Bonnie's Arc

Chapter 5 of 7

Bonnie woke up the next morning and found something tucked under the theater's front door. A crumpled piece of paper with messy handwriting covered one side. She smoothed it out and read the words: "Heard you singing yesterday. You're really good." Her heart jumped. Someone had listened. Someone had stopped to hear her and liked what they heard. She read the note three more times, tracing each word with her finger. This was proof that her plan was working. The speaker by the window had reached someone. They'd taken the time to write to her, to tell her she had talent. She folded the note carefully and slipped it into her pocket. Her first fan message. The beginning of everything she'd been working toward. She decided to explore the city for more places to perform. Three blocks from the theater, she discovered a plaza she hadn't noticed before. An old fountain stood in the center, its stone surface covered in cracks and dry moss. Water hadn't flowed through it in years. Bonnie walked around it slowly, running her hand along the rough edge. Words were carved into the stone: "There's no place like home." She read them twice, her smile growing. This fountain was like the statue of Marilyn—another piece of the city's past when performers and artists filled the streets. Maybe famous singers had stood right here after their shows. She climbed onto the fountain's edge and cleared her throat. Her voice rang out across the empty plaza, mixing a pop chorus with an opera verse. The sound bounced off the buildings around her. When she finished, she imagined applause filling the air. This plaza would be perfect for outdoor concerts. She could bring people here, hundreds of them, all gathered to hear her sing. The note in her pocket proved someone was already listening. Soon there would be more.