Chapter 10: The concert
Time flew by like an eagle, pulling them closer to the concert with it's talons. It was on a Saturday, and no conversation went by without mention of it. Finally, Friday came along, and even the teachers could hardly wait. Musa was ecstatic, rushing about to get things ready.
"This is your first concert, but I've gotten you set up at one of the top five concert halls in Whoville!" She beamed. They had thought Orrin and Nirro were going to faint. Nirro seemed to contemplate it, but decided Mar wouldn't catch him, anyway. (They're on a speck; they can't FIT enough concert halls to have a top ten list!)
"LOOK! It's THEM!" Someone called.
"R*F*Y*L!" Screamed Rosie. (Means run for your life!) They fled to their separate classrooms in the hopes their teachers would be there to save them. Of course, not all of them were. Rosie and Jojo's homeroom teacher wasn't. Kids flooded into the room after them. They hadn't yet figured out the meaning of each of the group's signals were, but they knew it meant run to the classrooms, or anywhere they could find.
Rosie's was, of course, R*F*Y*L, Jojo didn't have one, he just started running, Mar's was run for your sanity, R*F*Y*S, Nirro's was R*F*Y*H, run for your honor, Orrin's was J*R*P, just RUN, people, and Mono's was R*A*H, run and hide. They had gotten good at talking to one another in this first letter code, even Musa.
"WHAT SONGS ARE YOU DOING?"
"THIS CONCERT'S GONNA BE AWESOME!"
"YOU GUYS ARE SO COOL!"
"I WISH I WAS YOU!"
"WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME?" Rosie desperately glanced at Jojo. He nodded, with a small smile. She nodded back with a more determined look, opened her mouth, and...
"I*R*A*J, W*T*I*H! M, H*U!" Rosie screamed, at the top of her lungs, but not loud enough to hurt her voice. It meant, it's Rosie and Jojo, we're trapped in homeroom! Musa, help us!
"CHILDREN!" Everyone hushed as their band and choir teacher rushed in. The code had been used before, sometimes slightly different, depending on the callers. Otherwise, even Musa wouldn't have understood. The kids all sat down obediently, and the teacher walked in.
"My, Mrs. Merrywho! I've never seem them quiet DOWN so quickly! You simple MUST tell me of your ways!" Unfortunately, the teacher was the wife of the chairman, and, though she was a lot less stuck up and rude, she was a great deal like her husband, as well.
"I heard a cry for help from two of my favorite students, that's all,"
"Thank you, Musa!" Rosie called. Mrs. Vonfrood glared back at her. She thought highly of raising one's hand before speaking, and calling teachers by their proper, respectable names.
"You're quite welcome, Rosie!" Jojo looked up from his notebook with a questioning look. "You, too, Jojo. See you in band and choir!" He flashed her a smile, which quickly faded, and looked back down. She left, and class began.
"Because there was another teacher involved, none shall be punished. However, next time something of the like happens, a good deal of you will be seeing me in detention. You're all lucky I haven't decided to increase your homework loads so as to make that CONCERT impossible," She glared again at Rosie, who infuriated her even more by smiling innocently back. She scowled, and no doubt was debated on whether or not to give a speech on respecting elders, but thought better of it. After all, she wasn't JUST an elder.
The day wore on, slowly dragging everyone with it. Tension piled up, and everyone was on the edge of their seats, waiting for the assembly at the end of the day to explain where the concert would be. When that time arrived, Mr. Eduwho gave a long boring speech about his pride in the school, and FINALLY passed the microphone over to Musa. Whos that had fallen asleep were woken by their friends, or the cheer that went up in relief. (Mr. Eduwho thought the cheer was for him, and was well pleased.)
"My good students! I am proud to announce that this concert, containing our choir and band, as well as a new private band... No, don't cheer yet, save it... Is to be held at the Whoville Chorus Center!" A loud cheer rang out as the 4th best concert hall's name was spoken. "The members of this private band, please come up here!" Another cheer went up, each member introducing themselves in the microphone.
"Hi, I'm Rosie Reeses. I sing for Shadow wings," Cheering.
