For the 다음 two weeks, Les threw himself into practicing his 음악 with Jimmy. He poured all the mixed-up feelings of starting a new life and worrying about whether they might succeed into his playing and singing, and even he could tell the difference in the amount of passion coming through, especially in the sad 또는 painful songs. His improvement inspired Jimmy, who sounded better than ever, trying out new and 더 많이 creative beats on his drums. Jimmy sometimes also talked and cracked jokes to an imaginary audience between songs. Venus and Mars remained the only audience to hear this, with Mars howling approvingly after every song and Venus joining his applause in her own way 의해 thumping her tail on the floor.
And Les felt the irresistible urge to take the 다음 step. He and Jimmy were better than they had ever been, and he wanted people to hear them. He wanted to share his 음악 with the world and show them how good he was. He also kind of wanted to show his father that he had been wrong.
"I think we're ready to let other people hear us," Les said to Jimmy one day. They were out in Jimmy's backyard, where Les leaned against the porch railing while Jimmy sat on the grass, letting the 개 crawl all over him and lick his ears. "I want people to know about us. And maybe that will show my dad."
"We are ready," Jimmy agreed readily, as Venus flopped down in his lap. He scratched her behind the ears. "But Les, let's not ever worry about showing your dad, all right? He's not worth it."
Les knew Jimmy was right, but part of him just couldn't let it go. He decided not to think about it anymore for the moment. "We just need to figure out where to start playing. A restaurant 또는 a bar 또는 someplace? There has to be somewhere that would be happy to have us play."
The back door opened as he was speaking. Jimmy's dad stepped out. "Hello, boys," he greeted them. Mars bounded over to ask for a pat on the head. "Ah, yes, I meant my boys and my granddogs," he remarked as he bent down to rub Mars's fur. Standing up again, he said, "Did I hear 당신 two talking about finding a place to play your music?"
Les nodded. "Yes. I think we're ready to let people hear us."
Jimmy's dad smiled. "I've been listening to you, and I'd say you're 더 많이 than ready." Les felt a little glow of pleasure.
He went on: "I've just heard about a new club opening downtown. They're looking for some up-and-coming acts who would be willing to play and draw in an audience. It's a little ambitious for a first gig, but I think 당신 boys are up for it. What do 당신 say?"
Jimmy grinned. "Cool, Dad! What do 당신 think, Les?"
Les thought. An ambitious gig... Were they up for it? Well, Jimmy's dad thought so, and Les knew he was ready... What was he thinking?! Of course he was ready! He'd show his dad he didn't care about what he said.
Les nodded determinedly. "Let's do this."
And Les felt the irresistible urge to take the 다음 step. He and Jimmy were better than they had ever been, and he wanted people to hear them. He wanted to share his 음악 with the world and show them how good he was. He also kind of wanted to show his father that he had been wrong.
"I think we're ready to let other people hear us," Les said to Jimmy one day. They were out in Jimmy's backyard, where Les leaned against the porch railing while Jimmy sat on the grass, letting the 개 crawl all over him and lick his ears. "I want people to know about us. And maybe that will show my dad."
"We are ready," Jimmy agreed readily, as Venus flopped down in his lap. He scratched her behind the ears. "But Les, let's not ever worry about showing your dad, all right? He's not worth it."
Les knew Jimmy was right, but part of him just couldn't let it go. He decided not to think about it anymore for the moment. "We just need to figure out where to start playing. A restaurant 또는 a bar 또는 someplace? There has to be somewhere that would be happy to have us play."
The back door opened as he was speaking. Jimmy's dad stepped out. "Hello, boys," he greeted them. Mars bounded over to ask for a pat on the head. "Ah, yes, I meant my boys and my granddogs," he remarked as he bent down to rub Mars's fur. Standing up again, he said, "Did I hear 당신 two talking about finding a place to play your music?"
Les nodded. "Yes. I think we're ready to let people hear us."
Jimmy's dad smiled. "I've been listening to you, and I'd say you're 더 많이 than ready." Les felt a little glow of pleasure.
He went on: "I've just heard about a new club opening downtown. They're looking for some up-and-coming acts who would be willing to play and draw in an audience. It's a little ambitious for a first gig, but I think 당신 boys are up for it. What do 당신 say?"
Jimmy grinned. "Cool, Dad! What do 당신 think, Les?"
Les thought. An ambitious gig... Were they up for it? Well, Jimmy's dad thought so, and Les knew he was ready... What was he thinking?! Of course he was ready! He'd show his dad he didn't care about what he said.
Les nodded determinedly. "Let's do this."
Within a few days of the release of their album, Union, New Religion and the Radiant Terriers' collaboration became very popular. "Bittersweet" was released as a single, and it reached number two on the Modern Rock Charts, right behind "Inside of Us" 의해 The Devil Wants Peace. The Radiant Terriers decided to stay with New Religion until the end on their tour. Leila said, "I'm glad things are going so well now. I hope things continue to go well when we tour." The 다음 morning, the two bands began to prepare for their tour.
The Radiant Terriers were on their way to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. They had agreed to collaborate on an album with New Religion. Along the way, Leila said, "This is so exciting. We're going to be collaborating with one of my 가장 좋아하는 bands." Abigail said, "Indeed. Plus, Paul is kind of dreamy." Greeley said, "You realize he's an aromantic asexual, right?" She said, "I know." Sammy said, "Abigail has been a hopeless romantic for a long time." She said, "Yeah. It seems all the best guys are either deceased 또는 wouldn't have me." Leila said, "Don't worry, Abigail. You'll get your chance at romance someday." Abigail said, "You really think so?" Leila said, "Sure I do. 당신 deserve it." This made Abigail smile. She thought, For someone who has been through Hell and back, Leila sure is an optimistic girl. Pretty soon, the Radiant Terriers made it to Oak Ridge.
One day, New Religion had an interview where they talked about their song, "Stuck", and Fritz's retirement. Shortly after the interview aired on television, Paul got a call from his mother. She said, "I want to congratulate 당신 on your new song. It's good that 당신 asked for help when 당신 realized 당신 needed it. I always stressed to 당신 the importance of asking for help. I also want to congratulate Fritz on his retirement. When 당신 go on tour, I'll gladly stay with Fritz." Paul said, "Thank you, Mother. Yes, 당신 did stress the importance of asking for help." She said, "That's right. I always told 당신 that there's no shame in asking for help when 당신 really need it." He said, "That's right." Paul talked with his mother for a long time. Finally, she said, "I have to let 당신 go now. I'm getting ready to fix dinner." He said, "All right, Mother. Goodbye. Take care." She said, "You take care, too. I 사랑 you, Paul." He said, "I 사랑 you, too, Mother."
THE END
THE END
