Unlikely Praise (16 page)

“Chillax, Candi,” he said as he unhooked his computer. “I only downloaded a bundle of clips to one of your open spots. See?” He pointed to the selector and scrolled until he came to a digital number ten. “This was empty. Now it’s called
Classic Clips.
They’re about thirty seconds to a minute each and are assigned to the bass notes when you want to use them.”

“The suspense is killing me. What exactly do you consider a classic clip?”

“I know,” Max interjected, “the SpongeBob Squarepants theme song?”

The others, all who had all stopped what they were doing to listen to their conversation, started laughing.

She glanced over her shoulder and caught Shade watching her. As he smiled and nodded, the butterfly wrecking ball that had pounded her insides last night picked up where it left off.

Kevin put his laptop on a chair and came back to explain further. “You know how Pastor Charles says he’d sometimes like to add some drama to his sermons?”

“Yeah, I think it will take more than a classic clip,” Kelly grumped and they all laughed again.

“Anyway,” Kevin continued, “let’s say he’s preaching about Daniel in the lion’s den. You could play him this.”

Kevin touched the low F and the familiar strains of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” filled the air.

“Or this for a Jonah and the whale, or a Noah’s ark sermon.”

This time when he pressed the C, the rousing Gilligan’s Island theme song came out.

Candi stepped back. “Tell you what, Kevin. You tell the pastor all about it. And if he wants to use them, you can put it together for him, OK?”

“Sure.”

“But, in the future, please don’t add anything to the keyboard without asking first. And make sure I’m at my original settings to start practice.”

“Sure thing, Candi. There’s also the Miami Vice song and a couple that sounded western...uh...Bonanza and Gunsmoke or something like that.”

“Tell him about those,” Rocky insisted. “I know he likes those.”

“Is the theme from the Olympics on there?” Carol Ann wanted to know. “Or that song they play at the beginning of an NFL game?”

Max snickered. “You mean the National Anthem?”

Carol Ann playfully slapped him upside the head. “No, I don’t mean the National Anthem, ya goof. I’m just saying he loves sports metaphors almost as much as he loves westerns.”

Bill came in the side door with a wave and headed for the sound booth.

“Hey, Bill,” Candi said. “Didn’t expect to see you here tonight.”

“Thought I’d better come by and check some levels. When I was here this morning for the men’s prayer breakfast I noticed some of our settings had been moved. Kids must’ve messed with them.”

That happened all the time.

“No worries, Bill, and guess what? In the new building your sound booth has a door. And it locks.”

“I know.” He rested his hand across his big belly as he laughed. “I designed it myself.”

“Since you’re here, c’mon up and pray with us.”

“Be right there.”

Candi turned her attention back to the group to find the conversation had deteriorated into their weekly round of needling jokes.

“Hey, Max,” Kevin said. “What do you call someone who hangs out with musicians?”

Rocky snorted. “I know this one. A drummer, right?”

Kevin howled like a howler monkey and tossed out another one. “How do you make a bass player’s eyes light up?”

“Oh, let me guess,” Carol Ann said with no interest whatsoever. “Shine a light in his ear?”

“I haven’t heard that one,” Max said.

Bill stepped up on the platform. “I have one.”

Candi shot him a disapproving look. “Not you, Bill, please.”

He was not deterred. “What’s the difference between a drummer and a mutual fund?”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “One of them matures?”

Candi waved them in. “C’mon, guys, let’s get started.”

“One more,” Kevin begged. “What did the bass player get on his IQ test?”

Shade set his guitar in the stand and headed to the circle. “I believe it’s drool.”

The guys congratulated him on his answer and, as usual, the women did not see the humor.

Kelly scowled. “That’s gross and not one bit funny. And am I the only one who notices you tell the same jokes every week? Can you get some new material, please?”

Candi dashed back to her music stand to set down her pen. When someone touched her arm, she knew it was Shade.

“Hey, I need to ask you something.”

