A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

Chapter XI: Home Sweet Home

Faces swarmed me. A pack of dogs came running straight for me and I couldn't run away. The dogs were replaced by giant toddlers with drool hanging from their mouths. 

I sat up straight in bed covered in sweat.

Another fucking nightmare...

Angus still slept next to me, his breathing deep and even. Dropping back down on my pillow the bed shook and I cursed myself. But Angus lay undisturbed and I rolled over to face away from him, debating whether or not to tell him about these nightmares...

**********

After a couple more days of work and meetings and whatnot, the boys were flying to their next stop of the tour and I was going home. Angus had given me a little bag to take my new things in and a tight hug.

"I'll come back as soon as I can," he said. "An' I'll give you your surprise."

"Could I get another hint?" I asked. He laughed.

"Well...it's also kind of a birthday present," he said. "To me." I pulled away from the hug and looked at him. 

"For you?" I asked. People were walking around us, their suitcases rolling all over the floor. We could barely hear each other over the din. 

"Yeah, it's a birthday present," he said giving me a look I couldn't figure out. "That's all I can tell ya'."

"Great," I mumbled. "I'll be clueless for months." He cupped my face in his hands and touched his nose to mine. 

"Get home safe," he said brushing my cheek with his thumb. "An' say hi to Mr. Kincaid for me." I grinned. 

"I will. And you stay safe too. I don't want to hear my Angus got into a street fight with the locals." He rolled up his sleeve and flexed his arm.

"Think I can't take 'em?" he asked and I blushed. "You can count on me to hold my own." I grabbed him in for another hug while his gate was called. 

It felt like I had been through this before. Several times. And each time hurt just as much as the last. 

"I love you," I said. He ruffled my hair and kissed the corner of my mouth. "See you in March," he said turning to leave. Once again I watched him vanish with the band onto the plane. I checked the time and saw my plane was set to arrive any time and I got a move on. 

**********

The house looked alright on the outside. Nothing out of place, no beer cans strewn about the grass. Nothing spray painted on the walls, no toilet paper hanging from the roof. I tried the key and the door was still locked and no windows had been broken. I closed the front door after me and looked around. 

Just as pristine as I had left it. Although, my potted plant had died. I made a mental note to pick up another one at the florist. Tossing my thongs in the living room I climbed the stairs to our bedroom and set my bag down on our bed. Mr. Kincaid sat there by the pillows, looking as grumpy as ever. "Afternoon, Leroy," I said grabbing my dressing gown from the closet. "Angus says hi."

He didn't respond. Teddy bears usually don't.

Grabbing some knickers and pyjamas I made straight for the shower and stayed in there for a long time. Hot water on a hot summer's day in Sydney. What could be better than that?

A cup of tea would...

After I combed my hair out I left the bathroom and went downstairs for a bowl of chicken soup and a cup of tea. Some ants were marching on our kitchen counter and I squashed them. The freeloaders were making for the breadcrumbs. Wiping up the ants and crumbs I threw them away and washed my hands. It felt so good to be home again even if Angus wasn't there to share it with me. 

I took my bowl of soup with me to the living room and plopped down on the couch to watch some telly. As soon as I turned it on a news channel flashed in my face bearing the letters 'AC/DC" across the screen. 

Dear God, not already...

"Brazil waves goodbye to Australian heavy metal band AC/DC as they fly to America for their next leg of the tour..."

Oh, whew! I relaxed on the couch. 

Wait...heavy metal??

I sat up and listened for more inaccuracies. The screen showed the band leaving the airport with their luggage in tow looking very sleepy but smiling all the same. Angus immediately pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and lit it while Brian waved at the cameras. 

"...after Phil Rudd was let go a couple years back."

I stirred my soup. It had been a long time since we'd seen him. After several messy arguments and accusations later, Phil had left. I wasn't sure if I'd ever see him again. The boys explained they were just giving him a break but what was Phil thinking? What if Phil didn't want the break to end? It had put all of us in sour moods because whether or not he was the drummer, he was still our friend.

I missed him.

The reporter in shoulder pads was standing next to Angus and Cliff holding her microphone under her lips. "Do you guys always steal the show at the concerts you play?" She offered them the mic.

"We try," Angus said smiling. "But ya' know it's the fans that can make or break a show, ya' know? It's the kids you depend on to cheer you on, ya' know? No matter how hot you think you are, if the kids don't like ya'..."

"I see, and is there anything you'd like to say to the fans?" Angus and Cliff looked at the camera then at each other.

"Thanks for comin' to the shows, we'll see you soon," Cliff said with a smile. Angus nodded. 

"Make us rich," he said giving a thumbs up. Cliff laughed and the reporter gave a small chuckle before the camera turned back to her.

"Alright, that was Angus Young and Cliff Williams from AC/DC and I'm Donna Porter with-"

I turned the telly off, my face flushed. Between the soup and Ang's smile I was helpless. Finishing my meal I did the dishes and decided to clean the house. Sure, this house could use a quick bath. Why not? I grabbed the bucket and mop from the cupboard and set to work.

**********

The vacuum fell on me. Twice.

After mopping all the floors I decided to vacuum. Not only did it fall on me, but I got all tangled up in the cord. I wondered if Angus had the same problem, being the same size as me. I fought with it and shoved it back in the cupboard and slammed the door hearing something fall. I winced.

That's...that's a problem for future me. It's probably fine.

I wiped down all the windows, even the ones I couldn't reach. I collected the post from our letter box, not nearly as full as I thought. A bit of junk I tossed to the ants and some bills. One thing was for me but it was just an advertisement for jewellry. I tossed it aside and got to work on the bills.

**********

My chocolate ice cream dribbled down my chin onto my shirt. "Oh, boo," I said looking for the napkins. They were sitting on our kitchen table. I stretched my arm as far as it would go but I still couldn't reach from the living room couch. I sighed and stood up. "Fine."

Settling back down on the couch I enjoyed my ice cream and listened to the radio. Most of the music I didn't recognise. But occasionally I'd shimmy in my seat. Some up and coming bands made their shot and the radio picked them up immediately. Even more eager to show off these outrageous hair metal bands was MTV. I caught myself watching once in a while; the music catchy but leaving me something to be desired. What they called eighties rock didn't grab me by the soul like the raw and real seventies rock. 

Except AC/DC of course, that band would always grab me by the balls. 

I switched the radio off after three crummy songs in a row right before a long commercial break. Leftover Dramamine was still clouding my thoughts and I wanted to leap into bed. With a long stretch and an even longer yawn, I did just that. 

Mr. Kincaid abandoned ship.

"Leroy!"