3. The Challenge
Cameron convinced his mom to take him to the bank and co-sign for a checking account. Waiting for the checks to arrive felt like an eternity, but he made good use of the time, hunting down the perfect blazer to complete his “uniform” of black jeans and a black T-shirt.
When the checks arrived, he walked into the high school office, trying to exude confidence in his “hip capitalist” outfit. Mrs. Maddox, the school’s no-nonsense administrator, sat behind a cluttered desk, unimpressed.
“I want to rent the theater for a concert,” Cameron declared.
Mrs. Maddox chuckled, her lips curling into a half-smile. “A concert? That’s not going to happen, Cameron.”
“Why not?” Cameron asked, his voice steady. “Is there a rule against it?”
She paused, caught off guard by his boldness. “I don’t know if there’s a specific rule, but—”
“Then show me the rulebook,” Cameron pressed. “If there’s nothing in there saying we can’t, then we should be allowed to do it. That’s only fair, right?”
Mrs. Maddox sighed, flipping through the school handbook. After a few moments, she closed it. “Alright, there’s no rule specifically against it. But if we do this, you’re responsible for any damages, and you need to provide security.”
Cameron grinned. “Deal.”
4. Preparation
Weeks flew by in a whirlwind of activity. Magnum practiced every day after school in Cameron’s garage, their music spilling into the streets. They designed psychedelic flyers with bold letters: MAGNUM LIVE AT BAKERSFIELD HIGH! ONE NIGHT ONLY! They plastered them all over town, in shop windows, and on the school bulletin board.
Their girlfriends helped sell tickets during lunch breaks, and with the cash pooled together, Cameron managed to secure a small spot on the local radio station. Hearing the words “Magnum live at Bakersfield High” on the air felt surreal.
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Thank you once again for hanging out with me and my feline overlords in the music room of the Galactic Library.
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