Suzie’s House 482 : Bearding the Lion

On one of those rare days when Miranda made it home early but Vin was still out working, she sat in their room and painted her nails. Yesterday they were red talons. Today she’d only had time to add a pink top edge to hide the chipping. Today she’d go with tri-color slanted stripes. She had all but one nail done when the kids knocked on her door.

“Miranda. We need to talk to you.” Tracy’s voice came through the door.

From the tone of voice, they had a complaint. Well, that was par for the course, wasn’t it? In advertising it wasn’t possible to get through the day without rubbing someone the wrong way.

She opened the door carefully, using the palms of both hands to turn the knob, then stepped into the hall. She flapped her hands to dry the nails as she surveyed the crowd.

Every kid in the band had turned up. Tracy stood the closest with, surprisingly enough, Emma right next to her. Gene stood behind her as if to back her up. Ben and Lisa stood down the hall to the left as if they had just come out of his room and got caught up in it all. Since they were only friends of the people in the band, that made sense. Kate, Justin, and Bruce all stood between Gene and the head of the staircase.

“It’s in our contract that you have to get our approval for the ads you use our music on.” Tracy stuck her chin out, full of angry bravado.

“Yes.”

“You didn’t do that! We saw it. That horrible used car salesman is using one of MY songs! I never said you could use it like that!”

“Oh. Well, I sent a text message to the studio. Didn’t you get it?”

“No. Uh-uh.” Everyone shook their heads, even the two kids who weren’t on the contract.

“But then you shouldn’t have used it at all!” Tracy crossed her arms like a wooden Indian.

“As per the contract, I sent out notification then waited forty eight hours before I sent the ad out for airing.” Actually, it had been closer to fifty, but no one needed to know that.

“The text message should come to each of us, not Pete.” Bruce spoke up from the back.

“Technically, it should have been sent to your manager, which I believe you call Uncle John? But Bruce, you said not to tell him anything.”

The kids all looked uncomfortable.

“You should text Bruce,” Lisa said, as if it had anything to do with her.

“You could have just told me at dinner,” Gene said.

“But I….” Actually, come to think of it, they had both been home then. She really could have told him. “I didn’t think of it.”

She didn’t much care for the way he looked at her; like he thought she did it on purpose and was trying to scam them. Come to think of it, they all looked at her like that.

“Please don’t be idiotic about this,” Miranda snapped. “I realize it was a harebrained scheme right from the start, but I honestly and sincerely thought it would be a good way to help you kids. I still think it is. I mean, didn’t you learn a lot in the studio?”

Sullen nods came from all around.

“Didn’t you get an album out of the deal? And with the exposure you’re getting from the ads, you should be able to sell them a lot better than you would otherwise. Just ask Pete what happens to most albums locally cut. I have done nothing but good for you.”

“But… used cars?”

“Exactly what kind of advertisements did you think I could line up?!”

“It’s not like we are lack-a doozy-cal about any of this!” Tracy glowered in an entirely adorable way.

Miranda looked down at the floor fast because she could barely control her laughter. Even so angry, Tracy was still just a kid. It made her problems seem cute. Miranda tried to hide her smile because she knew this was really serious to them.

“I..I.. I think… she means… um…. lackadaisical.” Emma sucked in her lips with a worried wrinkle in her brow.

“We all know what she means,” Gene said in that quiet way that made you think one more word could be the last you ever heard.

Miranda straightened fast. If even Gene was serious about this, then they must all be very, very upset.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Pull the ad! Today!” Tracy was not going to let this go.

“I can’t pull it today. The TV studios require more lead time.” Actually, she probably could pull it, but she couldn’t get the advertising fees back. Doing it today would cost the company too much money. Not to mention putting egg all over her face. She needed to let it run for three more days. “Can’t we just let it run the three days left on the contract? What is the harm?”

The kids stirred like wheat in a field when a breeze blows. They looked from one to another.

“We can let it go this time, but only if you help us get the album set up on Amazon.”

“Sure. No problem,” Miranda said easily. She’d never done it herself, but she’d heard it wasn’t hard to get set up with them. She could do it over break time.

“Plus you have to get our permission in writing before you release any other ads.”

“Only if you guys respond fast. I’m expected to fit my work to the customer’s deadlines.”

She faced a wall of stony expressions. She glared right back. She didn’t have a lot of room on this.

“At least get Gene’s verbal permission first,” Lisa suggested. “He’ll know if it’s something that will make the others upset and who to call. Is that alright with everyone?”

“Yeah. I guess.” The voice of grudging acceptance came from them all.

“Alright. Let me tell you right now I won’t renew the contract. This is going to cost me a lot. Everyone loves the ad. You’re song was perfect for it. And as long as I only have to have one signature, I’ll do it all in writing from now on. We good?”

“Yeah. Sure.”

“One more thing. You guys should have Lisa film a music video for you. Release it on Youtube. I have some equipment you can borrow.”

The eager expressions on their faces made her happy. Besides, if they were busy with that, they’d get off her back about the rest. They all eagerly converged on Lisa while Miranda blew on her nails. She didn’t need to. They were already dry.

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