(a.n. Lyrics used in this story are lyrics used by the Moffatts and myself.)
Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot, cold. Markie Alken bounced to the hard rock sound blasting from her geto-blaster. The hot, cold, hot, cold was the sweat dripping from her forehead as she did sit-ups and crunches.
“Damn it Markelle, Turn that crap down. I have a headache,” Joanne Alken screamed to her 17-year-old daughter. It was only the first day of summer and all that damned girl could do was stay in her room for hours and play with that blasted guitar. Other than that, she blared that stupid stereo and worked out all the time. Sighing she picked up her book and tried to concentrate on Anne Rice’s ‘the Vampire Armand.’
“Whatever mother...” Markie hollered back as she turned down her stereo a few keys. Stretching she flopped down on her sofa- bed. Glancing across her room, she spied her acoustic. Getting up, she grabbed the guitar from its place in the corner. Sitting Indian style on her carpet she began to pluck out the song that was coming from her dresser.
“Desperate and scared, I search through my past...” Markie hummed along to the familiar tune. The singers voice rang out clear in her silent domain. Her fingers’ absentmindedly pulled at the loose strings on her guitar. She had stopped playing. No matter how many times she played this song she couldn’t stop and wonder how the artists managed to think up words that fit her life perfectly.
“Is it destiny? The question still remains, are we free to choose, or bound by chains.” The singer sang on.
“Some say it’s luck, others call it fate, but as it unfolds do I hesitate?” a pounding on her door made Markie jump.
“Telephone, I think its Alisa.” Joanne called through the locked door. Markie hesitated a few seconds then reached over and grasped her portable.
“ Hello?” Markie answered.
“Hey Mark, band practice 30 minutes ok?” Alisa Rineheart passed on the important message.
“Oh yea! I totally forgot, we’re meeting in Josie’s garage right?” Markie asked.
“Yea, bring junk, you remember the last time Josie tried to supply snack food,” Alisa reminded.
“How could I forget that? Man, Tofu Chips are NOT on my list of Junk food," Markie laughed as she remembered the vile food.
“Well I got to jet, Carla is picking me up. See ya there!” Alisa said as she hung up.
Markie quickly threw off her workout clothes and pulled on a pair of blue jeans and her black ‘BiTcH’ top.
“Mom, Got band practice, be back whenever.” She called as she slung her guitar case over her shoulder and headed out to her rusty old pickup truck. Slamming the door behind her, she turned on the ignition and turned her car over. Almost immediately, she was blasted with the guitar riffs of ‘California’ by the Moffatts.
“One more night in California, one more night with you....” Markie waved to her mother standing on the porch and sped off to Josie’s.
~@~
“Hey, You made it! And I see you brought the food. Good, last time I know you all said you liked my Tofu Chips but from the looks on your faces after I knew you were trying to make me feel better, that’s ok. Lets just get this thing going.” Josie commented when she saw the last 2 members of ‘Sacrifice’ arrive.
“Aww C’mon Josie, they weren’t THAT bad. Here, have a ‘mars’ bar.” Carla held out an unwrapped candy car as a gesture of peace.
“No thanks, I’ll eat my Tofu Chips. You can all die fat and lardy.” Josie giggled.
“Ok! Lets tune ‘em up and set ‘em off!” Markie exclaimed as she picked up her guitar and plugged her in. A sharp “SHRIEK" filled the little garage. All the girls covered their ears. Alisa ran and turned down the microphone Markie stood at.
“Mark, you know better than to-“ she was cut off.
“-Than to stand in front of the mic when I plug in. Sorry...” Markie flashed her a white smile and stepped back from the mic. Plugging the amp back into her guitar, she said,
“Alright lets go!”
Josie grabbed up her bass, Carla manned the drums and Alisa stationed herself at her synthesizer/keyboard. Strumming once, Josie spoke up.
“Lets play ‘Typical’ I know it isn’t one of ours but It’s a good one.” She smiled when the group decided to take her up on that suggestion.
Markie jumped into the lead position and strummed the riffs.
“If I’m such a loser, why you hanging round me, you always try to change me you always say if only,” Markie sang out into her mic. Josie bopped around on her cord and Carla shook her head of thick black hair as she pounded on the drums. Smiling she shot a smirk at Alisa and continued singing.
~@~
“Whew, Man Scott take off those jeans, you’re killing me!” Clint Moffatt exclaimed to his older brother as they strolled down Fuller Avenue.
“Oh yea and what would you like me to put on, considering we are walking down the middle of the street.” Scott shot back with and irritated look.
“SHHHH Listen, someone’s playing our music...It’s coming from over there.” Bob shushed the other 2 and pointed to a closed garage.
“Yea! Sounds like ‘Typical’ you think we should bust in on them?” Dave asked.
“Hell yes!” Scott said enthusiastically. Jogging across the street he knocked on the side door. When he got no reply, Scott reached for the doorknob to open the door.
“What do you think your doing? We don’t live here!” Bob exclaimed.
“Finding out who is playing our music...” Scott said as he pulled on the door. Stepping just inside the door he stood in awe. There in front of his face were 4 girls, very HOT girls playing instruments. The blonde one at the microphone singing was pretty hot, but so was the one drumming. in fact, they were all cute. But the one at the microphone...
