CHAPTER 222: Groove With The Kids

I arrived at the dining table to find my parents both being soppy towards each other; almost insufferably so.  Hey, I'm trying to finish my homework here!  Get a motel room!

"Been for a run already, Colin dear?"

"Yep.  Nothing like fresh air filling your lungs and the muscles pumping to get your body going in the mornings."

"I like that T-shirt you're wearing, Colin...it shows off your wonderfully toned muscles well.  Firm...toned..."

"Gotta keep fit to keep up with you, Myra my dear..."

"Hey there!"  I had to interject before they got worse.  "I'm trying to finish my English literature report!  I almost wrote down 'Dickens' intentions in this chapter is to demonstrate his wonderfully toned muscles'.  I'm sure that will go down well with Miss Duddy..."

 

"Tee hee...I can see why that wouldn't go down well with your teacher, Jamie.  Alright, your father and I will be on best behaviour from now on."

But there would be negative repercussions from mom and dad flirting with each other whilst I was working on my English lit report. As it panned out, I forgot to cross the mistake I had made at the breakfast table so when I had to stand up in front of the class I inadvertently read out the part about Dickens showing off his toned muscles and the entire class...plus Miss Duddy...all burst out laughing and it was not a nice comedy moment either.  I watched across the classroom to the back row where Judy Keith and Colleen Corby were sitting and they had reacted with disgust.  I wanted the Earth to swallow me up.  Needless to say I was depressed and crestfallen when I got home.

 

I'd arranged for a band practice this evening and it was too late to cancel... I was going to have to tough this one out.  If the others find out what happened, and I'm sure they would given the rumour mill at school, then they might purge me from the very band I helped form...

Our base was behind the snug at Desert Bloom Park and I wasn't the first to arrive.  I saw that Efrain was already there.

"Hey, how's it going, Jamie?"

"Alright, I suppose."

"I heard about what happened at school.  That's too bad but you're here now, let's jam"

I was relieved that he was taking this well.  Yeah, let's jam and put the crap behind me.

"Ah Louie Louie, oh no, you take me where I gotta go...oh no, no, no, no, no, no...."

"Are you sure those are they actual lyrics, Efrain?"

"Who cares?  They sound right!  Keep going!"

Now Rohan and Lulu have arrived.  Great, we've got the whole band here although I'm still not sure what Lulu's role is meant to be...

"Rohan, you're looking dapper" 

"Thanks, Efrain...but compliments go to Lulu; she chose this outfit"

"I think you guys should have a smart look; like the Beatles"

"Do you have any ideas about the fashion side of things, Lulu?"

"Yes, Jamie, lots of ideas...also, ideas for a set list...."

Lulu picked up my guitar and started to strum and sing...

"Wouldn't it be nice if we were older then we wouldn't have to wait so long..."

"She's good, Jamie, she's very good..."

"She is, Rohan...Lulu, where do you see yourself in this band?  I mean we've got Efrain, lead vocals, me, lead guitar, Rohan, keyboards..."

"I dunno...where do you see me?"

"I asked you first"

"I can play bass if you like, and....maybe..." OK, now she's looking coy and bashful and drawing a circle in the sand with her foot whilst her hands are behind her back.  Man, she looks so cute when she does this!

"...maybe I can share vocals as well?" 

"Share vocals?  I mean, man, we agreed I'd be lead singer!"

"I know, Efrain, and you still are but it'd be nice to have some harmonies going as well and there are certain songs where a male and female voice would be great together."

"But who does that kind of thing?"

"Well...The Seekers, Peter Paul & Mary..."

"I'm not doing that folk crap!"

"Steampacket!"

Suddenly Rohan speaks up and the three of us all turn to look at him in bewilderment.

"What the hell is Steampacket?"

"They're a British R n' B band.  Really rare to find their stuff but I have a cousin who recently came back from a trip to England and he brought back some bootleg vinyl of Steampacket and they have 3 singers:  Two guys called Long John Baldry and Rod Stewart and a girl singer called Julie Driscoll.  They're great.  We could all go round to my place later and listen to them; get some ideas!"

Rohan's suggestion wasn't bad at all and at least it calmed down Efrain and Lulu.  Just as we were about to resume rehearsals this blonde chick wearing really short denim shorts walks up to us.

"Say, are you guys a band?"

"Yes we are...we're The Bluestones.  I'm Efrain, I sing lead vocals"

"I'm Jamie; lead guitar"

"Groovy!"

"This is Rohan, keyboards and I'm Lulu; bass and vocals"

"Oh...you wouldn't be Lulu Strang, would you?"

"Yes I am.  Have we met before?"

"No...I've heard your name being mentioned, that's all."

The girl's interested expression now turned to suspicion but Efrain, always one to try and impress the chicks, now leapt back in to the conversation.

"Yeah, well, we practice here every Wednesday and Saturday and we've got some gigs coming up.  I can get you free tickets if you want."

My stomach sinks again; Efrain's offered free tickets to all the cute girls at school.  We're not going to make any money at this rate.

"That's neat.  Yeah, I'll swing past here on Saturday and check you guys out.  Catch you later" 

"See you..............well, she was HOT, Jamie.  I think she likes me"

"Pah, she's a flake!  I know the type.  Don't get your hopes up there"

"Lulu, are you just gonna be a drag today?"

"I'm just sayin'"

"Alright gang, let's just focus here.  We've done OK today; I think both Louie Louie and Wouldn't It Be Nice are great for the set list, let's work on some more and maybe we can start writing songs as well.  Saturday 3pm good for you all?"

"Good for me...and I'll bet you a dollar, Lulu, that she comes and sees us on Saturday."

"Deal!"

The gang all go their separate ways except for Lulu, who doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave the park.

"Efrain might be the lead singer but you're definitely the leader of the band."

"Thanks, Lulu, although this isn't a competition between any of us.  You bring so much energy it's a matter of co-ordinating that with Efrain's opinions and Rohan's sensitivity."

"I can't help myself, Jamie...I get so enthusiastic sometimes my mouth just runs off and I say all kinds of things without thinking..."

"That's OK..." The two of us are alone now and I'm not sure what to do next.  I've been in this situation before with Colleen and Morgan where I'm alone with a gorgeous chick and I read the situation wrong and it's led to disaster.  Lulu's so cute and jolly but she comes with this strange negative reputation that I can't figure out and I'm really attracted to her but at the same time if we were to get romantically involved whilst setting up a band and it goes badly there will be fallout....man, this is getting complicated!

What to do, Jamie?  What to do?  What would a gentleman do in this situation?

"Lulu...can I walk you home?"

"I thought you'd never ask..."

It was nice.  We talked mostly about band stuff and that Lulu thought we should all get matching suits, which she'd help us with.  A question that bubbles in the back of my mind is why she's so unpopular with the other girls at school?

"Well, this is my street, Jamie.  Thanks for walking me home."

"I can take you to your front door if you'd like."

"Just in case any attackers leap out between here and the door.  Good idea."

"Well, this is me...thanks for everything, Jamie."

"My pleasure"

And then she leans in and gives me a big hug...one of those ones that's really tight.  Wow, she sure is strong for someone so slightly built.

"Lulu...you're always so full of fun and bubbling with ideas and encouragement.  You know, I don't care what other people say about you:  You're one groovy chick."

"Thanks, that means a lot.  All you guys in the band have been really sweet...it's touching.  I...I...I've got some homework to finish off.  I'll see you soon, Jamie, real soon."

"I can't wait"