai.”

  Mai had taken off her winter clothes and changed into a small black-sequined dress. Her mother had added feathers to the dress to add a little more pizzazz. She wore tiny black pumps and looked picture-perfect. Her hair framed her face with spiral curls that looked like the feathers that danced on her dress.

  She put the microphone in her hands and took in the applause from the audience. In an instant, all of the nervous energy she felt was gone. Some of the students got up and slow danced. Others finished their dessert while listening intently.

  The crowd’s energy was wonderful. Mai lost herself in the music. When it was over, her head felt light. The audience cheered as she wished them a wonderful evening. Then she left the stage. She went back to her small dressing room and tried to calm down.

  Elise was right there again. “You were awesome out there,” she said, congratulating her one and only artist.

  “Thank you so much. Elise, can I tell you something? Promise you won’t get mad.”

  “Anything.”

  “I think I need a little break.”

  “I totally understand. I have enough material now to keep the Internet going nuts for you. Let’s shoot for late spring for your next performance. How’s that?”

  “I think I can do that!” Mai said, excited. “I wasn’t sure how you would feel about me not wanting to get booked every weekend.”

  “Hey, we are in this together. But it’s all about you. You call the shots. I’ll drive.”

  “If someone would have told me at the beginning of the school year that I would be doing this. Here. Right now. I would have said no way. But it’s like a dream come true.”

  “Girl, I don’t know how you kept all of this talent to yourself up till now. You’re something special, Mai Pham.”

  “So are you, Elise Mitchell. So are you.”

  They had a mutual respect for one another, and it showed. That’s what made their partnership so wonderful. Finally, everything seemed to be coming together.

  Chapter 14

  Loving Me

  Mai put on her snow boots, coat, hat, and gloves. Her mother was waiting outside to pick her up. All she wanted was a sandwich and warm pajamas. She left through the side door, unnoticed by the eighth graders who were enjoying their banquet.

  One year from today, that would be her. But for now, she was the entertainment and the spectator.

  Just as her hand reached for the door, she heard someone calling her name. She didn’t want to turn around. She just wanted to go quietly into the night.

  “Mai!” She turned around and came face-to-face with Aiden. It was a pleasant surprise. “Hey, Aiden! What are you doing here?” He was in seventh grade, just like her. Seeing him at the eighth-grade ball was surprising.

  “My dad is the photographer. I’m just here helping out.”

  “Oh, that’s cool. Well, I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Mai, wait …” He began to look nervous and started fidgeting. “You did great tonight.”

  “Aw, thanks, Aiden,” she said, turning to leave.

  “And I wanted to ask you if maybe you had a change of heart. You know … about us hanging out.”

  She knew Aiden had a crush on her. But right here, right now? She didn’t know what to say. Her father took her cell phone at eight every night. If he saw that a boy had called, he’d lose it. There was no way she wanted to go down that road again. He’d given her a lot of liberties. She didn’t want to mess that up.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Aiden.”

  “Oh,” he looked down at the ground like a lost puppy.

  “It’s just my dad. I really can’t.”

  “No, I totally understand. Hey, I should get back and help my pops with—”

  “Hey, Aiden, I’m just starting to know who I am. I have to focus on me right now.”

  Aiden looked into the cafeteria as the couples were dancing the night away. He wished she was open to a relationship. He looked at her sadly.

  “You’re a cool guy. I really do like hanging out with you.” She thought about what she was saying. “Hey, maybe we could hang out at school sometimes. I mean … I can’t see how there would be any harm in that.”

  His attitude quickly changed. She could see the old Aiden as he became excited at the thought. “That’s awesome, Mai! I mean … that’s cool. Can I walk you to your car?”

  “Don’t push it,” she joked. “I don’t want to give my mom a heart attack. Slow. Let’s just go slow.”

  He agreed.

  She was finally in the warmth of her mom’s car. But it was not her mom in the driver’s seat.

  “Hey, Mai,” her father said. “How did you do?” He turned in his seat to face her, giving her his undivided attention.

  “They seemed to like it. It’s still a little surreal that anybody wants to hear me sing. But I’m getting used to it.”

  “Well, so am I,” he said. “I’m just sorry that it took me this long to come around.”

  “Father, you showing up here tonight means more than anything. I’m just glad we’re in a good place.”

  “Me too.”

  She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, Mai.”

  She never wanted to forget this feeling. It was a moment of her life that she would hold on to, even when they were mad at each other again. Her father had come th
rough to support her. That was huge!

  When she got home, she changed into her pajamas and picked up her iPad to chat with her friends. She told them everything. About her performance. About her conversations with Elise and Aiden. And about her dad picking her up. It had been a fun night. Exhausting, but fun nonetheless.

  When she hung up with them, she stared at her ceiling in deep thought. It was here where most of her songs had been written. Her creativity lived in this quiet time. It was in bed where she dreamed, literally and figuratively.

  Love was definitely in the air. The person who Mai had fallen in love with was herself. She was finally figuring out who she was. She loved the person she was becoming. “I love you, Mai Pham,” she whispered as she fell asleep.

  Want to Keep Reading?...

  Turn the page for a sneak peek at Shannon Freeman’s next book in the Summit Middle School series: The Alternative.

  ISBN: 978-1-68021-008-8

  Chapter 1

  Different Paths

  Brent Bonham observed his father’s meeting. His dad ran a private boot camp called Living Proof that he started when he retired from the Marines. He was addressing the next graduating class.

  Brent had heard it all before. “You can do this.”

  “You have everything you need.” “I don’t expect to see you back here.” “I am here for you.”

  It was the same story every three months.

  The guys in the group looked at Brent like he was lucky to have a father like this. But Brent didn’t feel the same way. At home, his dad was still an ex-Marine. He was cold and distant. Brent did not want to be like his dad.

  His personality was more like his mom’s. She was warm, funny, charming: a down-toearth Texas-born girl. She worked as an environmental lobbyist. She was opposed to the area’s big oil companies. His mother was a person who fought to make sure that big oil did not play dirty with Texsun City.

  Mrs. Bonham had been in Washington, D.C., for a couple of months now. That left Brent alone with his father. He begged his mom to come home every time they talked. She always promised that it would be soon.