Page 15 of Voice to Raise
“Sheesh, you’re as distractible as he is.” She chewed her fingernail. “In fact, we were discussing you when he got this sort of weird look on his face. I had to snap his attention to me as well.”
“I’m paying attention.”
“Are you? Really? Because I’m not getting that sense at all. Your head’s in the clouds. Are you thinking about Grindstone? They’re performing tonight, right?”
“Yep. I know a guy who’s going to try to record their new song on his phone. I mean, the recording will be crap, but I’m supercurious. They haven’t performed in a while, and I’m wondering what Axel’s been up to.”
Blossom pursed her lips.
Uh-oh.“But we’re focused on today.”
“When’s Razor Made’s next concert?”
“We don’t have anything for a couple of weeks. We’ve got several practices lined up and one day in the recording studio.We know which track we want to lay down, and we’ve got one day to do it.”
“Have you thought any more about writing a theme for This Land is Ours?”
Oops.“I keep meaning to. Just…that feels inadequate, you know? For the magnitude of the problems we’re facing. The existentialism and all that.”
“Exactly.” She tapped her perfectly manicured nail on the table.
“When’s the next protest?”
“There’s something in late November.”
“That far out?”
“Well, the Vancouver city council is meeting about a bylaw amendment. It’s not directly linked to a pipeline, but it’s definitely a step backward in the climate change fight. I think Spencer’s secured a spot to speak. He’ll be busy preparing for that.”
“When’s the meeting?”
“Monday night.”
A plan started to coalesce in my mind. I had some research to do this weekend—along with jamming. Yeah, I could juggle both. I snagged my phone and sent a message to our band’s group chat, reminding everyone we were gathering in my basement this weekend. My parents had created a rehearsal space for me—for my violin—but I’d spent some money after they died, converting it into a bigger space.
The house was far away from both our neighbors, so sound wasn’t an issue. Acoustics was, though, and my basement setup was the best of all the places we could hang—except the actual recording studio, of course.
Creed, Reese, and Freddie all sent thumbs-ups.
Blossom tried to see my screen.
“Just the guys acknowledging we’re meeting at my place this weekend.”
“Reese, too?”
I frowned. “Well, yeah.”
“Reese identifies as female, right?”
“Yeah.”Where is she going with this? Is she interested in Reese?
“Well, if Reese identifies as female, then maybeguysisn’t the right term. Maybe sayfolks?”
I wrinkled my nose. “Mama and Papa Murthi are Creed’sfolks. That term doesn’t suit my bandmates.” Although her point about inclusivity was noted.
She shrugged. “I just don’t want Reese to feel excluded.”
I snickered. “Reese is practically in charge of all of us. Bassist extraordinaire. Talented musician. Fantastic composer. Her lyrics usually need polishing—that’s what I’m for.”