They hadn’t talked since the night before. She glanced at the band and stepped away. Not that she had any idea what was actually happening between her and Shade, but if the band caught one inkling of a personal relationship there’d be no end to the chatter and speculation. They would be merciless. “Sure, but can we talk after? I’m about to lose them again.”

“Yeah, OK.” Disappointment crossed his face. She hated that, but it was necessary.

“We have a lot to talk about,” she announced to the group. “Some of you asked about the click tracks we were going to experiment with, well, that got put on the back burner with the advent of the children’s choir, the youth service, and other things. We’ll try again, soon.”

Kelly hitched up her chin. “Good. Wasn’t looking forward to that, anyway.”

Shade gave her a nod of approval.

“As for the youth service practice,” Candi continued, “I know we don’t like this, but we’re gonna have to practice on Friday nights. We have no other choice right now and the people involved need to get started.”

Rocky cleared his throat. “Am I supposed to do that, or not?”

“Love to have you on bass, Rock,” Max said, “but it’s two more nights out of the week so it’s up to you.”

Rocky pulled out his Blackberry. “What are the dates again?”

“The service starts in late July on Thursday nights, but we’ll start practicing here in a few weeks.”

“I’ll check my busy social calendar.”

“Next on our agenda is the Sounds of Texas Music Festival at the college on May sixteenth.”

Everyone groaned.

“I know it was bad last year, but they’ve taken all that into consideration and worked out the kinks.”

Carol Ann planted her hands on her hips. “Be grateful you weren’t here for that one, Shade. We had to tote our own equipment over there and had a horrible time slot.”

“No one advertised,” Bill added, “so attendance was light.”

Kelly shuddered as though having a flashback. “I got heat exhaustion and had to lie down in the open first-aid tent. I was so embarrassed.”

“OK, guys,” Candi interrupted, “this year will be better. The tents are bigger and have some sort of circulating air on the stage. Everyone gets their own tub of water bottles. They’re using the college’s sound system with the addition of some rented equipment, so all we have to do is walk up and plug in. We can bring our own sound guy to work the board.”

Max pointed across the circle. “You in, Wild Bill?”

“I’m in.”

“About the drums, Max, there will be a set there, but if you want to bring your own kit, we’ll help you out. I’ll try to get more details.”

“Sweet.”

“I think we should do it,” Candi continued. “We’ll have a team there to hand out information about the new youth service and minister to the crowd. The church is making banners and t-shirts. It’s a great opportunity to advertise Cornerstone and evangelize.”

Kevin raised his eyebrows and tapped his finger across his lips as if in deep thought. “And this year we have Shade.”

There was a chorus of oohs and aahs.

Carol Ann snapped her fingers. “That’s right. He’ll draw a crowd.”

Kelly waved her hand as if to get everyone’s attention. “Ooooo...we can get a mosh pit started.”

“Yes,” Candi said with an edge. “That’s exactly what we need—for the Cornerstone Fellowship contemporary worship team to be on the front page of the newspaper with headlines about moshing and crowd surfing injuries.”

“It’ll get them in the door,” Rocky agreed with a shrug.

“Not to bring you down here,” Shade interjected, “but I’m not that big a deal.”

The band blew off his statement and continued their discussion.

“And,” he added, “this is not about me.”

“We appreciate that, Shade,” Candi said above the chatter, “but I think they’re right about you heightening the interest in our band.”

“Wait a minute.” Max held his arms out to hush the crowd as though he needed to say something of dire importance. “Is Brett bringing his worship team this year? ‘Cause they’ve got us outnumbered. It’s like a massive theatrical production when those guys take the stage.”

“I got it covered,” Candi assured them. “Let’s just say I have some clout from working at the college. I’m going to make sure we go on last in the Christian music block.”

“Sweeeeet. Nothin’ like closing the show.”

“Or having Brett’s band open for
us
.” Kelly grinned from ear to ear.

“I know you guys are enjoying this, but let’s make sure we keep the right attitude,” Candi warned. “Stay aware of the opportunity.”

“Got it.”

Candi captured Rocky’s hand from one side and Bill’s on the other. “Any requests or questions before we pray?”

“I have a question,” Shade said.

