The next day, Parker and Susan got up, went to church, out to eat for lunch, and headed to the studio. The girls got out of the car in the parking lot and walked up the walkway to the door. Before they could open the coor, Jordan pushed it open and let the girls in.

Parker and Susan followed by Jordan walked past the reception area and into the studio where they had recorded the previous day. "Are you up for mixing down?" Pete asked Parker.

"Sure thing."

Susan got the video equipment and started to tape. Pete started the music and Parker sat back to listen. "It sounds pretty raw," she commented.

"Wait until we begin mixing," Pete and Jordan said in unison.

Pete followed that comment. "Let me show you what does what, so you can help with the production. All of the controls are into track one, these in track two, these in track three and so on," he said pointing to each thing he was talking about. These knobs add different sound effects, like reverberation, you know, echo," he said winking at her.

"Yeah, I know what an echo is, funny man," she joked playfully hitting him in the arm.

"These knobs here control the bass, mid-range, and treble levels. Any questions?"

"Not a one. This is a lot like that sound board at church, and I am pretty familiar with that."

"You're right. It's a lot like it. Well, then, if you don't have any questions, let's get busy."

They spent the next two and a half hours listening to her song, adding effects, and adjusting the bass and treble levels. When they were finally satisfied, Pete turned to Parker. "I have something I would like to talk over with you," he said with a serious look on his face.
"What is it?" Parker asked, beginning to get a tad nervous.

"Have you ever thought about getting a manager?"

Parker sat there for a minute without speaking. In fact, she was a little too stunned to speak. That question had totally blown her out of the water. It was not at all what she had expected to hear. The fact was that she had been thinking a lot about having a manager. She didn't have the foggiest idea how she was going to get a manager, but she knew she needed one.

"Uh...Parker. You still there?" Pete said with a concerned look on his face.

"Umm...yeah. I'm sorry. What were you saying?"

"Manager. Have you thought about it? Do you want one?"

"Of course! I have thought about it and, yes, I do need one."

"Well, I am offering. I think you have awesome talent and I want to help you get heard."

"Oh, my lands!! Are you saying what I think you're saying?" parker was totally stunned. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Thinkgs were definitely happening for her and at every turn it seemed more impossible than the next.

"Well, what do you think?" Pete asked her. He could tell she was totally shocked. "Let me tell you some of my ideas before you say anything."

"Umm...o.k.," Parker said.

"O.k. Since you have that keyboard, I think we should get you performing before the album is actually done. I was thinking that I could try to book you at Mayfest and maybe performing at the Blue Rose Cafe and other area clubs. We could get you booked at parties, do a tour of schools, things like that. What do you say?"

"Well, I wouldn't really be able to pay you," Parker admitted.

"I don't really want you to pay me. I don't really have any experience doing this. I want to, also, represent you while we are shopping your demo around. Once you get signed, and if you like how I'm doing, we'll talk about how much you'll pay me. If you don't like how I'm doing, you can find another manager. I eve put everything into writing." He handed the contract to Parker. "Don't answer yet. Take this home, read it over and let me know. I don't want to rush you. In fact, don't say anything until I get you your first gig, then you can give me an answer. Oh, I also should tell you that I would have Jordan accompany you if you ever go our of town."

"Well, I definitely will read through it and I'll let you know," Parker told him. She was trying so hard to contain her excitement. She totally trusted him, so that wasn't an issue. With the conversation done and the mixing finished, Parker and Susan packed up. Jordan helped them load Parker's keyboard and they headed back to their apartment.

As Parker laid in bed that night, she couldn't help but think of the day's events. She could hardly believe everything that had happened. She thought that she would sign, but she wanted to see if he could get her a chance to play at Mayfest. She loved going with her family every year and she remembered watching the performers and thinking how she would love to do that someday.

She say up and turned on her light. She had to read that contract again. As she read it over again, she replayed her earlier conversation with Pete. Everything he had told her that afternoon was included, including the bit about replacing him if she wanted to when she got signed.

She would ask her boss to look it over when she got to work tomorrow. He was a lawyer, so he would be able to see if there was anything between the lines that she should ask Pete about. She was only working in the morning tomorrow, so she could stop by the studio after lunch to see if Pete had made any headway with a gig and possibly let him know her answer. But first, she wanted to hear what her boss had to say.