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We continue our story about a girl called Gladys and her three older sisters who are in a girl band called the chiX. You can catch up with the earlier stories here.
The chiX have to get up at 6 am every morning to practice. They are becoming tired and grumpy, and Laura has a new influence in her life. It’s becoming hard to hold the band together .
Read by Natasha. Written by Bertie. Duration 11.13. Picture by Tania.
The day after their first concert, the girls were in a much better mood. As they were going on the bus to the shopping centre, Laura commented:
“I think we were alright really.’
“Not bad for our first gig,” agreed Sam.
Gladys felt cross, because the girls hadn’t been saying that the night before. Then they had claimed that it had been a disaster and it was all her fault. Mandy saw her frown:
“Cheer up Gladdy. We’re sorry we gave you the grots yesterday. You did a great job.”
“Yeah, we were just stressed out with ourselves really,” added Laura, “Because we set such high standards for the chiX. We only want to give the public our best.’
And Gladys felt better because she wanted the chiX to give their best too. In fact, when they arrived at the shopping centre, the girls were feeling much happier, as if they already had a light sprinkling of star-dust. They treated themselves to posh ice creams in tubs. They sat on a bench to eat them, and a couple of guys came along with ice creams too, and sat near by. They both wore mod hair cuts with long sideboards.
Mandy whispered, “Hey, didn’t we meet those dudes at Em’s Party last week?” and Laura nodded, because they had.
One of them came over and said, “Hello again. Remember us? I know this is a bit sudden like, but I’ve got two tickets to see The Snouts tonight. My friend here is otherwise engaged. I wondered if one of you girls would do me the honour?”
Sam said, “Sure I’ll come with you,” but his eyes were looking out from under his fringe straight at Laura. She checked her mobile phone, as if she hadn’t heard him, before saying, “Alright. But I’m only coming for the music. We’re a musicians you see. I’ve got a professional interest.”
“Alright,” he said. And they agreed to meet that evening.
The next day Laura said the concert was “great” and that the chiX could learn a lot from The Snouts.
On Monday, the chiX manager, Arny, called up Gladys and said that the girls had made a good start, but the hard work was only beginning. They needed to build up an act with more songs in it, and to do as many gigs as possible to get “broken in.” As the chiX were back at school, they had to get up at six in the morning for rehearsals. The last time they had seen such an early hour was when they were flying to Ibitha – and then they had got to the airport late and missed the plane.
Gladys sat up late writing songs, and then woke up early to get the girls out of bed. It was a very tired and grumpy girl band that met the backing musicians at 7.30 in the rehearsal room.
By the end of the week they were able to dance and sing to two new songs almost without thinking. But their mood was terrible.
On Saturday Laura went shopping on her own. When she came back she showed the girls her new outfit. She had bought new skinny jeans and an off the shoulder t-shirt with a large hipster belt.
“Core, check out the indie chick,” said Sam.
“Well if the chiX are serious we can’t go around looking like a bunch of chavs, ” said Laura. “We need style.” And that night she went out to another concert with the same guy as before. His name was Ming.
The following Monday, when Gladys tried to wake up the girls, they went on strike and refused to get up. Gladys had to ring Arny and apologise.
“I think we’re pushing them too hard,” she said. And Arny agreed to give them Tuesday off as well. But he told her that they had to make to the rehearsal on Wednesday because a journalist was coming to see them.
Gladys felt tiered and bit low too. She began to wonder, even if the chiX did make it, would it be worth while. She sat down and began to write a song.
Hoow were we supposed to know
Our dreams were made of silver lining?
Finding out, was meant to be
That this is where are sun is shining
Holding on and living strong
This is where we belong
On Wednesday Gladys felt much better but Laura still looked tiered at the rehearsal. Then Gladys realised that she had changed her make-up and had a dark smokey eyeliner look. And she had also tasseled her hair. The girls read Gladdy’s new song. Normally they didn’t comment much, but this time Laura said:
“I don’t think we should be doing this girly kind of stuff Gladdy.”
And Gladys asked her what she meant.
“Well I mean, this girl band thing is a kind of naff. Can’t you come up with something original and different?”
“You mean to impress Ming?” asked Gladys.
“What’s Ming got to do with anything? I mean like, we want people to take us seriously don’t we? We don’t want to be another fizzy pop and bubble gum group do we? Like, the chiX are better than that aren’t they?”
Gladys felt totally frustrated. She looked around the room at the empty tea mugs, the electric cables strewn all over the floor, and the bored looking backing musicians. She thought that she should be just getting up out of bed and cleaning her teeth at this time. She recalled that she was behind with her school project. She hadn’t had time to read a book for weeks. She wondered if it was all worth while.
Mandy said, “Come on. It’s a bit early for a heavy discussion.”
And Sam said, “I thought we were a girl band”
And Gladys said: “Exactly. Don’t try to be something you’re not.”
“Well you’re not a true artist,” said Laura. And she picked up her bag and stomped towards the door of the rehearsal room. Before going out she turned round and said: “In case you have’t realised yet, I quit” and she slammed the door.
The girls were stunned. The backing musicians were smirking. Eventually Gladys said, “We’ll talk her round. Come on, let’s go through the song. ” And they did their best. But it wasn’t the same without Laura.
They forgot all about the journalist. They didn’t know that he had met Laura in the corridor. They only knew about the article the following Monday when Arny rang Gladys and asked, “What’s all this nonsense about the chiX splitting?” And he read out the article to Gladys.
chiX Split
Newbie Girlband the chiX has split almost before starting. Heavily touted by top manger Arnold Layne, the chiX seemed set to for a mega-bucks record signing. Lead singer Laura Cooper said, “I have left the chiX after creative differences with my younger sister Gladys. It was fun while it lasted. Now I just want to get on with my solo career.”
