Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 07:54:37 -0500
From: fsw99 <fsw99@pop.mindspring.com>
Subject: Chapter 30 of One Big Happy Family

Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual
acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

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			      Chapter Thirty

"What? We come in here, and all you do is cut us down and make fun of
us. Then, you hear us play four songs and you want in the band? No way!!!
Go start your own band. We don't need you," Paul said loudly. Everyone had
gathered around listening, and everyone shook their heads no. No one
thought adding Jimmy was a good idea, especially after all the work the
band had already put in.

"Just hear me out," Jimmy said. "I am sorry for the way I treated you. Just
give me a chance. Let me play `Long Time` with you just singing. If you
don't like the way I play, I won't ask again. If my own brother won't let
me in his band, why should I expect you to? But I have lots of songs that
Brian and I have written just waiting for an opportunity like this. You
can't keep playing other groups songs, once you start to make it. I love
both Boston and Styx, and have almost every song they have recorded
memorized. Please!!! Just give me one chance," he begged.

"Jimmy really is good. Just give him a chance and he can show you. I think
you will really like our songs, too," Brian said.

"I don't know. I like playing keyboards. Your brother is in a band? What is
their name?" Isaiah asked.

"You don't know? I thought that was why you came here in the first
place. His name is Kenny Wayne. You still don't know?" Jimmy asked.

"Kenny Wayne Shepherd?" Robbie asked, his eyes getting wide.

"Yeah. The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band. He recorded his first record here. I
helped produce it, but didn't get any credit for my work on the album. I am
good enough to play with him, but he won't even talk to me about it. He
even changed recording studios for his second record. My Dad was totally
pissed!" Jimmy said, laughing. "I would love to be able to blow him off the
stage. We might could do it. Who knows, maybe we could even start to open
for his band. They are always looking for younger bands to open for
them. No one would be younger than we would be."

"All this sounds too easy. I want to hear you play. I want to see if you
can back up all of this big talk," Paul said, glaring at Jimmy. Clearly,
Paul didn't like Jimmy at all.

"Great. Brian, you record us, OK? Let me get to the organ. Then, you count
off, OK?" he asked Isaiah. "Sorry, I don't even know any of your names."

Everyone introduced themselves and shook Brian and Jimmy's hand except
Paul. He just walked over and sat down behind his drums. "That's Paul," Ed
said. "I don't think he likes you too much."

"Well, I can understand why, I guess. Look, I'm sorry. I have been cooped
up in this studio 10 hours a day all summer, and I am about to go stir
crazy. I am even looking forward to school starting to give me something
else to do. Just listen to me play. If I am good enough and you let me in
the band, I will apologize to all of you every day for a month. Just
listen, OK?" Jimmy said, as he ran to the organ. If anything, he was eager
to show what he could do.

Brian settled into place with the headphones on and motioned to Isaiah that
he was ready.

"OK, let's try it once and see. One, Two, Three, Four," Isaiah counted.

Jimmy started the solo, and everyone could tell the difference right
away. He even added little bits here and there that actually improved the
song. His parts in `Long Time` were also a big improvement, and Isaiah's
performance was lots better, because he could strut about the stage as he
sang to his audience of eight people.

Mr. Shepherd had walked in during the song, and was totally surprised to
see Brian in the recording booth and his son playing with the band. He was
amazed at the quality of the sound, and replaced Brian in the recording
booth.

The song finally finished, and Jimmy ran for the booth, only to find his
Dad sitting in it.

"Care to tell me why you are playing instead of recording them play?" he
asked Jimmy, as he walked into the main studio.

"Dad, they are what I have been looking for all this time. I asked them to
let me play one song. I want to join them, if they will let me," he said.

"With your attitude, I'm surprised they even want to talk to you, much less
let you become a member of their band," Mr. Shepherd said angrily. It was
plain that he was still mad at Jimmy.

"Dad, please! Let me talk to them. I just want to see if we can play one of
Styx's songs. `Lorelei` is made for a dual keyboard lead and when the
second keyboard part finishes, that would be when Isaiah gets up to sing
the lead part. It could be a killer song that way," Jimmy said.

Isaiah looked away, thinking about the possibilities. Jimmy was right, it
could work great.

"I don't know. I don't think you deserve to be in a band, the way you have
been acting," Mr.  Shepherd said.

"Dad, they haven't said I can join yet. Give me thirty minutes, OK? I swear
I will totally change my attitude. I want this. Please?" Jimmy begged.

"OK. Thirty minutes. But, we are still going to have our little talk, you
understand?" he asked.

"Yes sir," Jimmy said, with his head hung low.

Mr. Shepherd turned and walked out the door without another word. You could
almost see steam coming out of his ears.

