Twisted Strings [MONSTER EDITING - Read at your own risk]

Showdown

When the curtains opened, the first thing my eyes saw was Dad’s beaming face and my brothers and sister alongside him, sitting in the family section. Clay and Drew were shouting my name and people from the café (Linda at their lead) were in the front seats of the audience, with banners of our names in their hands.

As the lights were set up once more, we began.

There were so many sounds ringing there, tin against tin, a metal spoon banging a drum, Rhodes dangling in the back ground, but they didn’t come off as annoying voice of scarp. It was a fine music, and I could feel the satisfaction of the audience directed towards us. They stood up, hands raised in the air, and began dancing wildly. It gave us even more confidence and we played harder, leaving a thrilling sound of music in our wake. It felt nerve wrecking, it felt risky, but it felt right. And I was more alive than ever.

By the time our music ended, more cheers followed. I was breathing hard from the effort but I still managed to smile wildly at everyone. Dad was making a video with his camera while my brothers and sister were waving at me frantically. Everyone had grins plastered to their faces and they kept hooting for us.

‘’That’s Twisted Strings for you!’’ I heard somewhere the host speak, I was focusing on judges who were actually clapping for us, and they didn’t look disappointed at all. Tears brimmed in my eyes when I realized my idea hadn’t failed my band mates. And suddenly winning and losing didn’t matter; all that matter was the fact that people enjoyed us. Music was for sake of enjoyment wasn’t it? It we managed to pull that off, it would be good to consider our selves good musicians.

*   *   *

While we waited backstage along with other bands, we sat on one corner when Mr. Flynn approached us.

‘’You guys did well.’’ He was saying that to everyone, not that I didn’t agree with him. Not only us, but everyone here performed exceptional today, with new or old ideas, creatively put together in the shape of music.

‘’Thanks’’ Stella said. She was beaming and appeared more radiant than ever,

‘’It takes a lot effort to make music like this, and of course a whole lot of time. When you guys disclosed to me about it, I felt it was risky. But you proved me wrong.’’

‘’We had that fear as well,’’ I answered him, ‘’but we all decided that if we want to achieve we have to put extra work. And this is once in a lifetime chance, we couldn’t afford to waste a minute.’’

‘’God job guys! I knew I could count on you.’’ He passed to the next band leaving us grinning at each other.

‘’Do you think we can win this?’’ Stella asked to no one in particular. I couldn’t help but steal a quick glance at Loud Howls, they sat in the opposite corner, and Melissa shooting us venomous looks every now and then. Oliver wasn’t with them (saving me from awkward eye contacts), Indigo Brown sat detached, arms crossed over and chest and muttering something repeatedly under her breathe. I mentally reminded myself to thank her later for speaking to Mr. Flynn on our behalf.

‘’I think it doesn’t matter anymore, what do you say?’’ Rhodes said and then asked Lana, she shrugged,

‘’As long as I can get money to pay for my semester, I’m fine.’’

‘’What about you Quinn?’’

‘’Well, I’m not sure; there were too many good performances. But I think it doesn’t matter. Even if we loose, we had nice experience.’’

‘’Taking notes are you?’’ He asked with a grin,

‘’Yeah, thanks to you, I managed to shake away that insecurity. Or did you already forgot what you lectured me that night?’’ I asked,