𝐌𝐀𝐌𝐌𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐀 | MARLENE MCKINNON

one

'THE SUPER TROUPER LIGHTS
ARE GONNA

"Thank you! And we are Donna and the Dynamos!"

The dingy bar practically shook as the crowd gave one last drunken cheer, the trio of girls hopped off the beer-slicked stage and into the darkness of the backstage. Their platforms pounded against the linoleum tiles as they rushed into their makeshift green room.

"The best-" Mary paused as she panted, apparently being in the crowd had been quite the workout. Her hands fell to her waist as she caught her breath. "You guys were amazing!"

"The crowd was just incredible, I really feel like this was meant to be!" Donna exclaimed as she messily ran a hand through her curls, carelessly making her way towards the vanity. "-to think we have two more years until we can do this full time!"

"Full time?" Mary asked excitedly as the girls packed up their things, her skin glistening with sweat as she took a seat on the arm of the couch. Nova flopped onto the dusty couch that reeked of alcohol and sweat. "You guys are going to actually do this?"

"Why not?" Donna laughed like gold after taking a large gulp from her bottled water. She threw the discarded plastic into the bin before zipping up the guitar bag.

"Well-" Mary looked over to Tayla who was busy talking to her boyfriend through the landline, as per her typical post-show ritual. Her eyes then drifted to Nova, who dared her to say anything against the idea in front of the dead-set Donna with her eyes. "Donna, you guys mainly do covers, right?"

"We have some originals." Donna said defensively before grabbing the record with their recorded track from the turntable. She tucked the record into a blank case before turning back to her friends.

"Donna-"

"We'll work on it." Donna interjected as she swung her guitar over her shoulder. Mary scratched the nape of her neck as the girl walked outside.

"Nice going."

"From that look on your face, the smell-" Donna lifted her gaze at the wall in front of her as she thought of the next lyric. She thought of how to describe the narrative she built in her head. As she drew up blanks, rage built up as she ripped the paper from her notebook and crumbled it up, dramatically throwing it over her shoulder.

"Now don't go around wasting paper like that." Donna dreaded turning around as she did so, meeting her mother in the eyes. The woman placed a small glass onto the table causing the ice to clink around in the cup. She took a few steps towards Donna before she slowly bent down and picked up the myriad of crumbled pages that decorated the hardwood floors.

"You're good, a little pitchy but good." She commented as she unraveled the ripped pages of lyrics. Donna quickly stood up to grab them but her attempts were futile as her mother held them up with a warning in her eyes.

"Who's this about?" She teased as she tossed the paper into the wicker bin. Donna ignored her mother's presence as she gathered her notebooks and records. The teen pushed past her mother with a distinct air of annoyance as she rushed back to her room. Ruby Terble sighed through her nose as she took a liberal sip from her whiskey. The taste was slightly watered down from the ice but nevertheless it hit the spot.

Heavy footsteps sounded as Ben Terble made his way to his wife. A sharp hiss escaped the man's mouth as he tripped over the large black case containing Donna's guitar.

"When'd she come back?" A scottish accent decorated his rough, deep voice as he hobbled towards his wife.

"An hour or two ago." Ruby hummed as she traced the dark wooden desk with manicured fingers— a far off, absentminded look on her face. Ben merely smiled at the woman who towered over him in her platforms before promptly pulling her hand up to his lips.

"Let's go to sleep, my love." Ben suggested as he softly brought her chin up with his finger. She sighed contently, kissing his thumb before taking the lead towards their room.

Donna groaned loudly as the door shut behind her. Her father had placed a silencing charm on all the rooms after suffering through several screaming matches between Ruby and Donna. Even with that in mind, she screamed into her pillow to muffle the sound.

She slowly brought the pillow down from her face as she looked out her bay window, noticing a sudden visitor. An owl perched onto the flower pot hanging off the ledge, a letter in it's beak. She quickly maneuvered her way towards the windowsill, avoiding the clothes and shoes thrown about on the floor.

"Hey there, little guy." She greeted softly as she opened her window, the noise from the outside world filled the room as she held out a hand to the owl.

It followed suit, hopping onto her hand as she took the letter from it. The bird persisted, staring at her with big eyes as she waited for it to take off to no avail. Donna took in a breath as she let it rest on the ledge, ripping into the letter with her name scrawled in cursive and golden ink. 

"Dear Donna, we've heard your band and would love to hear more from you." She transcribed excitedly, shooting up as joy filled her. "Donna and the Dynamos could have potential. Please owl us back a response at Warlock Records. A recording session is usually four galleons for ten songs." 

The girl quickly ran to her desk, completely ignoring the homework she had to complete before the term started to tell the news to Nova and Tayla.

As Donna finished writing, she heard the owl's wings flap away. She waited for the wax to melt as she tapped her foot against the floor, looking around her room impatiently. Once the yellow wax fully melted, she poured it onto the letters in a small golden circle.

She blew onto the wax, causing the liquid to move around ruining the perfect circle. Once the wax had solidified, she grabbed the letters and ran downstairs to the living room.

The two owls were perched on the branches in their cages when Donna approached them. "Fromage. Donatella." She greeted as she fed them a treat. The birds cooed as she petted them gently, buttering them up before she asked them to carry her letters.

"Deliver this to Tayla and Nova please." She whispered as she opened their cage doors and a window for them. The birds seemed to get the idea as they flew out the window promptly. "Warlock Records, huh."

Donna whispered to herself as a smile creeped up on her face. "Nova's gonna lose her shit.