My cell phone rang, ding-ding-ding, and I immediately picked it up.

“Hey, Mia,” a voice called from the other end, “what’s up?”

“Hey, Ella,” I replied. “How’s it going?”

“OK, but it’s hard being the new girl,” she said with a sigh. After she said that, there was a moment of silence. Finally, Ella spoke again. “How’s acting going?”

“OK, I guess,” I replied. “There’s a school musical coming up. Auditions are on Friday.”

“You should really try out,” Ella said.

“I don’t know. I love to perform, just not in front of people.”

“Are you kidding?” she asked. “You’re the best actress I’ve ever seen and you sing better than Taylor Swift! Mia, you can do anything if you try; you’re amazing!”

“You mean, I could do anything if I tried. I can’t now that you’ve moved,” I replied cheerlessly.

“Mia, don’t be silly, you really are a marvelous actress,” Ella said, “and if you try you can do anything no matter what anyone says, even you.” After that, there was along pause. Then Ella hung up. I sighed and put my phone down.

On Friday at school, I couldn’t help but stare at the posters advertising the school musical and in the end I decided I would try out. I texted my mom to tell here that she needed to pick me up at 5:00. The rest of the day seemed to last forever, but eventually it was time for tryouts.

Everyone got a script that we would have to read; part of the script involved singing a song from the play, which was going to be Annie. Then all of the fear came back--what if I mess up or fall? Then I heard Ella’s voice inside my head: “Mia, you can do anything if you try.”

All of a sudden, I heard my name being called. “Mia Mackerly.” As I walked onto the stage, I heard my phone beep. It was a text from Ella. It said: “Shoot for the stars!”

I replied: “I will.”