Authors: Nancy Krulik

Bad Rap

BOOK: Bad Rap

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Table of Contents

For the kids at the Rodeph Sholom Day School. Thanks for the inspiration—N.K.

To Shane, a most rocking and talented friend—J&W

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John and Wendy. All rights reserved. Published by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. S.A.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Krulik, Nancy E.

Bad rap / by Nancy Krulik ; illustrated by John & Wendy.
p. cm.—(Katie Kazoo, Switcheroo ; 16)
Summary: When Katie and Suzanne learn that their favorite band, the
Bayside Boys, will perform in Cherrydale, they think their biggest problem
is how to get tickets, but Katie magically turns into one of the Boys and
causes the band to break up.

eISBN : 978-1-101-09860-8

[1. Bands (Music)—Fiction. 2. Magic—Fiction.] I. John & Wendy. II. Title.
PZ7.K9416Bad 2005
[Fic]—dc22 2004017661

http://us.penguingroup.com

Chapter 1

“And I dream of you when I awake!”
Suzanne Lock sang out wildly as she danced around her friend Katie Carew’s room.

“When I awake,”
Katie joined in, using her hairbrush like a microphone.

Katie’s cocker spaniel, Pepper, howled loudly. Katie giggled. “That’s it, Pepper, sing along!”

“That was ‘Dreams’ by the Bayside Boys,” Joey G., the radio DJ, announced as the song came to an end. “Thanks for spending your Sunday afternoon with me, Joey G., on Cherrydale’s number-one radio station.”

“I think ‘Dreams’ is my favorite Bayside Boys song,” Suzanne told Katie. She flopped down onto the bed and tried to catch her breath.

“I love
every
song on their CD. It’s like they’re singing just to me,” Katie sighed.

“Hey, that rhymes!” Suzanne exclaimed. “You sound just like T-Jon!”

Katie smiled. T-Jon did all the raps on the Bayside Boys’ songs. He was so awesome. Suzanne had given her a real compliment!

“I can’t decide which of the Bayside Boys I like the best,” Suzanne said. She looked up at the poster on Katie’s bedroom wall. “I mean, Fizzy’s got that amazing braided hair. And T-Jon dances really well. And I love his sunglasses. But when Ace sings, I get all tingly. I’m glad he’s the lead singer.”

Katie shrugged. “I like Spike the best. He seems really nice. And I like the way he spikes his hair up in the front.”

Suzanne laughed. “That’s just like you, Katie. Hardly
anybody
likes Spike the best.”

“That’s okay,” Katie told her. “I think he’s cool.”

“Sure he is,” Suzanne agreed. “
All
the Bayside Boys are cool.”

“I’ve got a special surprise for all you Bayside Boys fans out there!” Joey G. suddenly announced.

Instantly, Katie and Suzanne stopped talking. They stared anxiously at the radio.

“The Bayside Boys are coming to Cherrydale!” the DJ said.

“AHHHHH!” Suzanne screamed. “Dreams do come true!”

“Shhhh!” Katie told her. “We have to find out when!”

Suzanne quieted down.

“Ace, Fizzy, Spike, and T-Jon will be at the Cherrydale Arena this Saturday night to tape a cable TV special. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow morning at nine a.m.—but only at the arena’s box office. You’ve got to be there in person to score your seats.”

“Oh, wow!” Suzanne exclaimed. “Katie, we
have
to get tickets for that show.”

“We can’t,” Katie told her sadly.

“What? Are you crazy? Of course we can. I have allowance money saved up,” said Suzanne.

“So do I,” said Katie. “But money isn’t the problem.”

“Then what is?” Suzanne asked her.

“Tomorrow is
Monday
,” Katie reminded her best friend. “We’ll be in
school
at nine o’clock.”

Tears welled in Suzanne’s eyes. “You’re right. This is awful . . .” She brightened suddenly. “Unless . . .”

“Unless what?” Katie asked excitedly.

“Unless
your
mom can get the tickets for us.
She
doesn’t go to school.”

“That’s true,” Katie agreed. “Let’s go ask her.”

The girls raced down the stairs at top speed. Pepper ran after them, barking loudly at their heels.

“MOMMMMM!” Katie shouted. “I need you!”

“It’s an emergency,” Suzanne added.

Mrs. Carew came running out of the kitchen. “What’s wrong, girls?” she asked nervously.

“The Bayside Boys are coming to Cherrydale,” Suzanne blurted out.

“But we’ll be in school tomorrow morning when the tickets go on sale,” Katie explained.

“They’re going to sell out,” Suzanne said.

“You have to go and get tickets for us,” the girls finished together.

Mrs. Carew took a deep breath. “Oh,” she said. “Is that all?”

“Is that
all
?” Suzanne gasped. “Mrs. Carew, this is the most important thing that’s ever happened to us.”

Katie’s mother laughed.

“Mom, tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at nine o’clock. Can you stop at the Cherrydale Arena and buy them for us?”

Mrs. Carew shook her head. “Sorry, girls. I have to be at work early tomorrow morning. I won’t have time to get the tickets.”

“How about Dad?” Katie asked hopefully.

“He’s working, too,” Mrs. Carew reminded Katie.

Suzanne thought for a moment. “My dad’s out of town. But my mom will be around. We can ask her to get the tickets.” She raced for the door.

“Where are you going?” Katie asked her.

“Home. I have to talk to my mom!” Suzanne exclaimed.

“Why don’t you just call her from here?” Katie asked.

Suzanne shook her head. “This is a
big
favor. I want to ask her in person.”

Ten minutes later, Katie’s phone rang.

“I’ll get it,” Katie shouted, hoping it was Suzanne.

“Hello?” Katie said into the phone.

It was Suzanne. And she didn’t sound happy.

“My mom has to take Heather to some dumb old baby music class,” Suzanne told Katie angrily. “She didn’t think getting tickets for the Bayside Boys concert was an important enough reason for her to miss it.”

“But it
is
important,” Katie said. “
So
important.”

“I know that, and you know that,” Suzanne sighed. “But my
mom
doesn’t know that. I can’t believe the Bayside Boys are going to be right here in Cherrydale and we won’t get to see them. It’s just not fair!”

Katie and Suzanne stayed on the phone for a little while, but neither girl said much. There wasn’t anything
to
say. The fact was, they weren’t going to the Bayside Boys concert.

And that really stunk!