They were eighteen, idealistic, and full of dreams. Okay, so she was nineteen and Devon and Oz were eighteen. Oz had always wanted to be in a band. Devon just loved to goof around and play bass. Lizzy wrote songs, not because she wanted to but because they just flowed from her heart to her hands. Put the three of them together and you had one lethal combination.
They had played once for their high school and everyone in the room had chills. Lizzy and Devon didn’t know they had talent or maybe they didn’t care. Their lives were consumed by other things but Oz knew what they had and was bound and determined not to let it escape.
Jay Osborne met Elizabeth Lynn in a creative writing class his freshman year. When it came time to peer edit they checked each other’s papers, that was when he knew. She had a talent for words. It was supposed to be a poem but put to the right melody it was a song. She wrote for him because he was her best friend and she would do anything for him. If that was the most he wanted then that’s what he would get.
When she got her first guitar as a gift she fell in love. When he asked her to be in his band and sing her songs, she immediately agreed. All they needed was a bassist. Lizzy knew Devon played bass and he was good so they got him to join up. They were under rehearsed and over confidant at that first show at the school but it worked. Their was magic in the air and between them that night.
After all three had graduated they kept rehearsing even though they weren’t playing anywhere. Oz did it because he was looking for gigs. Devon did it because what the hell else did he have to do. Lizzy did it because it made her fell better, therapy in a way.
That summer Lizzy was bartending, Devon was DJing, and Oz was a bouncer at the best place to get discovered in their city. Every Friday night was local rock night and this was a much sought after gig. Oz begged and pleaded but could not get them scheduled. One Thursday night right before all three got off work the manager called Oz into his office.
“Turns out the band scheduled for tomorrow canceled and we can’t get anyone else on such short notice. So will your band play for us?”
Oz could barely contain himself, “Of course!" he nearly shouted.
“Well then give me your name for the marquee and we’re all set.”
“Uh name. Well, uh, you see that could be a problem. We don’t have one.”
“Give me a name by tomorrow at ten a.m., otherwise we get a DJ to come in,” and with that the discussion was closed.
He ran out to find Devon and Lizzy already deeply immersed in dancing and drinking. He told them fabulous news. Caught up in the excitement they all began to drink in celebration. They danced and drank until they were dizzy and disoriented.
At one a.m., when they began to drag themselves home, Oz remembered the name problem. Now they had nine hours to come up with a name. They all went to Lizzy’s apartment because she was the only one who didn’t live at home. Thankfully her roommate Suzie wasn’t home. She put on a pot f coffee and dug out some paper and pens.
They were too drunk to come up with anything. The automatic coffee maker shut off forgotten and Lizzy decided to put on some music. She picked up a CD by a band named after a toy. She giggled looking at one of the songs and said “We could call ourselves the Love Dolls.” She giggled again as Devon wrote it down just to be a smart ass. Before coming up with any other names all three passed out on the floor.
At ten a.m. the next morning Oz’s cell phone began to ring.
“Hello,” he yawned.
“Osborne here’s you’re chance. What’s the band’s name?”
He picked up the piece of paper with one name scribbled haphazardly across it. “Uh, the Love Dolls, I guess.”
“All right, be here at four p.m. to set up.” He hung up without waiting for a response. Oz set his watch for noon and went back to sleep.
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