Shan Shan World: The Girl With A Magical Microphone

By Sky Andrew

Shan Shan World takes you on a journey with goofy 15 year old Shantelle Shan Waters, a normal girl who dreams of becoming a pop star. After she finds a magical microphone left to her by Grandma, Ruby Red, she realises that this dream could become a reality as the microphone whisks her away to Animation World every day, where she becomes a world famous pop star.

On the surface, Shan Shan World is the story of a mixed-raced teenager living an exciting double life, but underneath this magical story are messages of diversity and inclusion for teenagers all over the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd
• Release date: Mar 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9780995552135

Sky Andrew

Sky Andrew is the author of ‘IN YOUR WORLD’ and has been a talent agent for almost 30 years. He rose to public prominence when negotiated one of the biggest deals in football in 2001 when Sol Campbell left Spurs to join Arsenal. Previous to being an agent he was a pro table-tennis player winning 14 national titles and competing in the 1988 Olympics.

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SHAN SHAN WORLD

SKY ANDREW

Copyright © 2023 Sky Andrew

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Skylet Andrew

ISBN 9780995552135

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data.

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 1

Shan Shan, please sit up. You’re acting like they are going to throw tomatoes at you.

Shantelle Waters, better known as Shan Shan, slumped further into her seat as she peered out the window at the mob of girls in front of MeadowField high school.

I told you not to come too early. They always hang out at the front doors.

And who are they? Shantelle’s mother, Mary Waters, said, putting the car into park.

The Callous Crew... Shan Shan said softly.

Mary looked at her daughter in the rearview mirror. Her petite body, which swam in oversized clothes, sat crowded in the corner of the backseat. Her long brown hair fell into her face, where she absent-mindedly pushed it back behind her ears. Mary wanted to turn around and hug her daughter because she knew since Shan Shan started high school last year, she had been the subject of ridicule every day. Mary squinted at the mob girls standing in front of the school. She could never understand why Shan Shan was their target; she was an ordinary girl with normal hobbies.

Shan Shan looked up with her big hazel eyes and gave a weak smile.

It’s not too late to turn back now.

Mary felt a twinge of sadness as she looked at Shan Shan’s pleading eyes.

Honey, you have to go to school. Do you want me -

No. That will only make it worse. Shan Shan said as she opened the car door. She looked back at her mother, wishing she had her long blonde hair, wide white smile, and calming blue eyes. Shan Shan would even settle for her charismatic demeanour and contagious laughter if that’s what satisfied The Callous Crew. With a sigh, she closed the door and reluctantly waved to her mother before she trudged down the front sidewalk to school. Clutching her bag, Shan Shan shivered as a fall breeze blew by. She looked at the shedding leaves of the maple and oak trees, admiring their warm, flame-like colours.

Why the long face, Shaun? Mommy couldn’t walk you to school? Megan Burkle yelled as Shan Shan walked closer to them.

Shan Shan stared at the ground, counting the cement squares as she walked, silently counting her steps.

Or maybe mommy didn’t want to be seen with you because she’s ashamed of having a boy instead of a girl. Ashley Palmer said, hopping down from the side rail she perched on.

Shan Shan took a deep breath, gripped her backpack straps, and looked at Ashley.

I don’t appreciate you talking to me like that.

The Callous Crew started to form a ring around Shan Shan. Ashley stood in front while Megan and Alyssa Haggle flanked her sides while the other girls stood behind Shan Shan.

Ashley and her crew all had the same look. They all had designer clothes that clung to their developing bodies, well-groomed hair and perfectly polished nails that would make Barbie jealous, but worst of all, personalities that could brighten or ruin your day.

Ashley bent down and stuck her thin nose in Shan Shan’s face.

What else does the stupid boy not like?

Shan Shan felt the heat of her anger welling up inside of her. She hated how they waited for her every day, like vultures circling their prey.

Shan Shan looked up into Ashley’s beady eyes and said, That I’m not afraid of Barbie, and gave her a push.

Ashley stumbled back a few steps, astonished that Shan Shan pushed her. The rest of The Callous Crew reeled back with shock while Shan Shan stood with balled fists.

Ashley quickly composed herself and started towards Shan Shan when the bell rang for school.

Megan grabbed Ashley’s arm before she could do anything she would regret and motioned towards the front door where the vice-principal, Mrs. Price, stood in the doorway.