"Hey, ladies! Orrin Minnow here! I play base guitar!" A slightly smaller cheer.
"Mono Flight, drums! And this is Jojo Mcdodd, second singer!" Louder cheer than Rosie's.
"Nirro Minnow, second drummer!" Even louder cheer.
"Hey, you all know me! Mar Moore, main guitarist!" The cheer was louder than any of the others. As the group stood in order next to Musa, she began to talk again.
"And now, as one, Shadow wings!" They all stepped forward.
"Whos gonna rock?" Rosie shouted.
"SHADOW WINGS!"
"Where are we rockin'?" Mar called.
"WHOVILLE CHORUS CENTER!"
"That's right! Come to the concert, tomorrow night at 8!" Mar punched the air. "ROCK ON!" The cheer was longer and louder then before. A huge crowd came at them, guys nonchalantly asking Rosie and Mar out, who declined, as did the boys to most of the girls. Well, MOST of the boys, anyway. Orrin had a girl at each arm, glaring at the other, and Mono had become quite taken to a particular light green who.
The next morning, Rosie jumped from her bed and raced to the phone to call Mar, who, sure enough, was still asleep. She was thankful for the wake up call, and helped Rosie wake the others. Jojo's entire family came in one limo, with Ned, and Sally with another. There was two empty seats in Ned's limo, as Jojo joined the others with Sally.
"I'M SO EXCITED!" Rosie cried. "I'm going to be singing in the 4th best concert hall in WHOVILLE! And it's only our first CONCERT!" They were all just as excited. When they pulled up at the Whoville Chorus Center, they went in the back door. They got all set up, and listened to the voices on the other side of the curtain.
"Tonight, we have Whoville High's choir and band, and a NEW private band, who call themselves Shadow wings! This is their first concert, and, it being HERE, well, they HAVE to think they're good! So, give it up for Musa Merrywho!"
"Thank you, thank you! Shadow wings will be your favorite band in a heartbeat, trust me! In all my years as a choir and band teacher at Whoville High, I have never SEEN such a talented group of willing friends to create such beautiful music! But first, let me present to you, Whoville High's choir!" Rosie and Jojo matched their voices with the others, and the choir wasn't bad. The band was better. Next was them. Swallowing nervously, Rosie said,
"I didn't realize there was going to be so many PEOPLE!"
"Aw, you'll do FINE, Rosie! You and Jojo are GREAT singers! And most of the time, you'll be singing together! You'll blow 'em away, you two!" Mar grinned.
"I know, it's just..." She trailed away.
"And now, Shadow wings!" Musa said. A loud cheer rose up. And the curtains rose. Rosie gulped. But as she sang, she forgot the crowds, and just flowed with the song. There was thousands of people, colored lights everywhere, she could here her friends playing the music behind her. Then, she gave herself completely to the music.
What's wrong with me?
Why do I feel like this?
I'm goin' crazy now!
No more gas, in the red, can't even get it started,
Nothing heard, nothing said, can't even speak about it,
On my life, on my head, don't wanna think about it,
Feels like I'm goin' insane, yeah,
It's a thief in the night, to come and grab you,
It can creep up inside you and consume you,
A disease of the mind, it can control you,
It's too close for comfort,
Put on your pretty lies, we're in the city of wonder,
Ain't gon' play nice, watch out, you might just go under,
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered,
So if you must falter, be wise,
Your minds in Disturbia, it's like the darkness is light,
Disturbia, am I scarin' you tonight,
Disturbia, never used for what you like,
Disturbia, Disturbia,
Faded pictures on the wall, it's like they're talkin' to me,
Disconnected on calls, the phone don't even ring,
I gotta get out, or, figure the ___ out,
It's too close for comfort,
It's a thief in the night, to come and grab you,
It can creep up inside you and consume you,
A disease of the mind, it can control you,
I feel like a monster,
Put on your pretty lies, we're in the city of wonder,
Ain't gon' play nice, watch out, you might just go under,
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered,
So if you must falter, be wise,
Your minds in Disturbia, it's like the darkness is light,
Disturbia, am I scarin' you tonight,
Disturbia, never used for what you like,
Disturbia, Disturbia, Disturbia,
Release me from this curse I'm in,
Tryin' to maintain but I'm strugglin',
If you can't go-o-o-o-o-o-,
Think I'm gonna, uh-h-h-h-h,
Put on your pretty lies, we're in the city of wonder,
Ain't gon' play nice, watch out, you might just go under,
Better think twice, your train of thought will be altered,
So if you must falter, be wise,
Your minds in Disturbia, it's like the darkness is light,
Disturbia, am I scarin' you tonight,
Disturbia, never used for what you like,
Disturbia, Disturbia.
