CHAPTER 4
Jenny's mom, Mrs. McCoy, opened the door for them.
"I think it's just great that those drums are going to get some use," she said. "They've been gathering dust in Cameron's room ever since he left for college, and honestly, they pretty much did that even when he was living here."
Jenny appeared with her friend Melissa, from class. Bo had had a crush on Melissa since first grade and always had a little trouble making eye contact.
"Talent shows can be a wonderful experience," Mrs. McCoy was saying. "Jen's father and I actually began dating shortly after we both participated in our high school senior talent show."
"Mom--", said Jenny.
"It was a 1950's sock-hop theme," she said. "Bill and a bunch of guys got together and sang 'Runaround Sue' by Dion and the Belmonts. They tried to make it kind of a comedy song because they assumed their vocals were weak, but they actually sounded very good. I started to fall for him right then."
"Okay, mom," Jenny said.
"What'd you do for the show?" asked Jimmy.
"Oh, " Mrs. McCoy laughed. "A girlfriend and I did the old Mystics' tune, 'Hushabye'. I played piano and we sang it together."
"We get the idea," Jenny said. "We should go upstairs now and check out the drums."
"How's it go?" said Bo.
"What, 'Hushabye'?" said Mrs. McCoy.
"Yeah," said Bo.
"Oh no, I couldn't--it's been several years."
"Just give us a taste of it," said Jimmy. "Just the first verse--c'mon!"
Mrs. McCoy shrugged her shoulders and cleared her throat and stood
up straight. Jenny took off up the stairs.
"Hush-a-bye, hush-a-bye, oh my darlin' don't you cry
Guardian angels up above, take care of the one I love,
Ooo ooo ooo, ooo-ooo-ooo, ah ah ah, ahhhh..."
"Wow, that was awesome!" Jimmy said.
"Really!" said Melissa.
"Totally!" said Bo. "Jenny never told us you could sing like that."
"Oh, you kids are too kind."
"You have any more of those old songs?" Bo asked.
"Well, I guess there are a couple of others that I do know," said Mrs. McCoy.
"Mom!!" shouted Jenny from upstairs.
"Uh, sounds like we better get started on the drums," Jimmy said. "But you'll continue the concert next time, right?"
"Oh, you're kidding now!" said Mrs. McCoy, but they saw she had a huge smile as they ran up to Cameron's room.
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The drum set was a simple Ludwig four-piece, with a hi-hat, a ride cymbal and a crash. It had a nice black marble finish.
"Okay, what you do," said Bo, "you start your solo on the snare and move around the kit as you get comfortable. Something like this--"
Bo tried demonstrating the drum pattern for "Wipeout":
BA da da da, BA da da da, BA da da da, BA da da da,
BA da da da . Bop BA--
"Dang, I can't really get it," said Bo.
"Let me try," said Jimmy.
"Maybe start on the floor tom instead--that way they can't hear the screw-ups as much because it has the lowest tone."
Jimmy banged around on the set for ten minutes. Bo, Jenny and Melissa couldn't make out one single thing that sounded like any part of "Wipeout".
"Hmm," said Bo.
"If I could make one small suggestion?" Jenny said. "My brother was never very good, but he did take some lessons. I know you have to hold the sticks lower, so they can rebound."
Jimmy adjusted his grips and tried it again. After a few more minutes you still couldn't hear "Wipeout", but at least the rhythms were more consistent.
Jimmy was sweating. "I've almost got it down," he said.
Jenny and Melissa tried not to laugh but couldn't help it.
"No, you don't 'almost got it down', " Bo said. "You have to work hard, dude. Otherwise we're gonna end up like Mackie."
"You're right," said Jimmy. "Forget this. We haven't signed up yet."
"It's only Monday," said Bo. "We'll wait 'til Wednesday to sign up, just to be safe. Then the gig's not until Saturday. We'll be ready."
Jimmy didn't say anything.
"Right?"
No answer.
"You know something, maybe that wasn't so cool after all, calling me a 'scardie-dog' the other day."
Jimmy was sitting on the drum stool, facing away from the three of them, looking out the window.
"Was it?" said Bo.
Jimmy didn't answer.
