London Harmony: Roctoberfest (10 page)

I shook his hand then hid behind Mei.  That was like hiding the Hindenburg behind a salt shaker.  Mei quickly said, “Kace needs some furniture for her new flat.  I thought I'd free up some space for your projects.”

He smiled at that.  I looked at the work he was doing and the other pieces of an intricately carved rocking chair hanging from hooks from the rafters above the workbench.  The carvings were stunning.  I asked, “What other projects have you done, this is beautiful.”

He and Mei chuckled as he responded with a sheepish grin,  “Weeeell, this is my first project.  Twenty-five years in the making.  It is for Mei.  I started working on it the day we brought her home.  I'm not much of a woodworker and I've had to throw away more pieces than I keep.  I'm almost done though.”

I couldn't help but smile at the short man.  Then I turned as Mei chuckled. “You're always almost done da.”  She had mirth and love sparkling in her eyes for the man.  He shrugged and made a point of turning back to his carving.

She pulled back some sheets on some furniture and revealed a queen sized folding futon.  It was perfect, it would take half my available space when folded down to a bed.  We rummaged through the rest.  She insisted on a glass coffee table and a bureau that would fit in my closet.  I tried to argue, but she went all super cute puppy dog eyes on me.  Bloody hell!

I heard a snicker and Doc said, “She always gets her way with that look.  It is a killer.”

She was grinning at him. “Shush now old man.  Nobody is asking you.”  He grinned back and she crinkled her nose at him.

She hit a button on the wall and the little metal garage door swung up with a squeaking of metal.  She said, “Let's get this stuff loaded and to your place so you can get back to the competition for the results.”

We both paused when we saw an abandoned, banged up, white truck.  My bandmates were nowhere to be seen.  I asked wistfully, “Where did everybody go?”

Mei said in a pained and resigned voice, “Oh, bloody hell.”

Doc chuckled. “If you had people waiting for you at the curb, no doubt Becky saw them and has her talons in them now.  Southern hospitality and all.”  Then he added comically, “Y'all.”  The sparkle in his eye told the whole story, the man loved his wife fiercely and this southern hospitality was one of the things that endeared her to him.

Mei nodded her agreement. “We'll have to pry them from teas or lemonade if we want to get anything done.  Shall we save them?”  She steeled herself and thrust her hip out.  I absently took a loop and we were off to the front door again.

As soon as we entered, I was treated to my friends all on the couch with Angie bouncing on Mick's knee as everyone chuckled at something Becky was saying.  Owen was squished next to her on a comfortable looking oversize chair.  There was a plate of scones on the coffee table and an honest to god pitcher of lemonade with lemon slices floating in it, and beads of condensation dripping down the sides.  Everyone had a glass in their hands.  Caroline cutely waved at us with a scone, her mouth full.

Becky hopped up and Owen humorously flopped onto his side in the evacuated space, with a grin on his face.  Becky started scolding us as she pushed us insistently down to sit on the love seat beside a couple stacks of laundry.  “Now Kacy.  There was no call to have your friends wait outside at the road sugar.  Everyone is welcome in this house.  Now sit and talk.  Have some lemonade and drop biscuits.”

I sputtered.“They didn't want to...”  A glass of lemonade and a little china plate with what I thought was a scone appeared in each of my hands.

Mei was complaining as a lemonade materialized in her hand as well.  Her mum was a machine. “Mum, we have to get the furniture to Kacy's so they can get back to Roctoberfest for the announcements on time.”

Mrs. Hammond fluttered her hand dismissively as she flopped back down into her chair, Owen deftly avoiding being squished and somehow ended up on her lap.  She said, “There is always time to show hospitality to friends and family baby doll.”  Then she grinned. “And besides, Michaela here was telling us about the first time she met Kacy.”  Oh dear lord no.  “Please continue Michaela.”

Mick usually responded negatively to people using her full name.  I personally loved it and thought it was pretty, but she despised it.  She seemed to not even notice with Becky and her manners looked impeccable as she said, “Yes ma'am.”  Oooo the teasing later will mean my death most likely, but it will be so much fun up to that point.  Mick, tamed by a pretty Yank mother.

