Chapter Three-Part Two

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((AKA PIC COURTESY OF KIT))

Hey, Birdman!" screeched Eddy, leaning out of the patio door with his hands behind him on the frame. "You coming to the garage or what?"
"Garage? Were practising in a garage?!? Theyre so cold this time of year!" nagged Edd. He followed Melissa and the other Eds towards the garage. "And another thing, Eddy! Do you know what kind of bacteria and lethal substances are inside a typical... oh my word!" Edd gasped with amazement as he walked into the garage expecting a filthy ramshackle hovel with mildew down the walls and the insufferable stench of gas and car products. Boy, was he wrong! Melissa invited them in to a state-of-the-art recording studio and playing space, complete with all the necessary electrical equipment and HI-FI surround-sound!"
"Jackpot, Double-D!" whispered Eddy throatily, but with utter excitement.
"My grandma installed everything me and my brother and sister could possibly need when were making music." She boasted.
"How the heck did that old ba- I mean, your grandmas such a sweet lady doing all this for you three!" gushed Eddy, phoniness in his voice as he put his hands on Melissas arm affectionately.
"How on Earth did she scrape all the money together to get this wonderful recording studio?" He drooled greedily.
"Oh, didnt I tell you?" Melissa remarked. "Ronnie, my grandmas husband, was also the manager of Tina Twinkle and the Candybeets..."
Eddy began frothing at the mouth. "for 20 years..."
Eddy began doing an insane little jittery dance on the spot, dollar signs flashing wildly in his shifty eyes. Melissa looked at him like he had 3 heads.
"until they quit and he got managers royalties..." She stammered.
That was the straw on the camels back for Eddy. With the ecstatic flashing of cash in his eyes he felt dizzy and fainted. Ed caught him just before he plummeted to the floor.
"What have you done, Evil temptress from planet Vegas disguised as Melissa?!?" he shouted accusingly at her.
"Now, now Edd, give Eddy some room to breathe, please." Said Edd, fanning him with a newspaper. "Stand aside, Double D! I must give Eddy C3PO!" Edd gulped a colossal breath of air and dived towards Eddys face. Just before he gave Eddy the kiss of life (or death, Ed hasnt got the daisy-freshest breath in the world, know!), Eddys eyes snapped open and he squealed.
"Ed, you maniac, what are you doing?!?" he crowed.
"Ed was trying to resuscitate you, Eddy!" explained Edd.
"Hes not my type anyway, Double D!" snubbed Ed. Melissa,
flustered, helped Ed and Edd drag Eddy to the plush leather manhattan
couch in the corner-smoooooooth!
"Id better get you a glass of"-
The phone in the hallway rang again, and Melissa sighed cynically.
"Oh, its probably Jimmy again."
"Jimmy?!?" snorted Eddy. "Why would the Frog Prince be calling you?!?"
"Oh I almost forgot!" she giggled. "Ive put a notice up in
school for anyone wanting piano lessons."
"Oh great!" hissed Eddy to Edd. Just then the doorbell rang.
"Wow, its been non-stop today!" laughed Melissa as she
walked out to answer it. "Travis, get the phone for me!"
"You get it!" a gruff voice shouted down the stairs.
"No, you get it!" Melissa argued. "Yeah okay... you're worse than my mother... " the voice growled.Eddy snapped up off the couch with excitement.
"Did you hear what she said about this guy Ronnie?!?" He squealed, wringing Edds shirt and shaking him vigorously.
" Eddy, your voice can be quite irritating sometimes." Complained Edd, wiping the spit off his face.
"Say it, dont spray it!" blurted Ed.
"Look around you, Double D! Theyre loaded!" Eddy spluttered.
"Your arrogance never ceases to amaze me, Eddy!" he scolded gravely. "Its not enough that you ripped"-
Eddy blocked Edds mouth to keep him quiet. "Did you just shove your clammy hand halfway down my throat?" reprimanded Edd. "As I was saying" he continued in a whisper. " ...It wasnt enough that you tore a gaping hole in Melissas tapestry-which I feel totally ashamed about-but now you want to use her facilities to your own end! You can just about be civil to her!"
"Lighten up, bandylegs! This house is a juicy golden goose ready for plucking" Eddy sprawled himself on the stylish sofa. "And Im the one holding the tweezers!"
