Chapter 5
Chapter
Usually after school, Devon and his friends would ride their bikes home as a group.
On the way, they’d laugh, talk about school, share plans for their evening, and whatever else came to mind.
Today he was pedaling alone. Zoey was having band practice, and she’d also invited the other kids to sing background vocals on a demo she was working on.
She’d never asked for their help on anything that awesome before, and he wanted to be included so bad, but she made it clear he wasn’t invited because she didn’t have time to be arguing with him about his wanting his name all over everything.
She’d said this while they were at lunch, leaving him heartbroken and embarrassed.
Now, however, he had a plan, and Zoey Raymond Garland could kick rocks.
When he reached home, he parked his bike in the garage and went inside. His mom was in the kitchen. “Hey, buddy. How are you? How was the day?”
“It was okay.” He told her about the background-singing situation.
“I’m sorry you and Zoey are still on the outs. Hopefully it’ll be fixed soon.”
“I don’t care about that anymore.”
“Really? Why?”
“Because I’m going to start my own band, and it’s going to be better than hers.”
She was silent for a few moments.
He asked, “Will you help me?”
“Sure, as much as I can. Do you know what you need to do first, because I don’t have a clue.”
“No, but I’m going to look it up on the internet.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
“And can we not talk about it at dinner? You can tell Dad, but I don’t want Amari to know yet because he’ll laugh.”
“Understood.”
Buoyed by her support, he smiled and left.
True to her word, she kept his secret and, later after dinner, came up to his room. “Have you had a chance to do your search?”
“Yes.”
She entered and sat on his bed. “What did you find?”
Taking the chair at his desk, he read from the notes he’d written down.
Choose band members.
Get good instruments.
Pick a band name.
Begin song writing and develop a sound.
Set up practices.
Book gigs.
“Do you think that’s doable?” she asked.
“Yes. What do you think?”
“I think it might be harder than you envision, but if you put your heart into it, it can be done. I’ll help with whatever you need. Dad will too.”
“Thank you.” He got up and gave her a big hug. All the kids in town loved their moms, but his was the best.
“You’re welcome.”
“Do you think you can help me make flyers so people will know I’m looking for band members? I think I’ll put them up at school, the rec, maybe the Dog, and the library.”
“That’s a great idea, Dev.”
He turned to her excitedly. “Maybe some of the kids who were in the library talent show will want to join.”
“Another great thought.”
“You think so?”
“I do.”
“Good, because I want my band to be better than Zoey’s.”
She paused. “Is that the only reason you want to do this? To get back at Zoey?”
He went silent for a moment, wondering if he could admit the truth. “A little bit, yeah, because she thinks people are coming to see the band and not just me.”
“Honestly, thinking it’s all about you is pretty arrogant, Devon. The band’s good because it’s a collective effort, not an individual one.”
“But still, Mom.”
“Just pointing out stuff the way a mom should.”
He nodded. “Will you still help?”
“Yes. That’s a mom’s job too. Any idea what you want to put on the flyer?”
He mulled that over. “Can I think about it?”
“Yes. And if you need help creating it, let me know and we’ll work on it together. Keep the four Ws in mind though.”
That confused him.
She explained. “The Who, What, Where, and When for the auditions. The flyer should have all that information on it.”
“Oh. Okay, I get it now. Do you think Tamar will let me use the rec for that?”
“I don’t see why not, but you should ask first.”
Devon thought some more and was already imagining Zoey’s face when his band blew hers away.
She asked, “How soon do you want to get started?”
“As soon as possible.”
“Then you’ll want to have a date in mind when you talk to Tamar about the auditions so you can put it on the flyer.”
The idea of forming his own band filled him with joy. “Okay.”
“I’m sure your dad will want to help, too, but I’ll let you tell your brother. Who knows, he may be more supportive than you think.”
He doubted that but kept that to himself.
She stood.
He looked up. “Do you really think I can do this?”
“I think you can do whatever you set your mind to if you want it badly enough and put in the work.”
He liked the sound of that. He wanted this a lot.
“Let me know when you’re ready for help, okay?”
“I will. Thanks, Mom.”
“You’re welcome.”
She left his room, and Devon sat on his bed once again imagining the look on Zoey’s face when she found out he was forming his own band.
Heaven
“Does he even play an instrument?” Lucretia asked, looking confused.
“Not that we’ve seen,” Rachel replied.
“Then how is he going to form a band? How will he hold auditions?”