As she finished, Rosie opened her eyes to a screaming crowd of fans. She backed away, and walked off stage to the left. It was Jojo's turn.
Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
You tell me your blue skies fade to grey
You tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on
You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces everytime
And I don't need no carryin' on
Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
Well, you need a blue sky holiday
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on
You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
(Oh... Holiday...)
Sometimes the system goes on the blink
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong (ahhh...)
So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh, you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
'Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day
(Oh, yeah, yeaaah, yeah)
Had a bad day
(Oh, had a bad day)
Had a bad day
(Oh, yeah, yeah, yeeeeah)
Had a bad day
(Oh, had a bad day)
Had a bad day...
Had a bad day...
And it was over. The crowd was even wilder, and a number of girls fainted. Jojo walked off to the right and disappeared. The girls that fainted woke up as the crowd cheered louder. Mar gave a speech, Orrin looked a little upset, as his idea had been overlooked, and both whos came on stage to sing. Their voices weaved together as one, making them three times more beautiful.
Sound the bugle now, play it just for me,
As the seasons change, remember how, I used to be,
Now I can't go on, I can't even start,
I got nothin' left, just an empty heart,
I'm a soldier, wounded so I, must give up the fight,
There's nothin' more, for me, lead me away,
Or leave me lyin' here,
Sound the bugle now,
Tell them I don't care,
There's not a road I know, that leads to anywhere,
Without a light, I, fear that I will, stumble in the dark,
Lay right down; decide not to go on,
Then from on high, somewhere in the distance,
There's a voice that calls, remember who you are,
If you lose yourself, your courage soon will follow,
So be strong tonight, remember who you are,
Yeah, you're a soldier now, fighting in a battle,
To be free once more, yeah, that's worth, fightin' for!
Most of the crowd was in tears when they finished, and stopped instantly when Mar spoke up.
"ARE YOU READY TO ROCK?"
"YEAH!"
"THEN,
LET'S ROCK!" The music changed, and Rosie and Jojo
smiled.
Looking
out a dirty old window,
Down below the cars in the city go rushing
by,
I sit here alone and I wonder why,
Friday night and
everyone's moving.
I can feel the heat but its soothing heading
down,
I search for the beat in this dirty town,
Downtown the
young ones are going,
Downtown the young ones are
growing,
[Chorus:]
We're
the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live
for the music around,
Bright Lights,
The music gets
faster,
Look boy don't check on your watch, Not another
glance,
I'm not leaving now honey not a chance,
Hot shot give
me no problems,
Much later baby you'll be, saying "never
mind,"
You know life is cruel,
Life is never kind,
Kind
hearts don't make a new story,
Kind hearts don't grab any
glory,
[Chorus:]
We're
the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live
for the music around,
Come closer honey that's better,
Gotta
get a brand new experience feeling right,
Oh, don't try to stop
baby hold me tight,
Outside a new day is dawning,
Outside
suburbia calling, everywhere,
I don't want to go baby,
New York
to East California,
There's a new wave coming, I warn
ya,
[Chorus:]
We're
the kids in America,
We're the kids in America,
Everybody live
for the music around,
We're the kids in America,
we're the kids
in America,
Everybody live for the music around.
Everybody cheered, the floor vibrated, and the sound echoed around the walls, ringing in Rosie's ears. The lights were on them, and as their friends behind them went absolutely crazy, Jojo silently slipped his hand into Rosie's. She looked up, and he smiled at her. She beamed. This was the best day of her life.