-A Guitar and a Microphone (Part 1)-

I sat in my room on my computer, listening to different types of music in different languages. I'm not sure if you know this, but I happen to LOVE languages! At the moment, I was listening to some music from different parts of Europe. Rock, pop, folk music, children's music. All of it. My ears just had a thing for languages and I didn't mind. I would listen to the song a few times before I finally knew all the words and their meanings.

"I wish I could make music like this,"I thought to myself,"That would be awesome..." My eyes sparkled as an idea came to my head. The other day when we searched the attic for waltz records, I saw a black bass guitar and a silver mic in a discarded box. I rushed up to grab them. They were covered in a thin layer of dust and the guitar needed to be tuned. I rushed back down to the kitchen to grab some paper towels and some cleaning spray. Back in my room, I polished the bass and the microphone until they shone in my room light.

"Perfect,"I smiled. I pulled out my cell phone and three-way called my costumed buddies and my wizard love.

"Hello?,"they all chimed at the same time. There was a pause until I spoke.

"Hey guys,"I giggled. Kyle cleared his throat.

"Are those idiots on the phone?,"he asked. I sighed.

"Fanboy and Chum Chum are on the phone, not idiots,"I corrected him. He groaned.

"HIYA KYLE!,"Fanboy greeted loudly through the phone. Kyle yelped.

"MY EAR FANBOY!,"he screamed. I sighed again.

"Guys, please,"I started,"I called you all for a reason."

"What is it?,"Chum Chum asked.

"Well,"I said,"I was listening to some really cool music today from different countries and parts of the world. I thought it would be cool if we started our own band or something. What do you guys think?" There was silence on the phone. I checked to make sure I didn't get cut off. When I realized I didn't, I asked them again what they thought.

"What kind of band?,"Kyle asked.

"A rock band maybe,"I replied,"Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Uh...rock? That's not really my prefered style of music Rima, love,"he said to me. Fanboy and Chum Chum laughed.

"I WANNA DO IT!,"Fanboy screamed.

"ME TOO!,"Chum Chum added,"I'm a great drummer!" I giggled at Chum Chum's comment.

"Well, that's great to hear,"I said to them,"You guys can come over for a meeting then, right now if you want!" Kyle cleared his throat.

"Mind if I come over as well, just to watch?,"he asked.

"Of course not,"I said to him,"Everyone, get over here now!" With laughter filling the other end of the call, we all hung up. I set my bass and my mic in the living room, along with a few snacks. In no time, the boys were knocking on my door. I smiled at them as they entered. Kyle held up a recorder.

"This is the only instrument I can play,"he said to me,"But since I got my braces, I haven't been able to play it that well. Pity, really."

"I can play drums!,"Chum Chum told me again. Fanboy frowned.

"I can't play anything,"he mumbled. I sighed. A recorder, drummer and two people who can't play a note to save their lives. What was I thinking?

"I can't play bass much either. Guitar maybe, bass is a little different with pitch though,"I sighed,"But I'm an okay singer..." Everyone stared at each other for a bit. Chum Chum quietly nibbled on a cookie.

"We could try playing something and see how we do,"Fanboy suggested,"But Kyle, no recorder." Kyle crossed his arms.

"What do you expect me to play then?,"he asked. Fanboy shrugged.

"Poof up a guitar or something,"he told him as he lifted up my black bass,"We've already got me on bass. Give Rima one too." Kyle sighed and did what Fanboy said, conjuring up two electric guitars, one red the other sparkling silver. He also poofed up a drum set for Chum Chum. He handed me the silver guitar.

"I don't do sparkles,"he told me,"Rock music is enough." I giggled and adjusted the strap around me. I hooked up everything to the radio speakers in my living room.

"What song did you have in mind?,"Fanboy asked. I pulled out my music player.

"I was listening to different bands today. I thought this one was cool, they sing in German,"I showed them,"But I think we should stick to the English version of the song." I plugged my music player into the radio as well. Kyle crossed his arms again.

"Yes, please,"Kyle groaned. I rolled my eyes at him and turned to my microphone.

"Ready guys?,"I asked. Everyone nodded at me. "Okay then, listen for you instrument and follow the notes the best you can." Let me tell you, those were the WORST INSTRUCTIONS EVER! We sounded like a pack of dying whales. Chum Chum was the only person who actually was able to follow the artist on the track. I sighed and stopped trying. Kyle looked at me sadly.

"Bad, huh?,"he asked me. I looked back at him.

"Yes, very,"I mumbled,"This was probably my worst idea ever..."

"NO IT WASN'T!,"Fanboy yelled at me,"This would be better if we could just get all the notes down. We would really make a great band, Rima!"

"I think so too!,"Chum Chum smiled,"We look like a band already!" I smiled at us. Oddly enough, we did look like a pretty cool band. If we had some better, designed clothing and a special look, we would look even better than we already did!

"Ya know, I think you guys are right!,"I said,"We just need some practice. We can do this. We can find the notes! Give us a week and we'll be playing this song in no time!" We all cheered at my sudden burst of inspiration. We all turned back to our instruments and listened closley to the sounds they made and the different tones they could reach. Since I had some kind of instrumental training, I caught on quickly to my instrument. By the end of the day, we almost sounded okay.

"Same time tomorrow!,"I waved at them as they all headed out later that night.

"YEAH!,"they shouted back at me,"SAME TIME!" I closed the front door and walked back into the living room, picking up my guitar. I looked down at it with a hopeful smile. All we need is to get these down. A new style too. Then, we'll be awesome.


"1, 2, 3!,"I called. We played much smoother now. It had already been two weeks since we started playing this song. The notes were now perfect. My eyes sparkled as I looked around the room at my awesome friends. I sang into the mic with a mile smile on my face. The fan I had on in the room blew my long, black hair back, opening my ears to the music around me. I swear, I was soo happy I almost cried. When the song was over, I turned to them. We all smiled at each other.

"That. Was. AWESOME!,"Fanboy shouted, like he always does. We all cheered with him, even Kyle.

"Guitar is quite nice to play,"he said to us,"I enjoy it."

"Me too,"I giggled. My mother entered the living room with a big box.

"Hey kids!,"she smiled at us. We waved at her as she set the box down on our coffee table. "You kids are just getting better and better at playing this song." We blushed.

"Thanks mom,"I smiled at her. She smiled back.

"I made you something I think you would like,"she told us. She motioned us all towards the box. We looked inside as she opened it. The first thing she pulled out was a black and white striped shirt. Then, a costume like Fanboy's, only in black and white with hints of red. The same for Chum Chum. And finally, a sparkly silver tutu skirt with striped leggings and a black shirt with a silver studded star on it. She handed us the clothing. We all screamed in joy.

"MOM! NO WAY!,"I yelled,"TOO COOL!"

"Agreed,"Kyle added. He smiled down at the shirt. Fanboy and Chum Chum bounced around the room.

"NEW COSTUMES!,"they gleamed. My mother watched us all freak out about the "new look" we had been talking about. One by one, we took turns using the bathroom to get dressed and came out looking totally punked-out.

"Whoa!,"I giggled, putting my overgrown bangs infront of one of my eyes. I looked much more serious in the dull outfit."I look soo cool!"

"You all do,"my mother giggled with me,"By the way, the community center is having a band fest. You kids should enter. First place gets 1,000 dollars and a free refill pass at the Frosty Mart." We stared at each other, giving each other approving smiles.

"We will Mrs. Valentine,"Kyle said to my mother. She waved at us, leaving us to practice in our new clothes.

"Ready?,"I asked them. They nodded. I counted off again. "1, 2, 3!"