“I’m invisible your so miserable this loves predictable inconcieveable unbelievable, undeniable uncontrollable, your so TYPICAL!” the Blonde stopped singing. Stepping forward Scott started clapping. Dave, Clint and Bob looked on in horror. WHAT WAS HE DOING?
“Who the fuck are you?” the blonde one asked.
“Scott’s the name and singing’s my game.” Scott replied with a smile. The blonde gave him the one-eyebrow look.
“Oh really well that’s my game to. The names Markie." Sticking out a hand the girl smiled.
“HEY! I know you... You’re Scott Moffatt, I’ve seen you around. You live ‘round the corner right?” the drummer asked.
“OH by the way my names Carla, You’ve met Mark, Josie on Bass and Alisa on her synthe-whatever.”
“Synthesizer and You‘re from the Moffatts, I started collecting your albums a while back. You guys are good. “ Alisa corrected.
“Whatever!”
“C’mon you 3 hiding out back there! Get your ass’s over here its time for introductions, have you totally forgotten your manners?” Scott yelled with a stupid grin on his face. The girls noticed that 3 other guys stood by the doorway.
“Hi! I’m Markie, Josie, Carla and Alisa.” Markie walked over to the door. Taking them by their hands, she dragged the 3 boys out into the open.
“Bob, Clint and Dave,” Scott paused and pointed to each one. The triplets just smiled weakly, embarrassed by their older brothers behavior.
“Chip?” Josie asked Bob, holding out her tofu chip bowl. Bob looked at her and smiled.
“Sure..” reaching into the bowl, he pulled out a few chips and started munching.
“Hey these are pretty good. I've had Tofu chips before when Sheila made them,” He paused when he saw the disgusted looks on his brothers’ faces.
“But they weren’t as good. You make them?”
“Yea. Took me a while. If only SOME people agreed with you.” Josie rolled her eyes to her fellow band mates.
“Look I hate to break up the flirt session but we have a gig tonight and Josie, we need the practice.” Markie butted in. Josie blushed. Bob looked away and stood up.
“Hey your welcome to stay if you want. I mean we do like an audience.” Carla suggested. The boys just looked at each other, at the girls, and pulled up a couple of lawn chairs sitting by the door.
“Ok, This is our newest ‘release’ so to speak. I wrote it. It’s called ‘Blind’. I want criticism. HARDCORE feedback you got it?” Markie spoke into her mic. Plugging in her acoustic, she plucked a few strings and the choppy opening soon flowed into a slow and dramatic tune. Man, how much did she love doing this. Performing was her life, music was her soul. Carla brought in the drums and Josie slammed at the bass. Lastly, Alisa pressed a few chords in on her keyboard.
“I thought,The world was spinning, There was no one who could help me now, People passed me everyday never knowing what to say. So I’m Blind, Blind to love ‘cause all I’d ever known is Pain. When you came along, I was helpless, but you believed in me. Trusted in me, taught me how to love. BLINDNESS is never knowing what to do or what to say.” Markie sang the first verse and entered the chorus. Scott sat in awe. It wasn’t like any of his pieces but it wasn’t too bad. He sat in silence and watched her play the solo. Her fingers moved quickly over the strings, faster then he ever been able to play. Her voice was like a river, flowing and ever changing. He couldn’t believe that someone could change tones like that. He listened a bit more and checked his watch. The grin that played on his lips, sank and he bit his lip. 4:30
“Uh, guys, we have GOT to go.” He pointed to his watch.The other 3 nodded in agreement. When the song ended, Markie stepped back and inhaled a large breath.
“So whadya think?” she asked. Scott just smiled and replied,
“It sounds ok... Look I hate to break out of here so fast but we’ve got to go. Dad’ll kill us if we aren’t home in time for supper again. Where’s this gig, or whatever you guys have tonight?”
“Umm, Carla? Where’s the gig? You’re better at keeping track, plus Jon is driving us. I hope.” Markie looked back at her friend.
“Uh, lemme think, tonight we’re at ‘The Gate’ and tomorrow we’re at the ‘Moonstrip’.” Carla remembered.
“You mind if we show up? What time does the show start?” Clint asked.
“Uh, 7:30ish. Nah we don’t mind.” Alisa answered.
“OK then.. Well we have got to get a move on.. see ya at around 7:30..ish” Bob laughed. The four boys then turned to leave.
~@~
Walking down the road outside the garage, a compare and contrast was going on between the brothers,
“No No Clint, Markie is hotter. I mean look at that body... GOD She is hot.” Scott commented to himself.
“Scott, Alisa has it ALL going on. I mean the hair, the body, the good looks, the intelligence.”Clint argued.
“Ok just agree to disagree. You’re giving me a headache.” Dave butt in. Scott just sighed and shut up. Clint rolled his eyes and started laughing.
“Ok what’s so funny?” Bob asked. Clint kept laughing.
“Nothing just you remember what tonight is? Greg is coming over. And he’s cooking!” Clint burst into laughter again. The 3 boys’ faces lit up as they remembered the last ‘Greg cooking fiasco’. The 4 boys laughed all the way to their doorstep.