Let’s go, girls. You’re going to be late for class. The Callous Crew started to walk away, leaving Shan Shan and Ashley in a silent showdown.

Ashley narrowed her eyes at Shan Shan and said, Let’s hope you still feel the same way after school, and turned to run after her friends.

Shan Shan unclenched her fist as she looked up at Mrs. Price, who she silently thanked as she walked into school.

Shan Shan walked quickly through the school’s bustling crowd to get to her locker. She glanced at the clock and saw that she had five minutes before her first period started.

Shan Shan! cried a voice from behind her.

Shan Shan turned around to see her best friend, Lilly Knettle, and her long black braids swinging around her shoulders, rushing towards her. Her black, square-rimmed glasses slipped down her nose as she squeezed through a group of basketball players.

Good Mooorin’ Shan Shan! Lilly said as she embraced her friend.

A wave of relief washed over Shan Shan as her best friend hugged her. Lilly was like Shan Shan in many ways; they both loved school and music, especially pop music. They had two cats each and were both outcasts. The only difference was that Lilly was an outcast because she was bold and rowdy, not caring about her demeanour, and Shan Shan was shy and easily pushed around.

Why do you look like someone ran over your cat?

Shan Shan didn’t want to tell Lilly what happened because she knew what she would say, that Shan Shan was stupid for pushing Ashley, but when Shan Shan pulled back and looked at her friend, it all came rushing out.

Lilly looked at Shan Shan with amusement.

Honestly, ten points for bravery and minus a million for stupidity. What were you thinking? Actually, it’s obvious you weren’t thinking. Now you have to deal with that bimbo -

Lilly stopped talking as she saw The Callous Crew walking up behind Shan Shan. Megan pushed Shan Shan, making her drop her books, sending the Crew in a fit of laughter.

Lilly turned around and shouted, Losers! Which only sent the Crew into hysterics.

Don’t worry about them. They are all talk; they wouldn’t want to scuff their pretty boots.

Lilly acted like she scuffed her shoe, looking at Shan Shan with a horrified face, hopping around. It was now Shan Shan’s turn to laugh.

I’ll see you at lunch, okay? Try not to start any more fights. Lily then ran towards her geography class while Shan Shan headed towards the music hall.

Music was her favourite class; it was how her soul breathed. She loved hearing the twinkling notes of the flute or the jazzy sounds of the saxophone, but what she loved most was being part of the choir. She loved the harmony, solos, and acapella parts; there was nothing she didn’t admire, and the best part was that none of The Callous Crew were in there.

Shan Shan opened the doors to a semi-full classroom and walked to the front, where the rest of the choir sat.

Hey, Peter, Shan Shan said.

Peter smiled and said, Hey Shan Shan. You ready for today? I was talking with Mr. Kowollowitz, and he said that we are going to be doing a Christmas Special with a new song!

Shan Shan grinned. As long as it doesn’t come out like last year’s Christmas concert where everyone fell asleep to Silent Night, I’m sure it’ll be good.

Peter chuckled, shaking his blond curls and turned to the people sitting behind him. Shan Shan looked at Peter as he talked to his friends, laughing about something, wishing she could have that same relationship with them as he did. Sighing, she started to pull her music binder out when Mr. Kowollowitz came strutting out of his office.

Mr. Kowollowitz ran his hand through his receding hairline, making it more dishevelled than it already was. He was a slender man who liked to wear outdated button-up shirts tucked into jeans. As he approached his music stand, he looked at the class with a coffee-stained smile and plopped down a stack of papers.

Good morning, class. As some of you already know, we will be doing something special for our annual Christmas concert.

Mr. Kowollowitz handed a stack of papers to Shan Shan and motioned her to pass them out.

Shan Shan started in the front row, snaking up and down the aisles as Mr. Kowollowitz talked about the Christmas concert.

Mr. Kowollowitz, I need - Shan Shan started to say before she tripped and fell onto the ground.

The class turned around when they heard the thump and then pointed and laughed when they saw Shan Shan sprawled out on the floor.

Shan Shan looked behind her and saw Jason O’Toole folding his legs back under his chair.

Oops, sorry about that, Jason said with a sly smile.

Jason O’Toole is a miserable boy who only smiles when he hurts someone, especially the unfortunate.

Shan Shan pushed herself up and brushed off herself, trying to hold back tears.

Shan Shan, are you alright? Mr. Kowollowits asked.

