"Number 62"

"What?"

"Number 62" Ant repeated down the phone line the next day "that's where 'tonight I'm free' entered the charts"

Dec sighed loudly "that's rubbish"

"Yeah" Ant agreed "but it might rise higher next week,that's what telstar told me when I called them anyway" he was trying to sound optimistic for Decs sake,but both he and the record company knew that that was highly unlikely.

"Maybe" Dec whispered "but will probably just crash out out unnoticed"

"How are you feeling about it all now Decs?" Ant enquired.

"I was thinking about it all night" Dec replied "didn't get much sleep like"

"Yeah,me neither" Ant sighed.

"I talked to my Dad about it this morning" Dec continued.

"Oh yeah?what did he say?" Ant knew Fonsey would always be the voice of reason.

"Well" Dec replied "obviously we talked about the fact we've signed the record contract already and it may not be that easy to get out of it and would I really want to?he said that I was just having a knee jerk reaction and just because one song hasn't done that well,that doesn't mean other songs and the album won't"

"Well,he's right isn't he?" Ant enquired.

"I guess so" Dec mused "and the alternative is staying at college,hoping something better comes along"

He paused for a moment "I'm not really enjoying college Ant"

"Really?" Ant asked.

"Yeah,i don't think I want to go anymore" Dec continued.

"Oh ok" Ant replied,not totally surprised "if that's how you feel then I guess there's no point in dragging it out for the sake of it.I might give it a bit longer though"

"Fair enough" Dec replied.

"How does your Dad feel about you dropping out?" Ant asked,knowing Fonsey had been keen for Dec to have it as a back up plan.

"He said I have to do what makes me happy" Dec replied.

"So what do you want to do about it all then Decs?" Ant enquired.

Ant was now hopeful that Dec would be happy to proceed with the music stuff if he'd lost interest in the college course,that seemed to be where the conversation was leading anyway.

"Give up college" he stated "and carry on with the music I guess"

"Good decision" Ant smiled,he was incredibly relieved even if it wasn't really the direction either of them wanted their careers to go in,however it was something to tide them over for the time being and after Ants struggling childhood where he watched his Mam having to count every penny and be so exhausted she fell asleep on the sofa every night after work,that was exactly what he wanted.This would at least bring in a decent wage eventually if the next song did well which he could share with his Mam.

"I guess we should tell Telstar we're going ahead then" Dec suggested.

"Umm,they never thought any different" Ant laughed.

"Oh I thought you would have told them that I was having doubts when you called them" Dec enquired.

"Why would I have done that?" Ant giggled "can't have them knowing just how flaky their new signing is"

"Idiot" Dec replied playfully.

"Arsehole" Ant retorted speedily.

"How come you're dealing with this so well Ant?" Dec asked curiously,wishing he could be as calm about it all as his friend.

"I'm devastated just as much as you are Dec,I really had high hopes for that song" Ant sighed "but I guess we just handle things in different ways,you wear your heart on your sleeve,whereas I'm the strong and silent type,ya know,all mean and moody that's me"

"There's nothing mean about you Ant" Dec smiled "definately moody though"

"Ha,better than being a mammys boy" Ant teased.

"Hey,that's not fair" Dec retorted lightheartedly.

"True though" Ant insisted.

"Yeah maybe it is" Dec relented.

"Dec?"

"Yeah?"

"There's something I haven't told you" Ant sighed nervously.

"Oh God,what now?" Dec enquired "you mean there's more?just when I thought things couldn't get any worse"

"Well it's not all bad actually" Ant replied "do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

"The bad" Dec whispered "let's get it over with"

"Well,when I spoke to Telstar" Ant informed him "they said they still want us to record another single....."

"That's the bad news?" Dec cut in.

"Let me finish Dec" Ant replied frustrated "no that's not the bad news.As i was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,they want us to record another single,but that's it for the time being"

"That's it?" Dec asked confused.

"Afraid so" Ant said,he could almost hear Decs mind working down the phone line as he tried to process the information that Ant had given him.

