To the Studio!

"So this week has been kinda life-changing," I half-shouted into the phone.

"What happened now?"

"A couple things. I went on a date last night, with Dero Goi's son. Then today, I rode with Dero around the German countryside and learned that he's pretty much my biggest fan. Then Dero asked me if I would like to appear on the next Oomph! CD."

"…What?"

I repeated myself, even though I was pretty sure my sister had heard every word.

"You're not kidding."
"No, I'm not. Like I said, kinda life-changing."

"Only kinda?" Andrea's voice drawled with sarcasm.

"Not the point."

"What else do you expect me to say?"
"No idea. Just thought you should know, as I'm kinda flipping out a little bit."

"Pretty sure that's normal…So how was the date?"

"It was good?"

"Is that a question?"
"Maybe? I don't know. It was fun and the good-night kiss was amazing, but, I don't know. There's something. Or maybe it's that there isn't something. I have no idea."

"Could you at least attempt to make sense?"

"I can certainly try. No idea if I'll actually succeed." I took a deep breath before continuing. "Mathias is extremely attractive. He's intelligent and has a great laugh. For all intents and purposes, he should be my type. But, it feels like he isn't. There were definite sparks when we kissed and I feel truly comfortable with him. But, I don't think I'm attracted to him. It doesn't even make sense to me."

"Too bad Dero's married, eh?"

"That's been the standing opinion for years."

I sighed into the receiver and rubbed my eyebrows thoughtfully.

"You're getting to be pretty good friends with these guys aren't you?"

"Yes, I think so…You know what I just realized?"

"What did you just realize?"

"Dero was speaking to me with the informal 'you' earlier."

"You'll forgive me if I don't know what that means."

"Probably nothing, but you usually don't use the informal you with someone if you aren't good friends."

"Well, that answers that."

"Yeah," My voice was wistful.

"Listen, I have to get back to work. But, I'm meeting with my boss later to ask about time off. Is there a time that works best for you?"

"Pretty much any time works. I set my own hours."

"True. So I'll talk to you later with more information."

"K. Bye."

"Auf Wiederhören," and she hung up before I could respond to her sudden use of German.

Two days later, Dero came knocking at my door. And he brought opportunity with him.

"Ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

I drove the both of us to the studio. Apparently, he just wanted to ride for a bit. He gave me directions since I'd only been there once before and I hadn't been the one driving. Wasn't all that hard to find really, as close as it was.

This time, when we walked through the front door, I paid closer attention to what all was in the room. There were multiple keyboards and a couple of synthesizers. Four guitars were sitting in a small group. A drum set was sitting inside what looked like a plastic box with a mike pointed at it.

"Hmmm…"

"Yes?"

"I was just thinking, you guys don't have an organ. And they aren't particularly easy to move, even if my organ were of really good quality, which it isn't."

"It isn't?"

"Well, it's a pretty good practice organ. But, its sound is pretty limited. And it doesn't even have a full pedalboard."

I chewed my lip as I thought about it and Dero tapped his finger against his wallet chain. Flux and Crap walked in then, immediately reading our expressions as thoughtfully problematic.

"Contemplating the organ issue?"

"Ja."

"Andreas thought of a temporary solution."

Crap interjected, "Keyboards. Kirsten can use one of the other keyboards during the composition phase, practice on her own organ, and hopefully by the time we need to record we'll have found a proper organ to use in the studio."
All three looked at me for my opinion.

"Sounds good to me. There's a few people I want to ask about possibly borrowing an organ. Not that organs are the sort of thing you borrow..."

"If it comes down to it, we'll buy one."

My eyebrows disappeared into my hairline.
"I know what you're thinking. They're not cheap. Strictly last resort." Andreas and Robert beamed.

"Right. Well, should we get to it then?" Not that I have the faintest idea where to start or even what they have in mind.

Robert moved over to some manner of equipment that I couldn't actually name and started fiddling around with the dials.

Dero explained, "We have this song. We've been working on it for a while, but we can't seem to finish it. No matter what we do to it, the song always feels like it's missing something. Something vital. That's where you come in. After hearing you play the other day, we all realized exactly what was needed to finish the song. Robert's going to play what we have so far. It's still rough, obviously, but it should give you a pretty good idea."

"Fire away, Robert."

A simple melody began to pump out of the speakers, but the build came on strong and fast. A flowing, synthetic harmony appeared, and suddenly Dero's gorgeous voice washed over me like an old friend. The song was in German, so it's meaning wasn't immediately obvious to me. Even after all these years, it still took me at least a couple listens to understand their German songs.

The tune faded away and all three men looked at me expectantly.

"It's beautiful. Even unfinished, it reminds exactly why I fell in love with you guys."

Their faces split into radiant grins.

"Anyway, pick a keyboard and I'll grab you the sheet music."

Andreas walked over to a table and started shuffling through a stack of paper.

Feeling a little awkward, I strode over to the group of keyboards. I placed one hand on the closest, then just stood looking at them.

Andreas chuckled as he walked up to me.

"I would recommend that one for your purposes." He pointed to one in particular and I smiled in thanks as I took the music from him.

As I took a seat behind one the keyboard and powered it up, I felt it necessary to say, "Not sure if this was clear, but I've never composed anything before in my life. I arranged that medley, but that's it."

"We figured. But don't worry about it. We've got lots of experience."

Andreas winked at me.

"I've noticed. Between the three of you, you'd put Bach to shame. With the amount you've written, at least."

"Amount would be it. Bach is…well he's Bach."

"He is indeed," I responded, laughing.

And the work commenced.