Today is Thursday. And that means … REHEARSALS DAY!
Hunter, Gilleon, Gnash and I are jamming at Snappy Tunes Recording Studio. We’re practising our brand-new song, “Eye of the Tigershark”.
‘Come on, Finley,’ says Hunter. She gives me an encouraging fins-up. ‘You got it this time!’
I stick out my tongue and stretch my fins. At the end of the song is a mad, fully sick, totes off-the-hook guitar riff.
It starts out great.
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Hunter, Gilleon and Gnash slam their fins over their earholes.
‘I can’t do it,’ I moan. ‘My fins just can’t move fast enough!’
‘You’ll get it right,’ says Hunter. ‘Keep practising.’
Hugo, our band manager, tugs on his moustache. (It’s kind of his thing.) ‘We’ll get it right,’ he says, ‘even if it takes all afternoon. Don’t forget, this is your opening song at the Rhythm and Chews festival this weekend – it’ll be the greatest song launch ever!’
‘Gnash love new song,’ says Gnash with a grin. ‘Our best yet!’
I put down my guitar and sigh. Gnash is right. It is the best song I’ve ever written. But why did I make that final riff so complicated?!
‘What if I can’t pull it off?’ I say. ‘Everyone at the festival will laugh at me.’
Hunter puts a fin around my shoulder. ‘You’ll do great,’ she says. ‘If you can conquer your stage fright and sing in front of thousands of people, then you’ve definitely got this.’
I nod. She’s right. Plus, I’d hate to let the band down.
‘Let’s take a break and put on the radio,’ suggests Gilleon. ‘Hearing our songs on CHOMP FM always cheers me up.’
Gnash flicks on the radio.
‘Another smash hit?’ says Hunter. ‘The Killer Wails have been topping the charts all month!’
‘I heard their last concert sold out in eight seconds,’ says Gill.
‘I heard Steven Eelberg is making a movie about them,’ I say.
‘Gnash hear Killer Wails are robots programmed to take over Chumville,’ says Gnash.
Hunter rolls her eyes. ‘That’s sea-donk-ulous,’ she says. ‘But still...they’ve only been on the air for a few weeks. How are they so popular already?’
‘There’s something weird about their songs, too,’ I say, tapping my chin. ‘They’re kind of …familiar.‘
‘Well, you’ll get a good chance to scope them out at Rhythm and Chews,’ says Hugo. ‘They’re scheduled to play right before you. Now, let’s get back to rehearsals. We’ve got a song to launch!’