Best Defense

The Price 1st day's.

"I still can't hear anything, Taylor." I told Taylor.

"What do you need?"

"Clearly drums, little bass, and keyboards." Taylor bent over the mixer at the back of the band's practice room, turned the buttons and checked the electrical connections.

"I don't know why you didn't get the monitor signal, Non."

"Have you been on the plug yet?" ask Sean.

"Of course." said Matthew from his place while I held back a laugh. "I myself am striking it all."

Jason groaned and left his drum to join Matthew at the mixer table. While placing the songbook on the buffer of the score, I observed one of the cables connecting the monitor loudspeakers rather tenuous. I pushed back the link into the plug and a moment of sounds flowed out, making Matthew cry out in shock.

Don't be surprised, I still know about the band's tools thanks to the experience of being a 'silent singer' in college. God bless me!

"Well, that's the cable you just plugged in." I blinked while the others instantly launched merciless ridicule.

Each of us is in position. Sam and I were standing in front of the songbook support, Sean and Taylor with their guitars standing about two meters to our left-right, while Jason and Matthew were at the back, dealing with drums and keyboards.

This is what we did today in a rented band studio in the middle of town, and it was as if a button was turned on to make the room come alive. Nervously, I ventured out a voice that was greeted with enthusiastic applause from Maggie who sat in being the sole audience of our inaugural training session.

In the midst of Living On A Prayer, Sean approached me, clearly liking the unexpected opportunity to show off his skills performing Era 80s songs, then exclaimed. "It's so much fun!"

I'm happy to see Sean's attitude change. Actually since yesterday he was still a bit moody, and I could tell that even though he was trying to hide it. Sean really wasn't a good liar in front of me, I could tell he was lying before he even realized it.

I flipped through the songbook to pick out the next song when Matthew's voice sounded suggestive. "How about Don't Look Back In Anger? You can lead, is that okay, Sam?"

Sam smiled broadly. "OK-okay. I don't remember the lyrics either."

"Okay, then you and I sing the harmony." Matthew replied.

"Uh and ah standard, guys." - Jason joked, teasing Matt who could only be trusted singing random sounds as harmony on the first and second songs, reminding us again that Matthew often messes with lyrics that end up making others confused.

Matthew grimacing. "Thank you." he said flatly, then turned to Jason. "Man, you can put a beat on us in this song, the next song I'll lead." Jason makes a gesture of respectfully agreeing, then Matthew checks the track list. "OKAY. So, I'm gonna start with Perfect, but can you give me a nod so my speed isn't wrong, man?" Jason held up his thumb.

"Just start, Taylor! You're too chatty for a prank band keyboardist." Sean said impatiently.

"It's World Matthew Meledek Day, huh?" matthew protest.

We laughed, and then I tried to cheer him up. "No. Just a regular Wednesday, baby." I said cheerfully.

"I never get compliments..." Our lethargic keyboard players did not have time to complain for long, as we all lunged at him in group hugs with over-sympathy.

Afterwards we immediately started Don't Look Back In Anger, and when it came to the end of the first refrein, I could feel an unexpected plume of emotion bubbling down my throat, and with great difficulty I tried to control it while Matthew played the instrumental part of the song.

Singing this song reminded me of my late father. This is my favorite song we sing together. Day or night, the song will be heard echoing at home whenever there is an opportunity to play it. Sometimes my father would accompany me to sing with his favorite guitar, and on other occasions with a piano.

I closed my eyes when I reached the end of the refrein for the second time, and I felt Sean's hand grabbing my body, clutching me carefully as if I were a priceless diamond. As my memories came more and more vividly, the clear light of the sun breaking through the transparent glass wall awakened my nerves.

I exhaled, then opened my eyes and smiled at Sean. "Thank you." I said as I rubbed his arm. I'm so grateful that Sean understands what I need without telling me. He is always there in the most important moments.

He returned my smile while nodding his head, then threw pandandan at our other friends. "How about we take a break?" he said with more tone to the statement than the question.

Jason hit his drum enthusiastically. "Then we need Spicy Fried Chicken and beer." He jumped out of his chair. "I volunteered as a courier, anyone want to help?"

Sam whistled, turning Taylor and Matt. "OKAY. I'm coming" said Taylor.

***

"Here," Sean said as he held up a bottle of beer in style as if it were King Arthur's sword. "Officially the Fastest Beer in the World."

"of course. Accompanied by lunch of the Most Delicious Spicy Fried Chicken in the World." I agreed, pointing to three ready-to-eat boxes bought by Jason and Taylor.

"Well, considering that Jason just got an extra allowance for Christmas from his father, Mr. Parker Sr., then we're looking forward to the special treatment as a spirit enhancer for the band's inaugural rehearsal today."

Maggie cupped her hands together and closed her eyes. "Please, Lord.Let Jason get more kindness from his father like today! I need to reduce my credit card bills!"

"I hear you, brother!" sean said with the priest's accent. "And everyone said..."

We raised our hands, and together we said, "A.min!"

After eating I stepped out of the studio, carrying a bottle of beer in my hand and sitting on a long wooden chair under a maple tree. I need time to restore my mood before the second session. Then about two minutes later I was sitting there, Sam came to me.

He smiled as he landed his butt next to me. "You want to tell?" sam asked after a while we were silent.

I looked down at the beer in my hand. "It's about my father" I murmured heavily. After all my troubles passed, I somehow missed him more and more. "I just miss him." I sipped a little of my beer.

Sam smiled broadly, instantly making me feel calmer. I have to admit she's pretty good as a therapist. He knows when to talk and when to listen. With just her smile I could see Sam knew how I felt right now. I don't mean to cry, just to miss someone we love is very painful, especially if we can't see him again. Sucks!

"You know? I like the new Franda I see now" Sam said. The rapid change in topic surprised me for a few seconds. "I mean it, Franda. Ever since we met again I've seen you've been different. Confident, positive, and I'm sure they all saw it too. Don't look at me like I'm crazy, I'm trying to praise you."

"thank you. But I don't think I'm any different."

"Well, but you've changed in a better direction. I wouldn't have said that if Taylor hadn't noticed. Usually if she has not succeeded in creating a recipe for processed rat meat she will not realize anything." she joked with her husband's spirit in creating a new recipe.

I laughed at Sam's words. "really? I can't believe Taylor can be that passionate when cooking."

Sam grunts. "Uuh, you don't know yet, that Gordon Ramsey almost turned our house into a cattle pen. Every day there were strange animals that he brought home." Sam grumbled in a very upset voice. "I'm not sure I'll last longer with him. Just wait until he brings the pig's head home, then that second I'll chop off his head."

"Say it louder, baby. The pig you're talking about hasn't heard it yet." Taylor's protesting voice sounded suddenly, followed by another laugh from behind him.

Maggie chuckled as she raised her beer bottle. "Taylor Jones, I salute you. You're the only person I know who can think of disgusting animals like rats as good food. Next what? The lizard?"

Taylor shrugged his shoulders. "It was last month."

The waves of laughter did not stop rolling us all. The other jokes were still going on all day until we decided to go home and schedule a meeting two days later.