Fred, the leader, wasn't happy.

'I can't believe it, we'll never reach Hollywood at this rate.'
'You're lucky we got recorded in the first place,' answered Ellie, the second of the only two girls to join the band.

Scott and Edmund were packing up to leave, when Fred's mom came in with cookies.

'Bought us some time,' thought Fred. He'd remember to thank her later.

The afternoon was getting more and more humid, an invitation for Mrs. Ashmush to bring out the lemonade. Sounds of happy munching and glugging and chatting soon turned Fred's band into a periodic after-school tea party.

Even if Marcus came now, it would be twenty minutes before they settled down to play, thirty before everyone finished going to the bathroom, and forty before th e rehearsal was over.

Thrusting his drumsticks on the ground, Fred headed out of the garage and slammed the door. He picked up the phone and dialed Marcus' number.