The build-up to our performance has been big. Anyone who lives in Melbourne outside their own little fantasy world has heard about it. It wasn't meant to bee like this. It was supposed to be aimed at a small community, little local newspapers, maybe a couple of fliers on a light pole but not like this. I"m not used to this. It's been absolute mayhem. The band's feeling alright but I don't think I've ever been so stressed in my life. The biggest performance I've ever made was in front of maybe 200 people at a school concert. And now the town hall's being turned into a nightclub full of strangers: just anyone wanting a good time. And we"re the main attraction! Weeks have been full of rehearsals, sleepless nights, hours of looking at chords, listening to recordings. It just has to be right. My best mates have been really supportive. Stevo has made sure he and the other guys will be there. There's nothing worse than looking into a sea of faces who you don't know. At least if Jimmy, Hazza and Baz are there, it"ll be a little more like the rehearsal studio than the dance floor of attentive eyes attuned to our every mistake.
Mum and dad have been great, and there's not a lot more I could've possibly asked of them. But now I have to perform well for them. After the hours of driving to and from rehearsal, the thousands of dollars on lessons, the motivation and support they've given me, I just have to show them it's all been worth something. After all, they haven't done it for themselves, they didn't want to play the guitar, or be in a band. I did; and it's been worth something. Why have I practiced for so many hours? Wasn't this what I've always been waiting for? This is what I started out to become. .
I have four hours before the town hall opens, and it's not getting any easier. The butterflies are growing; the phone calls are coming for good luck, everything now revolves the next 6-8 hours. What will it be like? Will they love us? Will anyone ever listen to us again? Will I be the laughing stock of the neighbourhood? Luke's car's pulling up outside.
