main room to rejoin the group.
Tina and Leah were just finishing setting up the drums while Carter was working on the amps.
Out of all of us I probably had the best setup. Mostly because I am an only child and my dad has a really good news reporting job. So since he went places a lot, he would buy me pretty much whatever I want. And when we said we wanted to start a band he made a deal with us to match every dollar we saved for equipment. Thus we now had two electric guitars, a set of 5 microphones, an amazing set of drums, one of the best keyboards ever made, and a really cool amp set.
When everything was setup we got into position. Leah on the drums, Tina on a guitar (which she'd named Griffin), Carter on the keyboard, Todd on the other guitar and me in front as lead singer. We started with one of our songs and then worked onto some classics like "Walkin on Sunshine" and "Do You Believe in Magic". Then my dad walked in and sat down on the couch to listen.
Our greatest supporter never failed to miss a practice when he was in town. And sometimes when he wasn't he would have us play with the phone on to hear. We never would've gotten this far without him. Even though he'd always wanted a son on the football team, he always looked like he was proud of me when I succeeded in something I liked. I didn't think it would ever change. Why would it?
Right before we left for our performance Dad got a call to report on a big accident. Someone had flipped their speedboat in Lake Michigan and got stuck under it.
"Sorry guys, I'll try to make it before you're done. Make sure you go home as soon as you're done. I don't want you getting into any trouble cause you were out too late." He was so preoccupied he had forgotten to button half of his buttons. I walked over and did them while he tied his tie.
"Don't worry Dad. We'll take the bus straight home after the performance."
"Thanks sweetie." He kissed my head and rushed out the door.
"Well I guess he forgot we needed him to drive the instruments to the theater." Tina said with a discouraged look.
"Don't worry we'll make it." Todd chirped, "We'll just spit up the load and go to my brother's apartment. He'll drive us."
I wasn't so sure we could even make it the three blocks to Andrew's place with all our huge drums. Not to mention the bulky guitar cases. But I didn't say anything, we had to get to the theater and preform or Mr.Harper would spread the word that we AWOL performers.
(Note to reader: For those of you who are not familiar with the acronym AWOL it stands for Absent Without Leave. Meaning no call no shows.)
"OK," growled Cart indignantly, "so who's carrying the base?"
"If you don't want to carry it I will." reproached Todd. After three hours of Carter's whining it was no wonder Todd was getting a little grouchy. The rest of us had slowly given up trying to be nice to him over the first two hours. And now that Todd was starting to snap the next time we heard Carter speak would probably be the last.
"I'll carry Griffin." Tina volunteered.
"Kylee, how about you and I carry the keyboard? And maybe one or two of the little drums or symbols." Leah looked at Carter with a look that dared him to complain about this purposal. He stared back at her witha hard cold look.
For someone who doesn't like to coplain he sure is doing a lot of it tonight. Ugh! He better quite this soon. I don't think I can take this constant bickering.
Finally we got everything distributed and we were off.
"Why didn't we just call him and have him pick us up?" curiously questioned Leah, who had only met Andrew once before.
"Because," sighed Todd, straining to keep his voice calm, "He doesn't have a phone. He wouldn't go there anyway because his ex-girlfriend lives right next to Kylee."
Carter bristled at the mention of Andrew's ex-girlfriend but kept silent to keep tentions from running to high.
"Why can't he just relax? I know he's having a tuff time but if he would just stop thinking about it for a minute he might not be so grumpy." Tina and I were walking behind the other three with Leah ahead of me at the other end of the keyboard.
"I think he must be nervous or something, but I really don't want to talk to him and find out right now. I might yell and say something I don't mean."
"Yeah me neither."
By now we were at Andrew's apartment and we set down our stuff while Todd went to get his brother.
No one said anything so as to keep from fighting. And by unsaid agreement we all sat a yard apart with our backs to the building. Todd was back soon with Andrew in tow fumbleing with his car keys.
Without stopping, slowing or looking at any of us Todd said "Let's go." and walked straight up to the car and opened the trunk.
Andrew helped us load all the instruments into the back without even saying a word. He was probably afraid we would jump at him though we all tried to be polite and "cheerful" (aka we made some sick attempts at smiling). When we got in the car Andrew turned on the radio. It was set to some comedy station and we all started laughing hysterically!
"Nothin like a good laugh to make you forget petty differences, eh?" chuckled Andrew.
Carter turned down the radio, "And now ladies and gentlemen," he drawled in a radio announcer's voice, "we will send up a cheer for the man who undoubtedly and heroically saved the lives of 5 young teenagers this evening on the way to a concert. Let us give three cheers for, Mister Andrew Colson!!!!!!!!"
"HIP HIP, HORRAY! HIP HIP, HORRAY! HIP HIP HORRAY!!!"
"Why I'd just like to thank ya'll for that splendid cheer," joked Andrew in a southern accent "and I'd just like to tell ya'll one thing in gratitude. My fee is $100 an hour." We'd been giggling since he started, but at the last part we burst into fresh laughter.
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