Aces High

Juniper

Early 1970's
Juniper Krystal Harris is a young girl growing up in a time when music changed. Her brother is not only her favorite person, but he is also a very talented musician whose band many people will come to love. On a typical Friday evening Juniper will lay in her small twin bed and listen as her brothers band play. They play old stuff, new stuff, classic charts, they play heavier renditions of old tunes, and they play pretty much until dawn- or until the old man next door threatens to stick the law enforcement on them. Usually at that point in the night the boys will all come inside, throw on a record, have a few drinks, and dream of what it would be like to be the biggest and the best band on the planet. Little did they know, soon they would have that shot. Or at least Steve Harris, Junipers older brother and roll model, would- after a few lineup changes here and there. Sometimes once the boys have come inside, Juniper will sneak out of her room and try to join them, but alas her efforts are in vain. Steve doesn't want to hang out with a ten year old little girl, he's a teenager in a band in the 70's, he's got the life. So, like every Friday, Steve gives his little sister a glass of milk and a cookie, or whatever sweets he can grab, and sends her off to bed. From there Juniper lays back down on her little twin bed and listens to their music through the walls, until she drifts off into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Early 1980
But those blissful days are over now. Juniper is about to start adulthood and is ready for it. No longer is she banished to her room when the band plays, no longer must she quietly listen through the walls. Juniper is an essential part of Iron Maiden, but not from the stage. She plays photographer, manager, promoter, roadie, etc. She has become their rock. Their behind the scenes queen, and she wouldn't trade it for the world. This band has been around for a good five years now, and they're about to make it big, she can feel it. This is the life, she thinks to herself as she watches her band play another small gig at the local pub. She gets into all the shows for free, has the first pick at the merchandise, and she's noticed by all the long haired hotties that frequent these venues. She's been around the local guys, she's taken her picks, but none of them stick around for long. She's usually done with them by the third week or so, or when they say they want commitment. She's not into that right now. Someday, possibly, but not now. She's got her mind set on this life, it's in the palm of her hands. As the show ends and the lights go out, she hops over the short barricade in front of the stage flashing her VIP pass to the bouncer. She hops up on the stage, congratulates the boys, and begins rolling up cords and taking drums off the stage. Once everything has been haphazardly packed into the back of Steve's van, they head for home. There they laugh, they drink, and they share their dreams of future times like these.

"Hey Junebug," Steve slurs from across the garage, "where's your latest piece of ass?" He laughs to himself over the music. Juniper hides her laugh and rolls her eyes at him. "That's enough of that," she says as she swipes the lighter out of his hand. She lights her cigarette and flicks the lighter across the room. "Ay," he blurts as he struggles in his beanbag chair. Finally, admitting defeat to the chair, he throws his heavy head back, looking at the ceiling in his childhood home. He lets out a satisfactory sigh, and then his mind begins to drift. Juniper finishes her cigarette outside, then decides to leave the drunks to themselves. They'll find their way inside or they'll sleep in the garage. Juniper slinks up the stairs and flops into her small twin bed, even though she hasn't even bothered to take her shoes off.

The next morning she's awakened by the early morning sunlight beaming through her curtains she neglected to shut the night before. She holds the rail for dear life as she slowly works her way down the seemingly endless stairs, only to find that the boys are already awake in the kitchen. Steve's eyes are wide with excitement.
"We're going on tour!"