It was a real scramble for the Underground News team to get the episode filmed, edited, parent-approved, and live by the end of the day. Since it was a Friday and Brielle was in charge of the last part of the process, her parents agreed to have the Renegade Reporters spend the night at their house. The three girls had big plans for their impromptu sleepover, but by the time they hit the upload button on the completed episode, it was nearly midnight, and it took all their fading energy to crawl into their sleeping bags and say good night.
They didn’t wake up until ten the next morning. When they went downstairs, Brielle’s parents and grandfather greeted them with waffles, hot chocolate, and three paper copies of The Baltimore Sun, where the news of Van Ness Media’s canceled contract was on the front page. “It’s official, girls,” her granddad said, raising his coffee mug for a toast. “You made something happen.”
When Abba came to pick up Ash and Maya at eleven, he was carrying a list of names and phone numbers. “WYPR wants you for a radio interview sometime today. While you’re in the studio, they said you can also record a segment for tomorrow morning’s Weekend Edition, which broadcasts nationally.”
Brielle’s eyes bugged out. “Nationally?”
“Yep,” said Abba. “On stations all over the country.”
Ash’s waffle did a backflip in her stomach. She was going to be on NPR!
“You got a TV request too,” Abba continued. “WJZ wants to interview the whole team on the five o’clock news.”
Maya, who’d been squeezing her friends’ hands tighter with the mention of each media outlet, limply let go.
“You should do it, Brielle,” her mom said.
Brielle looked like her mom had said she should tap-dance with a banana on her head. “Did you see my five seconds on The Underground News? My face? My voice? I’m going to stay behind the camera for the rest of my life.”
“But we’ll get to be on the real news!” Ash said. “It’s a dream come true.”
“Your dream come true,” Brielle corrected. “But it would be cool to see their studio, with all the equipment. Maya gets it. Right, Maya?”
But to everyone’s surprise, Maya gave the slightest of shrugs and said, quietly but clearly, “I’ll do the interview.”
Ash stared at her best friend, the same girl who used to be too shy to order her own food at a restaurant. “Amazing!” Ash said, throwing her arms around her and jumping up and down. “You’re going to be awesome!”
And so, at five o’clock, the Renegade Reports found themselves in a real TV studio. The cameraman showed Maya his setup. Brielle got a tour of the control booth. And Ash sat, for the first time, behind a real anchor’s desk. She basked in the lights, the cameras, the action.
“Nervous?” the WJZ anchor asked.
“Kind of,” Ash admitted. “I’m more used to asking the questions.”
“I know,” the anchor said, straightening his tie. “And don’t stop. You’ve got a big career ahead of you.”
For real? Ash thought. But there was no time to ask. Maya was escorted to the chair next to hers. The director began counting down. The cameraman got into position. And the anchors cleared their throats, ready to roll.