Rocky Road

by Susannah McFarlane

  ‘Hey what’s happening? Let me out! Don’t you know who I am? I have an encore to sing!’ shouted Shady Lady.

  ‘I certainly do know who you are and you won’t be singing any encore,’ said EJ, although she knew that Shady Lady couldn’t hear her. ‘The only singing you’ll be doing will be in a SHINE security centre.’

  Pinky-poo jumped on to her cushion and EJ went over to Shady Lady’s laptop. Sitting on the desktop was the re-mix of ‘Rock ’n’ Shine’ with the new lyrics. Somewhere in those lyrics was the upload code.

  EJ studied the words. It was only the first part that was different, so that must be the bit that contained the upload code. The words to the last song of the last concert that contained the last code. Last, the last word ... Could that be it? EJ took the mouse and highlighted the last word of every line in the song.

  Once EJ had highlighted the last word of every line of the song she then copied the words down onto the back of her concert ticket.

  EJ was disappointed; she had been so sure that she had cracked the code. She read the words again, and then she smiled as she wrote the words out again, only in a slightly different way this time.

  That was it, EJ knew it would be, the final upload code that would rock the SHINE network: 1-4-2-1. Except now it wouldn’t rock anything.

  Feeling rather happy with herself, EJ called A1.

  ‘Hello EJ12. How are you getting on? What do we know about False Note?’ asked A1.

  ‘Quite a bit. I have discovered what False Note is. It’s a computer virus that has been sent out in Pink Shadows songs.’

  ‘But surely our virus software would have picked it up,’ said A1.

  ‘No, that is where SHADOW has been really clever. It only becomes a virus once the final code has been uploaded and that was going to be given to SHADOW agents in the last song at the concert tonight. The song had been re-written to include the upload code. Once the SHADOW agents received it through their crazy hair and headsets, they would upload it to the internet, activating False Note, causing computer chaos everywhere. But not anymore,’ said EJ feeling rather pleased with herself.

  ‘Well done EJ12! You have done a fabulous job,’ said A1. ‘But there is just one more thing we need to do to bring the curtain down on SHADOW.’

  ‘What’s that A1?’ asked EJ, worried that she had forgotten something.

  ‘Well, I was just thinking, shouldn’t that final song be playing now?’ asked A1.

  ‘Well it should be, but it won’t because I have Shady Lady locked in her own practice room. She will not be singing any more songs. She won’t be going anywhere.’

  ‘Good work EJ,’ said A1 ‘but...’

  ‘Yes A1?’ asked EJ. Have I forgotten something else? she wondered to herself.

  ‘Don’t worry EJ, you haven’t forgotten anything but we still have a problem. If Shady Lady doesn’t go back on stage for her encore, the SHADOW agents will become suspicious. We don’t want that.’ A1 was silent for a moment ‘No, EJ, I have an idea. The show must go on. The show will go on. The final song must be sung but not with the message the SHADOW agents are expecting.’

  ‘Great idea!’ cried EJ, who seemed to know what A1 was thinking. ‘We can send them a new message, something that will make them come right to us. We will be able to arrest all those SHADOW agents.’

  ‘Exactly,’ said AI. ‘Great minds think alike, EJ12.’

  ‘That’s brilliant, A1 but who will sing the new message?’ asked EJ12. She couldn’t think who SHINE would be able to send.

  ‘Oh, I would have thought that was obvious, EJ12. You, of course.’

  That was not obvious and it was no longer a great idea. A1 had to be kidding.

  But EJ knew she wasn’t. A1 didn’t kid on missions.

  A1’s plan made perfect sense. EJ would change the words of the song to set a trap for the SHADOW agents. Rather than give them the upload code, a new message would direct them all backstage, where SHINE would be waiting for them.

  As Shady Lady changed her clothes and makeup several times during a concert, no one would notice if she wasn’t wearing the same outfit when she returned for the encore. EJ could simply change into one of her costumes and create a mask with make-up so the audience wouldn’t be able to tell that it wasn’t Shady Lady on stage. EJ could then use her guitar charm to be able to ‘play’ Shady Lady’s guitar. It all made perfect sense—right up until the part where it was EJ singing the song.