"What do you say, guys. Can we play some more together? What did you
think?" Jimmy asked.

"I think we sound just as good without you," Paul said, as he walked up.

"You want to hear the difference? Let's all listen, and then all of you
decide," Jimmy said, as he ran for the control booth. He quickly reversed
the tape, and brought it back to the start. "Too Young To Be Scared's first
song, `Peace of Mind`" played over the speakers, followed by the
music. Jimmy played the first two songs, then fast forwarded to where he
had replaced Isaiah on the keyboards. "Too Young To Be Scared's `Long
Time`, take two," played, and then the music with Jimmy included.

When the song finished, Jimmy came walking back out with a big grin on his
face. "So. What did you think? Am I in?"

No one said anything. Everyone just kind of looked around at each
other. Everyone knew that the second recording did sound better than the
first, but they also knew they had no idea what they would be letting
themselves in for with Jimmy.

"Guys, I know I am prejudiced because Jimmy is my friend, but you really
did sound better the second time," Brain said.

"The guys have been playing together for awhile now. I don't know if they
are ready to make that kind of decision after less than an hour. We also
can't throw away our recording time in case they decide to leave the band
as it is," Stan said.

"Don't worry about the recording time. If I am in the band, we can have all
the time that we want.  Brian is my writing partner, and he will be glad to
record us anytime you want. If you decide you don't want me in the band, I
will still give you enough time to redo all the songs by yourselves, even
if it goes over into another day. Just give me a chance. You heard how we
sounded together.  Let's play a few more songs. I will record them for
free. Let's just play `Crystal Ball` and `Lorelei` again. Then you can
compare. Isaiah, you know what I mean about the dual keyboard part in
`Lorelei`, right?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah, I do. I think it will work, too. Do you have another keyboard here?"
Isaiah asked.

"Yeah, but it would take too long to set up. Just sit beside me for now. If
you let me in the band, we can then set up for real. We can even take one
of the smaller studios and leave the equipment set up all of the time. I
can record there, too, but the quality isn't quite as good. It would be
great for practicing, though," Jimmy said.

"What do you think, guys?" Isaiah asked.

"The second recording did sound great," Robbie said.

"Let's at least give him a chance," Ed said.

Paul looked angrily at everyone and then walked back to his drums. "I don't
care, one way or the other," he said. "One minute he is a total jerk, and
now he wants to be everybody's friend. He even named the band Too Young To
be Scared. Didn't everybody hear that?"

"Well, actually, you said that, not me. Remember? I asked you if you
weren't scared to embarrass yourselves and you said we are too young to be
scared. I liked the name right away, and it is better than putting unknown
on the tape, isn't it?" Jimmy asked.

"You know, I like it too," Isaiah said.

"Me too," Ed agreed.

"Why is everybody on his side all of a sudden?" Paul asked.

"Hey, everybody can be an ass hole every now and then. Especially you. We
gave you a second chance when we first started, remember? I think that is
least we can do for Jimmy. He does play really well, you know," Ed said.

"Whatever," Paul said, as he sat down behind his drums and glared at
everyone, especially Jimmy.

Brian started the recorder again. They played the same two songs a second
time and everybody knew before they had finished that the new ones were
better than the first try. Isaiah's confidence had grown greatly since
giving up the keyboard responsibility to Jimmy, and his performance just
added more life to the band. Robbie and Phill even started moving around
more when they played their solos and the whole effect was lots better. The
duel keyboard leads in `Lorelei` were especially powerful, as Isaiah got to
his feet right as the song exploded with the guitar leads dominating.

As soon as the last song was finished, Brian stopped the recording. He came
out smiling, and said, "You want me to play it back?"

"No, I don't think we need to. I think everyone knows we sound better with
Jimmy than without him. All of us needs to talk before we decide whether to
take him into the band. Can we have a few minutes alone?" Isaiah asked.

"Sure. I will just go get some of the recordings of the songs I told you
about. Take your time," Jimmy said, as he and Brian walked off.

When he was out of hearing range, everyone crowded around and Isaiah said,
"He is really good."

"He is being really nice now, but what if he goes back to how he was
before?" Paul asked sulkily.

"We can let him in the band if we decide to. We can also kick him out if we
want," Ed said. "Or, we can just beat the shit out of him like we feel like
doing to you at times."

"Really funny, big brother," Paul said, laughing. "I would really hate to
have to put some knots on your head if you tried."

"Oh yeah?" Ed asked, as he grabbed Paul. "I need a little help, guys. I
think Paul needs a little attitude adjustment like Jimmy does. Everyone
helped Ed subdue Paul and lay him down on the ground, where Tim and Tom
gleefully ticked him until tears were running down his cheeks.

