Musical Edd 5

Edd could not help but think about the kids back at Peach Creek the entire time he was in New York City. From every day up early for rehearsals, all through them, and even up to opening night on Broadway and beyond. The show was such a hit with him as the star, he made the front page of numerous magazines. His parents came with him as well, having not too hard of a time getting around the city seeing as so many folks themselves were from Europe and spoke other languages. Not to mention it was where they got into America—it brought back memories to them.

Evan was a major help and became a great friend with Edd. He spoke always about Finland and the festival, which was a huge deal throughout most of the world. Not that Edd really knew about it. He was never into heavy metal but he loved classical music and once Evan told him there were symphonic metal bands, Edd began to do his own research. A few bands such as Epica, Nightwish, Within Temptation, Sonata Arctica, Kamelot, Leaves' Eyes, and Serenity caught his attention.

"This sure is a different form of music," Edd muttered to himself on the flight back to Peach Creek, going through the internet to hear a few songs and wondering how well his friends might be able to get to that with the variety of instruments they played. "Impressive." Edd listened to more Nightwish songs until the plane landed.

The ride back to Peach Creek was at least an hour from Atlanta airport. When they were outside the city limits, Edd texted Eddy: We are on our way back now. How is everything?

Eddy texted back: we r prakticin in my garage, cum by when u get heer

Your grammar gave me cancer, Eddy!

Dun die b4 u git heer sockhead

Edd and his parents arrived in the cul-de-sac an hour later. Evan drove the car. The second Edd stepped out of the car, he could hear a loud but muffled garage band that sounded rather well.

"What's that noise?" His mother asked, to which Edd replied in French, "I don't know but it's coming from Eddy's garage." He acted like he had no idea what it was as he led his parents and Evan up to the door and listened outside. He could hear someone shredding on guitar, drums shaking the walls, a keyboard in between alongside a fiddle, a banjo, a flute, and someone growling to the beat like a demon.

Ed.

Edd went around to the side door and opened the door on all of the kids playing a song they had obviously made and practiced together. No to mention it looked like they had been living in there since he left town a few months ago. Blankets, chairs, and tables covered in stuff sat wherever there wasn't an instrument. There was a small TV in the corner and at one point, someone had thrown a tomato at it and never cleaned it off. Food wrappers, garbage, glasses, bottles, and a few full cans lined the far wall. The garage was trashed. Even a full ashtray sat on one of the tables.

Eddy.

There he was, jamming on a black guitar strapped with a lit cigarette in his mouth.

"EDDY!"

Everyone stopped playing and looked at him. "DOUBLE D!"

"You're back!"

Edd walked up to Eddy, snatched the cigarette, and put it out on the floor. "That's worse than your spelling."

"I'm not the only one smoking," Eddy pointed back at the corner where the Kanker sisters stood around a mic. Lee had one in her hand. "I'm putting it out anyway." She stepped on it.

Edd pointed at them. "Why—"

"We heard about the band and it just so happens, we took harmonizing classes a few years ago," May said.

"Yeah, listen to this!" For a moment, the girls harmonized a short song like a female barbershop quartet.

"Dee!" Evan spoke up, eyes widened by what he heard. "You never told me you all had your own band. Why didn't you tell me about this before?"

"We never thought we were good enough for anyone to hear us play," Edd fibbed, not even mentioning that he told them to start practicing right before he left town. Hard to believe they got so good so fast but teamwork was powerful and judging by the mess in the garage, they had been in there practicing ever since he left.

"How about you all play a song together. I'd sure love to hear you all at once."

Edd looked at the kids, who all smiled with eagerness. They were up to the challenge, but he knew none of their material. Their songs they learned.

"Double D," Jimmy walked over and handed him a paper with words on it.

Lyrics. Edd looked them over, then looked at Evan. "They wrote a new song while I was gone."

"Excellent," Evan clapped as Edd went to put the paper on a music stand. He cleared his throat, and once Kevin clapped his drumsticks three times, the song began with he and Eddy playing in tandem, then Jimmy joining on the keyboard, then Sarah playing a short jog on what used to be Ed's violin, and Johnny and Nazz dueling with the bass and banjo, and lastly, Rolf on the Irish whistle.

Edd watched the music on his sheet, waiting for when he should come in. Not until after he heard the music get slower did he start with a soft voice.

When Eddy took to playing heavy riffs and Kevin beating on the drums like he was fighting ten people at once, Edd put his voice to the test and started to sing using a high yet powerhouse vocal format he often heard in the bands he was listening to on the plane. Halfway through, some of the other kids started to harmonize behind him, giving the song more backbone straight to the finish.

Edd looked at Evan, wondering what his reaction would be. His parents were softly chatting back and forth in French—they were impressed. Evan just looked around at the kids, then at Edd.

His silence made them nervous. Perhaps he didn't like it. Perhaps he wanted Edd all to himself.

Evan walked around, throwing random trash in the bins, wiped the tomato off the TV, kicked a blanket aside, then stood at the front of the garage and looked around at everyone.

"How would you all like to go with Edd to Finland?"

Everyone burst into massive cheers. Eddy and Kevin went to town on their instruments.

"I think the festival and the metal scene will love you all. Tell me!"

They silenced.

"Does your band have a name?"

Everyone paused. They did not.

Edd scratched his head until something came to him. "Symphony of Ed." He waited for anyone to protest, but all he heard were mutters of praise.

"I like it!" Evan approved.

It was just as Edd and everyone imagined. Their world debut, on a stage before thousands of people in Helsinki. The same stage as some of the bands Edd researched, and even a symphony orchestra and choir backing them up, just as they had backed up the other bands. It was a bit of a challenge having their few songs backed by a symphony orchestra but it just boosted their confidence and adrenaline more than they ever imagined. They were ready to go on before the orchestra and choir was finished with their intro. Each one of them went onstage one at a time.

First was Rolf with his Irish whistle as he played it from the side of the stage beside the orchestra.

Eddy went out with his guitar wailing as he stepped onstage through illuminated fog.

Then Sarah joined the orchestra with her fiddle, rising up through a hole in the stage.

Kevin came in on the drums, his silhouette dark in the blue fog.

A light hit Jimmy on the keyboard, playing an eerie piano bit.

Nazz stepped in on bass with Johnny coming in on the other end of the stage with his banjo.

Ed ran out, growling something that made the metalheads in the crowd throw up devilhorns. The Kankers stood back by the choir, harmonizing with them.

Lastly, a series of pyrotechnics shot up and onto the stage Edd strode, mic in hand, voice on full blast, and crowd going wild.

After a few songs, another band came out to join them. Edd looked around to recognize them as the members of Epica and with them he and his band performed a song called Deign Your Universe together. At one point, Edd even had the courage to yank off his hat and swing his hair around with the rest of the members of Epica, soon joined by Eddy even though he only had 3 hairs. It was still fun.

The stage was huge with all kinds of upper and lower levels, banners, and décor. Edd had never in his life felt so confident, so awesome, and in the land in which his father came from. He had all of his friends with him. The crowd loved him.

Though he would never change his modest personality and love for less 'cool' things like science, books, and math, Edd was on top of the world with his newfound talent and stardom with his friends.