"hey guys!" shouted Melissa from the hallway. " A few of the kids from the cul-de-sac have turned up for lessons!"
"What is she, Julie Andrews?!?" Scoffed Eddy, running to the door. His insides plummeted when he saw Rolf, Sarah, Jimmy , Johnny, Plank and Nazz standing in the hallway with Melissa.
"Wow, Melissa! Your home is beautiful!" complemented Nazz, her eyes flicking around at the marble stairs, the exquisite hand-carved Burmese statues and the Axminster rugs that ran all the way through the house.
"Thats not all!" boasted Melissa, linking Nazz arm and leading her towards the basement stairs. They walked down and plonked themselves on the bunch of beanbags in the corner. Melissa grabbed a remote control and aimed it towards the wall. It unfolded and a really funky Jukebox rolled out. It stood taller than the girls, with neon lights and CDs floating and rotating in the centre.
"Awesome!" Nazz gushed as she ran her hands over the front. She pushed the menu button and her eyes lit up when she saw all the artists listed. "Can we play something?!?" she chirped.
"Sure, knock yourself out, girl!" Said Melissa, hi-fiving her.
"Hey, Mr Jukebox, put a record on, I wanna dance with my baby!" sang Nazz as she put the code in.
"Hey guys! Check this out!" Shouted Nazz up the stairs.The kids stampeded to the basement and gaped when they saw the huge jukebox flash orange and red. The Eds followed nosily.
"Its so glamorous, Sarah!" swooned Jimmy, running around like a little elf. Sarah grunted in reply as she watched Melissa enviously. She had noticed only too well Edd's attentions towards her and liking it she was not."Yah, Melissa! Your home is so suave!" said Rolf.
Just then "Rock Around the clock Tonite" blasted out of the 4 speakers around the room.
"One, two, threeoclock, four o clock rock!" sung Nazz, punching the air.
Eddy felt his heart flutter.
"Five, six, seven o clock, eight o clock rock!" chorused Melissa, back to back with her. Edd felt weak at the knees.
"Nine, ten, eleven o clock, twelve o clock rock, were gonna rock, around, the clock tonight!" Eddy bellowed, plucking up his courage and grabbing hold of Nazz hand, jiving like a real teddy-boy.
"A fine choice, Nazz! This song is a favourite of my country, second only to the hokey-cokey!" said Rolf, swinging his hips.
"Lets get funky!" shouted Ed as he jiggled his legs.
"Move over Ed, this is my song!" purred Edd, clicking his fingers and strutting his stuff into the room. "May I have this dance?" he held his hand out to Melissa nervously. Sarah gritted her teeth to herself as she shimmied with Jimmy.
"Who does she think she is, muscling in on my sockhead?!?" she boiled with resent while at the same time trying to be the embodiment of festivity. Sarah's wildcat nature simmered under her angelic smile. She looked again at Melissa, and had the strangest feeling she knew her from somewhere.
"I gotta admit...she's really pretty!" she thought to herself. Sarah momentarily din't know whether to abhor or admire
her rival. This feeling was soon overcome with raw
fury as Sarah watched Double Dee's romantic saga unfurl...
"I thought youd never ask!" Melissa giggled, taking Edd's hand and joining Eddy and Nazz in the
centre of the room. Edd grinned broadly and Eddy winked at him.
"Easy, tiger!" he cackled, clawing the air
like a tabby-cat, and laughing haughtily as he catched Sarah give
Melissa daggers.
"She's like a porcelain doll, Sarah! " sighed Jimmy.
"You're kidding, right?" scoffed Sarah unconvincingly.
Edd felt the blood rush to his face as Melissa shook her head, a blush in her cheeks too.
"I have no idea what Eddy's insinuating!" Lied Edd with an introvert smile as he span Melissa out.
"I think I do!" she said flirtatiously as she span back into him. Edd giggled with embarrassment and shot an icy look at Eddy. "You are so dead, mister!" he hissed.
"Have fun!" Eddy laughed, shaking his money-maker with Nazz.
" I cant take my eyes off Melissa either, Plank!" laughed
Johnny, shimmying up to Sarah and Jimmy, who were doing the Jump, Jive n wail.
"Show em what youre made of, Jimmy!" squealed Sarah competitively
as they wiggled their waists. Rolf picked her up and sat her on his shoulders. "whee!" she squealed.

