Kelly looked at each of them in turn.

"Now I'm telling you, we are going to have to practice our ass off if we are even to qualify for this concert. They have all the top local bands booked in already, some I haven't even heard of like The Smart Pumpkins and the Partial Flowers."

"The Monkees have entered," Drew told them.

There was a groan from everyone.

"Zoo animals shouldn't be allowed to enter," Maggie reasoned.

Kelly nodded "I whole heartedly agree but we don't make the rules, now come on and please Trix try and give us a beat we can all work to."

The twelve-year-old frowned as she stepped towards her drum kit.

Amy moved towards the microphone; her pretty young face smiled a little shyly as if there was a crowd about to listen. She began singing in perfect pitch and they all followed in behind her. Just then there was a loud clunk as the door at the rear of the hall opened wide. Kelly grimaced as Amy's mother walked in. She took a seat and waited.

"Don't let me stop you. Sing out Amy sing out. Project your voice."

Instead, Amy's voice grew softer as her face began to flame red. Kelly ceased playing her guitar and put a hand up to halt the others. She had to wave it about a bit to get Trix's attention. She was intent on her drumming. Kelly went over to Amy.

"Now remember, just breathe. You got this. You are a great singer. "

Amy looked at her older friend and tried to pull it together but she could feel her mother watching on with much disapproval.

"Kelly, why did you stop her. I was enjoying that. Come on Amy sing up. I want to hear you all the way back here. "

Kelly gave her a reassuring pat on the back and went back to her guitar. As they tried to practice further Amy's mother continued to shout up directions to her daughter. Trix lost the beat and Drew fingers slipped on the keys of her keyboard. The 18-year-old gave them a look of apology as she tried to keep the melody. The practice session was lost.

Amy's mother marched up to speak with them all as they began putting away their instruments.

"Why is it called Kelly and the Bell Hops. It should be called Amy and the Bell Hops. Amy is the singer." She told them.

"Mrs Warren, Kelly set up this band. She got us together." Maggie tried to explain.

Amy looked troubled as she followed her mother out of the hall. She looked back at them hoping that they weren't mad at her. Kelly gave her a reassuring smile.

Drew looked to Maggie, "Hay let's go for pizza. We can leave our instruments at my place, get the bus into town."

"Yeah, let's go dancing after," Maggie grinned.

"What about Trix?" Kelly asked.

The young girl was frowning as she tried to box up her drum kit.

"She'll be alright. We'll put her in a cab." Maggie shrugged.

Kelly looked at her sharply, "OR we'll box up the instruments together and take her to the local restaurant for pizza."

"OK," Maggie flounced over to help her pack up the drum kit. She wasn't about to argue with Kelly after the disastrous practice they had just had.

Kelly arrived home just after 11.30. Her parents were in the living room arguing points about the antique business they were jointly running. They didn't even look up as she headed into the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of Cornflakes and a can of soda. She lay on her bed, one hand behind her head thinking about the band and where they were headed. She closed her eyes and imagined great things.

~o~

That Saturday they put their names down for the concert. It was a charity event in aid of the local old folk's home but there was so many entering and not all were bands. The organisers were looking to make it more a variety show. There were magic tricks, dancers, comedians. It was much rumoured that there was going to be a piece on the six o clock news about the show so every local band for miles around wanted in.

Kelly, herself had snuck into a top hotel and pretending to work there she had "borrowed" five Bell hop jackets and hats. She took them through reception in her guitar case. That little transgression weighed heavily on her but they stood no chance if they had no costumes. Her mother had offered to help her with that and then she got busy and forgot.

So they stood waiting back stage in charming little orange jackets and box like hats. Trix couldn't keep still such was her excitement as they waited to go on.

"You've got my guitar case there,"

Kelly spun around and glared back at him.

"Nesmith, this is not your guitar case. Why don't you go monkey around or something."

"Just look down at it." He pointed, feeling irate with nerves himself.

She huffed as she looked down. She frowned at the unfamiliar sticker across its front.

"Save the Texas Prairie Chicken." Trix read slowly.

Without a word Kelly handed him over the case. Mike took it from her and gave her, her own case. The rest of the Monkees filed past them. Micky pushed Trixs hat down over her eyes. She glared after him as she fixed it straight. Kelly looked over at Amy. The 16-year-old was pale and worried looking. Her mother thankfully could not attend this audition but still she looked as if she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

"Right come on Bell Hops, you're next. Hurry on. We have a lot to get through today."

They were ushered quickly on to the stage. Amy put a shaky hand to the microphone and it was then that she noticed Ashley Patterson's simpering face. She was standing with the band the Monkees and she gave Amy a mocking smile and perched herself down beside Michael Nesmith to listen to her. Amy swallowed hard. She looked to Kelly but it was too late. Drew had started playing.