My name is Ruby, and no, just because I’m in a wheelchair doesn’t mean that I need help writing this story. Listen, there’s no need to have pity on me; I am capable of anything I set my mind to. Some of you might remember me from being on American Idol, when my finale song won me a million dollars. I never in a thousand years thought that I would be a star. Some people are lucky enough to be born with talent, but others must work for it. I was one of those people.
I was born without any legs. My parents were embarrassed about having a legless child, so I was put in foster care. I’ve bounced from house to house ever since, because my “parents” always find me too obnoxious. Even though I’ve always been obnoxious, there was one person and one person only who could handle me, and that person was Emily. I was 12 and had just been dropped back off at the foster center when a beautiful lady walked in. She was looking for a child but couldn’t find “the one.” When she started to leave, she saw me. It was love at first sight. Emily took me home and made me hers. I had everything; a house, a bed, toys, but most importantly, a mother. Emily had an amazing singing voice. She gave me singing lessons every Sunday after church. Our life was great until Emily suddenly died of cancer. It broke my heart having to leave that life after living it for three years. Now I am back in foster care.
The day after I returned to the foster center, I sent my application to American Idol. The only reason I sent my application was for Emily; she taught me everything I know. I needed to make her proud. The next month I received a letter inviting me to audition for American Idol! The letter said, “We would love to hear your voice tell your story on our show.” Emily would be so proud.
I just had to talk my caretaker, Fred, into letting me go all the way to L.A. It took some convincing, but he eventually agreed to let me go. I was thrilled he was the adult taking me because he is so devoted to the foster center, that he never has time for himself. I got to go on a plane for the first time, and we got to ride in the first-class section. We could basically get whatever we wanted. I got strawberries, and Fred took a nap. We landed in L.A. after a two-and-a-half-hour flight, and a limousine drove us to our hotel! A limousine! I couldn’t believe it! It was even better than I’d imagined. Our hotel, Lavendar Resort, was very fancy. It had complimentary chocolates, a pool, an arcade, restaurants, and even a theater. Everything was more than I imagined! I didn’t understand how anyone could afford such a place. Fred said that I could do anything until six p.m., and then I had to eat food and then go to bed. The next day was the competition, and we had to be there at seven in the morning. I couldn’t wait.
I could have never imagined how big the set would be. On TV it looked very small. Fred and I woke up at 5:30 a.m. Even though the set was only five minutes away, I was rushing to get ready. I had so much to do to get ready, and I was giddy to get on set. We finally got to the set, and I was extremely nervous. To top it off, I was the first to go on stage. Nobody ever tells you that the world stops when you are having the best time. The world stopped for me that day. I made it past the entry round, then the semifinals, and then the final. The finale included two of us, a girl named Bree and myself. It was Bree’s turn, my palms were sweaty, and I had my song ready. She was good, but I knew I could beat her. I was singing the song that Emily and I wrote together. It was called, “Take a Chance on Me.” It was my turn. I thought my heart was going to leap out of my chest. Everything around me stopped, and that’s when I knew it was my time to shine. I rocked it and ended up winning! Fred rushed out on stage, and he was jumping with joy. I had just won half a million dollars. I wasn’t excited because I won money, I was excited because I won it for the one person who took a chance on me, Emily.
