"No reason to get excited
The thief, he kindly spoke
There are many here among us
Who feel that life is but a joke"

"All Along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix

"Good morning from Crumb Radio," Bash announced. "It's a big day in music here; not only for England, but for the world."

He shared an excited smile with the others, who were sitting across from his broadcasting desk as they waited with anticipation.

"Today is June first," Bash continued, "and The Beatles have just released a new song that has been the talk of the town ever since their photoshoot on Chapel Street back in May. The song, of course, is called Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I know we're excited here at Crumb Radio, which is why we're inviting you to listen to the song here first this evening. The song will air at precisely five fifteen, again on Crumb Radio. We hope to celebrate with you tonight, so get your dancing shoes on and leave today's worries at the door. Up next is James Brown after these short messages."

As soon as Bash turned off the switch, the Crumbs erupted into zealous clapping.

"I'm so excited!" Kathy cried.

"This is sure to get us good listenership," Smiley said.

As far as Bash knew, they were airing Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band earlier than any station in the area, who were all waiting until after work hours to broadcast.

Bash knew, however, that the audience most excited about The Beatles' new song were young people, who all got out of school between four and five o'clock. So, while the other radio stations waited until shops closed, Crumb Radio would already be at the top.

People were saying that it would be The Beatles' hottest release since Revolver, which meant more buzz, which meant more listeners.

Airing the song early could be The Crumbs' biggest break yet.

"We need...cake...or something," Kathy said with a mischievous, cat-like grin.

All heads swiveled toward Bash.

"Please?!" Smiley begged.

Bash pretended to be burdened by such an insinuation, but he'd actually already set the butter out to soften the night before.

"Bash's Magic Cake will make us unstoppable!" Kathy promised.

Bash was no cook and no baker. He was able to make simple meals like eggs, beans, sandwiches, and the occasional tablespoon of cream into a mug of tea.

That is, besides the Magic Cake.

Some would say that the Magic Cake was only a toffee pudding with chocolate sauce, but the Crumbs had a theory that the cake brought good luck

Bash made one on the first day of Crumb Radio. He made one on Smiley's first day of secondary school. He made one for Syl's sixteenth birthday (she believed the number sixteen was distinctly unlucky). He even made one in honor of Jimi Hendrix's first European tour.

All events were met with success and satisfied stomachs. And if there was ever a need for a Magic Cake, it was certainly now.

"Well I'm not keen on working alone, so I'll need some help," Bash said.

They all migrated to the kitchen, where Kathy began melting a pound of butter in a pan, Smiley cracked eggs, Syl chopped walnuts, and Bash measured out each ingredient as if he were caring for baby birds.

The first thing Bash noticed as he watched his friends was that Kathy and Smiley were having pleasant conversation. The second thing he noticed was that Kathy and Syl were not.

Though they both remained cheerful as they worked, it quickly became evident that they were purposefully not speaking to one another.

Bash couldn't bear to have bad vibrations aboard Wolgemoth & Sons, so as soon as Syl was alone beside the rubbish bin, he muttered, "What going on with you and Kath?"

"Nothing," she replied briskly with a measly attempt at a smile.

"She's still going to see that bloke at the fabric shop, isn't she?" Bash stated.

Syl nearly closed her fingers in the lid when she started. She flashed her eyes up at him. "How did you know that?"

Bash shrugged a shoulder. "Because it's Kathy. I figured she wouldn't be able to let that lad go easily. And because it's you, I figured you'd find that difficult."

"But am I being mad?" Syl whispered, but her tone was upset. "How can she trust someone from the Mad Teddy's?"

"Perhaps because neither one of them knew about the other's occupation when they became friends?"

Syl tilted her head back and sighed. "Would you talk to her, then? I always say the wrong things."

Bash opened his mouth to say yes, of course he would. Kathy tended to listen to him better, anyway. But instead, he found himself replying with, "I think you should. Kathy needs to know that you trust her."

Syl bristled, ready to argue, but she must have come to the conclusion that Bash was right because she allowed her shoulders to slump.

Bash followed her gaze to where Smiley and Kathy had both gotten sidetracked from their assigned tasks and were now playing knife roulette, where they stuck a knife between their fingers to see who got poked first.

Bash often had to remind himself that they were only fifteen. More frequently, he had to remind himself that he was only seventeen. The thought always brought a dull sense of absence inside of him. He loved his life, but there was always a feeling that something had been stolen stalking behind it. Maybe it was because he knew what it was like to be taken care of, once. And maybe he missed it.

"Kathy needs drums," Syl said suddenly.

When Bash looked back at her, her face had a dark cloud over it. He knew better than to assume she was just deep in thought.

