London Harmony: Roctoberfest Read Online Free Page A

were still there milling about.  There were plenty of guards to watch over everyone's gear. I imagine watching for tampering as well as theft.
    So it would be ok to wander off to watch the competition perform until it was time for our setup. We only had ten minutes between sets to set up so we had to work fast when the time came.
    I saw some familiar shaggy hair heading our way and Animal popped around a stack of drums with an acknowledging smile toward us.  He was loaded down, pulling his rolling keyboard case and carrying the PA amp in the other hand with Matt's guitar and cables hanging all over his shoulder.  Matt was walking behind him holding... a paper schedule.
    I was about to sigh in frustration when Mick showed up beside Animal.  She gave him a proprietary smile as she bumped his shoulder with hers.  He blushed like always and she reached out and took the amp from the man.  I almost snorted when she shoved the amplifier into Matt's chest with a “Make yourself useful.”
    He huffed at her and looked at his hands as he lugged the amp.  “I was just watching out for my fingers.  I didn't want to strain them before we play.”
    Mick ignored him and looked at Darin and gave him a grin as she brushed some of her midnight black hair behind her ear. “Hi.”  Caroline talking about dating again had me reading more into the grin that she gave him than was there.  I shook the thought out of my head.  Good lord, what a pairing that would be though.  She'd be leading the big man around by the nose, and he'd probably love it.
    We found a spot on the lawn that was right up against the back of the stage and parked our gear.  I noted a boy sitting by some gear next to ours. He was just rocking back and forth with a blank stare off into space.  He looked around fifteen or sixteen and his facial muscles were a little slack.  He wore a Twilight t-shirt and some jeans.
    As we reorganized all of our gear on the carts, I took my drums out of their cases and stacked them on the bass so we could save setup time, a woman came around the corner and sat next to the boy.  She pushed a can of soda in his hand, but he didn't take it.
    She put her face to his ear and must have said something because he gripped the can and she kissed him on the cheek. As she got back up and I heard her say, “I'll be back after four songs James.  Four.  Then it will be my turn.”  She stood there and repeated, “James?  Four songs.”  Cool, measuring time in songs.
    He nodded with his whole body and said without focusing on anything,  “Four.  Four songs.”  She smiled and hesitated. “You sure you don't want to come watch the bands with me?”
    She prompted, “James?”  She didn't move and he looked to get frustrated.  He took one hand from the can and started slapping the gear he was next to.  “No.  People.  Too many.”  Then he covered an ear with his free hand.
    She smiled sadly at him. “Okay.  Who loves you?”
    I saw the first trace of emotion on his face as he smiled and started rocking faster.  “Sister loves me.”
    She grinned. “Damn straight.  Be back soon.”  She left and the emotion drained from him again and he started drinking the soda with both hands.  I often wondered how my younger brother, Michael turned out.  He was thirteen when I had the huge blowout fight with mum and dad when I came out.  They didn't support me in any way, they said I was sick and needed help.  They were going to force me to see a psychologist to 'fix' me.  My brother, who I had nothing but love for, turned on me too, called me some terrible slurs.  I ran and never looked back.
    It was great to see how much love this brother and sister had for each other.  Caroline asked, “What do you think Kacy?”
    I looked over and the band was all looking at me.  “Sorry, I was distracted.”
    She smiled and said, “We were just saying we should all wander around to scope out some of the competition.  The first