"OK, OK, he can be in the damn band. I give up. QUIT!!!" Paul yelled.

Just then, Jimmy and Brian came running back into the room carrying several
cassette tapes.  "What's up? What are you doing to him? You don't have to
do that to get him to accept me in the band. If he really doesn't want me
in, I won't join."

"Actually, this has nothing to do with you. Paul needs a little attitude
adjustment every so often."  Ed said, as he walked closer to Jimmy. "You
know, your attitude earlier today wasn't very good, either," Ed continued,
as he walked around Jimmy and started to make him walk closer to the rest
of the group.

Ed was lots bigger than Jimmy, and he had a pretty mean look on his
face. Jimmy started retreating slowly, not taking his eyes of Ed. "Do you
know how we keep our band members in line when their attitude gets really
nasty, like yours was today?" Ed asked, almost sneering.

"No, how?" Jimmy asked shakily.

"Like this," Ed said, as he grabbed Jimmy's wrists with both hands. "Guys,
number two for treatment."

Everyone grabbed Jimmy, like they had Paul. Even Paul helped. Being on the
tickling side was lots better than being the one on the receiving
side. "Nooooo!!! Quit!!! I give!!!! I won't act like that ever
again. Noooo!!!" Jimmy yelled. Jimmy was especially ticklish, and his tears
started immediately, especially with so many hands available to torture
him. Brian just stood back and laughed.

"OK, I think that is enough, guys," Stan said.

"Let him up," Paul said, surprising everyone. Paul had just gone through
the same treatment, so he said that out of sympathy. Maybe he was beginning
to get over his hate for Jimmy.

Everyone now looked at Brain. "Hey, guys, I haven't said anything bad to
any of you. I am just a song writer. I don't play anything good enough to
be part of your band. I would like to work with you on some of the songs
that Jimmy and I have written, but I don't need to be number three for
treatment. I think I get the message." Everyone just laughed along with
him.

Jimmy was almost out of breath when he finally got to his feet. "You said
you only do that to band members. Does that mean I am in?" he asked,
excited.

"Almost. We need to talk to you first. You made a `fag` joke when you saw
Keith kiss Phill. The first thing is we have to get over is this. All of us
are gay. Everybody! How do you feel about that?" Isaiah asked.

"All of you?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah. All......" Isaiah paused, as he counted. "All 13 of us."

"Even them?" Brian asked, as he pointed at Tim and Tom, who went beet red
immediately.

"Yep, even them," Phill answered, smiling at his brothers. "None of us
exactly go out and tell anyone we meet, but we are gay. If either of you
have a problem with that, then we need to end this before it starts."

"No. No, it is fine with me. It's just kind of a shock, you know? I have
just not known any gay people before, and it will kind of take me a little
while to get used to the idea, but it's not a big deal for me at all. I was
just kidding around before," Jimmy answered.

"It doesn't bother me, either," Brian added.

"Yeah, kidding around. Real funny, pal. How would you like us all to kid
you that your brother is a big time rock star, and you are stuck in this
studio?" Paul sneered.

"I guess that would hurt me as much as my comment hurts you," Jimmy said
honestly, looking straight into Paul's eyes.

Paul stared at Jimmy for several seconds, and then looked away. "OK, I
still don't like this guy, but he is good. Let's play some more. I am bored
with all this talk."

"So, I am in?" Jimmy asked.

"Looks like it for now. You understand we can all vote and kick you out at
any time, don't you?"  Isaiah asked.

"Look, when we get rolling with Brian and my new songs, you are all going
to be kissing each of our butts. Let's play some more without the recording
machine on. I want to see what else you can play," Jimmy said.

"Man, that sounds like you might need another attitude adjustment to me,"
Ed said, as he walked slowly towards Jimmy.

"No!! Sorry!! I am sorry. I just want to be part of the band, not totally
control the band. I am just excited that we might actually start to perform
some of the songs that Brian and I have written.  You don't understand. My
brother is famous. Everyone thinks I am a failure because I don't have my
own band. I can't sing very well. I can do backup singing, but I can't be a
lead singer. I don't play lead guitar like my brother. Keyboards is like a
back-up instrument in a band. I thought I would be stuck here, working for
the little bit of money my father pays me to record other bands for
ever. Don't you see? I want this!!! I will do anything to make us
successful!!! I want this so bad, I can taste it. You don't know what my
life here is like. I am not gay, but if I have to suck all of you off to
get in this band, I would do so, just to get away from this place," Jimmy
said, as tears appeared in the corners of his eyes and he walked away.

