THE RIO WAS ROCKING.

The two thousand people packed inside had just watched four of the best bands in the Greater Hills Village area battle it out for the title. In the end, it had gone to The Mighty Phlegm Overlords of Zoon, a folk-metal rap outfit, who just got it over Android Acoustica, a duo dressed in clown outfits (they were actually pretty scary-looking, tbh).

“Let’s hear it for The Mighty Phlegm Overlords of Zoon!” KRMY’s rock DJ, Shaun Baron, yelled.

Backstage, Niki adjusted his wig. “Right, People,” he said. “Let’s kick some rock butt!” He bumped fists with everyone and then got us all into a huddle, which took some doing as we were all wearing MASSIVE platform boots.

On stage to our left, Shaun was giving Niki Blister and The People a big build-up. “Rio rockers! Are you ready to see some real rock-and-roll history?”

The audience went nuts.

“I said, ARE YOU READY, HILLS VILLAGE?” Shaun screamed.

The audience went double nuts. I’m not even sure that’s a thing, but they went it. I swallowed hard and tried to control the flappy bats in my stomach (butterflies are way too small to describe how nervous I was feeling). This was it.

“For the first time on stage in thirty years, please give it up, Hills Village, for one of rock and roll’s long-lost legends—NIKI BLISTERRRRRR AAAAAAND THE PEOPLE!!!”

“Showtime,” Niki said, smiling under layers of makeup. It was hard to think that only a few weeks ago I’d thought of him as Mr. Mann, our boring substitute music teacher. “Let’s rock!”