Power Chord Read Free

power. I plug the patch cord into the amp and the bass. I flip the power switch. A red light pops on, and the amp starts to hum. I feel my whole body hum with it. I set the volume down low and try again. The strings slither under my fingers. The sound vibrates right into my gut, like it’s the center of the Earth.
    All at once I can see myself on a stage with Pig and Denny. I feel music swirling all around us, loud music. I see bright lights, and beyond the lights are faces and waving arms. I want that . I want it to be me you hear at Rock ’N Bowl, especially if you are a girl.
    I start fake singing at the empty microphone stand. I blump at the bass like an idiot. Already my fingers hurt. I close my eyes and make a rock singer face. When I open them, Mom has sprouted on the stairs. I freeze in mid- blump.
    â€œSorry,” she says. “I thought you might want this.” She’s holding a battery.
    I say, “Oh. Yeah. Thanks.” I can feel my face turn the color of spaghetti sauce. This is worse than being caught on certain websites. I take off the bass, then grab the tuner from the case. “Where was it?” I ask.
    Mom smiles. “In the kitchen drawer.”
    â€œOh. I’ll just—” I’m fumbling so hard I can’t get the tuner open.
    â€œLet me try,” Mom says. She takes the tuner. She opens the back and hooks in the battery. She presses the button. Bingo. “Remember how to use it?”
    I nod.
    â€œGood,” she says. “Didn’t Chuck write out some things to get you started?”
    â€œOh yeahhh…,” I say. My face is cooling off. I look in the guitar case. There are pages with writing in pen. One says How to Tune . Another has chord charts. I remember practicing making the chords. Another sheet has bass patterns for songs marked on it. There’s “Smoke on the Water” and “Sunshine of Your Love . ” I remember Chuck showing me those. They were cool.
    Then I think of something. “Is it, like, okay to—”
    â€œTo use Chuck’s things?” Mom smiles. “I think so,” she says. “In fact, I think he’d like it. Besides, he’d have been back if anything had been important.” Her voice changes, and her smile fades.
    â€œOkay,” I say. “I thought that since he used to show me stuff…”
    She smiles again. “You’re right, he did. He was good that way.”
    â€œMaybe he forgot it,” I say.
    Now she laughs. “I wouldn’t be surprised. Forgetful was a way of life for Chuck. Remember the time he used two tins of Archie’s food by mistake in the—”
    Now I laugh and say, “Yeah, and we all had to go out for dinner.”
    Mom stops laughing. “And I paid. No, Chuck did pay. I shouldn’t be so hard on him. He was a nice guy…” Mom sighs and looks at me now. “I’m glad you’re giving this a try. Focus is good. But remember your promises, Davey.”
    David is my real name. Everybody calls me Ace because when I get asked about marks, I always sarcastically say, “A’s.” Everyone but Mom thinks it’s funny. Now I nod my head. “I know,” I say.
    â€œGood. We should get going in ten minutes.”
    I turn off the amp. Mom starts back up the stairs. “Cat food.” I hear her chuckle. She vanishes a step at a time.

Chapter Five
    â€œHow long till the next bus?” I ask.
    Pigpen shrugs. Denny is busy tweeting: nmbr1 rd. trip w/drums. need rdies nxt time 4 help. R U up 4 it girls?
    We’re at the bus stop near Pig’s house. It’s Tuesday after school, and it’s hot for late September. I’m sweating and thirsty because we’re carrying the whole drum kit. Also, the fingertips of my left hand are sore.
    I’ve tuned the instruments that are waiting at my house, and I’ve been practicing. I don’t tell Pig and Denny. I want to surprise them