My Dad's Band

Breakfast and the Music

I wake up the next morning to the smell of pancakes and sausage. My favorite breakfast foods.

I enter the kitchen to see my dad hunched over the counter shuffling through papers. His hair is disheveled and crazy.

I walk up beside him to see what he's looking at. It's a bunch of newspaper clippings and magazine articles and even full magazines.

What stands out to me the most is a magazine with four guys, my dad the second in from the left, all naked. There are words written all over the boys and they are holding their hands in front of their privates. I see that the magazine has 'Rolling Stones' written across the top.

"You were on the cover of the 'Rolling Stones?'"

"I was. And in the article was something Ashton said that really set us back."

"And what was that?"

"He said he wanted more guy fans, less girls."

"Yet you posed naked on the cover? Isn't that sending mixed signals? He posses nude on the cover to most likely attract girls, then says he doesn't want so many girl fans?"

He laughs, "We were so young and stupid."

"I'm sure you all were quite the charmers, though."

"Oh, we were. Calum especially. He would just speak a sentence with a few big words and the girls would be wrapped around his finger," I hadn't seen my dad smile so big in a long time.

"Dad, I really want to go to America. It'd be such an amazing experience for me and I really want you to be happy."

"Are you sure? You haven't even listened to our music. What if we're no good and you went to America to record with a bunch of middle aged freaks who can't sing?"

"Oh, dad," I laugh. "You didn't make it on the cover of 'Rolling Stones' for nothing."

He pulled two CD cases out of the pile of everything 5SOS and handed them to me.

"Listen to these and let me know what you think."

So, I went off to my room to listen to a good two hours worth of music.

~~~

I came out of my room after listening to both of the CDs fully. My dad had the pancakes and sausage waiting for me at the table. He sat across the table scrolling through his phone.

"Dad, your band was great!" I cheered.

"Thanks, Honey. Did you have any particular favorites?"

"They were all so great, but Heartbreak Girl, Amnesia, Safety Pin, and Broken Home were my favorites." He grimaced at the last song title.

"God. Broken Home was sang for Mikey and Ashton. I wish it didn't apply to you," he said as he raked his fingers through his hair.

"Dad, don't apologize. I just really loved all your songs. Okay?"

"Thanks, Sweetheart."

"So, if we're going to America, when are we leaving?"

"Sometime next week."

"What about school?" I ask.

"I'll have to ask Ashton what his plan is. I'd assume that we'd home school you guys or put you in a public school there."

"Does Ashton have kids?"

"Just one, Brooklyn. He's your age I believe. Actually yes, born just about a year before you. I'm sure you two will become friends. From what I've heard he's a great kid."