Bad Rap by Nancy Krulik

Chapter 1
    “And I dream of you when I awake!” Suzanne Lock sang out wildly as she danced around her friend Katie Carew’s room.
    “When I awake,” Katie joined in, using her hairbrush like a microphone.
    Katie’s cocker spaniel, Pepper, howled loudly. Katie giggled. “That’s it, Pepper, sing along!”
    “That was ‘Dreams’ by the Bayside Boys,” Joey G., the radio DJ, announced as the song came to an end. “Thanks for spending your Sunday afternoon with me, Joey G., on Cherrydale’s number-one radio station.”
    “I think ‘Dreams’ is my favorite Bayside Boys song,” Suzanne told Katie. She flopped down onto the bed and tried to catch her breath.
    “I love every song on their CD. It’s like they’re singing just to me,” Katie sighed.
    “Hey, that rhymes!” Suzanne exclaimed. “You sound just like T-Jon!”
    Katie smiled. T-Jon did all the raps on the Bayside Boys’ songs. He was so awesome. Suzanne had given her a real compliment!
    “I can’t decide which of the Bayside Boys I like the best,” Suzanne said. She looked up at the poster on Katie’s bedroom wall. “I mean, Fizzy’s got that amazing braided hair. And T-Jon dances really well. And I love his sunglasses. But when Ace sings, I get all tingly. I’m glad he’s the lead singer.”
    Katie shrugged. “I like Spike the best. He seems really nice. And I like the way he spikes his hair up in the front.”
    Suzanne laughed. “That’s just like you, Katie. Hardly anybody likes Spike the best.”

    “That’s okay,” Katie told her. “I think he’s cool.”
    “Sure he is,” Suzanne agreed. “ All the Bayside Boys are cool.”
    “I’ve got a special surprise for all you Bayside Boys fans out there!” Joey G. suddenly announced.
    Instantly, Katie and Suzanne stopped talking. They stared anxiously at the radio.
    “The Bayside Boys are coming to Cherrydale!” the DJ said.
    “AHHHHH!” Suzanne screamed. “Dreams do come true!”
    “Shhhh!” Katie told her. “We have to find out when!”
    Suzanne quieted down.
    “Ace, Fizzy, Spike, and T-Jon will be at the Cherrydale Arena this Saturday night to tape a cable TV special. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at nine a.m.—but only at the arena’s box office. You’ve got to be there in person to score your seats.”
    “Oh, wow!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Katie, we have to get tickets for that show.”
    “We can’t,” Katie told her sadly.
    “What? Are you crazy? Of course we can. I have allowance money saved up,” said Suzanne.
    “So do I,” said Katie. “But money isn’t the problem.”
    “Then what is?” Suzanne asked her.
    “Tomorrow is Monday ,” Katie reminded her best friend. “We’ll be in school at nine o’clock.”
    Tears welled in Suzanne’s eyes. “You’re right. This is awful . . .” She brightened suddenly. “Unless . . .”
    “Unless what?” Katie asked excitedly.
    “Unless your mom can get the tickets for us. She doesn’t go to school.”
    “That’s true,” Katie agreed. “Let’s go ask her.”
    The girls raced down the stairs at top speed. Pepper ran after them, barking loudly at their heels.
    “MOMMMMM!” Katie shouted. “I need you!”
    “It’s an emergency,” Suzanne added.
    Mrs. Carew came running out of the kitchen. “What’s wrong, girls?” she asked nervously.
    “The Bayside Boys are coming to Cherrydale,” Suzanne blurted out.
    “But we’ll be in school tomorrow morning when the tickets go on sale,” Katie explained.
    “They’re going to sell out,” Suzanne said.
    “You have to go and get tickets for us,” the girls finished together.
    Mrs. Carew took a deep breath. “Oh,” she said. “Is that all?”
    “Is that all ?” Suzanne gasped. “Mrs. Carew, this is the most important thing that’s ever happened to us.”
    Katie’s mother laughed.
    “Mom, tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Can you stop at the Cherrydale Arena and buy them for us?”

    Mrs. Carew shook her head.