Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John

Author:Antony John
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Tags: Performing Arts, Social Science, Fiction, Music, Bands (Music), Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Schools, Family life - Washington (State), School & Education, Social Issues, Juvenile Fiction, Family life, United States, People with disabilities, Rock, People & Places, Genres & Styles, Friendship, Handicapped, Family, Special Needs, Rock groups, Deaf, General, Seattle (Wash.), High schools
ISBN: 9780803734333
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2010-11-11T07:31:31.693976+00:00

CHAPTER 32

Josh was last to arrive for Friday’s after-school rehearsal, sauntering in almost ten minutes late as though prearranged times were optional for Godlike lead singers.

“Glad you decided to join us,” I quipped, not bothering to hide my annoyance.

“I’m sure you are. You missed me, I get it,” he said, the famous Josh smile intact.

I almost rose to the bait, but managed to keep control. “I have news,” I said with forced enthusiasm. “Good news of the paying variety.”

Everyone looked up. Apparently, I had uttered the magic word that got their attention.

“The producer of Seattle Today wants us to appear on the show next Tuesday,” I explained. “We play one song, then do a brief interview.”

Will flicked away the curtains of hair obscuring his eyes and leaned forward in his chair. “Seattle Today is just a bunch of old women,” he droned, seemingly without engaging his face. “They’ll want something really boring.”

I was taken aback that Will was the one to complain. “Sure, they’d prefer a tame song,” I admitted. “And yes, it’s mostly old women. But right now, that’s your main audience.”

“That sucks.”

“Maybe so. But they’re paying . . . three hundred dollars, for one song and an interview.”

I let the figure hang in the air, allowed myself to enjoy the stunned silence that signified the band’s complete approval.

Will shook his head. “Not worth it.”

Tash was up in a second. “Speak for yourself. That’s fifty dollars each—sounds like plenty of good reasons to play.”

Kallie raised her hand. “I agree with Tash.”

“Musically, it makes no sense,” moped Will. Then he allowed his curtains of hair to fall back across his face, like a turtle retreating into its shell.

Josh stepped forward, placed an arm on his brother’s shoulder while his eyes remained fixed on Kallie. “Kallie’s right, Will. It’s worth it for an hour.”

Kallie nodded appreciatively, and a moment later Josh’s arm had been transferred to her shoulder instead. She didn’t pull away, but her body tensed, as though his constant physical attention was as welcome as a root canal. Josh noticed it too, and his smile faltered, but he didn’t remove his arm, and the awkwardness of the interaction grew steadily for several seconds.

“We need to practice,” murmured Kallie, her eyes closed.

Josh finally took the cue and withdrew his arm reluctantly. “Yeah, you do.” He ambled to his place at the front of the band. “By the way, Tash, nice costume, but Halloween was yesterday.”

“Go screw yourself, Josh.”

“Natasha, Natasha,” tutted Josh. “Just as rude as ever. After all the time you and Kallie have spent hanging out this week, I figured some of her prim and proper behavior would’ve rubbed off on you.”

“Let it go,” she warned.

“Okay, then,” I interjected, anxious to get things back on track. “The majority opinion seems to be that we’ll accept the gig.” (It didn’t seem prudent to mention that the majority opinion was irrelevant, since I’d already accepted and mailed back the Seattle Today contract; I’d even convinced Mom to glance through it first.) “However, Will has a point.

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