Best Defense

First Show

"Our franda, as always, looks like an angel" Matthew said as I joined them. Taylor agreed.

Suddenly nervousness came back to attack me. Taylor, that crazy chef, this morning suddenly took us all by surprise by saying our three-day-old band was going to fill the wedding of his boss's son on New Year's Eve. Tonight!

The band that was supposed to fill the show got a disaster. One of the men died yesterday. Then Taylor, with his heroic attitude, offered our mock band as a replacement, and the confused boss was suddenly excited to hear his proposal. Because it is impossible to find another band that is ready to perform suddenly, especially on New Year's Eve.

He's totally nuts! I don't know what he had in mind when he proposed it. We've only trained twice, and I'm not ready at all. At first I refused firmly, but when Taylor said her boss would pay $1500 AUD, I saw the enthusiasm of my other friends.

Sean and I may not need that money at all but for them it's a great opportunity to earn some extra money unexpectedly. Jackpots sort. Unable to see their pleading expression, I finally agreed. At least this is what I can do to repay their kindness.

I spin around a little always smiling. "You look cool too." I said to Matthew.

"Tuh, right! He knew of classy looks when he saw her. You girls ready?"

Sam nodded. "What time do we perform?"

Jason looked at his watch. "I think we start at about 20:15. There's a break to eat at 21:15, then the DJ will play until eleven. Then we perform again until the turn of the year and the DJ will take over again until about two."

Matthew snorts. "It's gonna be a long night, guys. Looks like we can't pack while the DJ is in action? I thought we could pack our tools when we're done."

Taylor shakes. "sorry. I've spoken to Garry, the host of the show, but unfortunately there's no good news. He said it would ruin the aesthetic of the atmosphere."

"Amit-amit if we ruin people's aesthetics" I said shuddering.

The curtain opened and Garry looked inside. "Is everything ready, guys?"

On the stage, the host was welcoming the guests and calling them to the dance floor. The heightened sensation of waiting triggered the rush of adrenaline that I knew we were all going through tonight. Jason pulled the drummer out of his pocket and jumped up the stairs to the stage. Sean grabbed his song map, waiting for Taylor to climb the stairs in front of him. Sam and I set up our ear monitors and turned on the battery while walking on stage.

"Guests, we welcome our band tonight... The Prices!"

There was a noticeable change in my mood when we started to act. I could feel my pulse growing faster and the strange turmoil that used to appear in my stomach. I held up the stairs a few times and shook the tension off my hand. Two rituals before performing that I always did to help calm my nerves.

I never knew how the stage performance at the wedding would go, and tonight I just felt it. The atmosphere is completely different. Behind the beautiful decorations, the extraordinary bridal family attire, and the equally graceful guests, the atmosphere was clearly stifled. And worse, the dance floor remained empty after the first session.

Maggie and Mia, who served as cheers, just put their shoulders up from the side of the stage every time I glanced at them. Even more lethargic than us standing on the stage. It's obviously a nightmare!

Taylor was still silent while Sean, Matthew, and Jason simultaneously put on an upset face. Even so, Sam and I continued to do the task, smiling and dancing with all their might.

"Why doesn't anyone dance?" sean asked Taylor, as we gathered on the side of the stage.

"I don't know," he said. "When I met the bride this afternoon, they said their guests would dance all night."

"Well, but it's not" said Sam, quipping her husband as she let go of his height and leaning over to massage his achy legs while I leaned against Sean's arm. "I feel like a fool on stage, smiling like a madman!"

"Well," Taylor nodded towards the groom who was walking towards us. "It's gonna be interesting."

"Friends, I'm sorry. I don't know what got into them. Gabby's really pissed."

Matthew smiled kindly at her. "Hey, don't worry, Will. It's not your fault."

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Sean proposes.

Will shrugged his shoulders. "You're all good. I don't know what else you can do for us."

Jason took his chance. "Maybe the song list doesn't get your guests excited? Is there a song you and your friends like?"

Will seemed to think for a while. "I'm a fan of Bon Jovi" he said. "My friends always tease me about it."