  EJ took a deep breath. ‘A1, I don’t think I can do the last bit. Why don’t I just change the code and someone else can come and sing the song? I don’t know, perhaps someone who has performed in a concert stadium before?’ She wanted to add, ‘perhaps someone who didn’t ruin a Kinder concert,’ but didn’t.

  ‘There’s no time for that, EJ. Shady Lady should be on stage right now and you are the only agent we have there. Just stay calm, EJ, and take one step at a time. Change the song code, then change into your costume and then pop on stage and sing the song. Good luck, EJ12. SHINE out.’

  ‘Pop on stage and sing the song,’ mumbled EJ a bit crossly. ‘That’s easy for you to say. But okay, one step at a time, let’s look at the song. I need to change the first five lines to make a message from the last words of each line. Hmm.’

  EJ looked at the lyrics, thought for a bit then scribbled some new words down.

  They weren’t the most fantastic song words but at least the code worked. EJ double-checked it, just to make sure.

  That should do it, thought EJ.

  And then the rest of the chorus was the same, just like in Shady Lady’s version.

  No, actually, thought EJ, it’s SHADOW who is going to be rocked and SHINE’ s time to shine!

  Next EJ needed to change. It was lucky Shady Lady was so small because EJ could wear her costumes. She picked out some leather pants, a purple singlet and some necklaces. On her right arm, where Shady Lady had her tattoo, EJ put on a black armband. Then, using the stage make-up on the table, EJ began to draw. On her face. She drew pink, purple and orange swirls around her eyes until it was as if she was wearing a mask, a mask that would stop anyone guessing that she wasn’t Shady Lady, at least for a little while.

  EJ picked up one of Shady Lady’s guitars and, using her spy-pod and guitar charm, uploaded ‘Rock ’n’ Shine’ for lead guitar. She would now ‘play’ like a rock goddess, just like Shady Lady.

  But EJ didn’t feel like a rock goddess and didn’t think she could perform like one either. Maybe in her bedroom she could but not in a packed rock stadium.

  EJ12 was going to need some help. A lot of help.

  The crowd’s chants were getting louder and were sounding slightly impatient.

  EJ was still in the dressing room. She would very much like to have stayed there but knew she had to go on stage. She had to deliver the message, she just didn’t know how she was going to be able to. What if she just froze, like she did in the Kinder concert? Or forgot the words—that would be a disaster. Everyone would know she wasn’t Shady Lady and the SHADOW agents would escape. But hold on a moment, she thought to herself, I know the words, and I know them backwards. Elle and I sing this song all the time.

  Elle, that was exactly who EJ needed. She took out her phone and called her BESTie.

  ‘Hi there,’ Elle’s voice was bright and cheery despite it being quite late. ‘How can I help?’

  EJ didn’t really know where to start. ‘Elle, why don’t you mind singing in front of people?’

  ‘I don’t really think about the other people, I just think about the song and the music. Why? What made you think about that? I thought you were OM?’ said Elle.

  OM was how EJ and her BESTies described EJ being on a mission. They made it up themselves and they thought it sounded very spy-like, very secret.

  ‘I am,’ replied EJ, ‘that’s why I need to know.’

  ‘Okay, well,’ said Elle, ‘actually I don’t think about the people at all, I think about the song. I get lost in the song. Doe
s that help?’

  ‘Sort of,’ replied EJ.

  ‘There’s something else that might help,’ said Elle. ‘My mum used to say that you should try to imagine the audience in their underwear, then you can’t possibly be nervous about them, because they look so silly.’ She giggled.

  EJ giggled too. She felt better just talking to her friend. ‘I’m not sure that helps, Elle, but it is funny.’

  ‘Hey, you’re not still worried about the talent concert are you?’

  ‘Well no, actually yes,’ replied EJ, ‘but this is another concert, and a little bigger than the school one.’

  ‘How much bigger?’

  ‘A lot,’ said EJ, ‘like a whole stadium bigger.’

  ‘You are kidding me!’ cried Elle. Then she paused before talking again. ‘Hang on, you’re at the Pink Shadows concert aren’t you? I know, you can’t answer that, but you have to be. I can’t believe it, you are so lucky!’ shrieked Elle. ‘That is so cool, you are like a real rock star!’