"That's it?" Dec repeated after a long pause "no album?no tour?"

"Not for the time being at least" Ant replied sadly "they want to see if the next single does any better than this one before they commit to anything else"

"Bloody great" Dec snapped.

"Hey,things are hopefully only on hold,they're not saying they're never gonna happen" Ant assured him "do you even want to hear the good news?"

"Oh yeah,forgot about that" Dec stated "go on then?"

"Well" Ant smiled "even though there won't be a proper tour yet,Telstar think they can get us a couple of gigs"

"What?really?where?" The excitement had returned to Decs voice.

"Umm" Ant hesitated "just in a couple of local places"

"Which places?" Dec asked.

"Kinda like some centres" Ant grimaced.

"Like arenas?" Dec asked hopefully.

"No,not like arenas Dec" luckily Dec couldn't see Ant rolling his eyes "that would be a proper tour wouldn't it?plus we've only got one song,so how could we possibly do that now?"

"Could be a supporting act for someone?" Dec asked hopefully "like Oasis"

"Stop it Dec" Ant pleaded "it's been made quite clear that there will be no tour just yet,or maybe not ever"

"What then?" Dec asked impatiently "what centre do they want us to play at?"

"Well" Ant took a deep breath "maybe centre is the wrong word,they're more like homes"

"Homes?" Dec still had no idea what Ant was talking about and just wished he'd get straight to the point.

"Er yeah" Ant continued "like old peoples homes"

"What the hell?" Dec snapped,slightly stunned "why would two teenage lads like us play in an old peoples home?and why would any old people be interested in watching us?that's a terrible idea.Some good news that is"

Ant knew he had to do his best to persuade Dec that it was a good idea "look at it as good practice for when we do hit the big time.Even if they don't like us,it will give us a taste of what it's like to perform in front of a small crowd"

"A very small crowd" Dec snapped "and an old crowd"

"Well" Ant replied "every little helps,what have we got to lose?"

"Our dignity" Dec retorted.

"Come on Dec" Ant pleaded "will you do it?for me?what else have you got to do if you're not even going to college eh?"

Dec thought for a moment.He knew all along he would have to do it,but it was in his nature to make a bit of a fuss just for the hell of it,he thought that helped him be a good actor,he knew he would agree eventually but made it clear he was only doing it for Ants sake as Ant was always such a good and supportive friend to him.

"Alright Ant,I'll do it,I'll do it for you" Dec whispered "but if any of those old cronies dribble on me,I'm holding you responsible"

"Declan" Ant snapped,although he couldn't help laughing "that's very disrespectful,you'll be old one day"

"No I won't" Dec laughed "I'm Peter Pan me,the boy who never grows up,you'll see,got to be some advantages to my young,boyish looks"

"Ok Dec" Ant laughed.

There was a pause down the phone line "um Dec?"

Dec didn't like the tone in Ants voice and knew whatever was about to come wouldn't be particularly good either.

"What now Ant?"

"Well um...." Ant faltered.

"Just spit it out will ya?" Dec snapped frustrated.

"They are...well,they want us to do a bit of comedy as well" Ant grimaced,waiting for Decs inevitable reaction.

"WHAT THE FUCK?" Dec shouted,causing Ant to remove the receiver away from his ear slightly "since when have we been fucking comedians?"

"Calm down Dec" Ant insisted "it's not a big deal honestly.One song and a couple of jokes,that's all they want"

"Yeah,well I don't remember anything in the contract about jokes" Dec huffed.

"I'm sure we can manage to come up with something,a quick skit maybe?" Ant replied confidently "you're a funny guy Dec,or so you keep telling me"

"Ok" Dec sighed defeated "So when do we start recording this next song then?"

"Not till after Christmas now" Ant replied.

"And what about the dribble tour?"

"Dec stop it will ya?" Ant laughed.

"Ok,I mean the senior citizens tour that isn't a tour" Dec answered sarcastically "the tour where elderly people desperately want to see two lads prancing around,singing,rapping and telling jokes they probably won't even understand while they eat their pureed lunch"

"That could be your Grandparents soon ya know?" Ant observed.

