Change (Is Good), chapter 5

Chapter 5

Unfortunately the song had to end.

"There you go. Some classic Green Day for ya," Ivy said.

She took out the CD only to replace it with another.

"And this is the Mighty Might Bosstones," Bob said. "Long live ska."

The sound of horns filled the air, making Carrie feel all happy and warm inside in that special ska way.

"Here," Ivy came over to her. "You can borrow this CD for a while if you want. I mean it's a great CD, I know you love it," Ivy said smiling.

"I do." Carrie replied, declaring her new found love of punk rock as she stared down at the CD which read "Dookie" in big brown letters.



Over the next few days, Carrie was inseparable from her CD player and Dookie. She would spend hours on the internet searching for more about Green Day. After a while she expanded her view and began looking at other bands. And on Saturday, she would finally be going to a concert.

Ottawa is a small city, in which there is little room for night clubs supporting small, local bands. Because of this, most clubs have resorted to raising admission fees to shows in order to support the bars. This never stopped Ivy and her friends from finding little odds and ends to help them cope with the continuing high prices. Another thing about the size of Ottawa is that everyone knows everyone, and because of this Ivy had "connections" to bands and roadies who could get her into clubs.

That Saturday night, Carrie was dropped off at Ivy's house, a nice little place, slightly smaller than Carrie's. Her mom let Carrie in and they made small chat while Ivy got dressed. After a minute or two, Ivy invited Carrie to her bedroom. Her mom directed her and Carrie opened the room to find Ivy struggling to secure a belt around her waist.

"Fucking cheap piece of shit. Hey," was her greeting.

"Hi," Carrie said back to Ivy. She sat down on the bed, looking at Ivy.
It seemed that in the twenty-four hours or so that Carrie was away from her friend, Ivy had dyed her hair a purple shade, and cut it slightly so that it curved around her face and hung just a bit above her shoulders. She had a vest made of leather with some pins, a pair of torn up jeans on top of fishnets she was wearing underneath, and a green tank top with some band on it.

After struggling a bit with the studded belt, she gave up and tossed it across the room and picked up another belt with cone studs on it. As she finished hooking it through the loops, she looked up at Carrie and burst out laughing.

"What, what did I do?" Carrie frowned slightly. "Is there something on my face?"

"You're going to a concert like THAT!" Ivy shook her head still laughing. "Let me help you. Let's see. We have enough time."

And before Carrie knew it, a shirt, a pair of pants, and some accessories were thrown at her.

"Wow," came her muffled yell.

"I'm sorry Carrie but I'm not going to go to a concert with someone dressed like that. Now," she looked at Carrie who was suddenly aware that her friend seemed to be a tad bit on the picky side today.

"Let's see, you can wear the shirt, these socks, oh, those pants are cute, and... Here's my belt," Ivy said, picking up some clothes and the previously discarded belt.

Carrie he'sitantly looked up at Ivy, who gave her a short nod of reassurance and then she was directed to the bathroom to change. She came out not to long later in her new attire.

"Wow! You look gorgeous. They guys will be drooling over you," Ivy said as they both giggled childishly together. "One sec, you need some eyeliner and... Shoes." They all got ready and before they left Carrie looked at her new reflection in the full length mirror in the hall. It was definitely different. But good. She liked what she saw. With that Ivy said a few words to her mom and they left together.



"You got bus tickets?"

"Yeah," Carrie said.

"Good, cause I'm not giving anyone anymore money until everyone pays me back everything they owe," Ivy said, as they were waiting for a bus. "You know Bob hasn't paid me her share in the tickets I bought for a concert that was three years ago!" Ivy said, exasperated.

"Debt's are a bad habit of mine," Carrie blushed.

"YOU! Bad habit! You're a frickin' goodie goodie," Ivy laughed.

"I can be a bad ass," Carrie defended.

"Oh my God, you said ass!" Ivy jeered. "You can't even steal a penny."

"No, I could steal more though."

"My ass," Ivy said, still not believing.

Carrie felt a surge of adrenaline course through her. She hated backing down. It was a bad trait of hers and she'd do anything to prove herself right."

"OK then," Carrie grinned as she came up with a plan. "I did this with my uncle's car when I was young."

"What?" Ivy asked, confused.

"We're stealing a ride."

"WHAT?"

"We're stealing a ride!" Carrie said raising her voice.

"No, I know what you said, but how."