  ‘Yeah, a rock star who is too shy to sing,’ said EJ glumly. ‘Elle, I just don’t think I can even walk out on stage let alone sing and I have to sing “Rock ’n’ Shine”. Now. And I can’t.’

  ‘You can and hey, I have an idea,’ said Elle, ‘why don’t we sing it together, just like in your room?’

  ‘How?’

  ‘You still have that fancy phone, right?’ said her friend.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Okay, keep me on the phone and plug in your earphones and I’ll sing with you—we’ll sing a secret duet. Hey, then I will be a rock star too! What do you think?’

  EJ thought it was a fantastic idea. With her friend singing with her, she thought she just might be able to do it. As she took out her phone, she noticed the little heart charm on her bracelet and twisted it. As she did, an inscription appeared,

  EJ smiled. With the help of her friend she just might be able to shine after all. She plugged in her earphones.

  ‘Are you still there Elle?’ she checked.

  ‘Are you kidding, where would I go? I wouldn’t miss this for anything. This is going to be so cool, just wait until we tell...’

  ‘Elle!’ said EJ. ‘You know you mustn’t tell anyone about this, ever.’

  ‘I know, sorry, just forgot. My lips are sealed. Well, after we’ve finished singing they will be!’

  ‘Okay, well here goes,’ said EJ quietly. She got up, tickled Pinky-poo under her chin and left the dressing room. ‘I’m walking up the corridor and onto the side of the stage. The lights are so bright, Elle.’ EJ could feel her mouth go dry as she spoke.

  ‘Awesome,’ cried Elle. ‘What are we waiting for? Let’s go!’

  EJ walked on stage, the crowd went crazy. The other members of the band looked at EJ and then looked at each other. Could they tell? If they could, it was too late—a spotlight swung on to EJ as she stepped up to the microphone.

  ‘Here we go, Elle,’ she whispered to her friend. ‘Stay with me, won’t you?’

  ‘I’m here, all the time. Let’s rock!’

  EJ took a deep breath, pressed play on the guitar charm and spoke into the microphone, ‘Here’s one last song for all you SHADOWs out there. It’s a special re-mix of “Rock ’n’ Shine”!’

  The crowd roared. EJ waited for the drums to start, then the bass, then the keyboard. Then EJ’s guitar let rip and she and Elle began to sing. Even though they were right in front of her, EJ didn’t really see the audience, she didn’t notice the spotlights or the lasers. She didn’t even really notice the other band members, who were giving her slightly odd looks. She just sang, she sang her heart out with her BESTie, just like in her bedroom, although with better speakers! And EJ loved it, she loved every minute of it. The crowd did too but all too soon it was over. The moment the song finished, the stadium went black and all EJ could see was a steady stream of fluorescent pink hair moving towards the backstage area. The plan was working like a song.

  EJ had done it.

  ‘Thanks heaps, Elle,’ whispered EJ. ‘I’ve got it from here. See you at school.’

  As the stage lights came back on and the audience began to leave, EJ quickly slipped back to Shady Lady’s dressing room. She had one more thing to do.

  Back in the dressing room, Pinky-poo was excited to see EJ and another Chum Chew made her even more so. EJ took out her phone and pressed 4-6-6-3 into the keypad and a woman’s voice answered immediately.

  ‘ SHINE Home Delivery Service—straight to your door any time, anywhere.’

  ‘Agent EJ12 requesting home delivery, express please,’ replied EJ.

  ‘Roger that,’ said the woman, ‘and for how many this time, EJ12?’

  EJ thought, she wasn’t completely sure. ‘Maybe about 500,’ she said.

  ‘Oh, we’ve already started rounding the SHADOW agents up. They were easy to see with that pink hair! We also picked up Shady Lady earlier. Good job, EJ12. This mission should see you win big points in the Shining Stars competition. So, is it just you for the limo?’

  ‘Well,’ started EJ.

  ‘EJ12?’

  ‘Just one extra,’ she said looking at Pinky. ‘Shady seems to have left her dog behind.’