Then she proceeded to share how I was tripping all over my tongue when Caroline introduced me to the band for my audition.  She had made some sort of suggestive comment about tall girls and flexibility when she shook my hand, and my legs went wonky and I forgot how to speak.  She thought I might be special needs or something up until I started playing.

She finished with, “Damn...” She straightened and looked around quickly in apology to Becky.  “Sorry ma'am, I mean, darn, could she lay down a beat.  I'm pretty sure she was our new drummer before the band even spoke.  She's always looked bloody young for her age, back then she looked like somebody's kid sister, but put some drumsticks in her hand and she transforms into a rock goddess.”

Everyone chuckled at my fidgety discomfort.  Mei leaned into me in a show of solidarity.  She gave me a knowing look and twitched her eyes at my friends in prompt.  I shook my head at her.  I'd tell them one day, but it wasn't that day.

We finished tea and thanked Becky and headed out to the garage where the band met Doc.  We showed them which pieces we'd be taking to my place.

Mei and I went to lift one end of the futon frame when we felt a menacing shadow looming behind us.  We looked back to see Mick staring at us through squinted eyes, her arms crossed over her chest.  She pointed back to the vehicles and Mei, Carol, and I headed over to wait near the vehicles.

I heard Doc saying, “You'll have to teach me how to do that Mick, nobody can get Mei to do what she doesn't want to.”  I gave my... girlfriend and cheesy grin at that.  She tried so very hard not to grin.

We watched like useless bystanders as the three of them made short work of the three pieces of furniture and the mattress.  By the time everything was lashed down, Becky and Angie joined us out at the curb to say goodbye.  A teenage boy rode a bicycle right into the garage behind us and disappeared.  I didn't get a good look at him, but I assumed he was yet another of Mei's siblings.

Becky stood at the window of Mei's car and said to her, “Be back in time to help haul the tribe to the competition to show Robbie and his band support.  We really need a van or something.”  Then she looked past her to me.  “It was a true pleasure sugar, please don't be a stranger and please keep pullin' my girl out of her comfort zone.”  Then she smiled back at Caroline and winked at her and told me, “And make sure the pretty one eats more, she positively nothing but skin and bones.”

I snorted and I felt Carol kick the back of my chair.  I nodded, “Will do Becky.”  Mei pulled away before any more teasing could occur.  I gave her a silly look and she stuck out her tongue cutely as she drove.

I looked back and my blonde friend had a smile on her face as she said, “Your mum is...”

She searched for the word and Mei offered up, “Pushy?  Overbearing?”   Then she grinned at the next one as she cocked an eyebrow, “American?”

Carol chuckled. “No, I was going to say sweet.  Nice.”  Then she crinkled her nose. “Now I have the need to call mum.”

We turned on the radio and we sang until we got back to my place.  We had the super important and strenuous job of holding the doors of the freight elevator open with the little button as Mick and Darin moved the furniture into it.  Then Mick assigned us to holding my flat door open as they brought the stuff into my studio.

I have to say, it actually looked more like a flat with the furniture.  We all relaxed, packed together on the futon, which was folded up into couch mode.  I crinkled my nose and said, “I really need to get to the grocery.  I have no beer or soda to offer.”

Mei looked down at her hand in mine and sighed.  “I have to go provide caravan support for the Hammond troops.”  Then she asked brightly, “See you there?”

I nodded and stood with her and walked to the door with her and opened it for her.  I leaned against the frame as I said, “Thank you... for this.”  I nudged my chin toward the furniture.  She shrugged it off.  I looked down. “See you in the Gardens.”  She was playing with the hem of my shirt and nodded.

We both jumped as Mick blurted out from the futon, “Bloody hell!  Just kiss her goodbye already!”  We chuckled shyly at each other then shared a soft kiss that was simply a promise.  A promise of more.  Then she grinned up at me as I curled my toes and she walked out.  I watched her cute butt sway away for a second then shut the door.

I turned and was surprised to catch Animal and Mick kissing.  She broke it off and grinned at me like she had won the lottery.  Caroline was sitting on the edge of the futon looking like the odd man out.  Mick said,  “You too are way too sugary and cute.  I need insulin.”

