Totally Unrelated Read Online Free PDF Page B

cool.”
    â€œSandy!” says Beast, reaching up and grabbing her shirt. “When are we going?”
    Their grandmother, who’s been grilling Johnny, turns around.
    â€œI suppose you’re right, Bailey,” she says.
    â€œWe should start thinking about what we’re going to pick up for the barbecue tonight.”
    â€œIt was cool to meet you,” I manage to say to Sandy. Apparently the only word I know how to use is “cool.” My brain is spinning and I’m trying to figure out how to ask if she wants to jam sometime, when she saves me the trouble.
    â€œWe should get together and play guitar sometime,” she says. “If you’re interested. I don’t really know anyone around here.”
    â€œYeah,” I manage to spit out. “Sounds great.”
    We exchange numbers, and Johnny and I watch as they walk away.
    â€œYou definitely got the better side of that deal,” he says. “You’ve got a date with a cute girl, and I think I might have agreed to give bagpipe lessons to an old lady.”
    * * *
    In the bus, everyone is excited about how well the show went.
    â€œIt was tight, guys,” says Dad. “Really, really tight. The only time I heard anything screwy was when Neil dropped out for a few bars about halfway through ‘Fisherman’s Reel’.” He twists the rearview mirror until he can see me, sitting way at the back.
    â€œYeah,” I grunt. “Sorry.” Of course he has to finish off his praise of the show with a dig at me.
    â€œNo big deal, guy,” he says. “But maybe you and I should sit down over the next couple of days and work through your parts. Don’t want you to get left behind.”
    It hadn’t sounded all that bad to me.
    â€œI think everyone sounded perfect,” says Gran. “I had half a mind to jump up there on stage and throw a few steps down myself.” She leans over the seat in front of her, where Molly and Maura are sitting. “What do you think, girls? Should old Gran get some new dance shoes and join the show?”
    The twins are giggling at her as we pull in to our driveway.
    â€œHow did it feel being back onstage, Kathy?” Dad asks as we’re unloading the bus.
    â€œIt was good,” she says. She must realize how unenthusiastic she sounds, because she forces a smile and adds, “It was great. I really missed it. Sorry—I guess I’m kind of tired. Is it okay if I go take a nap?”
    â€œOf course,” says Mom.
    Kathy disappears into the house, and I see Mom and Dad exchange a look.
    â€œShe’s acting very strange,” says Dad.
    â€œShe’s heartbroken,” says Mom. “I think she really likes this guy, and now to have him move to the other side of the world…We should all give her a bit of space.”
    â€œShe should brush it off and find someone new,” says Shamus. “Moping over him isn’t going to do her any good.”
    â€œListen to you, Casanova,” says Gran. “We can’t all find a new soul mate every week and a half.”
    â€œI’m just saying that if I was going out with some chick and she moved away to China or Argentina or someplace, I wouldn’t lose sleep over it,” he says.
    â€œYou should write Valentine’s cards, Shamus,” says Johnny.
    We hustle the last of the equipment into the garage, and Dad shuts and locks the door.
    â€œGreat first show, gang,” he says. “Now let’s see if we can keep that up all summer.”

Seven
    In the morning, Dad herds us into the garage and we spend a couple of hours running through our newer songs. He tells us to break early, but before I have a chance to escape with everyone else, he asks me to stay.
    â€œWhy don’t we take a crack at some of your stuff?” he says. “Work the kinks out.”
    â€œI guess so,” I say. “I didn’t realize there were any