  ‘Okay EJ, make your way to the back of the stadium. Agent REV1 is waiting for you there. SHINE out.’

  EJ changed back into her clothes and removed her make-up. With Pinky under her arm, she left the dressing room and headed for the backstage door. Sure enough, the long white limo was waiting outside, with Agent REV1 standing by the open door.

  ‘Well done EJ,’ she smiled. ‘I saw you from the back of the stadium. You were awesome. Do you think you might take on the role of lead singer of the Pink Shadows permanently? I hear there’s a vacancy and having seen you perform, you would be great.’

  ‘Thanks but I don’t think so,’ laughed EJ as she got into the car. ‘I think I’ll stick to school concerts.’

  ‘Well settle back and enjoy the drive home,’ said Agent REV1.

  EJ did just that. She made herself another raspberry spider and relaxed. Then her phone rang. It was A1.

  ‘Well done you, EJ12. Another outstanding mission.’

  ‘Thanks A1. What about the False Note virus? Were we able to stop it?’ asked EJ.

  ‘Stop it and destroy it,’ reassured A1, ‘It’s all gone.’ We have been able to clean it from the internet and Shady Lady is now singing solo under SHINE guard. You will be pleased to know that the other band members didn’t know anything about Shady Lady’s plot so you haven’t lost one of your favourite bands after all. They will find a new lead singer and be back in the charts in no time, I am sure.’

  EJ smiled. ‘That’s great. I won’t miss Shady Lady but I was going to miss the Pink Shadows’ songs, they’re fantastic.’

  ‘Yes, they are quite groovy,’ agreed A1. EJ smiled at A1’s choice of adjective as A1 continued, ‘Oh, and one more thing, EJ.’

  ‘Yes A1?’

  ‘A message from your mum: no more pets.’

  ‘Oh no,’ said EJ looking at Pinky.

  ‘Don’t worry, Agent REV1 has been looking for a little dog. I think she may have just found one. That’s all, EJ12. SHINE out.’

  The driver’s window slid back. ‘I’ll take good care of her, EJ,’ said Agent REV1. ‘No more perfume and pedicures and definitely no more being squashed into handbags. She will get plenty of exercise. But you should get some rest now. I hear you have a big week coming up.’

  The talent competition. EJ had nearly forgotten about that. But now, as she stretched out to take a nap, she realised that she wasn’t nervous, just excited. She couldn’t wait to perform with her friends. And she had a great idea about how Squishy Music could do their song.

  The next Friday at school was the big day, the We’ve Got Talent competition. The school hall had been set up like a concert stadium and was packed with students and parents. The atmosphere was electric!

  Squishy Music was backstage waiting to go on. The girls’ act was after
the boy burping the alphabet and before the preps pretending to be leaves. Emma had butterflies in her stomach but they were the excited butterflies not the really nervous ones.

  ‘Hey, where’s Nema and her band?’ asked Emma. ‘I can’t see them listed on the program.’

  ‘No, they split up,’ said Hannah. ‘Apparently Nema got too bossy, even for the Nemettes, so they left the band. When Nema tried to register as a solo act, the teachers said it was too late.’

  ‘Oh, that’s a pity,’ said Emma. Even though she didn’t think Nema had been very nice, she did feel a little sorry for her.

  ‘Maybe she will be less bossy to her friends now,’ said Hannah. ‘How good would it be if Nema was nice again?’

  Emma agreed but she wouldn’t count on it happening. Nema just seemed to be bossy all the time these days. Emma missed the old Nema.

  ‘Anyway, who’s going to be the lead singer?’ asked Isi. ‘We still haven’t decided.’

  ‘You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, Em,’ said Hannah.

  ‘No, it’s fine Han, it is really. And, actually, I had an idea,’ said Emma. ‘Why don’t Elle and I do it together as a duet?’

  ‘That could be amazing,’ agreed Isi, ‘but have you practised?’

  ‘I think we will be okay,’ said Emma, smiling at her friend, who was beaming right back at her.

  There was a teacher talking on stage, introducing the next act.

  ‘Hey, that’s us,’ said Elle. ‘Come on!’