Suzie’s House 331 : How to Not Bounce

Bruce stared into the eyes of the burly bouncer and dared him to keep them out. Uncle John really had set this gig up, hadn’t he? Even if they were all under age, they had a right to be here tonight. He didn’t have to pay a bribe this time. Did he?

“No kids allowed.” Mr. Beefy leaned in, blocking the door and acting all intimidating.

“We’re the band.” Bruce got in his grill despite being a foot shorter and a hundred pounds lighter.

“Use the back entrance.”

“We can’t. The door’s locked.”

He’d originally planned on slipping in real quick, running through the converted warehouse, and propping the door open from the inside. Good plan. Only works if he’s by himself, and the entire band just had to come along with him without even asking. Not that he’d criticize or anything.

“Hey, guys, maybe you could wait with the van? Wouldn’t want the drums or an amplifier or anything to get lifted.”

Bruce didn’t think they’d go at first. They kind of shuffled and held back, but Tracy said something about Gene’s guitar, and that was enough to send them all back around the building.

“Alright, Clifford. Now let me in.” Bruce tried to shoulder past, and failed.

“Nothing doing.”

“That’s not what you said Tuesday when I came to look over the stage.”

“Tuesday you had money.”

“You can take my share of the cover charge. Just let me in.”

“No one said anything to me about a cover charge.”

Bruce stared. The bouncer wasn’t collecting the cover charge for them? Then who was? it’s not like they had a college friend to do it. Crap. Another problem to deal with.

He’d originally thought the hardest part would be getting two sets of drums schlepped over to the venue and set up before anyone realized it wasn’t just one underage kid, but a whole band of them. He’d known better than to put too much faith in Uncle John, but now he was wondering if they really had permission to do this at all.

Well, he wasn’t going to moan and groan about it. He just had to get inside.

“Hey.” Gene leaned around the bouncer from inside. “Let him in. We’re about to start.”

“How did YOU get in,” the bouncer said before Bruce got his mouth around the words.

“His uncle called someone, and they opened the back door for us.” Gene gestured at Bruce.

“Asshole could have said something to me about it.” Bruce muttered as he slipped under the bouncers arm and joined Gene. “Where is he?” No time like the present for screaming at the guy.

“Don’t know.” Gene shrugged. “He took off in the van as soon as we got all our stuff out.”

“Oh.” That explained everything. If Uncle John lit out, then this probably wasn’t a legitimate gig. Collect at the door? They’d be lucky to get through the show before getting kicked out.

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