Rock 'n' Roll Rebel by Ginger Rue

guess I could try,” Claire said.
    â€œYou’ve got yourself a deal,” Robbie said, shaking Uncle Paul’s hand. “Joke’s on you, though. We would’ve done it for free.”
    â€œJoke’s on you. I would’ve paid you twenty apiece.”

Chapter Twenty-Two
    â€œI ’m so excited!” Tig’s mom said. “Your first performance! Oh, I hope I don’t mess up the timing. Everything has to go perfectly. Kate is going to flip ! She’s going to love your band playing for her.” Mom was in charge of getting Kate to the surprise party on time. She was supposed to lure her shopping and make her stay away from her house until five p.m. Tig thought that shouldn’t be too hard. Tig’s mom and Aunt Kate went shopping together all the time.
    The Pandora’s Box girls met at Tig’s aunt and uncle’s house to practice after Olivia’s tennis game.They ran through “Sweet Home” a few times, making sure the mic levels and amps were set up correctly. Pandora’s Box was to be the opening act, the first song that began playing when Kate came home to find her surprise party.
    Tig’s aunt and uncle’s house had a big backyard, and her uncle had set it up with tiki torches and strings of clear lights on the gazebo. There was plenty of pulled-pork barbeque, coleslaw, chips, and banana pudding, and canned drinks in galvanized tubs full of ice. A banner said, HAPPY TWENTY-NINTH, KATE !
    â€œI thought you said she was forty?” Tig asked.
    â€œYou’re too young to understand,” Uncle Paul replied.
    As people began arriving, Tig stared to feel a little nervous. What if this had been a terrible idea? What if they choked? But one look at Robbie made her fears dissipate. Robbie didn’t know what the word nervous even meant. She had kicked back in the oversize chair in the den, reading Uncle Paul’s copy of some advertising journal. Her right leg was over one armrest, her back against the other. She didn’t even sit in chairs like other people. With Robbie on guitar, what could possibly go wrong?
    Uncle Paul made an announcement. “They’ll be here in five minutes! Everybody, get ready!”
    The fifty or so partygoers filed into the backyard and got quiet. Tig sat down behind the drums and gripped the sticks. Olivia perched herself behind the keyboard, Kyra and Robbie strapped on their bass and guitar. Claire, a death grip on the microphone, turned and looked worriedly at Tig. Tig gave her a thumbs-up. They heard a car door slam.
    â€œCan’t we do that in a minute?” Kate’s voice said.
    â€œNo, come around here and show me that new climbing rose bush,” Tig’s mom said. “I’m dying to see how it looks.”
    When Aunt Kate and Tig’s mom got to the backyard, Kate’s mouth dropped open.
    â€œSurprise!” everyone yelled.
    â€œHappy birthday, baby!” Uncle Paul said, hugging his wife.
    Then Robbie began that familiar riff, and soon Tig joined in. Claire’s voice didn’t shake a bit. It all felt so natural. Before Tig knew it, the song was over, and the crowd was cheering.
    Uncle Paul took the mic from Claire. “For the first time ever, ladies and gentlemen, Pandora’s Box!” More cheers. The girls took bows, then moved out of the way so the real band could take over.
    â€œSweet pea!” Aunt Kate said, hugging Tig. “I didn’t know you had a band! I’m so proud of you! That was just precious!”
    When Kate let Tig out of the hug and went back to her friends, Robbie said, “Precious? Did she really just call us precious? Gag.”
    â€œOh, come on,” Tig said. “She’s an aunt. They have to say stuff like that. Besides, you’re just as cute as a button! Yes, you are!” Tig said it in an old lady voice and pinched Robbie’s cheek.
    Robbie swatted Tig’s hand away, but she couldn’t help