Someday.

”It doesn’t count if you’re already planning your defeat.” Benny locked the zipper of his guitar bag, hung the strap over his shoulders and gave Anita one last look of disappointment before walking out of the house.

Anita slumped on the floor and sobbed uncontrollably. The end of the year singing contest is in two days. She practiced for this all through the year with Benny. She’d sing and he’d play the guitar. Whenever they practiced at her place or his. The neighbors would always come out to give nice compliments. It had given her so much confidence. For the first time in her life, she would not sing to her mirror or teddy bears but a real crowd.

As the day drew closer, panic started to kick in. One day while she was having a pee, she heard Amanda singing and she lost all the confidence she had. Amanda won the contest three years in a row and there was no way she’s beating Amanda when she’d be joining the competition for the first time.

“You can do it, Annie.” Benny would always say whenever she wears panic over her face. “I’ve heard you sing, everyone at home loves your voice, i love your voice and i believe the students and judges would love your voice.”

Benny was her best friend of eight years and counting and never for once did walk out on her until today. She must really have angered him by requesting they withdraw from the contest.

She wiped her tears and brought out her phone. She goes through all their practice videos from the first time they started until yesterday. Thanks to her they couldn’t practice today and tomorrow is the d-day.

She sprang up and ran to Benny’s house. She knocked twice and the door flung open. Greeting her with a warm smile was Mrs Jola.

“Benny is upstairs dear.”

”Alright. Thank you ma.”

She ran past his sisters up the stairs to his room. At his doorstep, she knocked and waited. The door opens and facing her was a wide-eyed Benny.

”Let’s do this Benny.”

He flashed a clean set of teeth and dragged her in slamming the door shut.

”It’s the school most anticipated event!“ cried the host. The school hall was filled with students of different classes, size, and height. The red and white color of their uniforms gave the hall enough color that there wasn’t a need for any more decorations. Murals of books and pens and old scholars decorated the walls of the hall. The stage had a grand piano and a hired pianist for anyone who would love to use a piano as a back up. There was a standing microphone in the middle of the stage and a red curtain acting as a barrier between the front and back stage. The school host finished her inteoduction, the judges were welcomed, high school personnels were acknowledged. This year, Don jazzy was the special guest.

”Let the show begin! We’ll now welcome our first performer!”

Anita was dressed in a pink satin short dress with silver heels. Her Afro hair was packed up in a sleek bun. Her face had mild make up on, given color to her pretty brown skin. She fiddled the hem of her dress.

”You look beautiful, Annie.” Benny said from behind her. She almost tripped but he caught her. “I’m with you and i trust you. Amanda is performing now.”

”Yup.” Annie nodded and smiled. “ And she is doing well.”

”You will do well too.” He squeezed her left hand and they waited for their turn.

The crowd cheered for Amanda. Loud bangs and screams filled the air.

”And now our last performance for the first round is...” The host cried. “Rihanna’s Love the way you lie by Annie Okeke!”

Annie froze. Benny held her hand and she let him lead her to the stage. He finds his spot on the stage and Annie stood in front of the standing mic. A million and one eyes were staring at her. She looked at Benny with teary eyes.

”You can do it.“ he mouthed. “Look above their head.” She nodded. He played the first note. She missed.

Benny gave her another encouraging look and played the note again at the key she’s most comfortable with.

And when it was time, she started to sing and the crowd oo’d and ahh’d. Soon she was singing like they she did while they practiced. She looked at Benny occasionally and he smiled at her.

When she finished. The crowd stood up, shouting her name and jumping. Some judges stood up and clapped the others beamed approvingly at her.

She couldn’t believe her eyes. She had always pictured this scenario whenever she sang in her bedroom but never really thought it could become a reality and even happen this soon.

With teary eyes, she walked to Benny who now wore his guitar behind his back and he led her back stage.

”Wow wow wow!” The host cried out. ”That was an amazing performance!”

“Hey...” Anita turned to find Amanda beaming. “You were amazing.”

”Wow.” Anita said looking surprised. “Amanda complimented me. Thank you so much. You were amazing too. You’ve always be amazing.”

”Thank you dear.” Amanda smiled. “But it seems you’re taking this one.”

”What? No—”

”Can all the contestants be on stage?”

The ten contestants walked to the stage with their assist — if any.

Anita stood beside Benny.

”You all did amazing.” The host said to them. She turned to the crowd. “You enjoyed their performance didn’t you?”

The crowd cheered. “With me in the envelop is the winner of this year’s contest. I’ll read out the prize before announcing the winner.”

She adjusted her dress and continued. “ The winner would go home with five-hundred thousand naira, free access to all of next years excursions, a 2019 mac book pro, free cafeteria food all through next year and the last but not the least, a new gig was added.”

Everyone waited eagerly.

”After school, the winner gets signed into the mavins record label. Courtes of don jazzy!”

The crowd cheered louder.

”And the winner, with a point of 86.5, is...”

”Anita Okeke!”

Everyone clapped and banged and Benny came and carried a still surprised Anita.

“You did it baby girl!”

”I... i won?”

Now the stage is filled with people coming to congratulate her. She pressed her hands over her mouth, suppresing the urge to scream out loud.

The sounds are fading and Anita is in her own world. She heard her late mother’s voice.

“I know that someday you’d conquer shyness and realize that all the world needs is your voice to take to places.”