Penny pushed open the door. The entire choir was already sitting around, waiting for practice to begin. There were a bunch of empty seats. "I told you people would come," Father Marcus declared. "What's your name?"
"Penny Lamb," Penny introduced.
"Do you know your vocal part?" he asked.
"I don't know," Penny said. Before today, she wasn't a singer. Penny used to be in her church choir, but it was because her mom forced her. Penny always mouthed the words until she was old enough to say she didn't want to do it anymore.
"It's okay," Father Marcus said. "We'll get that figured out later."
He handed Penny some sheet music. It was one of the songs they were singing at lunch. "Choir, take this time to use the bathroom or refill your water," Father Marcus instructed. "Penny, you can start whenever you're ready."
Penny started to read the words. "When the fall fair comes to town," she sang. Penny could only hope Penny wasn't butchering the music. She knew her chances of getting into the choir were high, even if she failed this audition. They were in desperate need of new members. "Oh, step right up. All good due fun."
Penny made it about halfway when Marcus stopped her. "Are you sure you've never sung formally in your life?" he asked.
"Yes," Penny said.
"Well, you're in," Marcus responded. "You may go sit beside Constance."
Penny took her seat in the front room. I'm in.
After choir rehearsal, Penny followed her new teammates to the senior parking lot. The members of the choir seemed friendly enough. Constance seemed relieved that she wouldn't have to try and hit Ocean's notes anymore. Father Marcus told Penny she was a soprano, meaning she would be responsible for hitting the highest notes.
Soon, Penny and Constance were the last two. That's what Penny wanted. "Hey, Constance," Penny greeted.
"Hey, Penny," Constance responded. "Oh yeah, I need to send you the schedule."
"I have something I need to talk to you about," Penny responded.
"Okay," Constance said.
"I saw something on your phone," Penny confessed. "I didn't mean to snoop. However, you dropped it in the girl's locker room. I saw a text you sent to Mischa. Do you know something about Ocean's disappearance?"
"My mom is here," Constance said. "I have to go."
Constance quickly walked to her mother's car. Penny watched as the car drove off.