THE FERAL STRUT

Chapter 48

"I don't believe this," Mary said.

"I'm, like, torn," Wire said, fidgeting. "But I think it's for the best. It'll take Ginger a while to get her chops back. You've got your ranger job and Krista doesn't even have to work— she's happy twiddling around on that thing." She nodded towards the Synclavier. "Anyhow, I do need to work. Vegas is a good music town. There's actually a union there. My aunt checked into it. The hotel will pay my initiation fee. They're putting together an all-girl band for this show. I sent tapes and they think I'm hot."

"So you used our tape to get another gig?"

"No way— I sent my own audition tapes. Standard-type stuff."

"When do you leave?"

"My aunt's got her trailer sold. She got a condo already, down there. So, like, next week."

Mary looked at Wire. She's not Wire anymore, she thought. Cheryl. "Have you said anything to Krista?"

"Not yet. I was hoping you would. And to Gin. I mean— we're not that close. Like you and me." Wire —Cheryl— got up to leave.

"Like I thought we were, chick," Mary said, to the closing door. She slumped in her chair, fresh out of hope.

Gris came flummoxing up the stairs from the garage, with Slim close behind. "Ready to go?" he said, then noticed her expression. "What's wrong?"

"Wire is quitting the band. Can you believe it?"

"So that sort of means there isn't one— a band." He sat next to her and touched her on the arm. "Any reason?"

"She's moving to Vegas to play in some glitter-tit show. God, that sucks."

She fought tears, then gave up. Slim knelt and gathered her in.

Krista came in from the house and stopped at the sight of them.

"Don't mean to interrupt," she said brightly. "I was just going to practice some scales and stuff."

"Go ahead," Mary said thickly. "Wire is quitting the band."

"Yeah, I know. Ran into her downstairs. Oh well."

"Is that all you can say? Oh well?"

"It's not, like, the end of the world," Krista said.