Musical-Edd 4

Edd stepped outside the theater with his father and Evan to find all of the cul-de-sac kids waiting outside for him. A little overwhelmed, he stopped at the top of the steps. Up to that point, Edd had been enthused about everything Evan had told him but there was a part of him that was starting to have second thoughts and the reasons were standing at the bottom of the steps, staring up at him with eyes of question and wonder.

Sure, most of them had treated him not all that well at times but they were all he knew. He knew these kids better than he knew his own parents—that didn't mean he didn't love his European mother and father, though.

If only there was a way he could bring all of them on the road with him.

Perhaps there was.

"Pardon me, Evan?"

"Yes, my little star?"

"May I have a private word with my friends a moment?" Edd looked at his father and translated to him in Finnish, to which the man gladly agreed and stepped aside with Evan.

Edd descended down the steps to the kids and stood there a moment, silent. Eddy was the one who broke the tension with, "So you're just up and leaving us, sockhead? Really? Finland? You've never been outside the States."

"I really don't want to leave, Eddy."

"Then why are you letting this guy ship you over there?"

Edd rubbed his arm. "Well, there's a huge festival he wants me to be a part of. I'm nervous, though. I know nothing of heavy metal."

"Heavy metal?"

"Choice!"

"Seriously?"

"Double D's gonna be a rockstar!"

"Slayer!" Ed yelled as happily as he would about chickens.

All the kids, except maybe Jimmy and Rolf, instantly became super excited until Edd shushed them. "See? It's a metal festival. I really don't want to have to fill the shoes of another band's singer. I have an idea that would surely benefit all of us beyond our wildest dreams. You might even get to meet some of your idols." He gave Eddy a wily look at made the short guy perk his attention. "You all know about metal, unlike me, and that would help not only me out but I have a plan that would keep us all together . . . that is, if you're all willing to do it."

Everyone seemed to agree with smiles.

"Who all plays instruments?" Edd looked around at everyone, know many of them could play at least one halfway decent.

"I've been practicing piano for about a year," Jimmy spoke first.

"I took Ed's violin and learned it a little bit," Sarah added, only to have Jimmy nudge her and say, "So modest. Double D, she's good at violin."

"Nazz has a bass guitar her dad used to play." Sarah looked at her, making Nazz blush. "Hey, we can practice together."

"I can play some mean drums," Kevin proudly said as Rolf put in, "Rolf can play accordion and a whistle popular in my old country. Very pretty sound."

Edd smiled until Ed growled, "I can growl like a monster eating you alive."

"Plank convinced me to try the banjo a while ago," Johnny shyly said. "I'm not very good, but I can practice."

"This is better than I'd imagined." Edd looked at Eddy. "Now Eddy. I know you can play guitar really well. I've heard you a few times."

Eddy just stared at him, not saying a word.

Edd kept on smiling. "Don't deny it."

"Only because my brother used to play and he pressured me into learning."

"But you're good. Hey, if I can get over my fear of being up in front of people, you can join up with the rest of the kids and practice your guitar. Think of it. Fame and more money than you could ever dream of spending." Edd looked at the rest of the kids. "I want all of you to practice together, play together, and when I return from Broadway, I'll bring Evan with me to hear you all. Impress him, and we'll all be on our way to stardom. Can you do this?"

The kids didn't seem very sure, but they agreed with answers such as, "We can try."

"Don't get your hopes up."

"I want to see us all succeed." Edd looked at Eddy again, who was staring at him with arms folded. "You have to want my offer, Eddy. Who knows, maybe you'd get the chance to rub it in your brother's face."