When Love is Wrong

8. Not Good

MITCH PRESENT DAY:

"I hate bringing up the check-up but you do have some things that are not going to help, especially if you drop out of business school," my Dad reminded me.

Since I was released from the "Lake Superior Camp for Boys," I still had to have annual check-ups to make sure I remained on the path of the STRAIGHT and narrow.

It made me anxious just thinking about it. Worse than having to account for any failures to man up, they held the power to redirect me if need be. I really don't know what I would do if they pulled me out of Pentatonix.

"I don't think moving in with a boy is going to help either," Dad continued.

"Yeah, but Scott is super straight. He has girls hanging all over him."

"Do you think he can set you up with somebody? That would help."

"I suppose. There is one girl. She's a couple years older but we got along really well. Plus she's going to be part of our management team. Her name is Ester, she's Avi's sister. She is super funny."

"Well that will help. I'm a little worried about that solo you did in "Dog Days are Over."

"That's the performance that probably won us the competition!"

"I know, I know Mitch. I'm on your side. I'm just trying to help you get ready for them and get some good responses prepared."

"Yeah, I know Dad, thanks. I'll think about it and start working on preparing for it."


****

"What do you mean we are being dropped?! We won!" Scott said.

We were at our first meeting with our label and things were not going well.

Scott had stood up and was starting to pace back and forth. We all were all strong people with talent. It would be easy to say that Scott was our leader because he's the tallest. But no, he is just our leader. He found out about the contest. He got us together. How he managed to talk Kevin into leaving his medical studies in Yale to beat box in an acapella group, I'll never know. He filled out the paper work, borrowed money, set up the audition, took charge of the arrangements for the audition songs, found places for us to live. He deserved so much credit, but I could tell he was feeling the burden of responsibility if this all went to hell in a hand basket.

"You can't!" his voice was getting louder. Not intentionally, I knew Scott wasn't directly combative. He was scared.

"Look, we're sorry but we are a business. We can't just throw good money after bad. If you want to sue us, go right ahead but all it will get you is black listed. We are offering you another option. This other label is smaller but it's better than nothing. They will get your EP made and released and help you with a mini-tour. You would be responsible for publicity, but that's as much as we are willing to offer. Take it or leave it."