A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Chapter IX: Playing With Girls

"The noise won't be so bad from here," Angus said, smoking his cigarette. I watched him straighten his tie and jumped aside at every roadie who came by with equipment and wires. "It's not like before in clubs an' all."

"Don't worry, lass, the lads are upgraded," Brian said, drinking his beer. He gargled it then swallowed. He grimaced. "Don't know where that's been." He took another drink. "It's like the pig with the brick house, an' they can't afford to keep buildin' 'em. Don't get paid if another one's destroyed."

"But we still could," Angus said. Brian laughed. "If they refuse to pay we can still blow the fuckin' walls down."

"We'll give ya' a head start to the bus," Brian said with a smile. "Or someone will heave you over his shoulder-" Brian demonstrated with an invisible damsel. I laughed. "Run ya' right out."

"Thanks," I said with a smile. The whole band got themselves ready backstage while I sat on my folding chair. Angus asked if I wanted to go with him, already knowing the answer. But I decided to go to his pleasant surprise and I waited with everyone else who had a backstage pass. 

It still reeked of smoke and beer. And it still felt like home.

There was a pinball machine by the vending machine and Brian went to watch Simon play a few rounds. Malcolm and Angus were practising together in the corner and Cliff sat next to me putting on his wrist brace. 

"Good to see ya' here," he said. "Ang said you were a bit cautious of concerts."

"A bit," I agreed. I folded my hands across my mini skirt. I dressed in my original outfit and Angus told me I looked cute. I decided to wear it more often. Cliff grabbed his bass from a case lying on the floor. 

"I don't blame ya'," he said giving it a quick tune. "Georgeanne wanted to come but...ya' know."

I nodded. "When is the baby due?"

Cliff looked at me through his long hair. "Anytime," he said. "Any day she's gonna call sayin' he's comin' an' I might not be there." He plucked a bit while I watched. "This is my kid, ya' know? My own son. I wanna be there but...work an' all..."

"You might still make it," I said. A poor attempt at making the man feel better. "Labour can last a long time."

"Yeah," he said. "Maybe."

Of course neither of us wanted Georgeanne to be in pain for so long. Oh, who needed children anyway when giving birth was such a hassle? Thank God I swore that off. Rosemary and Koa were enough for me.

Before I knew it, it was time for them to leave. "That's our cue," Cliff said standing up. "See ya' for the after party." I watched him go and received one last kiss on the cheek from Angus before he left with the others. 

I crossed my fingers and bounced on my toes. 

**********

Tucking his shirt into his jeans Angus took another long drink of water. "Heard us?" he asked. 

"A little," I said. "I heard the music mostly and I thought I heard Brian sneeze once."

"Don't remind me, lass," Brian said with a smile. His hat was lying next to him on the couch. "The crew's gotta soak the mic in bleach."

Angus downed the rest of the bottle and threw it in the rubbish. Fans of all ages came to talk to the band and I stayed out of the way. Only a few of them looked in my direction and they were usually children. 

There was a snack table and I helped myself to a bottle of water and a Chips Ahoy. Half the cookie crumbled to the floor and I sighed in despair. 

Not eating that.