Fame is A Trip: The Mixed Harmony Story

The Beginning...

Carlotta:

"Mary, where the hell are you going. You can't just up and leave like that", I shouted across the room. "I'm leaving Lottie. AND I AIN'T COMING BACK! Jahil was right. You aint doing nothing but holding me back.  I'm tryna be somebody... and I can't do it with you pulling me down. I'm sorry", replied Mary....

~

"Fame is a trip it aint love like everybody says it is. Me and my friend Mary had dreams. BIG DREAMS. See me and Mary were on our way to being one of the biggest musical duo's of the decade. hell maybe even the century. but all that went downhill the day we worked with the devil himself..."

-Carlotta Brown

3 years ago (1992)

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"Mama have you seen my jacket... the new one you bought me?"

Christine didn't move an inch. She was practically glued to the couch watching tv.

"MAMA?!"

WHAT LOTTIE?

"have you seen my jacket. I need it. Me and Mary are going out tonight"

"Mary? You hang around that white girl more than you do your own sister. And yes I have seen your jacket it's in the dryer... oh and Lottie be a dear and take your sister with you"

"what? Mama.. no imma look so lame bringing my little sister with me. Me and Mary trying to get a record deal."

"Carlotta Renee Brown! I wouldn't care if you were going to see Michael Jackson himself you will take your sister with you end of story."

I ran to the dryer and grabbed my coat. mumbling under my breath about how much I despised my mother and annoying little sister Cassie. Cassie is my half sister; we have different fathers.

"Cassie come on you coming with me and Mary."

Cassie dashed down the stair case eager to spend time with her older sister. Cassie was dressed head to toe in glitter and bright colored clothes, even her damn jacket was bedazzled. I gave her an uneasy look but I knew I couldn't say anything because we were already running late.

ding dong

"I got it. It's probably Mary." I shouted

"Lottie, hey girl you ready"

"yeah, but Cass has to come with us"

"Hey white bitch", Cassie replied with a smile and wave

"Hi, Cassie..."Mary responded in a monotone voice. She was not excited about this.

"Alright y'all let's go. Catalina is waiting for us at the gig. she said her "friend" from Philadelphia is coming just to hear us sing so we gotta be on our a game Mary"

we all take a taxi into the city and arrive at this sketchy club. the sun was just setting casting beautiful colors above us cascading down onto the building. the building called 'el Diablo' had a long line of people all eager to enter.

"Uh uh y'all aint say we going to a ... club. Do Mama know we're here."

"no she doesn't and let's keep it that way. Catalina should be inside with her 'friend' come on."

we reach the entrance and stopped by the big ass bouncer

"Where the hell y'all think y'all going?", his voice boomed over us

"I- uh..."

Mary pushed my aside without missing a beat.

"DON'T YOU KNOW WHO WE-. I AM. MY DAD OWNS THE PLACE AND I SUGGEST YOU LET US IN OR ITS GON BE A REAL BIG ISSUE. IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB... WOULDN'T IT."

the amount of fear on this man's face because of a tiny white cracked me up. He quickly replied back.

"yes ma'am. sorry. you ladies enjoy your night."

the 3 of us walked passed him trying to hold in our laughs

"Girl I ain't know your Daddy was rich... and the owner of a club?"

"He isn't, my dad dipped when I was eleven," Mary replied through her laughter

"Look there's Cat" I said pointing.

"Hey chicas, y'all ready to blow the roof off this bitch!?" she yelled all ratchet like.

"Hell yeah, but where's your friend"I asked.

"Oh he aint coming, but I got us the next best thing. This guy my ex is friends with works at a studio his name is Jahil Rivera he over there with his boys. He waiting on us to go on."

So what we waiting on let's go. Cassie you just stand over here and don't look at nobody, don't talk to nobody, and most importantly don't touch nobody.. got it"

"Yeah yeah whatever"

~Me, Mary, and Catalina went on stage and got the crowd crunk. I mostly rapped, Mary sang her heart out while Cat did background vocals. I don't know if it was her nerves but Cat was off causing me to also help her sing her part. Luckily I don't think anyone noticed. After the set we were guided to the V.I.P section to finally meet with Jahil

"YO Ladies that was hot. The names Jahil"

"He's fine as hell huh?" Cat whispered into my ear.

"He alright" I quickly whispered back

"So, y'all got some serious talent. How about we record a little something something and if its hot I will pull some strings and put it on the radio"

when I heard radio I wanted to leap, but I couldn't I had to keep it cool.

"So what's y'all names"

Mary quickly answered for all of us "I'm Mary, and these are my best friends Carlotta and Catalina.... and that's her little sister Cassie" her and Cassie both rolled their eyes

Jahil and his boys start to laugh while we stand to the side confused.

"No. What's the group name.. You guys do have a name"

"UH.."

I interveind ."Well we're mixed...".

"Harmony", Cat added. "We're mixed Harmony... get it  a white girl a black girl and a Latina together we're mixed harmony"

"I like it... it's kind of cute added one of his boys."

"Yo ma... Carlotta is it?." He said looking at me. "Let me get your number so I can call you later and give you the details" " ok.. yeah sure"I replied quickly.

he handed me his napkin and a pen. I never wrote something down so fast in my life. When I went to hand it back he yanked me towards him and whispered something into my ear

I slowly backed away. Not really knowing what to do with this information. I grabbed my girls and exited the club.

"HOLY shit! Things are looking up chicas," Catalina shouted to the sky.

Mary pulled my back behind Cassie and Cat

"Hey, Lottie what did he say to you? You look kinda spooked." she whispered

"Jahil wants us to throw Catalina out of the group..."

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