The next morning, the gang was over at the Cabot Estate, waiting anxiously for Linda to arrive. Alexandra couldn't wait to see her. She was sure she still looked as bad as her picture. Finally, the doorbell rang.
"That's got to be her!" Alex shouted. "Come on!"
"I can't wait to see this," Alexandra said, under her breath, and she started giggling, as Sebastian started snickering.
The group ran to the front hall, and Alex suddenly skid to a halt. Alan crashed into him, Josie crashed into Alan, Melody crashed into Josie, Valerie crashed into Melody, Alexandra crashed into Valerie, and they all crashed to the floor.
"Why don't you signal when you stop, dum-dum?!" Alexandra shouted at her brother.
"What did you stop like that for, anyway, Alex?" Alan asked.
Alex didn't answer. He was just gaping at what he saw at the door. It was a pretty teenage brunette with a flip hairstyle (like Marlo Thomas from the 60's series That Girl). She wore a peach colored sleeveless top with a yellow ribbon rose pinned to the neck, a pink, purple, and blue flowered skirt, white flats, and a white headband.
"Someone to see you, Master Alex," the butler said. "A Miss Linda Stanley. Your cousin, I believe."
"L-l-linda?!" Alex shouted, incredulously.
"Hi, Alex," Linda said. "Hi, Alexandra. Ooohhh, there he is! There's my little furry baby!"
"Meow!" Sebastian shouted. He jumped out of Alexandra's arms, and trotted to Linda. Linda bent down, picked him up, and began tickling his tummy. Sebastian started purring like an outboard motor.
"Linda's crazy about Sebastian," Alex explained to the others. Then he turned to his cousin. "But what the heck happened to you?!"
"What do you mean?" Linda asked, putting Sebastian down.
"Well, what happened to your braces?"
"I got them off."
"Your acne?"
"It cleared up."
"Your glasses?"
"Mother and Daddy let me get contact lenses for my birthday."
"Yeah . . . . but you were so skinny, and gangly, and gawky, and . . . . ."
"Alex, that was four years ago! I filled out a little since then."
"Yeah, I'll say ya did!"
Alex was just plain dumbfounded. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"You look . . . . you look . . . ." he said, but he couldn't think of the right words. Unthinkingly, he would up wolf-whistling.
"Alex!" both Alexandra and Melody shouted.
"Sorry, it slipped," Alex said, as his cheeks started to turn an interesting shade of pink.
"I don't blame you," Alan said. "Judging by that old photo, and this . . . . I mean . . . . wow!"
"Alan!" Josie shouted, in a scolding tone.
"Uhhh, sorry, Josie," Alan said, a bit nervously.
"Ahem," Alex said, clearing his throat. "What say we get down to business?"
"Good idea," Valerie said. "That way the boys won't be putting their feet in their mouths."
"Why would they want to do a silly thing like that?" Melody asked.
"It's just an expression, ding-a-ling!" Alexandra shouted.
"Forget it, Alexandra," Josie said. "Hi, Linda, I'm Josie, and these are Valerie, Melody, and Alan. It's nice to meet you."
"Anyway, Linda," Alex said, "I called you over because we're having a problem. I'm manager of the band, Josie and the Pussycats, and we need a keyboardist. I thought of you because I know you used to take piano lessons."
"Oh gee, I don't know . . . . ." Linda said. "I mean, I'm not sure if I'm good enough for a band."
"Well, how about you audition anyway?" Valerie asked.
"Yeah, come on," Alex said.
Alex led the way to the music room, and Linda sat down at the piano.
"What do you want me to play?" she asked.
"Oh, play anything," Alex said.
"Anything," Melody said. "How does that go, Alex?"
"Never mind, Melody," Valerie said.
"Oh, I know a good one," Linda said. "Let me see if I can remember it."
Linda thought for a moment or so, and then began to play a piece by Johan Sebastian Bach, Minuet in G, to be precise. Alexandra rolled her eyes.
"Oh brother," she groaned. "Linda, come on! You're not auditioning for a chamber group! You're audition for a rock band!"
"A rock band?" Linda repeated. "Oh, in that case, I'll snap it up a little."
Linda then increased the tempo on the song, and this time, it sounded like the Toys' rendition of A Lover's Concerto. She even sang some of the lyrics. When she was finished, Alan, Alex, and the Pussycats applauded.
"Not bad," Alexandra said. "But can you do it on an electric keyboard?"
"I'll give it a shot," Linda said.
Alexandra nodded, and brought out the electric keyboard. Linda turned it on, and began playing A Lover's Concerto again.
"I think we have a winner," Alex said.
"Yeah, but how's she gonna look in the costume?" Alexandra asked.
"I brought one of the spares with me," Josie said. "I'll go get it."
Alexandra glared at the redhead, and folded her arms across her chest. Josie returned a few moments later with the costume. Linda took it, and went into the next room to change into it.
"You guys don't know what you're getting into," Alexandra said. "She's smaller than the rest of you!"
"So what?" Valerie said. "We can always take it in a little if it's too big."
"Even if it fits her like a tent?" Alexandra asked.
Nobody answered. Linda came back into the room wearing the Pussycat outfit, and much to Alexandra's surprise, it fit like a glove. And she looked good in it, to boot.
"What do you think?" Linda asked.
"Now I know we have a winner," Alex said. "Linda, how'd you like to join the Pussycats?"
"Oh, gee . . . . ." Linda said. "I don't know about joining. I just thought it would be fun to audition, and all. I didn't really expect . . . . ."
"Yeah, I'll just bet you didn't," Alexandra muttered.
"Come on, Linda," Alex said. "The girls really need a keyboardist!"
"The club manager said if we get a keyboardist, we'd get the gig," Josie said.
"Please, Linda, just for one night," Alex said.
"Well . . . . okay," Linda shrugged. "I guess so."
"Great!" Alex shouted.
"Groovy!" Josie shouted. "Now, we'd better start rehearsing. Linda has to learn a lot of our songs in a little time."