"Why not", asked Mel, disappointed. "Well you see, I don't know if you knew, but I have this little thing called stage fright", answered Kathy while crumbling up the piece of paper. "So do I, I'm a huge introvert, but maybe this could be something fun we coukd do before you, you know, move", Kathy's expression changed. "Fine, but only if Jo does it with us". Mel smiled and slammed her locker.
As soon as she walked into algebra, Mel walked up to Jo and asked him, "Can you do the talent show with Kathy and I". Jo raised his brow, "You mean that thing only losers do to show of their, oh so interesting talents". Mel pointed at his grey polo, "Do you even know what you're wearing". Mel stared at Jo's hazel eyes, with an annoyed look on her face. He broke laughing, "Fine, but what are we going to do", he asked, still laughing. "You know how Kathy plays guitar, well I think we could perform Blackbird by The Beatles", she said, smiling awkwardly. "When's the show", he asked. "Entries are due in a week, and the show is one week after that, so two weeks from now". "K, we meet at my house, Saturday", he said smoothly. "What time, I'm free any time after one, and Kathy's free all day", she asked. Jo thought for a moment, "What about, from three to five". Mel smiled, "Perfect". then Their teacher walked in, and class started.
Practices were really tough that week, since the championship finals were so close. Now that she thought about it, they were the day before the talent show, of course they were.
That Saturday, Jo, Mel and Kathy all met. Kathy had arrived before Mel and when she did arrive, Jo and Kathy were snacking on some pop corn. "Hello", said Mel as she flopped down on the couch, next to her friends. "So, you ready to start", asked Jo. "Ya, is your mom here yet", asked Kathy, her parents never let her stay at someone's house unless their parents were home, sounded reasonable. "I already told you, she's stuck in traffic", he looked at the giant clock in the living room, "She'll be here in like ten minutes, it's fine". "Ok", she answered, unsure.
Kathy grabbed her guitar case, which was leaning against the wall and followed Mel and Jo upstairs. They had both been to Jo's house before, many times actually, he was like a brother tk them. When they got to Jo's room, Kathy put her guitar case on his red-sheeted bed and opened it slowly. She then removed what might have been the most beautiful guitar ever. It's smooth, wooden exterior, brightly reflected the light coming from the room's windows. "What are the chords", asked Kathy as she tuned her guitar. "They are right here", said Jo, he handed a piece of paper to Kathy. She studied them for a bit. "These don't seem hard", a smile crept onto Mel's face, "But they dont seem easy either".
Mel had taken singing lessons since the second grade, but had to quit the year prior because of basketball. Yet, she still enjoyed singing in her free time. "Ok, so, like this", Jo snapped his finger at a slower rate. "Yes, perfect, just remember to stick to I the rhythm the whole song", answered Kathy. "Kids, are you here", asked a voice. "We're upstairs mom". A few seconds later, Jo's mom bursted through the door. "Hi girls", she said. "Hello", they both answered at the same time. Jo's mom looked almost identical to her son. They both had the hazel eyes and smooth, straight hair.
After they had finished a really rough practice, Mel's dad was waiting outside the house in his black convertible. "Bye guys, see you Monday", Mel waved at her friends. "Bye". But just as she was opening the door, Jo's mom stepped in front of her. "You aren't leaving this place alive young lady". Mel's heart dropped. "Without a box of my homemade muffins".



(You thought!)
© Azul Morales