"Guys, Jimmy isn't really a bad guy. He just hates it here all of the
time. Just give him a chance and you will see," Brian said.

Everyone looked at each other, and then Stan walked over to Jimmy. "Look, I
don't have a clue what you have been through, except what you have just
told us. But, we all love each other, and we will be glad to help you any
way we can," Stan said, as he put his arm around Jimmy's shoulder. "And as
for having sex with all of us, nobody here makes anyone else do anything
they don't want to do, so you can forget that."

"Thanks," Jimmy said, as he finally burst into tears and hugged Stan as he
cried. Everyone just stared for a while, looking at an entirely different
side of Jimmy for the first time.

"Hey look, you are really good. Everyone knows you are. I think you will be
a welcome addition to the band. In a few years, all of you really might
make it in music," Stan said.

"You don't get it, do you?" Jimmy asked, drying his eyes on his t-shirt and
breaking away from Stan's hug. "I don't want to be in a high school
band. OK, I am three years younger than my brother. My father pushed him
constantly to get better and better. He doesn't care about me at all,
except as a worker here. My brother made it, and I am stuck here. I helped
him the whole way. I helped him when he was writing his songs. Brian and I
are lots better at writing than he is. When I came up with a good idea, he
would just take it like it was his. He wouldn't even tell Dad the idea came
from me. My Dad is disappointed that I didn't follow my brother's
footsteps, and along the way, make him a bunch of money. Kenny is the
golden child, and I am the outcast. These guys are really good, for where
they have come from, and I will push them until we make it bigger than my
brother ever thought about. You have to understand, I am going after him,
and I won't stop until we are lots bigger in music than he ever thought of
being."

Stan just stared at Jimmy, as he tried to understand the hate he saw in his
eyes. The hate wasn't good, but he could clearly see that Jimmy was driven
in his passion. "I don't know what to say.  Everyone wants to get as good
as they can be, but you might have bigger expectations than what this band
is capable of. It isn't going to be easy, you know."

Jimmy looked up and noticed everyone looking at him. "Guys, come here a
minute please. I don't want to have to say this more than once." Everyone
walked closer, and then he continued, "I started hanging around here every
day five years ago when I was ten and Kenny was thirteen. My Dad used to
own his own record label, and we have recorded or produced some really big
bands.  We really do sound good. We sound better right now than a lot of
bands we have recorded here, no kidding. If I can get my Dad to help us by
promising to let him record our first album and be our agent, we might
really make it fairly quickly. He has years of experience, and he can make
little suggestions here and there that could really make a big difference
to our sound in the long run. Plus, he has lots of contacts as far as
getting contracts to play around the country."

"Wait a minute. We were hoping to get to play in bars around a college
campus. Now, you are talking going national. Don't you think you are being
a little unrealistic?" Isaiah asked.

"Full of shit is what I think," Paul said.

"OK, don't believe me. Just tell me that I can do anything I can to make us
succeed. I think that is fair, right? If I can't do anything I just said,
we will try to be the best local band around. Is that fair?" Jimmy asked.

"Yeah. I think we just want to take this one step at a time," Robbie said.

"OK, can we just play some more? I think I might need a little more
practice before we start headlining at the Forum in Los Angeles," Paul
said.

"There goes that attitude again. You want another treatment for it?" Ed
asked, walking slowly towards him.

"I am just tired of all the talk. We came here to be recorded, not make a
documentary," Paul answered.

"I agree. I am anxious to be able to play some more with you guys
anyway. Isaiah, pick out some more songs. Let's just play for a while, and
then I will ask Dad to come and run the recorder for us when we are
ready. He really is better than Brian or I at controlling the volumes of
all the instruments," Jimmy said.

"We can do that. We have been practicing using the sound board Keith bought
us," Tim said.

"That's great. We will need someone to do that, as well as control the
lights, when we really play.  I think it might be better to have Dad do it
when we want to record, though. I think he might have a little more
experience. What do you guys think?" Jimmy asked both Tim and Tom.

"Yeah, I think that is a good idea. He does probably have more than a
week's experience, doesn't he?" Tom asked, giggling.

Everyone broke up in laughter. "Yeah, slightly more than a week. More like
two or three weeks," Brian laughed.

The boys finally set up and started playing. Every song seemed to take on
new life with Jimmy at the keyboards and Isaiah free to sing without any
restrictions. Isaiah started to become more and more animated, and his
voice improved with his increased motions. Everyone was impressed with the
new sound, even the band members themselves.

Everything seemed to be going great. All they needed now was to convince
Mr. Shepherd to help them. That wouldn't be very easy, however. He was
still pretty mad at Jimmy.

Comments can be sent to me at fsw99@mindspring.com.