I gave her duck lips and rolled my eyes.  I looked to Caroline for support. “A little help?”

She replied flatly, “You don't need help from me being sugary sweet with your girl.”  Then they all shared a laugh at my expense... again.  I grinned.

I checked the time on my mobile, and that was a cue as everyone stood.  It was time to face the music, both figuratively and literally.

We rode 'cozy style' in the truck until we stopped at Caroline's and switched over to her car where we could all sit more comfortably.  It was insane trying to find parking, and we wound up six blocks from Jubilee and walked in.  I texted and Mei met us at the park entrance.

I again noted that my girl seemed apprehensive as we made out way through the dense crowd toward Stage A where the announcements would be.  Mick picked up on it as well and she said something to Animal and the two plowed the path for us.  I loved how protective my pseudo sister was.

We settled into seats close to the front with Mei's family.  There was a brunette girl, maybe fourteen with them, she was in that awkward stage that puberty stuck you in.  I still felt like I was in that awkward stage and I hated it.  The girl had strong Serbian features and looked like she'd rather be doing anything else than be there, as she texted on her mobile.  Mei introduced her as her little sister Andjela.

The girl brightened a bit when she heard we were a band.  She seemed fascinated by Animal and kept shooting shy smiles.  I grinned and leaned past Mei to whisper at Mick, “Looks like you have competition.”  This got the desired eye roll.

The boy on the bicycle wound up being her brother William.  He looked sort of out of place in the family, as he seemed to be of western heritage.  Like his sister, he didn't seem too interested in what was going on.  I remember being dragged around to events I wasn't interested in by my parents when I was young and I bet I had that exact same look on my face.  It probably has a name it is so universal, something like The Disinterested Teen.

I looked at Mei and her whole family except for Robbie, I assumed he was sitting with his band somewhere.  What a huge group!  How did they keep organized with so many children?  It was amazing.  Becky caught me looking and grinned and wiggled her eyebrows and said in a mock Scot accent, “Clan Hammond.”  Doc was trying hard to ignore us all as he fought grin.

Then Mrs. Hammond leaned over to me and asked, “So how do they decide this?  Before it was just single elimination.  But there are points now?”

I nodded. “Yes.  If you won both your challenges this weekend like Robbie did, you are almost guaranteed to move on.  But it isn't a given.  Someone who won one or neither of their challenges can still move on in front of them if they faced more difficult opponents and scored higher even though they lost.”

She laid a hand on my arm. “Like your band.”

I nodded. “We stand a snowball's chance in hell since our lead guitarist abandoned us.  But there is always a slim hope.”

Before we could speak more, a goth woman took the stage.  Her black lips had more shine than the black vinyl mini vest she had over a white blouse.  Something was off as we all smiled at the woman as she fought with the microphone stand to lower it down.  Then I got it when she said, “Oh good god, just come here you wretched thing,”  She pulled the mic off the clip and held it instead, a grin on her face.  What seemed off was the happy vibe she was radiating as she smiled at the crowd.  A smiling goth was just... wrong.  She started to speak but comically pulled the mic back as she squinted one eye like she had just licked a lemon, when we were treated to an electronic feedback screech.  The crowd chuckled.

She gave a silly toothy grin to us all then daintily held the mic up and said, “Hi?”  She was satisfied that the world wasn't going to explode into uncomfortable screeches again as over half the crowd; yes us included; actually said 'hi' back.  I grinned down at Mei, who seemed thoroughly entertained by the woman's antics though she had a death grip on my hand and I could see her apprehension about being in a crowd in her body language.

The woman said in an American accent, “Let's get this started shall we?”  The crowd erupted into cheers.  The woman made a cute half scrunched face with her lips to one side and then repeated like a patient mother would prompt a child with  a hand cupped to her ear. “I asked... let's get this started shall we?”  The crowd exploded in cheers and whistles this time, it was deafening.

She grinned and bounced on her toes and said, “Ooo... this is fun.”  Then she played with us as the audience quieted. “Hello everyone and thanks for coming to the results of third week of the Roctoberfest battle of the bands competition here in the awesome city of London!”  I squinted as Mei raised her hand to her mouth and whistled shrilly.  I made a show of cleaning out my ear to check for blood and she bumped my shoulder with a wicked gleam in her eyes.  Then her eyes darted around and she grasped my hand with a vengeance.