"What are you planning?" he asked.

Syl thought for a moment longer, then shook her head. "Nothing." She rolled her shoulders back and took a deep breath. "Today is Beatles day, after all. And we have a Magic Cake to make."

And so a Magic Cake they made.

Each of the Crumbs picked out a record to play while they baked and after two hours of stirring, assembling, and putting-into-the-oven, the toffee pudding was ready.

The Crumbs, besmirched with flour on their cheeks, batter on their clothes, and chocolate smudged in a variety of places, stood back to examine their work.

"I bet Ringo and George would like it," Kathy said.

"Yeah, and John and Paul would be too busy shouting at each other to notice it," Smiley added.

The hours leading up to four o'clock were almost painful. It was difficult to run the station without bursting at the seams.

But when the hour finally arrived, The Crumbs regathered in front of the broadcasting desk, plates of Magic Cake balancing in their lap, breaths caught in their throats.

"That was a bit from The Box Tops on Crumb Radio," Bash said, folding his hands on the face of the desk like an old man. "Now for the moment we've all been waiting for. Make sure to put that homework aside and turn the knob to ten. This is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by the one and only, The Beatles."

Bash had to flip a few extra switches to access the brand new file, but within seconds, the song began to play.

The Crumbs were transfixed from the start. Their Magic Cake sat uneaten on their laps, forgotten in the wake of a masterpiece.

It wasn't just about the tune or the lyrics. It was the composition. The details. The style. It left them all wondering how such unique creativity could exist in this small world.

They were all quiet when the song ended because the radio was still broadcasting.

Bash had to gather himself before leaning into the mic. "Another brilliant hit from The Beatles. Just splendid. I don't suppose there's much to say after something like that, but you heard it here first on Crumb Radio. More Beatles coming up."

The "On-Air" light blinked off and Bash sat back with a long exhale.

The Crumbs erupted into cheers, shouting about both the song and their radio success at the same time.

"Bash, you mad genius!" Smiley said, shaking his brother's hand vigorously. "Those teens are probably kissing their radios in honor of us right now!"

They clinked their forks together and offered a 'Hear! Hear!" to the sky. Not ten minutes later, every bit of the Magic Cake was gone.

Everyone was too full and too excited to think about supper, so they got out their instruments early and began practicing.

The word "practicing" sent a buzz of anticipation down the spines of the Crumbs. The word was new and tantalizing to them since they'd never done anything except "play" before.

There was a different air about their nightly routine now. A focus and determination that had never been there before.

"That chorus just sounds flat, Bash," Smiley said. "Play that last part with the piano."

They went through each note together until the issue was resolved.

They were about to continue with the song when Syl suddenly shushed them by waving her hands at them. "Does anyone else hear that?"

They all fell silent to listen. Sure enough, someone was distantly whistling the tune of Sgt. Pepper.

They followed the sound to the edge of the boat and craned their necks toward the docks.

There were two boys–one standing, one sitting with his feet dangling in the water below. The boy sitting down paused his whistling serenade to grin smugly up at Wolgemoth & Sons. They all recognized his arrogant face immediately.

"How does he know the song already?" Smiley whispered, fear etched into his voice.

"Good evening, Greg," Bash greeted far more cheerfully than he felt. "What brings you down to the wharf?"

Even from a distance, they could see Greg laughing. It sent a chill down Bash's spine.

"We thought we heard a tired old Beatles song coming from your boat a few hours ago," Greg called back. "I have to say, it was a fairly ace move to play Sgt. Pepper then instead of now."

"Thanks," Bash replied with suspicion in his voice.

"Bit of a shame Mad Teddy radio played it this morning before school started and during lunch hour at noon." Greg checked his watch. "Oh, and would you look at that...we've already played it twice now since then."

The Crumbs were too stunned to reply.

"Don't look so disappointed, chums," Greg said. "At least your listeners knew all the words by the time they heard it on your station."

With that, he and his accomplis went back down the dock, whistling in unison the last lines of Sgt. Pepper.

Smiley slammed his fist down on the railing. "Those bastards!"

Kathy covered her mouth, unable to speak as her eyes filled with tears.

Syl was silent in a deadly sort of way.

And Bash felt all of his dreams spinning recklessly further and further out of his reach. His stomach felt hollow and sick at the same time as he looked at the dejected faces of his friends. For once, he didn't have a new idea. An escape. He had nothing.

How could they possibly win against the Mad Teddy's now?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Crumbs were so close, weren't they? I hope you guys are having a good Spring Break! I'm on vacation with my family, typing away in the sunshine!

~How do you think The Crumbs will beat the Mad Teddy's?

~General thoughts on the chapter? Who's your favorite character so far?