"I see..." Malcolm and Angus exchanged looks. Arms crossed and bleary eyed, Angus took a seat on the couch. Malcolm leaned against the wall, telephone to his ear. "Can they fix it?"
"If not for the tour for his life," Angus muttered. Malcolm ignored him.
"Ya' gonna be okay?" Malcolm didn't relax until Cliff promised he'd be fine. "I don't wanna sound like a worried mum but kidney infections aren't somethin' to mess with." He was quiet a minute. "Don't worry about us, we'll find someone to fill in."
"Is he alright?" Angus asked and Malcolm nodded.
"Jus' for a bit, ya' know, just until you're a hundred percent....yeah, sure. Don't blame yourself, things jus' happen." Malcolm laughed at something Cliff said and stood up straight. "Alright, we'll talk later. Bye." He hung up the phone and Angus watched him trudge to the nearest armchair and collapse into it.
"So what's goin' on?" Angus asked. "How long's he out for?"
"Couple months at least," Malcolm said. "They gotta fix the problem an' he's gotta recover."
"But he'll be alright?" Malcolm nodded.
"Yeah, he's pretty optimistic about the whole thing," he said. "Sounded awful chipper on the phone an' I guess the doctors expect a complete recovery."
"Thank fuck," Angus said. "Can't assume Cliff's family is all that thrilled about it." Malcolm smiled.
"Yeah, his wife's worried sick. Kids seem to be okay." Malcolm ran his hands through his hair. "We'll have to find a substitute."
"I know a few people we can call," Angus said. "They're off in bands of their own but it's a start."
"Yeah, Malcolm said. "Get the word out, have auditions." He offered Angus a pitiful smile. "Jus' like old times, eh?"
**********
"Mabel!" Two girls ran toward a third, holding a flyer. The third girl, Mabel, turned her wheelchair around to see Josie and Karen. "Mabel, you'll never believe it!"
"You passed a maths test?" Mabel asked. Karen snickered behind her hand while Josie pouted.
"Very funny," she said, thrusting the flyer in Mabel's face. "Look at this!"
Mabel scanned the flyer, frowning. "They're looking for a bassist?" she said. Josie and Karen nodded, jack-o-lantern smiles on both of them. Mabel handed the flyer back. "Forget it," she said, wheeling around.
"What?" Karen exclaimed as they ran to keep up. Other kids messed around at their lockers, dropping books or finding year old sandwiches. Mabel made it to her locker and opened it. "Why not?"
"You're serious?" Mabel said. "I'm not good enough to play for them!"
"You're better than a lot of those so called professionals," Josie said. Mabel huffed and put some books on her lap. "The least you can do is try."
"They're not going to take some kid," Mabel said. "It's irresponsible. They'll pick a grown up."
"But if you blow them away, you could go on tour with AC/DC!" Karen yelled, drawing attention. Mabel looked around at all the staring faces. "Just think, all those parties!"
"All those cute guys!" Josie sighed. Mabel slammed her locker shut and wheeled away. "We're...almost eighteen."
"No way, I'll only make a fool of myself," Mabel said. "I'll get nervous and mess up, they'll tell me this isn't a playground and send me home, just-" She wiped away her frustrated tears. The bell rang. "I've got to get to class. I'll see you later."
