Chapter 5: We're Gonna Rock Around the Clock

After Melena kicked her out her house, Lily is wondered how Melena will take care of Elphaba. Lily took care of Elphaba longer than Melena and she feels worried that Melena doesn't know how to raise a teenager. She spent sleepless nights thinking how Elphaba will take it.

Melena took Elphaba in and she gave one of her step daughters for her to sleep. "I feel bad for taking little Melanie's bed." Elphaba said.

"Oh don't worry, she doesn't mind. And besides, Melanie is your sister and she's happy you're here."

"How long will I stay here?"

"As long as you wanted." Melena said as she patted Elphaba in the head.

Elphaba had been staying at her mother's home for a week and she's enjoying it. While Elphaba was sleeping in the middle of the night, she heard an argument downstairs that made her wake up. She went downstairs and saw that her mother is arguing with Nick.

"I could get a job." Melena said

"Then who's going to look after the girls?" Nick asked.

"It will be just part time. Please Nick, I know this would work."

"But it will be too much for you to handle."

"But I need Elphaba, and she needs me!"

"And Lily needs Elphaba. She took care of her since she was five."

"I never wanted that! Nick, it's not fair!"

"Listen to me, we can't lose you again. She has to go back to her aunt."

Melena didn't want to believe what he said but she accepted it. "Okay. Elphaba has to go back to my sister's." Melena tearfully said.

Elphaba went back to bed feeling devastated of what she heard. Elphaba couldn't go back to sleep and she also thought it was reasonable for her to go back to her Aunt Lily. The next morning, Elphaba got dressed up and went to thank her mother, who is in the kitchen cleaning, for bringing her in.

"I, erm, just wanted to say thanks, mom. Even though the bed doesn't seem right for me, but you did your best." Elphaba said, but Melena didn't say anything. Elphaba can clearly see that her mother is feeling really sad through the mirror next to the sink. "I also wanted to say thanks for the banjo lessons, mom. Mom?" Elphaba called, but she still didn't respond and Elphaba left the house. While Elphaba walked back to Lily's home, she had Rock and Roll all over her head since her mother introduce the music to her.

When Elphaba arrived back to Lily, she saw Lily sitting in the dining room as if she was waiting for Elphaba to come back. "Have you decided where you wanted to live?" Lily remarked but Elphaba didn't spoke as she next her aunt. "She'll hurt you. You know that, don't you?" Lily calmly said.

Elphaba ignored her question and changed the subject by talking about what she wants to be. "I want to start a Rock and Roll group." Elphaba told her, "I want to the Queen of Rock and Roll."


Elphaba, along with her Aunt Lily and tenant Avaric, took the bus to Emerald City to buy herself a guitar. Since Munchkinland , and other regions, doesn't have an instrument store, Emerald City is the only place to get it. When they enter the store, Elphaba found herself a guitar and played with it a little, but Lily was still questioning about Elphaba's choice of music.

"Rock and Roll is only three chords, Lily. It's simple as that." Elphaba told her.

"Do you have to be simple to like it." Lily remarked.

"Oh funny, well done." Elphaba sarcastically said.

"Your sarcasm worries me."

"What, not to your high standards?"

"Even though it's not exactly Seforth, I don't mind though."

"Why does he have to come with us? Shouldn't he be learning space instead of Rock and Roll?" Elphaba asked about Avaric.

"Even though I'm more of a science kind of guy, I listen to Rock and Roll." Avaric said.

While Elphaba is playing the guitar, the store clerk passed by and wanted to check on them. "The Maple Champion?" the store clerk said.

"Yeah. This thing is good." Elphaba replied.

"Of course it is. Bangs out a solid tune. Guaranteed it won't break a string. And does your brother want an instrument?"

"Oh no, I'm not her brother and I'm also not her boyfriend and I'm not interested in buying musical instruments." Avaric said.

"How much is the guitar?" Lily asked.

"Eight ozlets." the clerk said.

"Ooh, that's not very good, isn't it?"

"Fine. Seven ozlets and that's it."

"Now, that's good deal." Lily said and gives seven ozlets to the clerk.

Elphaba was really happy that she has her very own guitar. She laid it on her bed and happily stared at it while trying to figure out her Rock and Roll group and how it will work out. The next day, Elphaba's suspension has ended and she felt excited to go back to school. Elphaba went over to the area between the restrooms outside where Boq and other students hung around.

"At ease, my subjects." Elphaba joked.

"How have you've been doing, Elphaba?" a girl asked.

"Oh nothing, I'm just here to tell you that you've been picked for my band."

"A band, Elphaba?" one of the boys said.

"But I don't know how to play." Boq whined.

"It's a Skiffle band. You don't need to learn. What's important is that I've chosen all of you." Elphaba said, "Crope, you got a guitar?"

"Yeah I do." he replied.

"Good. Tibbett, tea bass."

"What the hell is that?" he asked.

"It's just a tea chest bass and you pluck one string. Sound sexy isn't?"

"Yeah. Thanks Elphaba."

"Boq, washboard."

"Great, lovely." Boq groaned.

"Eve, you said you got a banjo right?"

"Yeah. My uncle's into Bluegrass."

"What about me, Elphaba?" a boy asked as he got out of the restroom.

"Manager, Flipper." Elphaba said and the others laughed. "Great. Now we only need is a drummer with his own kit."

"There's a lad called Davy who lives behind my home. He has his own kit." Crope said.

"He's in. First practice at six. Boq's air raid shelter in his backyard. Any questions?"

"My air raid shelter?" Boq said.

"Watch it." Elphaba told Boq, "Questions? Anyone?"

"Do we have a name?" Tibblett asked.

"Yes, Tibblett, we do." Elphaba said while moving Tibblett's mouth.


Elphaba's band, under the name The Ozkids, have their first gig at the Munchkinland fair. Elphaba invited her mother and stepsisters to fair and Lily and Avaric attended the fair to see Elphaba's gig in their own accord, even though Lily forced Avaric to come along. When The Ozkids got on stage, Melena and her daughters tried to get to the front so they can get a better view on Elphaba. Elphaba saw Melena and she was very happy that her mother is there.

"Alright. I maybe the only green girl in this place, but that doesn't mean I can't Rock and Roll." Elphaba said to the crowd and they cheered at here. "Now this first song we're going to play is a little Rhythm & Blues for some of you classy people."

You know, the landlord rang my front door bell.
I let it ring for a long, long spell.
I went to the window,
I peeped through the blind,
And asked him to tell me what's on his mind.
He said,

Money, honey.
Money, honey.
Money, honey, if you want to get along with me.

As The Ozkids are playing, a girl in blonde hair watched them in the audience and find the band really good and like the style they're playing.