It's So Easy | Buddy Holly

Milwaukee

January 23rd, 1959. 1:27 pm George Devine's Million Dollar Ballroom, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

I sigh as I wander off the bus. The heater isn't the best. It's cold, but not breathtakingly so. The owner of the Ballroom was waiting by the back door. When he saw the bus, he stood up and unlocked the door. Everyone circled around to the otherside of the bus and we all grabbed some various items of equipment. There's quite a lot, but we've made it a mission to make it all in one trip. Somehow, we managed.

"Stage door is the last door on the right of the hallway. Dressing rooms are every door in the hall besides the stage door. Backstage bathrooms are to the left of the stage. Good luck, my daughter and her friends are eccatic for the show." The owner says. He seems like a really nice guy. Receding brown hair and dull brown eyes. Mediocre mustache.

"Are they?" Dion asks.

"Yes sir. They've been big fans of you all since the beginning. They mentioned they looked to Miss Violet over here for fashion advice." the man smiles.

Oh Jesus, people are actually looking to ME for advice of any kind? Bad idea.

"Well if you don't mind, we could offer them backstage passes." Dion smiles. I can't tell if he's trying to get up these girls' skirts or if he's just being friendly.

"I'm sure they'd love that. I think it's my daughter Karen, and her two friends Ava and Ellie. They're seniors now. They do grow up fast."

Dion re adjusts his grip on an amp. "You're more than welcome to give them passes. I'm sure we'd all like to meet some fans."

"Will do, I'll see you after the show." The man hands Buddy the key to the backdoor and he walks away.

Carlo (or is it Fred?) looks over at Dion and smirks. "You gonna try?"

Dion shrugs. "Only if they're lookers, I was just being nice. It'll make those girls real happy."

So I guess he was just being nice, after all.

We all somehow got the dressing rooms settled as to who gets which one. Buddy and I obviously are sharing one, but we still got shoved into a relatively small one. I don't think he cares, I know I don't.

I sit in one of the chairs and sigh. "This is already rough."

"I know. It'll be over before we know it and we'll be back at home with Ginger and we'll sleep in our own bed. I can't imagine what I'd do without you already."

I smile and cross my legs. "I can't imagine how bored I would be without you."

"It'll be okay, I think." Buddy walks over and pulls a chair up next to mine. "I dunno how I'm gonna live though the next three weeks without "private time". I might just have to dive into a shallow pool."

I laugh and shove him. "And successfully end your little life. How sad, a twenty-two year old widow. If you dived into a shallow pool, I probably would end up jumping into a shark pool with a bloody nose."

"Let's agree not t'jump into things that'll kill us." Buddy takes off his glasses and cleans them with the hem of his shirt.

"Okay, deal." I fiddle with my wedding ring. I hate taking it off, my finger is so used to it that it feels really weird when I'm not wearing it. It took me months to stop feeling something was missing when I took my engagement ring off and traded it off for a wedding ring.

"Vi?"

"Hm?"

"I just wanted to say that I love you more than anythin'." Buddy looks over at me and smiles.