No Voice for Marta

Marta loved singing. For three months she practiced every evening for the city singing competition. It was on Saturday, and she really wanted to win.

But on Wednesday morning, she woke up with a terrible sore throat. When she tried to say “good morning” to her cat, only a small, strange sound came out.

Marta didn't like doctors, but she was worried, so she went to see Dr. Lee. The waiting room was full, and she waited for almost an hour.

Dr. Lee was a young woman with a calm voice. She looked at Marta's throat with a small light. “It's not serious,” she said. “But you need to rest your voice. No talking and no singing for two days.”

“Two days?” Marta whispered. “But the competition is on Saturday!”

“Then you have to be quiet until Friday,” said Dr. Lee. “Drink lots of hot tea with honey. And don't whisper, because that's bad for your voice too.”

The next two days were very strange. Marta wrote notes to everyone. At the bakery, she showed the baker a note: “One loaf of bread, please. I can't talk.” At work, her friends laughed when she answered their questions with funny drawings. It was harder than she thought, but she didn't say a word.

On Saturday morning, Marta opened her mouth and sang a few notes. Her voice was clear and strong again.

That evening, she stood on the stage in front of three hundred people. She was nervous, but she sang better than ever.

She didn't win first prize. She won second prize. But after the competition, a woman came over to her. It was Dr. Lee. She was smiling, and she had a jar of honey in her hand.

“For your next competition,” she said.