Tig Ripley Hard Rock Tig couldn’t help but laugh I’m pretty sure you were born a rock star Tig said Robbie nodded and smiled Got that right She high-fived Tig Be quiet y’all Kyra said Did you not just hear the guy say Quiet on the set Mom Is that you Robbie said You look so different these days Kyra scowled and sat up straight When the man counted down three two one and pointed the show’s host said Good morning Tuscaloosa I’m Carolyn Kirk your host coming to you live from the College of Communication at the University of Alabama Thanks as always for waking up with us today This morning we have some very special guests with us Paul Ripley Professor of Advertising here at UA and his students from this year’s Ad Comp team The team is just coming off their latest national victory Professor Ripley can you tell us a little bit about what the competition entails As Tig’s uncle Paul and his students explained how 2
Chapter One they’d first won regionals at the end of the last school year followed by taking nationals barely a week ago Tig Robbie Kyra Olivia and Claire stood to the side off-camera waiting to be called over They’re calling us up after the clip Tig said Get ready After the short clip of the fake commercial with Tig’s band playing a seventies punk song to sell ugly high-waisted pants a product that had been invented entirely to make the advertising students job difficult Carolyn Kirk said Wow That is some commercial And I understand that these young rock stars are here with us today They certainly are Tig’s uncle said May I introduce you and your viewers to the girls of Pandora’s Box Go The man who had counted down a few minutes before now whisper-shouted to Tig and the other girls The lights were so bright Tig couldn’t help but squint The advertising students had given up their 3
Tig Ripley Hard Rock seats for the band and gone off-camera Tig and her friends sat down in the chairs next to her uncle Paul Carolyn Kirk introduced the girls by name along with which instrument each one played They waved and smiled when their names were called So tell me ladies said Carolyn Kirk how does it feel to be famous She looked directly at Tig I wouldn’t exactly call us famous Tig said Yet Robbie interjected Carolyn Kirk laughed I see you have some ambition here huh That’s great It sounded so condescending that Tig immedi ately felt embarrassed but Robbie didn’t seem to feel that way at all Instead she held her two middle fingers down with her thumb and sort of fist-pumped All right then said Carolyn Kirk What’s next for Pandora’s Box The sky’s the limit said Kyra smiling right at the camera Olivia and Claire never said a word They seemed nervous 4
Chapter One How exciting said Carolyn Kirk I’m sure I speak for all our viewers in the Tuscaloosa area when I say we wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing more from Pandora’s Box in the very near future Cheesy music began playing and Carolyn Kirk said Coming up next we’ll teach you how to take your grandma’s lasagna recipe to the next oh-so delicious and cost-effective level Don’t go away We’ll be right back Thanks Professor Ripley Thanks girls Carolyn Kirk said as the countdown guy whisked them off the set The entire interview had lasted all of about three minutes total I’ve got to get some papers graded Tig’s uncle said If your mom’s not here to pick you up in the next few minutes let me know I’ll just be right upstairs in my office We’ll be fine Tig said She hugged her uncle good-bye and the girls went outside to wait for Tig’s mom 5
