The four of them sat in the roomy sitting area. The carpet was tan, and there was a fan quietly humming above.
There was really nothing to do, just sit and wait. They had come at a quarter after 3, and had so far waited a half hour. The room was cool, but tension was still in the air, as the family waited their turn.
"You can come this way now."
A small woman had gotten them up, and was pointing in a direction in which they were supposed to travel.
"Right down that hall, and the last door on your left."
Dorin was giddy. It had not said specific examples of questions they would be asked, he assumed something about them, when they started, where they were from. He was still excited.
"This is weird."
"What is?"
"Us, walking down a hall, waiting to be interviewed. Just weird that's all."
Zac looked at all the pictures on the walls as they walked. Several of them were of posters, other's were picuters signed by famous people. Some just pictures.
They came to the end of the hall, and stepped into an open studio. Nothing much, some equipment, and a couple microphones, just enough to record what they needed.
"You guys can sit over there please."
They walked to the far side of the white room, sitting down in the rolling chairs.
The interviewer started to explain, despite Zac's in between giggles.
"Okay, what this is all about is basically the facts. We want to know where you guys are from, what you do, brothers sisters, things like that. We may also ask questions more personal, what you like to do, influences, all kinds of stuff, you can of
course, pass the question, each interview we do ends up being anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour."
Dorin nodded.
"I'm bringing out a recorder, just to tape this all, reference material, if you get signed, your production company may want it."
The man looked down at the nobs and dials. Pushing some back and forth, and clicking things around, he sat up again.
"Okay guys, lets get started."
The four of them sat back.
"First off, are all members of your band present?"
In unison they replied.
"Yup."
"Uh huh."
"Alright, where are you from?"
They had all decided on their way here that Dorin would do the talking, unless it took group desicions.
"Tulsa Oklahoma."
"How old are you all?"
"12, 15, 16, and 17."
"Occupations? Like do you go to school, or do you work?"
"All of us go to school."
And so the interview began.
"That was cool."
"I don't think so. More like what your teachers would ask you in 3rd grade."
Mercy had sat quiet most of the time. Not really caring to answer any of the stupid questions the interviewer had asked them. She thought they were stupid.
"Awww, come on Mey! It was fun...for what we're used to."
She looked at Zac.
"That was not fun."
"Tommorow will be fun."
Zac had a grin on his face.
"What now?"
"I like movie. Wait, food first."
Zac could feel his stomach rumbling.
"Okay, lets go back to the hotel, and see what we can find. There has to be something in the phone book."
"I want to swim."
Zac said from the back seat. He had an urge to go swimming, just because.
"Zac, swimming? No, dinner, maybe a pay perview, and then bed time. We have a long day tommorow."
"I know. Lets do it anyway."
Zac already felt tired. He wasn't sure if he could stay up to swim, but he would try.
"We'll see."
They parked the car and stepped out, stretching from the drive. Zac yawned.
"See. Your already tired and you have all day tommorow to work."
"Not all day, our set is only about an hour, if that."
"Zac, don't start. Swimming can be for tommorow."
As promised, the hotel people had come and gotten all their instruments and equipment and taken them to the colleseum. The Dentras would go in the morning, and get everything set up.
They would have long enough to get ready, practice, and then be judged, and observed by agents. It was more like a convention than anything. They were just there to see what happened.
They reached the room and slid the key in the door. The room was dark and they fumbled along the wall for the switch.
The room was so clean, and fresh compared to their appartment. Zac felt like he never wanted to leave.
"Okay, what's for dinner?"
Mercy walked to the nightstand, and pulled the phone book out from underneath.
"I just want something good...not dressing up, just food."
Mercy would not wear a dress, had not worn one. She despised them.
"I don't know. Look for something!"
"Room service. Looks fine to me."
Jeremy had thrown himself on the bed, laying back and shutting his eyes.
"Jeremy, get up. We have to eat."
Jeremy was tired. He did not know why, there had not been that much activity during the day. It was probably better he slept now anyway.
Zac flumped down on the bed Jeremy was on, making him bounce and land back softly.
