“I can’t think about this mystery now,” Violet said. “Tomorrow is the audition for the young people’s orchestra. I have to go home and practice.”
“We’ll go home, too,” Jessie suggested. “We can be your audience.”
They trooped out of Victor’s room to the elevator.
Outside the hotel, they were just in time to catch the bus.
When they were seated, Benny said, “This is a good idea — listening to Violet practice.” He turned to the others. “You know why?”
“Oh course we do, Benny,” Henry replied. “Listening to good music is a wonderful experience.”
“That’s not the only reason,” Benny said.
Jessie laughed. “Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Benny. Tell us your reason.”
“I might get an idea.”
“Yes, listening to music often gives people ideas,” Henry said.
“I mean about the mystery. I got the idea about the fake notes when Melody was playing. I might get an even better idea listening to Violet,” said Benny.
But he didn’t. The minute he and the others were seated around the living room and Violet began to play, Benny forgot about the mystery. So did everyone else. They thought only about the music Violet played and how proud they were of her.
“Now, I’ll play ‘Song of the Wind,’” she said.
The notes followed one after another, separate and clear and yet blended, like drops of water in a smoothly flowing river.
Violet played all their favorites, even “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.”
When she had finished, Jessie asked, “What will you play for the audition, Violet?”
Benny piped up, “Play ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.’ I like that best.”
Everyone laughed.
“I like them all best,” Soo Lee said.
“I don’t know which piece to play,” Violet said. “I think I’ll let Melody choose.”
Benny got to his feet. “Now that that’s settled,” he announced, “I’m hungry. It’s time for lunch.”
Jessie put out sandwich fixings. That way, each of the Aldens could make his or her favorite.
Afterward, Benny raided the garbage.
“I’m going to use this cardboard tube to make a kazoo,” he said. He placed waxed paper over one end and secured it with a rubber band. Then, he hummed into it. He liked the sound it made.
Soo Lee decided to make an instrument, too. She found several different-sized bottles and arranged them according to size. When she blew across the tops, she played a melody.
All afternoon, Soo Lee and Benny kept making instruments until they had enough for all the Aldens. When Grandfather came home from the mill, they gave him a concert.
“Bravo!” he said as they took their final bows. “You sound like a real orchestra.”
“Part of what you heard was my stomach growling,” Benny told him. He was hungry again!
After dinner, Grandfather asked Violet to play. She sounded even better than she had that afternoon.
“Violet, if you play like that, you’re sure to win a place in the young people’s orchestra,” Grandfather assured her.
“Then we’ll celebrate,” Benny said.
Grandfather nodded. “Yes, of course, we must do that. I’ll tell you what: You meet me at the hotel tomorrow afternoon and I’ll treat you to dinner in the dining room.”
“What if I’m not chosen?” Violet asked.
“You will be,” Soo Lee responded.
Violet wanted to believe that, but she had her doubts. The competition would be stiff. She went to bed vowing to do her very best. “Then, whatever happens will be all right,” she told herself.
The next morning, they arrived at the Civic Center to find the auditorium nearly full and buzzing with excitement.
Melody called for attention. “Will the musicians please come up to the front rows,” she instructed.
Violet made a this-is-it face. The others wished her good luck, and she started up the aisle.
When everyone was assembled, Melody divided them according to their instruments. The strings would be first to play.
Violet was third. On stage, she carefully took her violin from its case. She put it in position and pulled the bow across the strings to be sure it was in tune. Then, she read-justed it, took a deep breath, and played the pieces Melody had selected from her list.
After the first few notes, Henry, Jessie, Benny, and Soo Lee relaxed. There was no question about it: Violet was very good and getting better all the time.
The orchestra list was posted in the reception hall at noon. There were so many people crowded around the bulletin board, it was difficult to see. Benny squeezed to the front of the group where he stood on tiptoe to read the list. At the very top of the strings section was Violet’s name.
“Hooray!” Benny exclaimed. He squeezed back through the crush of people. “You made it!” he said, and hugged his sister.
Violet skipped off to call Grandfather. While the other Aldens waited for her, Henry picked up a printed concert schedule.
“When is the young people’s rehearsal?” Jessie asked him.
“Tomorrow morning. Their concert will be Saturday afternoon.”
“What about the regular orchestra?” Benny wanted to know. “When do they play?”
“Friday night.”
“That’s tomorrow!” Soo Lee said.
Benny sighed. “That doesn’t give us much time.”
They all knew he was thinking about solving the mystery. Could the Boxcar Children find the missing score in time for it to be displayed before the concert? |