Maggie Malone and the Mostly Magical Boots by Jenna McCarthy and Carolyn Evans

brings in my first meet-and-greet, a mother/daughter duo. The mom sits down next to me, smiling like the cat that caught the mouse. The little girl stands smack in front of me. She seems really nervous and for some reason, she’s not saying a thing.
    â€œBecca, this is Harmony Lynn and her mom Shayna Lynn,” Vi tells me. “They drove all the way from Abilene to see you tonight.”
    â€œHarmony Lynn! You stand straight up, girl, and do it just like we practiced!” Shayna Lynn is barking like a dog and poor Harmony Lynn, who must be about six years old, looks terrified.
    Do what ? I wonder. Then Harmony Lynn starts to sing in a sweet, raspy little voice that I can barely hear over the crowd.
    â€œ If this is the road, then where do I go? Nothing’s for real, when it’s all for show …”
    â€œThat’s enough!” the mom yells, turning to me. “She doesn’t do that next part too good yet. But what do you think? We think she’s got what it takes to make it big in the singing world. That’s why we named her Harmony. We knew the second she popped out she was gonna be a star. Just like you, Becca. Do you think she’s got what it takes? Do you? Do you?”
    â€œWell, I…I think she’s great!” I stammer, not knowing what else to say and looking over at Vi.
    â€œAnd here’s her picture from the Abilene Teeny Queen Pageant,” Shayna Lynn says, shoving a wrinkled newspaper clipping in my face.
    Vi picks up on what’s happening and slips her phone into her pocket.
    â€œOkay, ladies, a quick picture and then we’ve got to keep things moving,” Vi announces.
    â€œOur number’s on the back of that clip, Becca! Let us know what you can do for Harmony Lynn here!” Shayna Lynn yells as she is ushered out.
    Was that an audition ? Super-duper weird. But if I’ve learned anything today, it’s that things can always get weirder.

“Okay, Bec, next we have Angel and her mom Betty-Jo,” Vi says, giving me the heads-up as Angel and her mom come in. “You’ll remember them from the Dallas show?”
    The little girl grabs a bottle of water from my side table like she owns the place and plops down way too close to me.
    â€œSo here’s how I see it, Becca,” Angel starts, smacking her chewing gum and breathing a burst of sickeningly sweet berry right into my face. She can’t be more than eight years old, even though she’s carrying a grown-up purse and is wearing high-heeled sandals. “Your third costume change is getting really tired looking. You need to get something new there, and I suggest a bright blue. That’s really good for TV too, you know. And that backup dancer girl? The one with the nose ring and the spiky hair? She has got to go.”
    â€œOh…well, I—” I begin, but Angel is not finished.
    â€œAnd you totally didn’t do that flip over thingy with the boy dancers during ‘Saturday Night Par-tay’ like you did in Topeka,” Angel continues. “Big mistake. Overall, I’d give tonight, like, a six.”
    I sit there with my mouth kind of hanging open. Who does this girl think she is? Some kind of big-time Becca Starr expert? To think Becca has to put up with rude kids like this every day! Wow. I’d like to tell this little monster where to shove her stinky mouthful of Dubble Bubble. But I don’t.
    â€œAl-righty then, Angel! And what an angel you are. Thanks for the feedback and we’ll see you in Austin,” Vi says, rolling her eyes in my direction and sending them on their way.
    â€œWhat’s Angel’s deal?” I lean in to ask Vi.
    â€œOh, you can’t possibly have forgotten about your traveling fan club, could you?” Vi laughs. “Angel is the kid whose dad started Little Kibble Kitten Chow. Her parents homeschool her so she never has to miss a concert. You know, they ride around in that bus that