The woman introduced herself. “I'm Zilrita Marx, general manager of London Harmony and it is my honor to present the list of bands that will be continuing on to week four of Roctoberfest!”  More cheering, then she said, “It has been an amazing three days and we have seen almost a hundred exceptional bands compete this week.  Whether you are moving on to the next round or not, know that your band is one of the creams of the crop to have made it this far.  You will all go on to do amazing things in music, I'm sure of it!”

There was more cheering and the woman looked as pleased as a chipmunk in a peanut factory.  She was having fun up there and if I had to guess, it was her first time on a stage.  She held up an envelope and teased us with it as she ran it under her nose and sniffed.  “I smell sweet music in here.  Let's get with it shall we?”

She started, “With a combined total of nine point nine points and two wins yesterday, Razor's Edge!”  The next few minutes went on that way and I grinned as bands would pop up in the sea of people and celebrated when their band was called.  There was a low moment when Matt's old band, Ratchet, was called out.

We all stood as the last band was called.  “Haunted Lullaby!”  We screamed our heads off for Robbie and we saw him and his bandmates jumping up and down and celebrating off to the left near the back.  We looked around with mixed feelings.  On one hand we were happy for Robbie, on the other hand, we weren't moving on.  We had been eliminated, and even though we knew it was likely, it was still a little depressing.

Mei paused in her celebration to look up at me and cock her head and raised her hand to cup my cheek.  I smiled down at her and winked and said, “We knew it was coming.”  She hugged my side after looking around the crowded lawn again.

We sat and then Zilrita continued, “Congratulations to the forty-seven bands moving on to week four of the competition.  Your stage assignments will be sent to you by special messenger.  We are mixing things up for week four.  You will be performing once a day for a total of three performances during the weekend.  Highest combined scores for the week move on to week five.”

She closed with, “Thanks for coming everyone and see you for week four of Roctoberfest!”  Everyone cheered as she left the stage.  Then we held back to wait for the crowd to thin out.  Robbie and his band joined us and hugs were handed out all around.  I punched his shoulder gently.  “Good show mate!”  He beamed at me, then looked down at his sister.  “We could really use you up there, it is just going to get more cutthroat.”

She just cuffed the back of his head and he chuckled.  We went to say our goodbyes, but the primal force that is Doctor Rebekah Hammond wouldn't hear of it.  “Nonsense y'all are comin' home with us for a little celebration barbecue.”  Then she added comically, “And consolation barbecue.”

Mick started to open her mouth and Becky pointed a warning finger at her and Mick deflated. “Yes ma'am.”  I can't tell you all the ammunition for future teasing that gave us.  Then Doc chimed in, “All you can do is just go with it when Bek get's insistent.”  He deftly avoided the shoulder strike he knew was coming from his wife as he grinned at us.

Caroline looked pleased as punch.  “We'd be delighted.”  Then the teasing boomerang whupped around to smack me as she added, “It will give our Kacy more time to make googly eyes at Mei.”

“Hey!”  Then I felt Mei latch onto my arm and hug.  I looked down at her with a smile.  “Okay.”  Everyone chuckled and we started to make our way to the cars.  Angie stood in front of Mick and put her arms out with grasping fingers.  The big softie paused a second then sighed and squatted and grabbed her around the waist instead and carried her under her arm like a rugby ball, to Angie's giggling delight.

Now, when someone says a little barbecue, you picture a quaint little family get together in a serene picnic type setting on the back patio.  Weeeeell most people have never met the Hammonds.  The families from the other five houses that shared their communal backyard slash hidden garden were there.  Robbie's band, our band, and the seemingly endless supply of Hammonds and some of their friends.  It was bloody insane!

I had pulled Mei aside and said with a smirk, “This is a heck of a celebration for week three.  What would your mum do if they win the whole thing?”

Mei smirked right back and moved her cup around to encompass the whole shindig.  “This?  No, mum is doing this each Sunday night that Robbie goes on to the next round.  You should have seen the first two weeks.”