(PIC BY RACH)

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<BGSOUND SRC="music/rockclock.mid" LOOP="-1">

"Ya-Ya! Time for Rolf to show off his Bugaloo!" cutting in between Edd and Melissa. Sarah brimmed with triumph as Melissa and Edd gaped with offence.
"Pardon me, Rolf." Peeped Edd, tapping his shoulder as he, Melissa and Sarah boogied.
"Why the interruption, Head-in-the-sock Ed-boy?" Edd lost his nerve.
"Oh never mind." He muttered as he went to sit on the couch.
"Plank wants to dance with you, Double D!" said Johnny with glee, shoving his splinter-ridden companion into Edds chest.
"Id be delighted." Edd mumbled cynically, looking over at Melissa and Rolf as he swung her up in the air."Mission accomplished!" beamed Sarah. "Smile while ya can, Missy!" She
snarled under her breath as Melissa danced girlishly,
unaware of Sarah's want to squash her like a bug.
"Dancing with a piece of wood, boy Im getting desperate."
Said Edd under his breath as he and Johnny did the funky chicken around Plank.
"Who out of this peanut gallery is with me for guitar lessons?" said a voice from the doorway. The kids turned around to see who it was.
"I think the circus is in town!" sniggered Eddy. Travis stood in the doorway with his guitar over his shoulder. He looked very menacing in his frayed "Rex Pistols" vest, black and red sparring gloves, multi-coloured hair, kilt, spiked dog collar, purposely hole-ridden blue and red football socks and army boots. Dont forget the teddy-bear head he used for a sporran.
"Hes got socks like yours, Double D." pointed Ed.
"Not quite like mine, Ed." Shirked Edd.
"I am, Mister Punkman!" chirped Sarah. "Cmon Jimmy!" she said, dragging Jimmy along, his brace banging on the floor.
"Has anyone ever told you your hair resembles the aftermath of my nana's pre-chewed 7-course dinner?" squawked Rolf as he walked with Travis to the recording studio/garage.
"Ive been told it resembles a few things, but that I'll take as a compliment, my man!" grunted Travis, a small smile on his cynical face

PIC BY RACH
"The patterns on your loincloth bring tears to Rolfs eyes, Moth ridden Trav-boy!" gushed Rolf.
"Manly, yes, but I like it too!" smirked Travis. He and Rolf fell about laughing.
"Well, theyre psychologically normal." Said Edd sarcastically, walking with Ed and Eddy a few yards behind them.
"Hows wearing a kilt normal?" scoffed Eddy.
"Kilts are so Neanderthal." Whimpered Jimmy, hiding behind Sarah, shivering. "He scares me Sarah, look at his monstrous concept of make-up!"
"Dont worry Jimmy, just think of him as a Panda." She cooed, holding his hand.
The kids sat down on the couches while Travis set up the instruments. Jimmy cowered behind Sarah as Rolf had his head buried in the corner of the sofa sniffing the new leather.
"Ah Fresh!" he chirped.
"So um Travis." peeped Edd, trying to make polite conversation to break the awkward atmosphere. "What instrument do you play? Ive been playing the pedal and portable steel guitar for the past 2 years. My friend Eddy here can play the saxophone." He grinned.
"I wont sleep tonight knowing that." Grunted Travis, pulling the keyboard out of the closet for Jimmy.
"Well" huffed Edd. "He wont be getting the gold award for social skills this year will he?"
"Forget him!" snapped Eddy. "Whats going on with Dusty Sockhat, is she still down there with Nazz and Johnny?"
"Dont forget Plank!" interrupted Ed.
"Good riddance." breathed Sarah silently as she flicked her eyes sneakily at Edd.
"Quit staring at me, Sarah!" Snapped Eddy, noticing her gaze."Or should I say...quit staring at Double Dee? he-he-he!!"
"In his dreams, bub!!" scoffed Sarah defiantly, turning a rouge colour. Edd gulped with fright. Could it be possible Sarah still fancied him?
"I hope for Melissa's sake she doesn't...Sarah's quite the Amazon!" he panicked to himself.