Zac could not help but think about his drums. A weird thing to think about, but he couldn't help wondering if they would be safe.
"What if someone steals them?"
Mercy looked up.
"Huh?"
"Well, what if someone steals my drums?"
"Zac, chill dude, no one is going to take your drums."
"They are a very large part of this band thing you know."
"Yes Zac, we know."
"Wouldn't that be all horrible if someone stole them?"
"Yes Zac."
"What if someone stole our other stuff too?"
"No one is going to steal it Zac."
"I know."
Mercy smiled. Zac had a head full of strange ideas, thoughts, everything. Must be interesting inside there.
"So what's for dinner?"
Jeremy had sat up, looking around the room.
"I want chinese food."
Mercy had always loved chinese food. It was her favorite. It just so happened that now, there was one so close by, and it was from denver, not tulsa.
"So then lets have chinese."
"What if the chinese people don't like us?"
Zac had a big smile on his face.
"Zac....."
"Just wondering man...he he he."
Dorin walked out of the bathroom.
"So have we decided?"
"Chinese, it's close, it's good, and I'm starved."
"Agreed."
Zac stood up from the bed.
"Now I have to freshen up."
Jeremy grabbed Zac's pants as he walked by and held on. Zac swatting at jeremy and trying to pull away, giggling the whole time.
"Damnit let go man!"
Jeremy held fast, grinning from ear to ear, and finally pulling real hard.
"AAAACCCCKKKKK!"
Zac hit the ground giggling, and Jeremy leaped off the bed, climbing on top of him. Zac had never really been tickled by Jeremy, so now was a perfect time to test where and how much.
"Would you two knock it off, the neighbors are going to complain."
Gritting his teeth and smiling at the same time. Jeremy looked up at Dorin.
"They can come complain, I'm sure they have a weakness too."
Dorin smiled.
Jeremy climbed up from an exhausted Zac and stood.
"Well, now that my authority is taken care of, then I think we can go."
Zac took a deep breath. His face red from excitment.
"Don't worry Jem, I'll get you dude. There'll be a time....You just wait."
Mercy stepped to the door.
"Ready yet?"
Her brothers crowded to the door.
"Uh huh, Lets go."
Jeremy stepped into the hall first, being followed by Dorin, Zac, then Mercy.
Although, he had been thouroughly upset when he had gotten here, and after what his sister had said, he had actually had a good time that day.
He was still angry, but he figured that was all very appropriate. Dorin had opened the window a crack and now, Zac could feel the cool draft flowing in from the
window. Cars below on the busy street surged foreward and hit breaks, and occasionaly honks were heard.
Tommorow would come as more exciting. He would have a good time no matter what, and this was his final desicion. It was time he smiled and brightened up, even though the questions the interviewer asked
were down right stupid, he had to admit, they were pretty funny. More ironically anyway.
When they walked out of the studio, it had been a little later then 5. A considerably long interview.
They drove back to the hotel, mostly in silence. But upon entering the garage, they sparked up conversation.
Mercy lay in bed next to Zac. He was closest to the window, and laying on his back, staring at the paint.
Mercy had tried to fall asleep. To no avail. She had thought about the months past, and wondered how on earth she had managed. She lived in a house with three guys, one of which had not even hit puberty, and she was stuck in this whole turmoil.
She could muster through it, oh yes, and she would. Maybe this whole thing would do something to their family. Maybe next time she saw a band that acted like they loved eachother no matter who they were, she would understand why. Although, it seemed doubtful right then.
Jeremy had fallen asleep the second his head had hit the pillow. For some strange reason he felt like this weekend would be entirely stressfull. He had also felt that Zac would show some personality that he didn't often show. More of an image, some disguise. All day Zac had been weird. Saying weird
things and doing even weirder things. At the interview, he had made silly faces at the interviewer when he had not been looking, and mumbling hacked up answers under his breath. Acting like a little kid with a sense of humor. It was cool though.
Dorin could not fall asleep if he wanted to. He knew that Friday would be the begining of a long and tiring test. A small gate way to something better. All too true. He just hoped they could all deal with it, and maturly.
