School Life Chp. 20

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Saturday Morning, June 9, 7:00 am, Hotel room 633, Marriot Hotel Waterside:
Lindsey wakes-up early and looked around the room she was sharing with the other girls. Her and Kaja are sharing a bed. Maxine and Christy shared the other bed. The other girls were still asleep, so she gets out of bed quietly and walks over towards the window. She looks out towards the water and Portsmouth’s riverfront on the other side of the Elizabeth River.

Last night everyone talked about going to MacArthur Mall and MacArthur Memorial since they didn’t go on till 4:30 pm. They weren’t going to have time to do a sound check. The stage manager for the stage they were playing at, was going to handle it. Maxine was going to spend time with him to help with their sound needs. She knew all their music, the sound and special effects they were going to need.

She turns around when she hears someone moved. It was Christy and she was sitting up and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She had gone to bed in a light green baby doll outfit last night.

Jamie and Christy had been spending some along time with each other. Jamie’s parents didn’t mind them spending time together.

“Good morning, Christy.”

Christy waves hello as she heads towards the bathroom. She stumbles into the bathroom and shut the door. She sits down on the toilet and does her morning business.

While Christy does her business, Lindsey grabs her robe and slip her key card in her pocket. She heads out of the room to check on the guys.

She knocks on their door but doesn’t hear any movement. She knocks again “who is it?”

“It’s me, Lindsey.”

“Give us a second.”

Lindsey hears movement as the guys straighten up some. The door is finally opened by Ian. He steps aside to let her in. As she walks in, it looked like the guys had a little party last night.

“Boy, you guys looked like you had a little party.” She looked at the mess they made of the room.

“No, we will clean it up before we play today. What brings you down here?” Ian was curious why Lindsey came down to see them.

“I was thinking after seeing some of the performers yesterday, it might be better if we change our costumes up a little. Maybe it would be better
if we wear our Steampunk costumes or a combination of both?”

“Considering how warm it is here, I could wear mine.” Ian’s costume was simple.

Dan and Terry look at each other. Both were looking forward to wearing their pirate costumes.

“Look, guys, we still have that pirate festival to do. You can wear your pirate costume there or one of you could wear theirs here, while the others wear their steam punk costume.”

“I didn’t pack my Steam Punk costume.” Dan figured he wouldn’t need it.

“I have mine and I think Jamie packed his as well.” Terry was pretty sure his brother packed his.

“Alright, let’s go on stage with Dan dress as a pirate and the rest of us dressed in our Steam Punk outfits.” Lindsey figures that should draw a crowd, plus with the music they were going to play as well.

“Alright. Are we still going to the mall and MacArthur memorial after breakfast?”

“I wouldn’t mind going to Saint Paul’s Church as well. According to one of the organizers I spoke to yesterday. There’s a cannonball still in the side of the church from the Revolutionary War. I figure if we must write what we did on our summer vocation paper. I could write about that.”

“How far is it?” Terry wouldn’t mind seeing it as well.

“It isn’t far from the mall?” Lindsey had looked it up on her laptop she brought with her.

“Okay, well I’m going back to my room and get ready. Let Jamie know what we are going to do.” Lindsey heads back to her room.

Saturday Morning June 9, 10:00 am, MacArthur Mall:
“Remember to meet back here in two hours, so we can go to the MacArthur Memorial. Also, if you’re going to go and visit the church, let us know.” Mrs. Smith glances at her cell phone to see how long the kids had.

Everyone disperses to do some shopping and looking around the mall. Lindsey and Ian walk over to the church after letting Mrs. Smith know where they went. Lindsey couldn’t believe how downtown Norfolk looked. It was different than where they came from.

She stops and read the plaque telling them a brief history of the church. Ian takes pictures of her reading and of some of the gravesites on the property. They find the side the cannonball was cemented in on. It was on the side of the church that faced the street and courthouse across that was across the street from it.

Ian snaps a picture of Lindsey pointing to the cannonball. He could see how much she was enjoying everything.

“You know, I might write a song about this place.” As Lindsey and Ian walk back to the mall to meet-up with everyone.

