Reality Tour

By Cheryl Crouch and G Studios

Chosen Girls is a dynamic new series that communicates a message of empowerment and hope to Christian youth who want to live out their faith. In Book 8, Harmony is beyond excited to be heading out on a road trip with the Chosen Girls. But her “ultimate vacation” turns “ultimate nightmare” when she and her cousin Lucinda make a series of bad choices—the worst of which puts them on the wrong side of the law. Thankfully, Harmony and Lucinda both learn that only Jesus can give the kind of full life they long for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 6, 2009
• ISBN: 9780310866718

Cheryl Crouch

Cheryl Crouch is the author of ten children’s books, including the Chosen Girl series and "Escape From the Temple of Mars." Cheryl loves spending time with her husband and four children at their home which is tucked into a patch of oak woods near Dallas, Texas.

Book preview

halftit

Thanks to the Circle of Christian Authors for your excellent input — and most of all, the constant encouragement. I cherish the ways each of you have contributed to my writing and to who I am becoming.

ZONDERVAN

Reality Tour

Copyright © 2007 by G Studios, LLC

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

ePub Edition August 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-86671-8

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zonderkidz, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

---

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Crouch, Cheryl, 1968-

         Reality tour / by Cheryl Crouch.

               p. cm. -- (Chosen Girls ; bk. 8)

         G Studios.

Summary: The Chosen Girls go on tour, but when Harmony’s rebellious cousin Lucinda joins them, Harmony temporarily forgets the word of God in an effort to have fun and look cool.

ISBN-13: 978-0-310-71274-9 (softcover)

ISBN-10: 0-310-71274-2 (softcover)

[1. Christian life--Fiction. 2. Bands (Music)--Fiction. 3. Cousins--Fiction. 4. Behavior--Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.C8838Re 2007

[Fic]--dc22

2007022890

---

All Scripture quotations unless otherwise noted are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The Chosen Girls registered trademarks owned by G Studios, LLC, Newport Beach, CA, USA and used by The Zondervan Corporation under authorization.

Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan.

Editor: Bruce Nuffer

Art direction and design: Sarah Molegraaf

Interior composition: Christine Orejuela-Winkelman and Melissa Elenbaas

Table of Content

Title Page

Copyright Page

chapter • 1

Saturday

chapter • 2

Saturday, One Week Later

chapter • 3

Sunday After noon, a Week Later

chapter • 4

Wednesday Night, a Week and a Half Later

chapter • 5

Thursday Morning

chapter • 6

Friday

chapter • 7

Still Friday

chapter • 8

Saturday

chapter • 9

Saturday Night

Sunday Morning

chapter • 10

Sunday Night

Monday

chapter • 11

Monday Night

Tuesday

About the Publisher

Share Your Thoughts

0310712742_content_0004_0010310712742_content_0005_0010310712742_content_0006_0010310712742_content_0007_0010310712742_content_0008_0010310712742_content_0009_001page100310712742_content_0011_001

chapter • 1

bul

Saturday

When I was little, I made up stories about exotic places and amazing adventures. Sometimes, if I concentrated hard enough, reality faded away and my dream world took over. My bathtub became a flower-scented tropical pool, and the water rained down like a waterfall tumbling from a rocky cliff. And in my backyard, the pepper tree became a forest hideaway where I struggled to stay alive as the last survivor of my native tribe or Irish clan or Russian dynasty.

Always, my dreams were interrupted. Armonia Aracelli Gomez, what’s taking so long? There are six other people waiting for that bathroom!

Harmony, where are you? You haven’t washed your dishes yet. Or taken out the trash. Or cleaned your room.

Anyway, that was when I was little. Now I’m growing up — practically grown. Between my rock band, school, karate, and family stuff, I’ve got loads of responsibilities. So I’m thinking it’s time to stop dreaming about exotic places and amazing adventures, you know?

It’s time to make those dreams come true.

bul

I kicked open the door on the side of what used to be my best friend’s family garage. Mello and I took over the building a long time ago, first as our playhouse and then as our studio. I’m not sure the McManns even once parked a car inside.

Everybody here? I called as I struggled to get my stuff through the door.

Well, yeah, Trin answered. She sat half-sunk into the tan couch, arms folded, her brilliant trademark mile nowhere to be seen.

"We’re all still here," Lamont said, raising his long brown arms and tapping his watch with a forefinger.

I glanced at Mello, already perched behind her drum set. She peered at me with one eyebrow cocked as if to say, You’re late for practice again, Harmony.

I’m sorry, you guys, I answered. And when you hear why I’m late, you’ll understand that —

That you’re a lame, lame excuse for a band manager? Lamont said. I could see he fought back a smile.

I’m serious, you guys. I have killer news, I said, dropping my gear and pulling a sheet of paper from my back pocket. I asked, Do you know who Jonah Harrison is?

Jonah Harrison, said Trin matter-of-factly. Everybody knows Jonah Harrison.

Is he that new guy in your history class? Mello asked.

Get real, Trin answered. He’s a youth speaker.

Not just a youth speaker, Lamont said. Jonah Harrison is The Man. His ‘We Are One’ tour last year was huge. Twenty thousand in New York City alone.

Mello said, Oh, right! I’ve heard of him.

Of course you have, Trin agreed. Everyone has.

He doesn’t just stand there and talk, right? Mello said. He travels with a band, and it’s like a massive concert.

I nodded. Sí. He drew in almost fifty thousand people between New York, Boston, and DC.

Hey, I heard he’s coming to L.A., Lamont said. It would so rock to hear him —

That’s your news, isn’t it, Harmony? Trin interrupted, her eyes sparkling. You got us tickets to his L.A. show!

I shook my head and tried to look sad. Nope. No tickets.

No? Mello said. So why are we talking about him?

I waved the email I had printed in front of them. Because he wants us to join him on his next tour!

Backstage? Trin yelled.

I laughed. "No. Onstage. The Chosen Girls will be his opening band."

They sat in stunned silence for a second, and then —

Nuh-uh! Lamont exclaimed.

Trin squinted at me. "You are so lying to us."

Mello just turned white.

I made a big deal out of smoothing the paper before I read aloud:

Dear Miss Harmony Gomez,

As you may know, we are preparing for an upcoming youth campaign for the West Coast, called Anything but Coasting. We’ve been looking for a fresh young California band that might tour with Jonah.

After reviewing everything about your band, from your lyrics, videos, and CDs to the Christ-honoring reputation you’ve established, we feel that your band is just the group we want.

Would the Chosen Girls be interested in joining the Anything but Coasting tour? We’ll hold sessions in San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle this spring.

I looked up. After that it’s a bunch of boring detail stuff about stage crews and travel expenses.

You’re serious, aren’t you? Lamont asked.

Beyond serious, I answered. The Chosen Girls can finally do a real tour. It’s road trip time, amigos!

We hugged and screamed and jumped around the room until Mello stopped and waved her hands at me. Wait. What about school?

Checked that. The tour’s during break, I answered. Mostly, anyway. We’ll just miss, like, two days.

Mrs. Burledge won’t like it, Mello said with a shake of her head.

Trin started pacing. "Ohwow, this is unreal. You’re talking about us? Performing in front of maybe fifty thousand — "

Touring the whole West Coast! I yelled. Portland, Seattle, San Francisco.

With Jonah Harrison, Lamont added, rubbing his hands together.

In an RV! I continued. I only love those little tables that turn into beds! And every little space has a drawer or cabinet tucked into it. Way beyond cute.

I don’t know, Trin mumbled. "It would be up to us to set the