‘Yeah, me on the guitar, and you on the, er… buckets.’
‘You think we can make enough money for a drum kit?’
‘I reckon this Saturday we can make enough for a down-payment. Then three, maybe four more Saturdays and we’ll have paid it off.’
‘No way.’
‘Trust me, this will sound great.’
Will was wrong about the busking.
They made enough money to pick up a second-hand drum kit that first day, and it only took one more Saturday to pay it off. They had to prise Reu off his new kit to come into the house for meals or to go to school. Will was in awe of Reu’s talent and dedication. It inspired him, and the songs kept coming. Matty came over every other night to jam. Playing together was a buzz. Even Matty had to admit – something was happening, something special.
Chapter 20
April 2016
Liv
When I tell Tom I want to move toAmplifymagazine, he’s not annoyed, he looks relieved. I take him to meet Paul Raymond, then he rings Dad, saying, ‘To be honest, mate, I didn’t know what I was going to do with her.’ Then he wishes me luck before hurrying back to his office.
And just like that, I’m working atAmplify.
Paul doesn’t waste any time. No coffee runs here. He has me listening to a new hip-hop album and tells me to have a go at writing a review.
I panic. What the hell am I going to write? But once I listen to the music, I realise I have a lot to say about it. By home time, I’ve written 722 words. I email my review to Paul and wish him a good night.
The following morning, I arrive early. My new pass lets me into the office with a happy beep. Paul is at his desk, wearing headphones.
I do a dorky wave to get his attention.
‘Liv – you’re here!’ he shouts.
‘Hi.’
He slips his headphones onto his shoulders. ‘I read your review.’
‘Oh.’ Suddenly I’m boiling.
‘It’s not bad. Not bad at all. How old are you again?’
‘I’ll be sixteen next week.’
‘In that case, it’s great. Well done. I’m going to send you some suggestions – see if you can make it even better, okay?’
‘Okay, yeah.’
‘There are a few others you can have a go at as well.’
I spend the first couple of days practising writing reviews, then Paul introduces me to the marketing assistant, and I help her come up with a month’s worth of social media posts. She even lets me write a few.
The rest of the week is a mixture of social media and fake writing projects. It’s such a buzz whenever I get a like or comment on any of the posts I’ve been involved with, and my writing must be improving because Paul is sending it back with fewer edits. There – I used the word ‘fewer’ in my own head. I’ve learned more in the last week than all the years in Miss Baker’s English class.
On the Monday of the second week, Paul asks me to join the features meeting. I recognise the permanent staff members, and he introduces me to the others who are freelancers. I take the furthest seat. Paul goes around the table asking everyone for ideas. He must be getting desperate because when he gets to me, he says, ‘What about you, Liv? Do you have any ideas for a feature?’
‘Me?’ Heat creeps up my neck to my face. ‘Uh, I haven’t really thought about it.’
‘Well, think about it now. What kind of article would you want to read inAmplify? We’re targeting a younger audience.’