"What's up?"
"Listen to that."
Taylor listened, then a smile grew on his face.
"It's Mackie and Zoe practicing. Like they do every day."
"I know. And I'm just remembering... I wonder if we always irritated the neighbourhood too. I mean, not that it's irritating me, but you can hear it, like right down the street. I bet some people are irritated."
"I don't know." Taylor grinned. "Maybe we did."
"I tell you what is irritating though."
"What?"
"I'd like to sign 'em. Or at least take 'em on tour with us to open for a couple of shows."
"Yeah, they are pretty good aren't they? But you know what Mom and Dad said about that."
"No opening tours until Zoe is nine, and no signing them up until she's ten. Unless Sarah decides to join them, in which case we have to wait until she's those ages."
Zac sighed.
"C'mon dude, they're just trying to look out for them. And it's only one more year."
There was quiet for a moment.
"Besides, what about the label? Obviously, when they come touring with us, Mom and Dad are gonna come with us, we're definitely gonna have to get some more base staff before that can happen." Taylor added. "We wanna keep working efficiently."
"Yeah, I suppose."
"If it's any consolation, I think we'll only have to wait for Zoe."
"You don't think Sarah wants to join?"
"Did I say that? I think that Mackie and Zoe are gonna get themselves signed, and then when Sarah can con Mom and Dad into in, she's gonna join 'em officially then."
"Officially?" Zac repeated.
"Oh, c'mon, Zac, surely you've noticed. Mackie and Zoe can't play the drums, keyboards and a guitar at the same time."
Zac listened closely, his jaw dropped.
"Sarah's in there?"
"Yep." Taylor smiled. "I believe Mackies' explanation is that since they don't have a guitarist, Sarah's doing it until they get out on the road, then they'll hire someone."
Zac laughed.
"Smart alec."
"Yep. I bet Mom and Dad are well aware that Sarah wants to join the band."
"Shame she has to wait five years."
"Ahh, give her some time to work on her skills."
"Yeah, I suppose."
"Give Mackie and Zoe some time to harness theirs as well."
"I guess so. But I seem to remember when I was eight, I wanted to get signed too."
"And if we had, I'm sure Mom and Dad wouldn't have stood in our way, but there's a difference here. There was no guarantee that we'd get signed. But it's guaranteed Mackie and Zoe will. They're just trying to look out for them."
"Yeah, ok, I'll buy that."
Taylor grinned and whacked him over the head before going back inside.