Lucky enough, after "Where's The Love" there was an intermission so we all ran to the side and backstage into the tent. Then we headed for a cooler. I opened it and passed out small water bottles to everyone.
"Wow, that was great!" I said as I picked up some chilled towels in a bucket and wiped my face off.
*Jess*I took the water bottle Zac handed me and opened it and drank some of the nice cold mineral water.
"Yeah, that was awesome! I can't wait to go back on!" Ike said as we all walked over to our little circle of chairs by the refreshment table in the cool shade of the tent. For December, it was pretty hot out so the water and shade felt good.
"Thanks, we had a blast too!" I exclaimed as she sat back in the chair in between Bianca and Tay.
"I never thought that anyone could do our songs as good as us! It sounded like, well, perfect!" Tay exclaimed.
"Thanks, we've been practicing your songs for about 2 years!" Bianca said as she tied her shoe lace that had come undone.
"Really! Wow, no wonder you're so good!" Ike replied as he drank some water and wrapped the cold towel around his neck.
"Ya know, we should record a record together someday! Our voices blend great together!" Tay exclaimed. I very much liked that idea! Diamond bay and Hanson, it had a nice ring to it!
By that time we were all rested. But then my mom came over and told us that break time was over and that we should get back on stage now. We slowly got to our feet and laid our stuff on the chairs and made our way up the steps.
"Okay, now let's rock this place!" Zac said as he lead us around the curtains. Then we felt the energy come back.
"Can you feel the crowds energy?" Ike whispered to us as we stopped and waited for the announcer to call us back on stage. Binkies, Lolo, and I nodded and smiled at him. Then we all took deep breaths to calm our nerves down a bit.
"Okay, I noticed that we were kind of day dreaming up there, not this time, don't concentrate on anything, let your heart guide your hands and words and just have fun!" I said as the announcer called up and we walked on stage. They nodded and smiled their "Okay's".
"All right, are you ready to rock!? Then clap your hands, stand up, and sing along!" Tay encouraged as he motioned for me to look at the list on the floor. " Merry Christmas Baby" was the next song. Then with his fingers, Tay counted, 1, 2, 3, then we started playing at the same instant. The familiar tune echoed in the ally and the crowd cheered even more. Once again, my timing was perfect. Now we started the upbeat, Christmas tune.
"Merry Christmas Baby, sure did treat me nice."
We sang into the same microphone. Then I surveyed the crowd and noticed something I hadn't before. Lined up on the side walks and street, were tons of T.V. cameras and news reporters with cameras all aimed at us! But I wasn't nervous, I just let my mind fly free and my heart did the rest, and I was fine.
Soon, the song was over and the crowds grew, soon cars were parked on the street and passers by stopped to watch this concert in the ally. Then more cameras and video cameras and reporters appeared. Some with cameras, some with pencil and paper, and others with mini voice recorders. This was great! We were helping the poor by bringing attention to the mission! Now I saw a donation booth in the corner and everyone was donating! Then I looked at the ground again, "Weird" was next. I chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?" Tay whispered away from the mic so no one would hear.
"I hope I don't cry! This song always gets to me!" I confessed as I started to laugh again. I covered my mouth and stopped laughing. Then he laughed too. Soon we both stopped and we gave the "Get Ready" signal to Ike, Lolo, Bianca, and Zac. Then came the 1,2,3 hand signal from Tay. Another perfect start. Then we started the opening "Ohh's" and the song began it's mournful-like journey.
"Isn't it weird? Isn't it strange? Even though we're just two strangers, on this runaway train. We're both trying to find, a place in the sun, we've lived in the shadows, but doesn't everyone.? Isn't it strange, how we all feel a little bit weird sometimes?" We sang. I could feel the tears welling up inside me. And I tried my hardest to stop them, buy I couldn't stop one from falling. It fell on my keyboard. And quickly and unnoticeable, Tay wiped it away for me. I smiled at him and we started to sing again.
"Sitting on the side, waiting for a sign, hoping that my luck will change. Reaching for a hand that will understand, someone who feels the same. When you live in a cookie cutter world being different is a sin, so you don't stand out. And you don't fit in. Weird."
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