He could help them get identification and connect them with legitimate community services.

But he made one thing clear.

"There are no guarantees."

Malcolm nodded.

"We understand."

"You may record something and nobody may care."

"We understand."

"You may become successful."

They waited.

"Or you may not."

Marcus nodded.

Julian looked at them.

"Do you still want to try?"

Malcolm looked at his brother.

Marcus nodded.

"Yes."

The first recording session took place two days later.

The studio was enormous compared with anything the twins had seen.

Glass walls.

Microphones.

Mixing boards.

Rows of lights.

Marcus stared.

"How much does all this cost?"

Julian laughed.

"Enough."

Malcolm whispered,

"We shouldn't be here."

Julian heard him.

"You belong wherever your voice belongs."

They stepped into the recording room.

The first attempt was terrible.

Marcus missed his entrance.

Malcolm laughed.

Then Malcolm forgot the words.

Marcus laughed.

They tried again.

Still imperfect.

Julian stopped them.

"You're trying too hard."

They looked at him.

"When you sang in the restaurant, you weren't trying to impress anyone."

"We were hungry."

"Exactly."

They laughed.

"Sing like you're hungry."

The next take was different.

Their voices filled the room.

Julian leaned toward the mixing engineer.

"Don't touch anything."

The song ended.

Nobody spoke.

The engineer looked at Julian.

"That was good."

Julian nodded.

"Very."

The twins came out.

"Was it okay?"

Julian smiled.

"It was more than okay."

For the first time, he played the recording back.

The boys listened.

Their own voices sounded strange through studio speakers.

Marcus looked emotional.

"I've never heard us like that."

Julian nodded.

"Most people haven't."

Then the door opened.

A woman named Celia Morgan entered.

She was Julian's business partner.

She listened to thirty seconds.

Then stopped the recording.

"Who are they?"

Julian smiled.

"I told you."

She looked at the twins.

"You found them in a restaurant?"

"Yes."

Celia studied them.

"Do they have representation?"

"No."

"Management?"

"No."

"Insurance?"

Julian shook his head.

Celia sighed.

"Then this is going to be complicated."

Marcus immediately stiffened.

"We can leave."

Celia looked at him.

"I didn't say that."

Julian stepped between them.

"We'll handle the logistics."

Celia nodded.

Then she smiled at the boys.

"I think you might be worth the trouble."

That evening, Julian received an email.

Someone had uploaded a short video from the restaurant.

The clip was already spreading.

Thousands of views.

Then tens of thousands.

Julian stared at the screen.

The title read:

HOMELESS TWINS SING FOR FOOD — WAIT UNTIL THE HARMONY STARTS.

He looked toward the twins.

They were laughing with the studio engineer.

They had no idea what was coming.

Julian did.

The internet had discovered them.

And the internet could change a life overnight.

For better.

Or worse.

By morning, the twins were famous.

Not famous enough to buy anything.

But famous enough that strangers knew their faces.

The restaurant video had passed one million views.

Then two million.

Messages arrived from everywhere.

Some people praised them.

Some questioned their story.

Others accused them of pretending to be homeless.

One comment said:

They're probably actors.

Marcus read it twice.

"Why would someone say that?"

Malcolm took the phone.

"Because they don't know us."

Julian told them to stop reading comments.

They didn't listen.

By afternoon, reporters were waiting outside the studio.