I’m fine, Shan Shan said, coughing, trying to hide the crack in her voice.

Shan Shan took her seat as Mr. Kowollowitz handed out the rest of the papers.

Shan Shan opened her binder and grabbed a pencil, where she started doodling to forget about the incident. She thought about blasting Jason with a water cannon, washing away his meanness and the smell of his BO. Why can’t he go roll around in the mud like the pig he was and leave her alone.

Distracted by her thoughts, Shan Shan continued to doodle and pay no attention to Mr. Kowollowits’ rant about the Christmas Concert until he handed out parts for the song. He browsed through the class attendance list and started calling out to people.

"Alicia, Monica, and Grace, you guys will be the backup singers, and your jobs will be to provide beautiful, supporting vocals for the female lead singer.

Phil, Brandon, and Peter will do the same but for the male lead. And for the lead singers, Mr. Kowollowits paused as he skimmed the list, Dale - who isn’t here today- and Shantelle."

Shan Shan’s head snapped up at the mention of her name.

Me?

Mr. Kowollowits looked over the brim of his reading glasses. Yes, you.

Shan Shan should have been excited, happy, or even thrilled that he picked her for the lead female singer, but she felt mortified. Her mind began racing, imagining the worst. She saw herself singing on the large oak stage, overlooking the audience who sat below, staring. Then suddenly, something rains down on her plastering her hair against her face. She wipes her hair out of her face, sees red paint all over her hands, and looks down at her beautiful white dress to see it smothered in red paint. Shan Shan then hears quiet giggles and sees Jason O’Toole standing at the edge of the stage holding a rope which she then traces up to a rafter beam where she watches a red-stained bucket sway.

Shan Shan blinked back tears. I can’t do that.

The entire class had stopped chattering about their new parts and looked over at Shan Shan. Feeling the eyes burning holes into the back of her head, Shan Shan cleared her throat and said, Cause I’m not that good.

You got that right, Jason muttered just loud enough for everyone to hear.

The glass giggled, and Mr. Kowollowits glared at Jason.

Hallway, now, he said as he pointed a finger to the door.

Jason threw down his books and stomped towards the door, but before leaving, he turned around and looked at Shan Shan and said, Actually, take the part. That way, we can all have a laugh and watch you croak on stage before we leave for Christmas break.

The class snickered more, but when Mr. Kowollowits jammed his finger towards the door, everyone became silent.

The parts have been picked, and that’s final - Mr. Kowollowits was saying before he was cut off by the bell, sending everyone into a frenzy to grab their belongings.

Yelling over the commotion, Mr. Kowollowits said, Don’t forget, it’s three months away. We will be practicing this with other small assignments until Christmas. Have a good day.

Shan Shan waited until most of the people were gone before she packed up her belongings and left the classroom to avoid the congestion.

She walked to math with a dazed look, horrified that Jason might be right. She was going to make a fool out of herself at the concert and be the laughing stock of the school, not that she wasn’t already with her clumsy nature or uncanny conversational skills.

Shan Shan sat through math, distraught and distracted, not paying attention to anything until the bell went.

Relieved to hear the shrill of the bell, Shan Shan bounded for the door, weaving in and out of the other students. Seeing Lilly at her locker, Shan Shan ran up and told her all about the incident and her new part.

Jason is such a sleazeball. He legit has nothing else better to do in life, I swear. Next time, if there is, while you’re getting up, you should kick him in the shins. Lilly kicked the air pretending it was Jason, and put her hand to her mouth.

Oops, sorry about that, she said in a mocking tone.

Shan Shan snickered as she watched Lilly pretend to karate chop and kick the air. She looked at her best friend in her silliness, wishing she had the confidence to join her fun and be just as silly. Shan Shan opened her locker and placed her books on the top shelf.

You got that look again.

What look?

Lilly leaned against the locker. Like someone killed your cat.

Shan Shan gave a small smile. She loved how Lilly was so crass about things, and Lilly never really filtered what she had to say for anyone. Everyone was the same in her eyes, and maybe that’s why people never picked on her, she thought.

Shan Shan looked at Lilly, Just nervous about the lead part.

Lilly rolled her eyes. Stop being such a worrywart and grab your lunch. Your paranoia has already eaten ten minutes of our precious time.

Shan Shan grabbed her lunch, slammed her locker shut and followed Lilly into the cafeteria.

Lunch went by in a blur of giggles and flying crusts of bread that Lilly