SEEING HOW WE’RE almost halfway into this story, it’s probably worth a recap on the highlights so far … mainly to help me sort out my thoughts on what’s becoming a complicated Khatchadorian tale. The short version is that we’ve been overrun by a bunch of stray Australians. Here’s the longer version:
1. Australian hipster Sidney Harberbridge has come to town, bringing his rare vinyl grooves, cold-drip coffee, topknots, attitude and Bikram yoga in the yurt along with him.
2. Non-Australian (but with Australian hat) Rafe Khatchadorian has begun work at Gudonya, Sid’s pop-up hipster cafe and music shop, where, in addition to learning how to make coffee and listening to old vinyl, is also doing insulting sketches of the customers (see Point 9).
3. Another Australian, my buddy, the shin-kicking Sydneysider, Kasey Moran, is in town in between joining her roller derby team on tour.
4. Miller the Killer has (sort of) kidnapped me and Jason Chang and forced us into forming a rock band called The People. Oh, and Miller expects me to somehow enter us AND WIN the local radio station Best Band Comp.
5. My substitute music teacher, Mr. Mann, might be the long-lost Australian rock god Niki Blister of cheesy eighties glam-punk combo The Spiderzz. Me and Kase are basing this suspicion almost entirely on a scar Mr. Mann has on his face. That makes three Aussies in Hills Village … or two and a half until we discover the truth about Mr. Mann.
6. I’m getting worried about Mom’s newfound love of doing Bikram yoga in the nude.
7. Sid has got us on the bill at the KRMY Best Band Competition!
8. Miller the Killer has a “thing” for Kasey, and I’m pretty sure Kasey doesn’t have a thing for him.
9. THE NOODLY DOODLE MISSION: I am about halfway through filling one wall of Gudonya with drawings of the customers in an effort to impress Jeanne Galletta. I have no idea if that’s working but it’s too late to stop now. Plus, I enjoy doing it.
10. There is no Point 10, but leaving it as a nine-point list seemed wrong somehow.
Have I missed anything?