"Nope,never" Dec laughed "you've met my Grandparents.

"Yeah,good point" Ant laughed "anyway the senior citizens tour as you call it doesn't have a date yet either,but it will be soon as it won't take that much organising,they'll let us know as soon as they decide"

"Ok good" Dec had had enough of this subject by now "You wanna come over?"

"Can't,sorry" Ant replied "promised Mam I'd do some batch cooking,you know stock up the freezer a bit.You can come over here though,keep me company if you like?Mams at work and Sarha is at her friends so it will be just me and you"

"Sounds good " Dec smiled "what are you cooking"

"Shepherds pie,macaroni cheese chicken risotto and chilli con carne" Ant announced proudly.

"Wow you're gonna make all that in one day?" Dec asked amazed.

"Yep" Ant replied "a day is plenty of time when you know what you're doing"

"Great,I'll be there soon" Dec replied.

"Er Dec?"

"Yeah?"

"All that is for the freezer not for your belly" Ant pointed out matter of factly.

"I know that" Dec replied,although Ant did sense a slight tinge of disappointment in his voice.

"Well maybe I can spare a little bit of something for our lunch" Ant grinned.

"Great,I'm on my way" Dec smiled "well I will be in maybe an hour,after I've had a shower and all that"

So roughly an hour and a quarter later,Ant saw Dec pull up and park outside his house.

"Here he is" he said to himself.

Dec could already smell the delicious scent from Ants homemade bolognese sauce drifting out of the open kitchen window.

"Something smells good" Dec smiled as Ant opened the front door and gave him a welcoming hug.

"Spaghetti bolognese" Ant stated "I've already made macaroni cheese.I thought we could have some of the spag bol for lunch,fancy it?"

"Definitely" Dec replied "if it tastes as good as it smells,it'll be pretty amazing"

The boys spent the rest of the day hanging out,with Ant cooking and Dec eating whatever morsels he could sneak in without Ant getting too annoyed,insisting on trying everything that Ant made.Ant even attempted to give Dec some culinary tips but as he struggled to even open a tin of kidney beans for the chilli con carne,he was soon banished from the kitchen.

Finally,the freezer was fully stocked and Ant flopped down onto the sofa next to Dec,handing him a cold can of coke.

"Glad that's all done" Ant sighed exhausted.

"You're lucky you know how to cook Ant" Dec smiled "I wish I could"

"I'm sure you'll learn one day Dec, there's no hurry"

Just then,the phone rang which Ant answered immediately.He mouthed over to Dec that it was Telstar on the other end of the line.

Once he hung up,Dec demanded to be told what they wanted.

"Just dates for doing the gigs at the old peoples homes" Ant informed his friend.

"Oh yeah when?" Dec asked.

"They thought it would be a nice idea to do it the week before Christmas like" Ant replied "you know,make a change from carol singers for the residents"

"I guess" Dec thought out loud "but that's next week?"

"Aye it is" Ant smiled "Four dates,four old peoples homes,the week before Christmas,might be nice"

"Doesn't give us much time to prepare though" Dec frowned.

"Not much to prepare though is there?" Ant pointed out "we already know the song,the dance moves and I'm sure we can think up plenty of jokes between us"

So just a week later,Ant and Dec were stood in the hall of a local care home for the elderly,the large room was obviously usually used for the residents to have their meals.

A sea of eyes and weary lined faces stared at them curiously,some of them obviously having no clue what was going on.The boys were actually worried that the shock of their singing,rapping and dancing might send some of the frail residents to their graves.

As Ant and Dec looked out at the small gathering of precisely fifty six inhabitants and twelve members of staff,feeling unexpectedly nervous,Ant studied the faces of some of the those nearest to them,thinking how every line on their faces told a story,but he knew that line of thought would probably be lost on Dec.He was right,Dec was actually just thinking 'wow,they're old'

But they were here now,they had no choice other than to just get on with it,a room of expectatant faces were peering up at them,just waiting curiously.

There was no getting out of it now!