“Yes?”

“Will you go out with me Friday night?”

“Ex
cuse
me?”

“No way,” Rocky spoke up. “You can’t take her out Friday. That’s our Angelina Jolie film festival at your place, remember?
Tomb Raider
,
Gone in Sixty Seconds
,
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
...”

“Yeah, yeah,” Kevin jumped in. “My turn to bring pizza. You comin’ Wild Bill? It’s guys night.”

“Naw, I can’t keep up with you youngsters, but you can borrow my copy of
Wanted
.”

Candi’s cheeks flamed like hot lava and her heart thumped out of her chest as the conversation sailed on without her.

Carol Ann fanned herself and Kelly dipped her head to snicker into her hoodie.

“OK, Saturday,” Shade said. “Will you go out with me Saturday?”

She was angry enough to pinch off his head. “Is there a reason this question is not happening in private?”

He shrugged. “I tried earlier. You were busy.”

“And I’m
still
a little busy here,” she snapped. “I said we’d talk after.”

“Is that a yes or a no?”

“It’s a yes,” Rocky answered for her. “Can we pray already? I’m tired of holding Kevin’s hand. It’s all wet and gooey. Not soft and warm like yours, Candi.”

There was no way she could pray. “Carol Ann, would you lead us, please?”

After the final amen, Candi headed for her keyboard.

“Pick you up at seven,” Shade called after her.

“Oh, she’s not going anywhere with you in that truck,” Kelly advised.

“Fair enough,” he answered. “She can pick me up.”

“Or you can borrow my Cavalier,” Max offered. “I don’t have a date.”

Candi clutched the sides of her keyboard to steady herself. There was no end to this mortification. “Glad you’re having fun, guys, but that’s enough. Let’s warm up with
How Great is
Our God
.”

She closed her eyes and steadied her breathing.
Lord, help me...

She placed her left hand on the keys and pressed a G. The catchy and addictive James Bond theme music blared through the main speakers.

She didn’t know who to glare at first.

“I’m killer on that guitar lick,” Shade offered.

She chose him.

He backed up. “I’m just sayin’.”

She switched off her keyboard. Oh yeah, heads were gonna roll.

9

From:
Pastor Charles Littleton

[mailto:[email protected]]

Sent:
Thursday, April 30 7:16 AM

To:
Candi Canaberry <
[email protected]
>

Subject:
Re:
Sounds of Texas Music Festival

Candi:

Great to hear the band’s excited about the festival. I’ll get some people working on publicity, evangelism, etc.

Also, please know you are always in my prayers as you deal with the situation regarding your father. God will take care of you. Keep me posted.

Charles

Shade put away the peanut butter, bread, and milk and made one more pass through his living room while he waited for Rachel to arrive. Few things scared or excited him more than her first official visit to his home.

Yesterday his mother brought him a white, oak rocking chair. After a heated discussion, she’d returned with the cushions to tie onto the back and the seat. She thought they should be pink gingham. He thought they should not. Their compromise resulted in black fabric with large white polka dots and the baby’s name embroidered in bright pink across each piece. He’d said no to ruffles but lost that battle. Some days it was annoying to have a mother who sewed
and
owned state-of-the-art equipment.

He glanced at the clock on the digital cable box. He and Jess had agreed she would bring Rachel at four o’clock and leave her for four hours. She thought that was best as it would be long enough for them to start to get used to each other, but not so long that Shade would be drowning in bottles and diapers for his first solo visit. He had news for her. It could be four minutes, four days, or four months and he still wouldn’t know much. All he could do was learn one thing at a time through trial and error. As the expert at the DiaperDays website wrote, “...
there’s no way to tell someone how to change a diaper; new parents just have to do it...”

Besides, his mother would be calling every five minutes to make sure he hadn’t dropped Rachel on her head, so if there was a question, he could ask her then. Or he could refer to the
“Top Five
Reasons Babies Cry and What to Do About It”
list she’d given him last week. She’d written it all out on the back of the bulletin while sitting in church.

His dad couldn’t believe that one.

There was a light tap on the door.