“What, about the cannonball or the church?”

“About the day it happened. I wonder if they have any information about what took place that day. I think a song written about that day would fit it.”

“Well, when we get back. Why don’t you see if they have a historical society here and talk with someone about your idea?”

Lindsey glances towards Ian as they walk inside the mall. Before they leave, they hit a few stores they had visted before they went to look at the church. They pick-up a few items to take back to their hotel room. Once they get back to the hotel, everyone changes into their costumes and grab their gear. They head over towards the stage.

“I wonder how Kaja is doing?” As Ian walks beside Lindsey with their gear and instruments.

“She’s all set-up and she said sales are slow right now.” Lindsey had texted her.

“We’re still heading over there after our performance, right?”

“Yep, that’s the plan.”

Saturday Afternoon, 4:30pm-5: 30 pm, Haborfest, Town Point Park Main Stage:
Lindsey watches from the stage as people start gathering in front of the stage. They start with some of their most requested songs back home.
When they notice the crowd warming up to them. They really crack it up and play some of their other music, including some of their steampunk style of music. The crowd roar as they continue to play.

Some of the people were surprised when Lindsey switches up with Dan and start playing her saxophone. After a few songs that require the use of her saxophone, she moves to the resonator guitar. By the time they finish playing,they had drawn a rather large crowd and was being congratulated as they left the stage. The people were chanting their name as they left.

Terry had spotted several television reporters recording them. Just as they were leaving the stage. They are stopped by a reporter from WAVY-
TV 10. She interviews every member of the band and when she came to Lindsey.

“You are a very talented young lady and I am told you’re also the youngest in the band. How does it feel to be playing with kids older than you?”

“Not bad. I enjoy playing with all of them. They are very talented musicians.”

“Your band has a unique sound to it. How would you classify your music?”

“We’re a pop rock with a stream punk sound.”

“Well, I have to say your music was pleasant and catchy to listen too.”

"I hope to hear more from your band." The reporter ends the interview and goes to talk with another group of people.

Maxine and Krist pack up all their equipment and take it back to their room. Lindsey and the others head over to Kaja's stall to sign autographs and help sell merchandise. The band also take pictures with the kids and adults. Lindsey covers for Kaja, to let her go and grab something to eat and to use the bathroom. The rest of the night, the band mingles still dressed in their performance costumes at the festival. When the place closes for the night. The security officers tell them that they will be patrolling the area and they could leave their stall set up.

Kaja locks their things up since the band is going to be playing on Sunday as well. She secures everything for the night and meets up with everyone at the hotel.

Sunday Morning June 10, 11:30am-12:30 pm, Town Point Park, Main Stage
The band notices they had a much larger crowd, then they had yesterday. They start their show off with a song they didn’t play yesterday. After that one ended, they played one they had yesterday and switched it up with another they hadn’t play yesterday. The applause they got after they played for an hour made them all feel proud of what they did.

Lindsey’s lips were a little sore after playing her saxophone during their gig. Today Dan played her synthesizer, while she played her sax and resonator guitar. When they needed the rhythm guitar, she let Dan play. While she switched to her keytar and played. Whenever she did this type of change-up, she made sure the music was written to play both ways.

After they finished their gig, they join Kaja at their stall to do autographs and take pictures with their new fans. Maxine and Krist put their gear away and join them as well. The band members made sure to always thank Maxine and Krist for their help and support when they were on stage.

A little girl comes up to Lindsey “I want to be like you when I get older.” She hugs Lindsey.

“I bet you will.” A smile appears on Lindsey's face.

Lindsey gives the girl one of the specially design plush animals and t-shirt Kaja designed for their band.

The mother of the girl gives Lindsey a motherly smile “thank you.”

“You’re welcome, ma’am.” Lindsey watches as the girl and her mother walks off.

Lindsey pulls a twenty out of her pocket and hands it to Kaja for the plushy and shirt.

“You don’t need to do that, Lindsey. That’s band merchandise.” Kaja hands the twenty back to Lindsey.

“But you get a percentage of the sales Kaja. I don’t want you to lose out.” Lindsey wanted to be fair to Kaja.