I looked around and asked, “Each week?”

She nodded and then in an impeccable Texan accent she said, “We're Texans y'all, go big or go home.”  We shared a laugh and saw Becky saluting us with some salad tongs by one of the fold out picnic tables when she overheard.

As everyone was finishing their first round of food, Robbie's band started setting their gear up by the garage.  Then they started playing covers of some classic songs.  The drummer waved me over after the first number and handed me his sticks.  “Jam with us.”  I nodded and sat down as Mei gave me a cute scrunch nose smile.  Doc materialized beside Caroline with an acoustic guitar and nudged her toward the band.

We had a blast, the two bands rotating in and mixing it up.  A few of the neighbors and Hammonds had some musical talent too.  The hidden courtyard was just alive with music and fun.  Then Robbie walked over to his sister and shoved his guitar against her chest and she tried to refuse but he wouldn't budge.  Finally, she took the strap and slung it over her shoulder, giving him Death Glare 5000.

I grinned at her and she tweaked the tuning pegs a bit and strummed a chord.  My band-mates were staring at her and me.  I don't think they put much stock in my account of her playing.  She saw this in their eyes then called out to those of us with instruments at the moment.  “Gimme a four-four and everyone... try to keep up.”  Ooooo cheeky!

I tapped out a four-four with my sticks above my head and she cut loose on a shred that had me grinning like a git when I realized it was ‘Slapped’, by Lether and Heels.  She was throwing our own cover back at us.

She arched her back and let out Penny Franklin's “Meeeoooowww!” And the band kicked in.  Good lord, I don't think I had ever had so much fun playing a song in my life.  Mei and I were playing for each other.  It was steamy.  Everyone applauded when we finished.  It was close to midnight, and the band started packing up as neighbors and friends began abandoning the barbecue for their beds.

My band stepped up to Mei as she handed the guitar back to Robbie.  Mick said to my girl with genuine shock in her voice, “Holy shit woman!”  Caroline backed her, “Bloody hell!”  Mei blushed and hid her face on my shoulder.  I stroked her hair and grinned with pride for her at my friends.

Robbie smiled at their reactions as he put the guitar almost lovingly into it's hard case.  “Maggie hasn't been played like that in ages.  She misses you, so does the band.”

I looked at them, confused.  He gave her an accusing look as he said, “Maggie is her Fender, she gave her to me after the hospital released her.”  Then he looked at her as he went to haul the guitar and the monitor amp away.  “She's yours anytime you want her back big sis.”

She punched his arm lightly as he walked off, then we looked around and realized we were down to the Purple Horseshoes, Mei, and her parents.  We went to help clean up but were shocked to see the garden looking like no party had occurred.  Becky smiled and said, “One of the perks of having a large tribe.”

We started toward the gate and Mei held me back and said to Carol, “Mind if I steal the skyscraper here?  I'll see to it she gets home.”  To which she got three smug smiles from my friends, I'll have to plot their demise.  Hugs were passed around and we saw them off.

Mei offered a hip and I grabbed the loop and she dragged me off down the lane instead of into her place.  We just walked in a comfortable silence, just soaking in our closeness.  She leaned against me, her head on my arm and said wistfully, “That was fun.”  I nodded back and rested my head on top of hers as we just took a moonlit stroll in the charming neighborhood.

After a while, she started swinging playfully from side to side as we went.  Then she looked up and said, “I hope you don't think I jump in the sack with anyone on the first date.”

I shook my head.  “Me either.  There's something about you... I don't have any self-control.”  She nodded and smiled, this was apparently what she hoped to hear.

Then she suddenly chirped out an explosive squeak that sounded like an amused bark.  I looked down at her with a questioning half smile.  She gave a cheesy grin, “Good Lord, I'm a groupie.  I went to a club then I slept with the drummer of the band.”

I mocked shock.  “Was she good?”

She pretended to think about it again.  “You know, I'm not really sure, I think so, but I'll have to do it again soon to make sure.”

I sobered up and said, “You know you're beautiful right?”  She blushed and laid her head on my arm again.  When she shivered in the nippy air, we turned us back toward her home.