A Carol for Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

who showed up for a shot at singing with Travis Thompson. There were teenagers, women who looked to be in their forties or fifties, and all ages in between. And despite Carol’s making it clear they were looking for female singers, there were a few men seated on the folding chairs in the fellowship hall as well. Perhaps they’d come to lend moral support.
    I could use a bit of that myself , Carol thought as she climbed
    the steps onto the stage and walked to the microphone.
    Dressed in a navy blue skirt and jacket, she’d swept her auburn hair into a prim chignon, hoping she would look older than nineteen. Nerves tumbled in her stomach. What was Ruth thinking when she asked Carol to be in charge of this?
    With her right hand, she lowered the microphone so it was close to her mouth. “Hello, everyone.”
    The buzz of conversations died.
    “My name is Carol Burke, and I’m one of the volunteers helping to put together the December 19 benefit perfor- mance featuring Travis Thompson.” She looked at the faces of those in the audience, recognizing the hopes and dreams
    that were represented there. Hopes and dreams much like her own. “Mr. Thompson has asked us to provide backup singers to perform with him at the benefit. We’re looking for only two more female singers.” She held up two fingers, emphasizing how slim their chances were.
    Glances were exchanged around the room. Some faces registered disappointment, others determination.
    “As announced, everyone will be asked to sing portions of the same three songs. I’m sure you’ll be familiar with the ones selected. They’re popular Christmas carols. All of you who are trying out were given copies of the sheet music and a number when you signed in at the door. Please come up to the stage when your number is called.” She turned to look toward the piano on the right side of the stage. Motioning with her hand, she said, “This is Mrs. Atkinson. I’ve asked her to accompany everyone tonight.”
    Turning toward the audience again, she saw Ruth standing at the back of the hall. Her mother-in-law smiled and nodded, as if to say Carol was doing a great job. She hoped it was true. She was so nervous her knees almost knocked, not from stage fright but from the responsibility of choosing the other singers. What if she chose someone she shouldn’t? Worse, what if she shouldn’t even be one of the three?
    “Miss Burke,” a woman in the front row said, “if we’re chosen, what exactly will we be singing? Are these the songs?”
    “I’m afraid I don’t know. That will be up to Mr. Thompson. I simply selected some familiar carols that I
    hoped would show your range and ability. Rehearsals will begin on Saturday the thirteenth. If you’re chosen, you must commit to daily rehearsals for the full week until the performance. Rehearsal times will depend upon Mr. Thompson’s needs and not ours, so it is essential that you be flexible.”
    She waited to see if anyone would rise and leave the fel- lowship hall. No one did.
    “All right then. Let’s have the first person come up here, and we’ll get these tryouts started.”
    Carol hurried across the stage and down the steps.
    Please , God. Don’t let me blow this. Help me choose the right singers. I’m so nervous , I’m afraid I’ ll be sick.
    Q

    Arlen Burke stood on the sidewalk, arms crossed over his chest, staring at the department store’s corner window. At long last, he said, “Well, it should draw a crowd. That’s for certain.”
    Relief flooded Jonathan. Coming from his dad, those few words were high praise.
    The plans for this Christmas window display had for- mulated in his mind weeks ago. The life-size, powerful- looking angel and the miniaturized version of sleepy Beth- lehem were a definite change from the Santa’s workshop, complete with toy train and animated elves, that normally graced this window in December.
    His dad turned toward the store entrance. “Your mother and that church bunch will