“Are you cross?” asked Gladys.
“Not really” said Arnie. “All publicity is good publicity. A short piece at the bottom of Page 25 is not bad for a band that’s only done one gig. Now get Laura back in the band, and we’ll start all over next week.”
And Gladys thought that might work well in the tabloids, but even in reality, would Laura come back? And did she want her to?
51 Comments
i think it is cool
I get Storynory through a My Yahoo homepage module. I really, really like listening to it in the afternoon and my mom can put it on her iphone, too!
Thank you for doing these stories!
Camille
to short
On the second paragraph, you spelt tired wrong (tiered)! Could you do a Twilight one? thxs
(please reply)
Thanks Bella. Will change that. As for Twilight – is that they same as the film? I think it’s probably in copyright – which means we don’t have permission to do those stories, so sorry, I don’t think we can.
Could you do a story where Gladys gets a boy friend.
Dear Sena, Many thanks. We’ll think about that. Maybe towards the end, as Gladys starts to grow up more. So far we have thought as Laura being the one with a boyfriend…
Dear Bertie,
I got two questions:
1) Don’t you think you should capitalize the letter “l” in Laura at the very last paragraph of the story?
2) What does the word “tabloids” at the last paragraph mean?
Please, reply to me.
Dear Cattien, Thank you for spotting the capital letter. “Tabloids” are handy-sized newspapers that specialise in gossip. I think in this case the chiX were probably featured in a newspaper or magazine about music and the music business, because a national newspaper would not be interested in them until they became more famous.
the story is quite nice but the ending is a teeny weeny confusing.the problem is did laura come back?did the story end
happily?
from:
sharanya
Hi Sharanya, the end was meant to be a cliff-hanger…. we will have to see if Laura comes back…. Perhaps Gladys doesn’t want her back. There are five more episodes before the final climax …
Bertie are you married?
Please replay.
Angie – Bertie is still waiting for Princess Beatrice…
But he is helped a bit by Hugh who is married to Olga
ok then…. i think a twilight one would be better like what bella said. (please re
ply)
i m in a movie called a face for all
occassions
Bertie could you make princess beatrice kiss you please i want to know wat happens plz reply
Iman that is my aim, but so far no luck
Why Don’t you finish the story? It was a very intreating story!!!!
Nina – we will finish the story over the coming weeks. Glad you want to know what happens next.
****Reply to me Bertie!!!!****
I am so glad that there is a new Gladys story!!!~^o^
Royal fan,
*Phoebe*.
cool amazing i love this story its enjoyable so keep going!
Hi Phoebe and there will be more Gladys stories soon !
It is very intetresting and nice.I really want to know what’s gonna happen next.
Bertie,
When is the next Gladdys story?
please answer.
Sincerely
MIchelle
Bertie,
How do you spell
‘apreesheeait’?
tim
Bertie, are you still a frog?
PS: In the future, will Gladys marry?
PSS: Will all the girls be free from the chiX? Will they be rich from the band?I love this story. Is storynory inventing this chix story?
#
#
Please answer.
Red aju
Dear Red, the chiX is just a story, and in the last episode we will give a few hints about their future… but you’ll have to wait and see what happens. Glad you are interested !
Michelle, we are still writing the next Gladys… it won’t be this weekend, but possibly the one after
i love the chiX storys and it happens in the real world
bye,bye
i love anything on storynory!
this is crazy how they split….
to bertie,
will the chiX get back together?
Hi Jo, We’ll continue the story of the Chix in the next week or so
hi bertie cool story what’s the meaning of “hipster belt”,”core” and “indie chiX”.I’d be really glad if you’ll tell me.
Salwa, I’m no fashion guru, but I believe a “hipster belt” is a wide fashionable belt that girls sometimes where. “Cor” is just an expression like Wow. “Indie Chic” is a girl who follows alternative music. Hope this helpsl
Salwa, I’m no fashion guru, but I believe a “hipster belt” is a wide fashionable belt that girls sometimes wear. “Cor” is just an expression like Wow. “Indie Chic” is a girl who follows alternative music. Hope this helpsl
i’m nine and i love the series of gladys
and the chiX.My favorite is gladys and th ghost girl. thanks!
Eve that’s great. A new Gladys will be along soon.
Uncool:(
kayal,
bertie
i thought that may be the next glady’s story would be coming this week
Sorry Kayal, But there’s always Next Week !
Just to let people know, we will publish the next episode of Gladys later – this evening (Monday June
and the next final chapter of Eric and Enide next week.
Bertie, I want to know,
When is the next writing competition, how can I enter it, and how can i send my story to it?
I love writing, and always admire people like you.
Please answer my 3 questions.
Loyal fan
Michelle
1.is Arnie Australian
2. why does it matter if Gladys wears dark makeup
3.what’s tabloid
Hi Cattien, I don’t think Arnie is Australian, – he’s got a bit of a cockney accent. Laura wears dark make-up just to show that she’s become “alternative” or different. A tabloid is a popular newspaper with lots of gossip in it.
Bertie, this is very weird. I mean, in the first chiX story you said Laura’s last name is Smith, and NOW you say it’s Cooper. Which one is it???
Lovely story.
Bertie, you said in story1 that Laura’s last name is smith, and NOW you say it’s Cooper?? I don’t think that’s fair.
Like the story-a lot
Michelle, Well Spotted ! The name change was a mistake.
that was awsome Bertie!! I wonder wHAT WILL hAPPEN nEXT?
I will marry Bertie i luv u Bertie !!!!!!!!~~~~~******!!!!~~~
Dear Gladys, Thanks for the offer of marriage, but I am already engaged to Princess Beatrice. Sorry about that. But keep listening to the stories !