Suzie’s House 365 : A Translucent Attitude

Bruce knew something was wrong as soon as Uncle John arrived. He had that eerie combination of a guarded look in his eye and a big smile that always meant trouble. Still, Bruce didn’t say anything as the band loaded everything into the van. It wasn’t like anyone would listen anyway. They were all too excited about doing another gig. Well, let them see for themselves just how far you could trust Uncle John.

“What’s going on with you and Gene?”

Kate and Tracy sat right in front of Bruce in the first row of seats. Until Kate asked, Bruce hadn’t realized that Gene sat in the very back.

“It’s nothing.”

“Come on, Tracy. Aren’t we friends? You can tell me.”

Tracy smashed her lips together like she wanted to keep the words in, but they came out anyway. “He said I had to put out if I wanted to stay his girlfriend.”

“What?”

Bruce looked down and did his best to no laugh. So she wasn’t putting out all along? Poor guy. No way Bruce would put up with that from his girlfriend. I guy had needs, didn’t he?

“The jerk!” Kate recoiled like Tracy had said something horrible.

What was it with girls? Didn’t they have needs, too?

“I know, right?” Tracy looked at Kate with the same horrified expression. “I can’t believe he would ever say something like that to me. I feel horrible.”

“Wait.” Bruce lunged forward so he could wedge his head between the two and did his best to get his elbow up on the back of their seat. “How long have you and Gene been going out?”

“We got together last Summer, so… about a year?” Tracy’s forehead scrunched up and she stared at the roof as she figured it out.

“Don’t talk to him. He won’t have anything good to say.” Kate glared at him.

Bruce ignored her. “Seriously. You two have been dating for a whole year and you never had sex? Why not?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” Kate snipped.

“You’re right. I don’t.”

“It’s not like I never thought about it. Just…” Tracy, of all people, turned bright red. “I’m still a virgin.”

“And Gene isn’t good enough to help you fix that?”

“No!” Tracy looked horrified at the suggestion. “I love Gene.”

“Wait. What do you mean by ‘fix that”, hmm? It’s not like there’s anything wrong with being a virgin.”

“Yeah, but it isn’t something you want to take to your grave with you, right? So what’s so wrong about Gene and Tracy getting it on? I mean, a full year. I don’t know how he could handle it. Or is he too much of a wimp to try?”

“We got close a few times,” Tracy held her head up like she was being brave about it, but she was still blushing. “But right when he was ready I didn’t want to anymore. It just didn’t feel right.”

“Huh? What’s that about?”

“I told you he wouldn’t understand,” Kate said to Tracy.

“I’m not sure I do either,” Tracy said. “I mean. I want to. But not that way.”

“You’re an idiot. There’s no way I’d let my girlfriend put me off over something so stupid.” Bruce felt quite satisfied with himself as he sat back. That was until he glanced over at his seat-mate.

“That’s why I don’t like you,” Emma said very quietly. She might be the world’s biggest wimp, but her eyes were hard as steel when she said it.

He didn’t have time to think about it. Uncle John had pulled the van up to a curb next to Peace Park. Sure enough he’d tried to pull a fast one on them. It wasn’t a gig. He expected them to be buskers. Bruce bet he didn’t even bother to get a permit.

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