Rocky Road by Susannah McFarlane Page A

message from the last words of each line. Hmm.’
    EJ looked at the lyrics, thought for a bit then scribbled some new words down.

    They weren’t the most fantastic song words but at least the code worked. EJ double-checked it, just to make sure.

    That should do it, thought EJ.
    And then the rest of the chorus was the same, just like in Shady Lady’s version.

    No, actually, thought EJ, it’s SHADOW who is going to be rocked and SHINE’ s time to shine!
    Next EJ needed to change. It was lucky Shady Lady was so small because EJ could wear her costumes. She picked out some leather pants, a purple singlet and some necklaces. On her right arm, where Shady Lady had her tattoo, EJ put on a black armband. Then, using the stage make-up on the table, EJ began to draw. On her face. She drew pink, purple and orange swirls around her eyes until it was as if she was wearing a mask, a mask that would stop anyone guessing that she wasn’t Shady Lady, at least for a little while.
    EJ picked up one of Shady Lady’s guitars and, using her spy-pod and guitar charm, uploaded ‘Rock ’n’ Shine’ for lead guitar. She would now ‘play’ like a rock goddess, just like Shady Lady.
    But EJ didn’t feel like a rock goddess and didn’t think she could perform like one either. Maybe in her bedroom she could but not in a packed rock stadium.
    EJ12 was going to need some help. A lot of help.



The crowd’s chants were getting louder and were sounding slightly impatient.
    EJ was still in the dressing room. She would very much like to have stayed there but knew she had to go on stage. She had to deliver the message, she just didn’t know how she was going to be able to. What if she just froze, like she did in the Kinder concert? Or forgot the words—that would be a disaster. Everyone would know she wasn’t ShadyLady and the SHADOW agents would escape. But hold on a moment, she thought to herself, I know the words, and I know them backwards. Elle and I sing this song all the time.
    Elle, that was exactly who EJ needed. She took out her phone and called her BESTie.
    â€˜Hi there,’ Elle’s voice was bright and cheery despite it being quite late. ‘How can I help?’
    EJ didn’t really know where to start. ‘Elle, why don’t you mind singing in front of people?’
    â€˜I don’t really think about the other people, I just think about the song and the music. Why? What made you think about that? I thought you were OM?’ said Elle.
    OM was how EJ and her BESTies described EJ being on a mission. They made it up themselves and they thought it sounded very spy-like, very secret.
    â€˜I am,’ replied EJ, ‘that’s why I need to know.’
    â€˜Okay, well,’ said Elle, ‘actually I don’t think about the people at all, I think about the song. I get lost in the song. Does that help?’
    â€˜Sort of,’ replied EJ.
    â€˜There’s something else that might help,’ said Elle. ‘My mum used to say that you should try to imagine the audience in their underwear, then you can’t possibly be nervous about them, because they look so silly.’ She giggled.
    EJ giggled too. She felt better just talking to her friend. ‘I’m not sure that helps, Elle, but it is funny.’
    â€˜Hey, you’re not still worried about the talent concert are you?’
    â€˜Well no, actually yes,’ replied EJ, ‘but this is another concert, and a little bigger than the school one.’
    â€˜How much bigger?’
    â€˜A lot,’ said EJ, ‘like a whole stadium bigger.’
    â€˜You are kidding me!’ cried Elle. Then she paused before talking again. ‘Hang on, you’re at the Pink Shadows concert aren’t you? I know, you can’t answer that, but you have to be. I can’t believe it, you are so lucky!’ shrieked Elle. ‘That is so cool, you are like a real rock