Chapter 2

"Hey, Jan, you should enter this contest," Jerome, the band's bassist, said a few days later.

"Dude, when are you going to get it in your skull that I've been finished with talent shows and karaoke crap since I've been with the band?" Janis asked.

"This isn't anything like that. Check it out; send in a music demo CD and a video about yourself. Winner gets 5,000 and an opportunity to appear on Monday Night Raw to sing the national anthem."

"What the fuck is a Monday Night Raw?"

"A wrestling show. And they don't tape it; it broadcasts live."

"Oh. I never followed that stuff, so excuse me for sounding kind of moronic. As for the national anthem, I don't think it's one of my better songs."

"Bullshit. You tore the hell out of it at the Pirates home opener last year."

"Must have been one of my better nights back then."

"Seriously, Jan, what do you have to lose by entering this thing? It will not only showcase you if you win, it also will be great PR for the band. Then there is the five grand prize money. Imagine what you could do with that. Even second prize isn't bad; 1,000 and front row seats to any event."

"If you think it's so awesome, why don't you enter?" Janis asked.

"I only play bass, love; I'm not much of a singer. It's worth a shot for you, though," Jerome encouraged.

"What did you say the prize money was?"

"First place? Five grand."

Janis bit her lip. "Hmm, that alone might be worth taking the chance. I could use some new furniture."

"Guess you better start boning up on the national anthem then," Jerome laughed. "And maybe I can ask Chico to film the video thing."

"Hey, I got an idea about that," Janis replied. "Why do I do a part with just me and maybe another part with the band, you know, like when we're rehearsing or at a show or something? Make it original and a little more interesting."

"Wow, you know, that is a great idea! You know, these people are probably going to get a bunch of 'sob story' types of shit, and this thing could be a little more uplifting. A little background on you and the band without the boo hoo element."

"Jerome, I like how you think," Janis smiled. "No wonder we always blended so well."

"That's because we tend to think the same way," he smiled back. "Now if we're going to do this bad boy, we better shift ass."