"When I was little, I'd hang on to the bumper of my uncle's van. Come on, it'll be cheaper than wasting bus tickets. And it's dark no one will see us."

Ivy gaped at her as Carrie walked back into the shadows by the bus stop.

"We just have to hope the bus stops here. What, are you a goodie goodie?" Carrie laughed.

This was very out of character for her, but something in her had emerged and taken control of her. All of a sudden she had changed, and it felt good.

"Quick, COME HERE!" Carrie almost shouted.

Ivy ran over to her and sure enough the bus cam to a halt to let some passengers get off. The two of them ran to the back of the bus where there was a bicycle rack and they stepped on to the rack, holding on dearly to the side of the bus. They hushed each other as the bus began moving again and left the stop. The feeling of the wind in their hair was refreshing and made them feel very happy and light headed once they got off.

They casually stepped off the bike rack and into the shadows as not to be seen by the driver. Luckily, the bus drove on and they stood there, still exhilarated by their ride.

"And what are you two giggling about," came Pickle's voice. They turned around and saw his 5' 7'' frame, standing in the crowd outside of Maverick's Bar and Tavern. He came walking closer and then recognized Carrie.

"Wow! I mean... Wow!"

"I know! Isn't she pretty," Ivy said, admiring her own handiwork.

Carrie blushed deeply.

"She is," Pickle said, not catching himself in time. "I mean you're pretty, well, you know cute... And pretty. But not cute. Well, of course you're cute but... "

"Oh, please," Ivy rolled her eyes.

"Ditto," the sound of two other girls came in.

"Bob! Julia!" Ivy exclaimed.

"Ivy! Pickle!" they said in unison.

"Ivy! Julia! Bob!" Pickled yelled.

"Hi." Carrie broke the greetings with a tentative wave.

Everyone laughed.

"Oh my Lord, you look pretty!" Julia said.

"Thanks."

"OK, so are we going to go and see them or not?" Pickle asked everyone.

"What? Oh, right The Flatliners!" Ivy exclaimed.

"Idiot," muttered Bob.

This was going to be Carrie's first concert. She was nervous, because she didn't know what to expect. She paid her money and they stamped her hand. She looked down at the stamp. In the dim, bar light she could see that it read "Revolution Rock" in red ink with the small words "punkottawa. Com" underneath. She waited for everyone else to pay and they walked in together.

Carrie's first impression was that the bar was very small. Just big enough to fit a stage into a corner of the bar, but that took up most of the space. Carrie found herself being pushed towards to stage and then they all just stopped and waited, talking to each other.

"Remember the last time we saw them?"

"That was at Black Sheep Inn not here."

"It was good."

"Can't wait."

"What time is it?"

The sound of the conversation was however, not what Carrie was paying attention too. She was taking in the bar. Despite the fact that it had looked like it had barely withstood a war, it was pretty cool. The floor was an easy clean, concrete surface, and posters from future and past concerts hung, ripped up on the wall. Roadies were desperately tuning the instruments on the metre high stage. Several people wear finishing off their drinks and about to come over, believing the concert was nearly starting. All of a sudden Carrie felt a tap on her shoulder and a voice say," Remember Carrie, always look out for yourself when you're in a concert."

She turned around to see a grinning Pickle.

"You're gonna be in your first mosh pit soon."

"What's a mosh pit?" Carrie asked, slightly afraid of the answer.

Without warning she was pushed and found herself reeling onto the floor.

"That is a mosh pit, only ten times worse," Ivy said, everyone else laughing behind her.

"And don't worry about skanking."

"Huh? Do I really want to know what skanking is?

"Maybe," Ivy grinned mischievously.

"Well, 'skanking' doesn't sound very, uh, how should I put this, umm, sounds dirty. 'Sides which, last time I asked you about something, you pushed me!" she smirked.

"Oh finally," Julia interrupted them, looking towards the stage.

The first band had some out. As they played Carrie was enjoying the music thoroughly, but she didn't seem to think anyone was moshing, unless by moshing they meant standing around bobbing their heads to the music. Two more bands passed like this with not much going on, but Ivy managed to yell a barley audible, "They're skanking," and motioned towards a few people who looked like they were epileptic. Finally the band finished playing and said a few thank you's amid the little applause the audience gave. Carrie felt good about finally being able to see what bands do best, which is play. Every nerve of her was packed with energy, waiting for the Flatliners to come on stage.