A Story Idea Each Day for a Month — Day 19

This is the 10th year in a row I’ve run this series in April.

Today’s story: America’s greatest national anthem singer is a 7-year-old girl.

LOS ANGELES — Christmas is approaching and Los Angeles is starting to think about championships, with the resurgent Rams and Chargers dreaming of playoff glory and even the NBA’s Lakers and Clippers surging impressively.

And, in a warm and tasteful condo in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood, Super Bowl aspirations also are bubbling in the mind of America’s most adorable, and quite possibly its greatest, national anthem singer.

“My biggest dream is to sing at the Super Bowl,” says 7-year-old Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja, as she and her family welcome USA TODAY Sports to their home. “I’m always nervous though. If I get something wrong it’s going to be bad because it’s a special song for America.”

Not much chance of that. Forgive the clumsy sports analogy, but despite her tender years Malea is a big game player who thrives in the company of superstars. Every rendition so far has been vocal perfection.

When she performed for the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 25, some guy named LeBron James turned around to face her and began applauding as her golden notes electrified a Sunday lunchtime Staples Center crowd.

“Amazing,” James said. “Just amazing.”

This is what we’re talking about:

Okay, what’s the movie? What if Malea sings the National Anthem before an NBA playoff game. The #1 seed defending Golden State Warriors versus the #8 seed Sacramento Kings. Already down two games to none having been blown out by 16 and 27 points, the Kings are playing at home. After Malea sings, they defeat the mighty Warriors in triple overtime. And guess what? Malea is scheduled to perform before Game 4. Lo and behold, the Kings miraculously win on a last second three pointer from midcourt. Series tied 2–2.

Watching all this are our story’s Protagonists, long-time Kings fans Gerald and his brother Harold. Their entire lives growing up in the Central Valley, they have lived in the shadow of the Bay Area. Always dumped on. Always demeaned. Culture vs. agriculture. The Warriors with multiple NBA crowns. The Kings with nada, zip, nothing.

Now unbelievably, they are even with the real kings — the Warriors. And to Gerald and Harold’s fevered eyes, the key is not the players on the court, it’s this little seven year-old girl Malea.

But…

Game 5 in the series moves back to the Bay Area. And who is scheduled to sing the National Anthem as part of the Warriors pre-game show? Malea.

Gerald: Fuck that shit!
Harold: Yeah, she’s our good luck charm!

What would any loyal hoops fan do? Right. Kidnap Malea. Stop her from singing for the Warriors and somehow throw her good luck toward the Kings.

But Malea is a force of nature. Gerald and Harold have no idea what they’re getting themselves into once they nab the little girl.

Hijinks and mayhem ensue.

It’s Home Alone meets Celtic Pride.

There you go: My nineteenth story idea for the month. And it’s yours. Free!

Here are links for all the previous posts in this year’s series:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Day 13
Day 14
Day 15
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18

Each day in April, I invite you to join me in comments to do some brainstorming. Take each day’s story idea and see what it can become when we play around with it. These are valuable skills for a writer to develop.

See you in RESPONSES to hear YOUR take on this story idea. And come back tomorrow for another Story Idea Each Day For A Month.