“I don’t mind a little girl getting a gift from us.” She tucks the twenty-dollar bill Lindsey gave her in a front pocket on Lindsey’s costume.

By six o’clock the festival comes to an end. Lindsey and the guys help Kaja tear down the stall and transport everything back to their SUV.

“Let’s go back to the Freemason Abbey tonight for dinner?” Lindsey looks at everyone to see what they wanted to do.

“Okay, but I need to leave our money with the front desk. Plus, don’t you guys need to change out of your performance costumes?”

“I’m going as I am.” Lindsey didn’t mind.

“That makes two of us.” Ian was going as he is.

“Alright, let's mount up and drive down to the Abbey.” Dan walks around to the driver side to drive.

“Stop at the hotel, before we do.”

They stop at the motel and Kaja runs their cash box into their hotel and ask them to hold it for her till they get back from dinner. She hops back into the SUV and heads down to the restaurant and park. They head inside the restaurant and have dinner. Everyone ends up taking leftover back tot eh hotel with them around ten o’clock.

All the parents and kids head down to the indoor pool and enjoy it. Everyone still felt energized and full of energy after coming back from the restaurant.

“What time are we leaving tomorrow?” Lindsey was floating on the side of the pool as she spoke with Mr. Knotts.

“We’re planning on leaving by 10:00 am. Is there something you want to do tomorrow?”

“Nope, I just need to inform my mother is all.” By eleven o’clock everyone heads back upstairs to their bedroom.

Lindsey does call her mother and talk with her for a while, before heading to bed. Kaja was out as soon as her head hit the pillow. They had done well on sales and Kaja informed Brenda and Lindsey they had sold out of nearly everything. She was going to need to replenish their stock when they get home.

Monday Morning June 11, 10:00 am, checkout of the Marriott:
Lindsey couldn’t believe it was raining out as they loaded their suitcases and instruments in the trailer. She was going to have to come back here someday and do some exploring of the historic sites.

“I hope it stops raining before we get home.” Christy gets in the SUV and takes the back seat.

“Mom said it’s raining back home.” Lindsey climbs in and sits in the first seat with Terry.

“Great, I bet we have rain all the way home.” Jamie sits next to Christy.

“Well, I know we did good and we can expect to be on the road more often this summer.”

“Oh, what did you hear from Brenda?” Lindsey was curious.

“According to what I’ve heard so far. Several people she talked too are in negotiations with her to have us come back to the Hampton Roads area and play at some of their venues. They are going to have a Battle of the Bands next year in Virginia Beach and we are going to enter it. As for the gigs in the Hampton Roads area. I do know she’s working on contracts with several venues. The Rainbow Catus, which is a gay bar would like us to play. Craft 60 Ale House, Jewish Mothers at the Oceanfront. She’s was contacted by the program directors of Chrysler Hall and Wells Theatre for us to come and play.”

“Man, we are really hitting the big times. When are we going to be coming back up here?” Jamie looks towards his brother.

“Don’t know yet, but we aren’t skipping the gigs we are already set-up for. I’ll know more by our next band practice.”

They make good time getting back home. Lindsey and Ian are dropped off first and all their instruments and luggage are unloaded. Barbara
was waiting for Lindsey when she got home.

Lindsey plays back their performance on her tablet for her mother, while she got ready for bed.

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Comments

Very nice

Very nice series and chapter.

Thank you

There is more to come with her. The band still have the Pirate festival and the California trip. Not to mention if they will be going to Nashville to play their song with all expense paid for winning.

garfieldwritingsf.jpg
If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
― Toni Morrison

I still wonder

if it will be thrilling as they spend more and more time on the road.

Road travel

Considering they only have a SUV to travel in. I think it will get real boring to them. The other problem will be, they will have their parents along as they travel. Right now they can't afford a tour bus.

garfieldwritingsf.jpg
If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.”
― Toni Morrison

The band is doing

Samantha Heart's picture

Grate & I'm happy for them. I hope Lindzsay doesn't burn out or alow this to affect her school work.

Love Samantha Renée Heart.