7/5
First off, the Bash was so much fun! I'm so glad that Mami and Papi realized how important this was, and let me go. I'm on a strict schedule of work and being exactly where they know I am. So the party with my friends is still on. Thank goodness.
So I wear the white tank top that Claudia helped me make. I love having a Vanish shirt. It's like our own advertising. Especially since I ran around the Bash all day. By the time they went on, so many people already knew them from my big mouth.
We were able to use Bruce's van, but Rico was driving it. Bruce was pretty angry, but more at himself for not insisting that we just drive separate cars. We all feel the same way (mad at ourselves, not at Bruce).
There was tons of stuff going on. There was like this carnival, with rides and everything. I rode the Ferris Wheel like six times. I love Ferris Wheels. I kept trying to get away, but someone different would pull me on. I couldn't resist. I ate SO MUCH FOOD, none of it with a single vitamin or nutrient. The stage was full of stand-up comedians, and small children song-and-dance acts and things like that throughout the day.
But that was during the day. Nearing the evening, I had to gather up the band, and get them backstage to set up. Which took forever. Luckily I started early. So the band, myself and Tyler (Maggie didn't want him mobbed) were finally backstage.
"You guys," I say, "this is, no doubt, our biggest break ever. And I couldn't be happier."
"As long as we don't screw up," Maggie says.
"You'll be great," I assure her. "I know it. This is going to be a perfect performance."
Rainah Cubic, the woman in charge of the booking for the Bash, comes up behind me. "Vanish, right?"
"That's us," Rico says.
"Okay, when your set is over, you need to let the crowd know that Jax will be on."
"Jax?" Patti repeats, jaw dropped.
Rainah smiles. "We had to book a year in advance."
I'll admit, I had a loss of my usual proffesional self as I looked around for Pierre X. Not near us. That was okay. However, this explained why we got put where we did. Rock group before a rock group.
The band before Vanish was almost done when Maggie grabs me. Her face was white, and she had my arms in a death grip.
"Amalia, I can't do this! I can't go in front of all those people."
"Maggie," I say seriously, trying not to panic. "You have no choice. It's too late to back out now. You're going out there and you're going to be great. That's all there is to it."
"It's not that. The song. I can't do the song about Dad."
"Okay." I turn to the rest of the band. "Guys, we're pulling Maggie's new song off the list."
"Why?" Rico asks.
"I just can't," she explains.
"Fine," Bruce said. "It's cool."
Maggie looks relieved.
"And now!" screams the MC guy, "Palo City's very own, VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANISH!"
Rico, Bruce, Patti, and Justin run out on stage. Maggie is still clinging to me. I shove her on stage. "GO!"
Maggie's face is white as a ghost.
They go out and the sound great. Maggie starts singing a little late, but everyone gets timing right. By the third song, they're perfect. Maggie even looks comfortable.
"She doesn't even realize how talented she is," Tyler says.
I nod. He sounds so earnest about it, I suddenly missed Brendon. I wished he could have been there. He would have had so much fun.
It's wonderful. Like it all just fit into place. The crowd loves them. I love them. Rainah shouts to me that they sound better now then they did at the auditions. This other guy in an important looking suit (but then again, he may have just been looking important) comes over and tells Rainah that they're better than Jax. She agrees. I'm about to faint. Then, somehow, it gets even better.
The set is over and Rico, swinging his guitar around crazily, screams into the mic, "Palo Ciiiiiiiity, get ready for JAAAAAAAAAX!"
The crowd goes wild. Everyone run offstage.
"You guys did it!" I exclaimed. Maggie gives me a hug and then gives Tyler a hug and she looks more excited than I've seen her weeks.
"Wait! Quiet!" I shriek. I expected to hear the crowd shouting for Jax, but no. The crowd is out there screaming "VAN-ISH! VAN-ISH!"
Rainah comes over. "You guys, they want an encore. You have to go back out there."
"We didn't plan for this!" I say. My mind reels and I turn to Maggie. "We have to do your song. It's the only other thing we ran through."
I expect Maggie to protest, but she nods seriously. "All right. I can do it. I can try."
The crowd is still screaming "VAN-ISH! VAN-ISH! VAN-ISH!"
They go out (the crowd screams louder than they did when Rico announced Jax) and Rico vamps the first couple of chords because Maggie is staring out at the crowd.
"YOU CAN DO IT!" I scream.
She takes a breath and opens her mouth, "Hollywood lies and..."
They're great. They are beyond great. The crowd loves it. I love it. When they're done, even Maggie looks great. She looks a little sheepish, but she's glowing.
"This your band?"
I turn around and there is PIERRE X. What came out of my mouth was something like "Nyhhh. Gwarryh. Yeahh."
"They're good." He walks out onto the stage and shakes Rico's hand. He puts his arm around Bruce's shoulders and shouts into the mic, "Vanish, aren't they great?"
The crowd shouts in agreement, but I think they'd agree with anything. Even now, writing about it, it still seems like a dream. Like it didn't really happen. I met Pierre X. He told the entire cirty how much he loves Vanish. Rainah telling me that if Jax backed Vanish, we could probably get onto any record label we wanted (but probably the one Jax is on).
I told her that I'm thirteen years old. I'd have to talk to my parents about it.
I wonder if my new curfew could be broken because of late night recording sessions. It's something to think about.
My hands are shaking. Something tells me that this is going somewhere good. However, I promised the guys a a break, so we're taking a break. However, I'll be waiting for Rainah's call.
Later 7/5
I just got a letter from Brendan. I'm pasting it into my journal. I'll lose it otherwise.
Dear Amalia,
Congratulations on getting into the Bash! I knew you guys were great. It's fantastic to see everyone else realizing it too. I can't wait to hear how it goes.
Camp is fun, but feeling it's highly overrated since I'm spending all day hanging out with guys when I could be hanging out with you. There's a CIT dance tonight, and I'm going, but don't worry, I've known these girls since I was six. Nothing's changed. (Well, probably a few things, but if I say much more I'll be getting myself in trouble.)
Last night was "Movie Nite". The spelling drives me nuts, but what can you do? It's camp, not school. We watched The Parent Trap. Why do they always show camp movies at camp? This one guy brought a portable DVD player and a bunch of us watched another camp movie out back, but Wet Hot American Summer is a bit different. We snagged some eletricity from the moviehouse when the batteries started to die.
I had made you a birthday card in the art and crafts cabin, but my cabin members (seven year olds) thought it needed macaroni so where it says "Happy Birthday, Amalia" now has pasta bowties all over it. I guess I'll just have to take you out when I get back for a belated birthday celebration. Doesn't sound too bad, now does it? Anyway, it'll be your birthday (probably) by the time you get this, so an early happy birthday to you!
Gotta go. Jim just fell off the top bunk and is now screaming. Hopefully it's not too bad.
Love,
Brendan
He's so sweet! Most guys would send a postcard that had "camp is fine, wish you were here, the weather is great." Brendan didn't even mention the weather. And I'm not worried about all those girls. I know how guys are. If there was something to worry about, he wouldn't have even mentioned it.
The past two days have been so fantastic.