Chapter 33: Perfecting their Craft “Lau?  Are you ready or what?” Elizabeth and the others were sitting by the piano.   “Hold on…” Lauralee returned to the phone.  “So, are you guys doing alright?” “It’s just a bunch of bull shit.  Lawyers, lawsuits, and tons of legal mumbo-jumbo,” Alex’s voice was low. “Are you sure you don’t want me to come there?” “No, go and study.  Your mother would kill me if I let you leave school.  We’re all getting through it together.” “I wish I could do more.” “Hey, you letting me get all of this out is more than enough.  And when we do get through this, we’ll all go on a nice vacation.” Lauralee smiled.  “And then you won’t have to deal with Lou, Johnny and Donna anymore.  You guys can do whatever you want.” “I know.  Look I gotta go to the lawyers’.  I’ll talk to ya later.” “OK.  Bye.” “Later baby.” Lauralee walked into the living room.  “Everything OK?” Veronica was sitting on the couch. “I just wish that I could be there holding his hand, helping him through all of this!”  She held her face in her hands. “We offered but they said no, they need to get through this on their own,” Veronica put her hand on Lauralee’s back.  “Look, they always said they didn’t want their business mixing with their personal lives.  We’d just be in the way,” Laura explained. “True,” Lauralee looked up.  “You guys been practicing that new song?” “Yeah, but to do this a cappella…” “No look,” Lauralee went to the stereo.  “It has a button that mutes out the voices.” “OK, let’s do it,” Elizabeth stood up.  “You wanna warm up?” “Spoken like a true professional,” Bianca laughed.  Lauralee put the Backstreet CD in the stereo and pressed play.  Girl you take my breath away And when I’m with someone new I’d rather be here with you Baby forever Ooh, my heart belongs to you Girl, I think about you all the time I know my love is true Baby forever Girl I’m so sorry that I made you cry When I looked up you were sayin’ goodbye I’m down on my knees Need you so bad Don’t leave me now You’re the best that I’ve had I’ll never, I’ll never find someone like you My promise is true, no I’ll never I’ll never find someone like you No baby Cause I love that way that you are And girl I won’t, no I won’t let you go No one will ever do Love you like I love you… “Nice,” Lauralee stopped the song.  “It’s getting better and better each time we do it.  Now,” Lauralee changed the CD. “Good, I wanted to do an R & B song anyway,” Laura smiled.  “That’s the last thing we should sound like… the new Spice Girls.” “I don’t think that would happen.” Veronica laughed and looked at the song.  “Ready Lau?” “Yup,” Lauralee sat down.  They all listened to the song and worked out the parts.  Then they started to play it and do a dry run of it. “That sounds sweet,” Bianca looked at the lyric sheet Lauralee printed on her computer. “Try it again?” Elizabeth looked at the girls nodding enthusiastically. Lauralee played the song again.  They’re pick: an SWV song called “Weak.” Lauralee took the lead part, and they had the harmonies down pat.  “You know, I never knew you could sing like that,” Bianca and the girls sat down at the patio. “Who me?” Lauralee took a sip of her soda. “Yeah you,” Elizabeth smiled.  “You’re voice is… melodic.  How come you never pursued it?” “My Dad.” “Oh, I didn’t know…” “No, it’s not that,” Lauralee gave Elizabeth’s hand a reassuring pat.  “It’s, well, my Dad was into music, especially singing and piano.  When his father told him absolutely not, he never pursued it professionally.  We did have singing and piano lessons, but he always told me that it was for fun, and it doesn’t put food on the table.  So, I never gave it another thought.” “No problem,” Elizabeth smiled.  “You wanna do it again?” Without saying, they all ran to the living room around the stereo. Chapter 34 Contents Chapter 32