CHAPTER 7: MEETING

New York, Present Time

"Are you sure it's around 'ere Muds? I'm hot, tired, and thirsty. Oh and did I mention-" 2-D whined.

SLAP!

"Oww! Hey why did you hit me?" 2-D asked rubbing his arm which had a red mark on it. "Your nails scraped my skin too."

"Were almost there." Murdoc told him in an annoyed tone. "Your gonna get a bigger mark if you don't shut up you Dullard."

"Like the one you gave me this morning?" 2-D opened his mouth. His front teeth were missing. "Oh excuse me, I couldn't help it. You kept complaining that I ate the rest of the freakin bloody Lucky Charms!" Murdoc shouted.

"But they are my favorite…." 2-D whimpered.

"Are you going to get your teeth fixed, because if you did I would probably punch them out again?"

"No, I kinda like my teeth this way. I'll hold up on dental surgery for awhile." 2-D smiled.

They both walked down a crowded New York street. The air felt dusky and the weather was milled. They had arrived in Soho during the morning by plane and had been walking since then. The sun was getting hot as Murdoc suddenly stopped. "Hey, were here."

2-D looked up and saw that they were outside a gray bricked store. It had large windows and the sign outside said

Soho Soundwaves: All rap and hip hop records for sale under 20 dollars

"Eh, it's a record store. What are we doing here Muds?" 2-D asked confused. "Shut up, don't ask questions. I told you before that we were looking for this store, and besides this is a rap record store. I'm sure he will be here. Someone said that he stops here everyday, he is just what we need for my band." Murdoc said.

"Don't you mean our band?" 2-D asked. "Whatever, come-on. Try to keep up Dullard." Murdoc replied, annoyed.

He pushed open the stores clear glass doors. Inside was air-conditioned with posters sprawled all over the walls. Each had a different rap star on it. Racks and rows of cds were in the middle of the store. People were gathered around looking at different disks.

"Welcome to Soho Soundwaves, the one stop shop for all music that is rap. Can I help you with anything?" said a clerk from behind the front desk. "Just let me do all the talking…." Murdoc whispered to 2-D. "Yeah we are supposed to be meeting someone here. Names Russel Hobbs, ya heard of him mate? Someone said this is his favorite store." Murdoc told the clerk.

"Oh yeah Russ. He's our best customer, I've never seen anyone that enjoys rap and Hip Hop music as much as he does. Actually he's here right now, back there." The clerk pointed towards the last rack in the store.

"Thanks mate." Murdoc said, he grabbed the left sleeve of 2-D's shirt and pulled him towards the cd racks. Standing in the back of the store was a large brown skinned guy. He was very fat and had round white eyes with a bald head. He was flipping through different piles of cds. Murdoc walked over to the rack that he was at. He picked up a cd and examined it. The guy turned to look at him. Murdoc looked up from the cd and smiled at him. "Goo'day." Murdoc said. They guy went back to looking at the albums when Murdoc whispered, "Are you Russel Hobbs by any chance?"

"Wha, hey how did you know?" He looked surprised. "Heh well I have heard different stories about you. I know what happened 5 years ago." Murdoc replied. "How did you know I would be here?" Russel whispered back. "Again I have heard things. My…uh well my punching bag and I have traveled all the way here to find you." Murdoc said. "Punching bag? What?" Russel was still confused. Murdoc pointed and Russel turned around. 2-D was standing by the register; he smiled and waved at them. "Sorry about that. He has 2 dents in his head so he's not the sharpest tool in the shed. Partially that was my fault." Murdoc laughed. "So you are saying that he's a dumb dullard?" Russel asked. "Yes but he's my dumb dullard." Murdoc sighed.

"Hey, your voice, you sound like you're not from around here." Russel said.

"Well we are both from England. I am Stoke on Trent born and the dullard is from Crawley." Murdoc told him.

"Whoa man, England. I have always wondered what it was like there. Must be exciting." Russel started to wonder. "Anyway, screw it, we came here because we need your help. I am trying to start up a band. I already have a lead singer, 2-D over there." Murdoc eyed 2-D who was talking to a blond girl. "I'm going to be on bass and now all we need is a guitarist and a drummer." Murdoc told him. "Hey why don't you be lead guitarist?" Russel asked him. "No bloody way, I heard that babes dig bass players. I'll have them all in my Winnebago in no time, heh heh" Murdoc rubbed his hands together and had a scheming look on his face. Russel just looked lost.

"Okay, well I do know about your possession." Murdoc cleared his throat. "What? You know about Del." Russel asked

"Aww… man! Now the secret is out. If we have the chance, maybe Russ and I can catch the next plane to Mexico. We'll change our names too, I'll be Senior Del and he will be El Russel." Del said.

"Don't worry, only the Dullard and I know about it. We won't tell anyone else." Murdoc said. "Is it really true that your friends were rappers and musicians before they died? Also is it true that their combined spirits gave you unbelievable drumming, hip hop, and rap skills?"

"Well yeah, I have been talented ever since the day of the shooting, but that was a long time ago, when I was a kid in high school." Russel scratched his head.

"Then you are the man for our band. (hey that rhymes) That's why I wanted you as our drummer." Murdoc told him. "Do you really think I would make a great drummer?" Russel asked. "Yeah, you would mate." Murdoc replied.

"This is so great! I'm finally gonna achieve my lifelong dream. I gotta go home and tell my ma." Russel cried in an exciting voice. He was shaking. "Uh well me and the dullard will be around. You can come back and tell me if you can join." Murdoc told him.

"Thanks…um..uh?" Russel was at a loss of words.

"Its Murdoc, but you can call me Muds."

"Okay, thanks Muds. I'll be back tomorrow." And with that he was out the door.

"Hey Muds, that girl I was just talking to gave me her phone number. She said that I looked sexy without my front teeth." 2-D said. That was the one thing Murdoc hated; someone else getting all the girls instead of him. He would do anything to sleep with a woman, but he had been doing that since he was a preteen. (I know what your thinking, gross right, but it's true)

"Yeah…that's..uh..great 2-D. I think we've found a drummer for the band. Now it's one step closer to fame." Murdoc told him.

"And 2 dents 2 stardom." 2-D replied.

Again To Be Continued……