Suzie’s House 279 : Band Meeting

Bruce didn’t think much of the house where Gene lived now. The place he lived before, back when he lived with the old drunk, had to be less than half as old, and it wasn’t brand new or anything. He knew some people got into these creaky old houses, but Bruce wasn’t one of them.

Someday he was going to live in one of those new lofts they put up around the capital building. He’d have a gig every night, and not just in the little bars around town either.

H*ll, he’d think big and plan on doing concerts in concert halls like Skrillex. Yeah, once he got his name out there, which was why he was here on this nasty old porch knocking on this ancient wooden door. Any band put together by Gene and Tracy was going to have an instant fan base. It was a great chance to pick up a following. If nothing else, he could count on pulling in most everyone in school who got into music.

The door swung open, and there stood Tracy like she lived there or something.

“Hey guys!” She turned and yelled into an empty hall behind her. “The keyboard guy is here.”

“Well bring him in.” A girl’s head popped out from a doorway. It wasn’t anyone Bruce recognized.

“Just make yourself at home, Kate,” Tracy muttered quiet enough that the girl wouldn’t hear, like she should be talking. “This way.” She lead to the room the girl, Kate or what ever, was in.

Tracy plopped down on the couch practically in Gene’s lap so there was only one chair left, one of those nasty hard backed chairs with no arm rests or anything. Bruce twitched his shoulder and let the backpack drop, but caught it carefully before it hit the floor so it wouldn’t mess up the little keyboard he’d brought with him.

If they shined a bright light on him, it could be one of those spy-thriller movie type interrogation scenes with everyone else sitting on the other side of the room.

“You know us,” Tracy waved at herself and Gene, and then the drummer dude with the washboard abs. “And Justin, of course. This is Kate. She’s the other drummer, and… um…”

“Emma,” Kate said for the girl next to her. The girl looked like she’d pass out if you looked at her funny.

“Hey.” Bruce flipped his hand up like an Indian in one of those movies that are so old that there are only white guys in grease paint and feathers. “So, Emma. What do you do?”

She squeaked. Really. Like a mouse caught on the kitchen counter. If she could have run away and hid somewhere, she would have. It made Bruce feel like a cat.

“She’s just my friend. I said it would be all right if she came.” Kate grabbed Emma’s hand and squeezed it. Did she think they were little girls, or were they lesbians?

Lesbians could be cool. Bruce could get into that, if they’d let him watch.

“So this is everybody,” Tracy said. “Lead guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussion, and keyboard. Right? Mrs. H. said we could practice here, so we got that down, and we already agreed we’re going to learn You Found Me by the Fray, My Turn by Hoobastank, and The Bitter End by Stone Sour.”

“Wait…” Bruce wanted to play stuff like Bassnectar. But he shut his mouth fast because if he tried to make them do his music right off, they wouldn’t even let him in the band.

“And we’ll hold our first concert next Spring at the school talent show.”

“Wait. Why do we have to wait that long?” Bruce said even though he just finished telling himself to shut up.

“Well, where else can we play?” Kate said it like it should be obvious even to him.

“I can get us a gig next Saturday,” Bruce said off-hand-like.

Everybody stared at him in amazement. It felt good, real good. One of those savor the moment things.

“No way. Can’t be.” Everybody acted like he’s told a bad joke and went back looking at Tracy.

“I’m serious. I’ve got an in at The Crystal Corner, The Cardinal, Alchemy, Mickey’s, and Echo.”

“We’re under age. They won’t even let us in,” Gene said which was just sad since if anyone here looked like an adult, it was him.

“They’ll look the other way for me. They’ve done it before.”

“Wait. Are you saying you’ve played in those places before?” Tracy looked all interested.

“Yeah. Of course.”

That look in her eye got sharper. Then Bruce saw it – the way to entice her. If she thought he could really get them gigs, she’s want him in the band even if he couldn’t really play. His place was just about guaranteed.

“If it’s me playing, all kinds of people will hire us. Not just taking tips or cover charges at the door, either. We can get paid gigs at parties and stuff. You guys are serious, right? Cause I am. Deadly serious.”

Just like that, he had them. Not just Tracy, they all looked at him differently. They might not have been serious before, but they were now.

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