Voices on the Radio Show

1. NarratorThe school radio studio was a converted cupboard on the second floor. It had a microphone, a mixing desk, and grey foam on the walls. On Friday afternoon, Min was going to host her first live show.
2. Mr DanielsMin, ten minutes until we are on air. How are you feeling?
3. MinMy stomach hurts. What if I forget my words?
4. Mr DanielsEverybody forgets words sometimes. Do you have your notes?
5. MinYes. But my hands are shaking.
6. Mr DanielsTake three deep breaths. Remember, you are not talking to a thousand people. You are talking to one friend in the room.
7. NarratorKofi, the technician, sat in the corner with the laptop.
8. KofiI have tested every sound. The jingle is ready, the volume is fine. We will be perfect.
9. NarratorThe red light above the door turned green. The show was live.
10. MinGood afternoon, everybody. This is Min, and you are listening to Lunchtime Voices. Today I have a quiz about animals, a joke from Year Three and a song request from our headteacher.
11. NarratorShe turned over the first page of notes, and then it happened. The microphone crackled, and her voice disappeared. On the desk, the volume meter dropped to nothing.
12. MinHello? Can you hear me?
13. NarratorNobody could. For fifteen seconds, there was silence all over the school.
14. KofiMin, it is the cable. Hold on!
15. NarratorHe dived under the desk and pushed the cable back into the mixing desk. The meter jumped, and Min's voice came back, louder than before.
16. Min...and that is why I think the quiz will be fun. Sorry, everybody. We had a small technical problem. Please stay with us.
17. NarratorMin took a breath, and, to her surprise, she was no longer nervous. The worst had already happened, and she was still standing.
18. MinHere is question one. What is the fastest land animal in the world?
19. NarratorShe read the questions slowly, with a smile in her voice. Between the questions, she played the jingle Kofi had made. The joke from Year Three made her laugh so much that she had to start again.
20. NarratorHalfway through, she played the headteacher's request, an old song from his youth. Min said it made her think of every teacher dancing in the staff room.
21. Mr DanielsThirty seconds, Min. Time to say goodbye.
22. MinThat was Lunchtime Voices. Thank you for listening, and for being patient with me. See you next week.
23. NarratorThe green light went off. Min took off her headphones and let out a huge breath.
24. Mr DanielsThat was brilliant. I think it is the best first show we have ever had.
25. MinBut the microphone stopped.
26. Mr DanielsAnd you carried on. That is what makes a good broadcaster. Nobody notices a cable. They notice a voice that does not give up.
27. KofiNext week I will tape the cable down.
28. MinNext week, I hope I will not be nervous. But if I am, I know I can do it.

Voices: when recorded voices are on this page they play; if not, your own device reads the words aloud in a British voice if it has one. Slow mode plays at 85 per cent speed.