<. PIC BY RACH
"Are you preppies ready or what?" said Travis gruffly, sitting on a stool with his guitar in his hand.
"were not preppies!" screeched Eddy. "Um double D whats a preppie?"
"Uptown kids, I presume." Pondered Edd. " I think anyone whos spoilt, rich, and goes to a la-de-da school is considered a preppie. 1 out of 3 isnt bad, Eddy!" smirked Edd. Eddy scowled and leaped up from the couch.
"If anyones a preppie its you, spiky!" mocked Eddy. "Look at the house you live in! Its no good selling the hard-core act to us! We the Eds, are smarter than"-
"Muffins?" suggested Ed.
"No, Ed were smarter than"-
"parakeets?"
"Shurrup already!" snapped Eddy, pinching Ed's mouth. "I challenge you to a duel Trav, my boy!" said Eddy.
"I, I dont want to fight Eddy!" whimpered Edd. "Please reconsider! Hes frightening me!"

PIC BY RACH
"Choose your weapon!" sneered Travis. He opened up the huge store cupboard on the wall, filled with instruments. Eddy gave Travis a menacing look as he reached for a beautiful brass saxophone off the shelf. He struggled in vain to reach it but failed.
"Need a boost, stubby?" laughed Travis. Eddy growled hatefully.
"Ed, Double D, some help here!" screeched Eddy, hanging off the shelf.
"Ill save you Eddy!" charged Ed.
"Oh my, physical activity!" wheezed Edd.
Eddy scrambled for the saxophone and finally got it.
"Hurry up Eddy, my arms are about to give way to your great
weight! Oh the insanity!" squealed Edd, holding one arm up while
Ed held both legs. Travis shook his head, his arms folded and laughing patronisingly.
"Ive got it already, Double D, jeez! Put me down!" ordered Eddy. "En-Guarde, knave!" he bellowed, whipping the saxophone belt over his shoulder.
"Get ready to dance, Cowboy!" jeered Travis as he struck the guitar strings ferociously, making them quake and echo through the entire house. He jabbed his hand from top to bottom, banging out notes high and low. He literally made the guitar cry. Eddy gulped with apprehension.
"Hows it going in here huh?" Melissa walked in on the duel of music, and Travis fighting wildly with the fratboard. With one last screech of the strings he stopped and smirked at Eddy.
"Tell it to the judge, old man!" he said confidently.
"Whats going on, Double D?" asked Melissa. "Theyre duelling... pathetic isnt it?" mumbled Edd.
Sarah glared at Melissa, but grinned toothily when she turned around. Eddy took a deep breath, his hands perspiring madly, and his temples banging. He took the sax to his mouth and blew as hard as he could, hammering out the random notes with no synchronism at all. Edd put his hand over his face in shame and Travis grimaced.
"Wow, youre real good." He cackled. Eddy seethed and with a gallant air played one of his favourite tracks by The Man himself, Tom Jones, "Its not unusual". Eddy had heard this song a million and one times so he didnt need a songsheet to play it. As he tamed the saxophone he could hear the notes in his head. He also knew there was no guitar to this super-slick track so Travis was left out in the cold. Travis interrupted Eddys saxin by making the guitar scream out the solo from one of his own ditties, throwing Eddy off completely. "Thats not funny!" he shrieked.
"Your garden is overgrown and your cucumbers are soft!" heckled Rolf.
"Do something, Double D!" urged Melissa.
"Deeo something, Deoboo dee!" mimed Sarah to herself.
"Um,,, um,,, "dithered Edd. Then it came to him,,,