Sean, Jason, Taylor and Matthew looked at each other. "You think you can bring a little classic rock, Sam?" ask Matthew.

Sam chuckles. "Their old songs I first played while studying music. My bass teacher's obsessed with them."

Sean turned his head towards me with a mischievous smile that was momentarily shocking. "You think you can, Franda?"

So that's what we do. And suddenly the mood turned boisterous. Gleefully the guests left the chairs where their buttocks were attached, then based on the dance floor in a crowd of vigorous dancing bodies.

My husband was styling exactly as we were training on the first day. He approached me in the middle of a Living On A Prayer song to show off his guitar-control skills.

The feeling when you connect with an audience is truly beautiful and unmatched. There is an invisible energy that connects you to them, an instinct that drives the show and provokes their response. That's what happened tonight and we all feel it.

Sam and I began to enjoy pleasant conversations with the audience, encouraging them to dance and sing with us, and our band returned to the stage for a bonus performance at the end of the performance. Afterwards, everyone in the room smiled broadly, as wide as Will and Gabby, the beaming-looking bride.

By 03:45, we had packed all the band's equipment into Taylor's van. Sean leaned to the side of the van while I looked at all of them who were nearing a coma around me. "Happy New Year, everyone."

A series of tired whispers returned to me.

"May we get more opportunities like this. I want to say goodbye to my credit card bill immediately" Maggie said.

"Amin," Taylor replied as she lifted a plastic bottle filled with water that was half empty.

"We'd better get the equipment back to Tay and Sam's house so we can all get some sleep, okay?" mia said suddenly.

Matthew tucked his backpack to his shoulder. "Thank you, Franda. I'm goin. See you at home, guys? I'll heat the water."

"Good," said Maggie. "You coming, Mia?"

Jason interrupted. "Mia's coming home with me."

Mia's face clearly showed disapproval. "Who wants to go home with you?" her tanyanya was cynical, with a look of disdain at Jason.

Maggie exchanged glances with Matthew and raised her hand. "Hey, I'm up to it. The sooner we clear this up, the sooner I can sleep."

Jason insisted on his will. "Mia will stay with me."

"I don't want to!" snapped Mia.

I could feel the rumbling of the debate starting when two people were exhausted and both were making a short woo, so I cut before the bomb went off. "You can continue this debate tomorrow. Mia's coming home with Sean and me." I asked Sean for the car keys and handed them to Mia. "Get in the car." The sharpness of my tone made them all flinch.

I stood face to face with Jason while folding my hands to my chest. "Jason, I'm sure you understand Mia's habits, and I hope next time you don't do anything like that. Look, I don't care at all about your relationship, but please."

His face suddenly red withstood the embarrassment, making me somewhat regret my words. And as an apology, I hugged her while blurting out a cheerful sentence to restore her spirit. "Happy New Year, sister-in-law. I wish you could tear my sister down."

Just like that, the cheerfulness was again seen in his countenance. "Thank you, sister-in-law." she replied shyly.

Sam and Maggie simultaneously mutter "ewh" while their partner agrees to push Jason to the point of almost toppling over.

On the way home, I talked one way with my sister. I spoke while he was just listening. "Mia, please correct your attitude in front of the people. I don't like seeing you like that. You have to be able to control the sharpness of your mouth because not everyone can accept it. I know you're tired, and you're not the only one feeling it. We're tired too."

"Okay, I understand you don't like Jason's proposal or you don't like Jason, but you can say it well. Reduce your attitude. Can you do it?" mummy continued.

"Hm." he muttered half-consciously. "I didn't promise."

I glanced at Sean at a glance, he smiled amusedly in response to Mia's remark when our gaze met. Then I pushed my chair back and turned to Mia. "Come here." I said, opening my hands. Mia according to laziness. "I love you, sissy." I hugged him and kissed him on the cheek.

Mia kissed me on the cheek. "Hm, me too."

"I hope you're honest."

"I'm lying." he said, cringing his face to my neck. "I love you, Panda."

I chuckled, as usual, happy to hear the silly words that my sister would often say.

***