Page 28 of The Best Christmas Choir Ever

“For everyone’s reference, this is a demonstration of what not to do,” Julian said. The group laughed as Julian gave the warm up another shot.

“Something easier, then,” Charlie said. “Try some lip buzzing.” She performed a couple trills and waited for him to repeat the motion.

Julian’s lips puckered.

Charlie arched an eyebrow. “Can you take this seriously, please?”

“Lip buzzing? I didn’t know it was possible to not take that seriously.” He tried again.

“Okay, now you’re just beatboxing or something.”

“Can we add that in?” Harriet asked. “I think I’m actually quite good at that.” She raised her hand to her mouth as she and Julian started some odd, terrible beatboxing battle.

“Moving on,” Charlie said loudly.

Julian leaned toward her and buzzed his lips by her ear.

She shoved him away, grateful no one could hear the way her pulse spiked. “Okay, that’s enough warmup demonstrations.”

“Why? Are you not impressed by my vocal talents?” Julian asked.

“Actually, I’m a little concerned about your inability to carry a tune.”

“What are you talking about?” He sang out some notes for the group.

“Give me advanced warning next time if I should turn off my hearing aid,” Harriet said.

Charlie laughed, the sound exploding out of her, loud and bold and so full of glee that she caught herself. Was she actually having…fun?

The moment she realized that, panic set in, flooding her entire body with a cold chill. She couldn’t afford to feel this way. It was more than she’d allowed herself to feel in months. This was for Gram. To build her a community. Not a space for Charlie to lose herself or enjoy herself. Guilt gnawed at her. She had to take this more seriously, the way Tom would have. This wasn’t fun and games. This was a job. The results of this competition could mean the continuation of the music program. So she had to get in and get out without getting attached, because she couldn’t afford for the wrong emotions to show up and ruin everything.

“Okay,” Charlie said with renewed focus. “I think we just need to dive right in and get the group singing together.”

“Hold on a second,” someone called. Charlie looked up to see Warren standing in the doorway. He pushed his medication cart to the side. “If you’re gonna be a choir, you’re gonna need a name.”

“A name!” Julian said. “Of course. We’ll need something to put on the application form. Okay, people. What are we working with?”

“The Glendales?” Maggie suggested off the bat.

Gram and Harriet both wrinkled their noses.

“The Oldies,” Jim suggested.

“No!”

“The Classics,” Patrice said, shrugging. “That’s better than oldies.”

“The Classics has a nice ring to it,” Maggie said.

Charlie didn’t love any of these options. Neither did she love the Elm Springers, the Glendale Choir or Glendapella.

“How about the Glendale Shakers?” Julian said. “Because we like to shake it to the beat?”

“At this age, I shake whether I want to or not,” Harriet said with a grin.

“Oh! Maybe we can work in some coordinated dance moves,” Maggie said.

“And we’re not too old to shake other things,” Harriet added. “Are the kids still twerking, or has that gone out of fashion?”