Fabulous Five 005 - The Bragging War by Betsy Haynes Page A

glad to hear that. You're a real luv, you are."
    Beth knew that her chance had just arrived. If she were
going to get The Fabulous Five out of trouble, it would be right now. "I
wonder if you could maybe help me thank the kids at Wakeman for being so nice
to me?" she asked.
    "How's that?"
    "Well, they have a special place they hang out. It's
called Bumpers. You'd like it if you saw it. It's decorated with old bumper
cars from amusement park rides, and it has an ancient Wurlitzer jukebox."
Beth stopped to catch her breath. She was getting off the subject. "I know
it's asking an awful lot, and you probably can't do it," she said softly,
putting on her best poor-little-girl look, "but if you could maybe stop by
there . . ."
    Trevor Morgan frowned at her.
    He knows I'm putting him on, Beth thought. I'm dead.
    "I'm really sorry," Trevor said. "But me
schedule won't allow for it."
    Beth's spirits dove to the soles of her feet. She was
ruined.
    "But I've got another idea, luv. Do ya want to hear it?"

CHAPTER 18
    The Coliseum was packed with kids as Beth and the rest of
The Fabulous Five squeezed through the people already sitting in the row where
their seats were located. The noise almost made Beth wish she had brought the
earplugs she used for swimming.
    She couldn't wait for the concert to begin so she could hear
Trevor Morgan and Brain Damage perform. He hadn't been able to come to Bumpers,
but his plan had been even better than hers.
    "Hi, Jana and everybody," called Marcie Bee. "Is
Trevor coming to Bumpers after the concert?"
    "You'll just have to wait and see," Jana shouted
back above the noise. She looked at Beth and smiled. Jana, Christie, Katie, and
Melanie had loved the plan, too, and had forgiven Beth for getting them into so
much trouble.
    "Oh, look, there are Laura, Tammy, Melissa, and Funny,"
said Melanie to the others. They were going into the first row just as Laura
had said. "And they've got Alexis, Mandy, Dekeisha, and some of the other
girls with them."
    "Laura must have gotten them tickets," said Katie.
"They see us. Let's wave and smile really big."
    The Fabulous Five stuck their hands up and waved at The
Fantastic Foursome. Laura, who was leading the way, saw them and frowned.
    "Wow ! I'll bet she's wondering what's going on now,"
said Christie.
    "Let her wonder. She'll suffer later," said Jana.
    The lights dimmed, and the warm-up band came on. It was a
local group, and the crowd didn't quiet down very much for them.
    Beth spotted Keith two rows over and waved to him. He nudged
Scott and Randy, who saw them and waved. Clarence Marshall was throwing popcorn
at everyone.
    Finally, after what seemed an eternity, the master of
ceremonies came back on and the local band left.
    "GUYS AND GIRLS," he called over the public
address system. "THE FEATURED ATTRACTION FOR THIS EVENING, THE GROUP THAT
YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, BEING BROUGHT TO YOU ALL THE WAY FROM LONDON,
ENGLAND . . ."—he paused for effect—"I GIVE YOU THAT INCOMPARABLE
BAND . . . BRAIN DAMAGE ! " The crowd roared as Trevor Morgan
jumped onto the stage in black pants with silver stripes running down the
sides. His shirt was black with silver studding, and the front was opened down
to his belt. His black boots flared all the way up to his knees, and his hair
stuck out in spikes.
    The other members of Brain Damage followed him out, jumping wildly.
They were dressed in all kinds of wild costumes. Their faces were made up like
clowns, creatures from outer space, and things Beth couldn't describe.
    For the next two hours Brain Damage played nonstop, and the
kids jumped up and down and rocked back and forth, screaming all the time. Beth
and her friends screamed right along and pounded each other during the parts
they liked best.
    When Brain Damage started playing slowly, Beth knew they
were getting near the end of the concert. She crossed her fingers and prayed
that Trevor wouldn't forget her. After two hours of playing the way they had,
she didn't know how