“Maybe he’ll surprise us,” Daisy told her.
“He’s destined for failure,” Lucretia declared.
Daisy disagreed. “There’s no such thing as a failure, Cretia. There are victories, and there are lessons.”
“He’s looking at a big lesson, then,” Rachel said. “Which he needs, quiet as it’s kept, because this band thing is all about his ego, nothing more.”
“He’s so exhausting,” Lucretia said.
“Have a little faith,” Daisy said. “As Rachel said, this may be just what he needs.”
“And we may all need a brandy before it’s over.”
That said, they returned their attention to Henry Adams.
THE NEXT DAY after school, Devon rode his bike to the rec to talk with Tamar. Inside, he found her sitting at a table covered with a small stack of flashlights and packages of batteries. “Hi, Devon. What brings you by?”
“Hi, Tamar. I have a question.”
“Okay. Grab a chair, and you can help me fill these flashlights while we talk.”
He looked askance at the flashlights. Filling them was not why he’d come, but being put to work whether you wanted to or not was always a possibility with her.
He pulled up a chair, and she showed him what needed to be done.
Once she was certain he was inserting the batteries correctly, she asked, “So what’s your question for me? Is it about the Spirit Quest?”
“No. I’m going to start a band. Can I use the rec music room to hold the auditions for the kids who might want to be in it?”
She studied him so long he thought she might say no. “Do you have a date in mind?”
“Not yet, I want to make sure I won’t be interfering with anything happening here first.”
“Thank you for being considerate.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Do you want to hold it after school or a Saturday?”
“Maybe a Saturday. Might be easier for kids to get their parents to bring them.”
“That’s true. Is this your response to quitting Zoey’s band?”
He paused. Her dark eyes pinned him, and he swallowed in a suddenly dry throat. He nodded, then replied quietly, “Yes ma’am.” He wondered how she’d known about him quitting the band. Then again, Tamar knew everything.
“Okay. What about a week from this coming Saturday? That will give you time to get the word out.”
“I’d like that. Thank you.”
“After the auditions are done, we’ll choose a date for the quest.”
“Okay.”
“You just put that battery in upside down.”
Startled, he glanced down, removed it, and put it in correctly. She had him so rattled he’d lost focus. “Sorry.”
“No apologies needed. Stuff happens.”
Admittedly, Tamar scared him. In the years since he’d moved to town, most of their personal interactions had centered around her checking him on his behavior—like the time she’d made him wash dishes and help with cleanup because he’d been hating on Bobby Douglas’s tattoos.
He’d originally wanted a Spirit Quest because Amari had gone on one.
Back then he’d wanted to be Amari, and like his brother, also wanted to be looked upon as a true member of the July family, not just an adoptee.
But the idea of actually spending a weekend alone with Tamar made him want to maybe reconsider.
With a date for the audition secured, he debated how to leave. He was way too nervous to get up and walk out, or to ask Tamar if he could. Instead, he stayed until the last flashlight was done.
“Thanks for your help, Devon.”
“You’re welcome.”
“See you later. Good luck with the band.”
He nodded and exited. Filled with relief, he mounted his bike and rode for home.
WHEN HE ARRIVED, his dad was there. “Hey, son. How was your day?”
“Okay, I guess.” He had a lot on his mind but didn’t want to share it yet. “How was yours?”
“It was good. Bobby and I took in our first job, so we’re pretty excited.”
Devon took off his backpack. “That’s great. I stopped at the rec to talk to Tamar about a date for my band auditions.”
“Lily told me about the auditions. Here to help if you need me.”
“Thanks. Now that I have a place for the auditions and a date, she and I can make the flyers and put them up.”
“Sounds good. You know, your quest is coming up, too, and raising a tent is a part of what you’ll be doing. I thought maybe you and I could practice.”
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to go anymore.”
His dad studied him for a brief moment, and he inwardly squirmed under the scrutiny. “Can you tell me why?”
He shrugged. “I just don’t want to.”
“You’ll have to come up with a better reason than that.”
“I can change my mind if I want to, can’t I?”
“You’ve been begging Tamar for two years to take you, so no, you don’t get to change your mind without a valid reason.”
Devon sighed. “I just don’t want to.”
“Can you pitch a tent?”
“Yes. Me and my grandma slept in tents when we went to revivals.”
“Do you know how old those tents were? Were they new?”
“I don’t think they were.”
“Then it might be best to practice. New tents are different.”
“But I don’t want to go.”
“You said that.”