Page 16 of Bless This Hot Mess
“This duet thing is cute,” Suwarna interjected, “but to offer you the prize, we really need you to join up with the dribbler. You’ll share the fame, the small-town glory, the weekly radio show…”
“The metallic grey, 5-door hatchback, front-wheel-drive Kia Rio?” Rebekkah danced her fingers together, her eyes wide with hope.
Suwarna blinked. “Uh… we’re not sure about that. We’ll have to check with the Ferraris…”
Carrington held up their hand. “I’ll do it! I’ll call Rino.”
“Of course you will,” Suwarna muttered under her breath.
Emma-Lou raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Awfully eager to chit-chat with the man who just put a target on my…”
“Company. Company targets of growthand new audience segments!” Suwarna cut in quickly, flashing a reassuring smile. “New, young, hip…” she turned to Rebekkah and Japheth, “how old are you two?”
Japheth and Rebekkah exchanged a glance, “We’re both 29/19!”
Suwarna blinked, “I’m sorry? You’re both 29 and 19?”
Rebekkah stared at the ceiling for a moment like she was lost in a challenging math problem. “How old would you like us to be in order to win? Was that mentioned on the entry form?”
Carrington tilted their head to appraise them, “We didn’t specify an age limit.”
Rebekkah expelled an anxious breath, “Great!”
“I’m 29 and Rebekkah is… whatever she says she is,” Japheth stammered. “I’m sorry, this is a lot to take in. Are you saying that we could be the winners of the1999 Not Short on Talenttalent show?”
“Which you didn’t perform at, but we technically saw you perform tonight,” Emma-Lou clarified.
“But there’s the small technicality of this other performer whodidperform,” Japheth added, looking torn, “So, we’d need to stop being a duo…”
“And be a trio? With this person we don’t even know?” Rebekkah finished, her eyes wide with uncertainty.
“Exactly!” Emma-Lou chirped, “It’s not breaking any laws.”
“That we know of,” Suwarna added cautiously.
“It’s just bending the rules a bit, but not breaking them, so they work for all of us,” Carrington said, shrugging, “Maybe R&J’s time has come to an end. Tragic. But maybe Trinity’s time has just begun.”
“Ooooo!” Emma-Lou clapped her hands. “That has a nice ring to it.Trinity.”
Rebekkah shook her head in disbelief, “This is so not what I thought would happen tonight. I mean, I always have hope that great things can happen, but it’s just been hard to believe lately. And it’s everything we’ve been dreaming about - the fame, the car…”
“Maybethe car,” Suwarna cautioned.
“The chance to perform and really spread the word about Jesus in a big way,” Rebekkah continued, her smile reaching her eyes.
“We do have several listeners…” Carrington said dryly.
“And really need a lot more,” Emma-Lou chimed in. “Quickly. That would be part of your job.”
“Noted,” Suwarna said, scribbling in an imaginary notepad. “Audience engagement and growth KPIs in their contracts. Check.”
Rebekkah glanced at Japheth, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. “But Japheth and I have always been a team. Just the two of us. Can we… think about it?”
“Of course!” Emma-Lou replied with a nod. “This is a big decision. Think about it. Quickly. Or God might just giddy-up and make someone else’s wishes come true.”
If driving to a remote hilltop to wonder if your musical dreams are worth resurrecting didn’t feel dramatic enough, sitting next to your best friend while they accuse you of being a witch should do the trick.
Rebekkah’s car rolled to a stop, the gravel crunching softly under the wheels as they pulled up to the familiar overlook. She turned off the ignition and sighed, taking in the view of Greater Napanee stretched out below them.
