Without A Bass Player, chapter 3
After school the next day Ginger got off the bus with Mike and Billie, throughout the entire time Billie was shooting dirty, I-can't-believe-you're-doing-this, type of looks at Mike. Mike just ignored them and continued talking to Ginger.
"Yeah, so, Billie and me have been friends since fifth grade, and get this, we met in the cafeteria!" Mike said.
"Are you serious? You met your best friend in a cafeteria? Wicked, man," Ginger said with a surprised face.
"Wicked, man!" Billie imitated under his breath. "Stupid whore."
Mike whirled around so fast it nearly knocked Billie off his feet.
"Say one more fucking thing about Ginger and you'll fucking regret it Billie, and I fucking mean it," Mike whispered crossly so Ginger couldn't hear them. Mike couldn't believe how ignorant Billie was being. Mike had been thinking about Ginger for a while now, and thought he might like her.
When John showed up he walked up to Billie and asked, "Who's the dame?"
"Just some stupid chick that Mike has seemed to fall for, she's a total bitch," Billie said softly so Mike wouldn't beat the shit out of him.
"And you know this how?" John replied, a little confused.
"Everyone at school is talking about how easy she is. Plus she's in my speech class, and I always see her hitting on other guys. I just don't want Mike to get burned by her, he's my best friend."
"I get what you're saying man," John said with a frown on his face.
Finally the first weekend of the school year approached, and all that was on Mike and Billie's minds was Gilman Street. They couldn't wait to go back after the long week at school. Billie had been desperately trying to a gig there, but the manager wouldn't let them because he didn't think they were "angry" enough.
But this week was different. They had John, the Gilman legend.
Billie strolled by Gilman early Saturday and begged the manager, Kyle, for a gig.
"Look, kid," Kyle said gravely, "I just don't think the other people would like you guys, you're just too... . What's the word? Juvenile."
"Oh come on! Please Kyle! Just one gig, and if they don't like us, I'll stop asking! I promise." Billie's plea still wasn't enough for Kyle.
"You kids just aren't angry enough! You don't even have a real drummer!" Kyle said coldly, as his thick, long, black beard shook.
And with that, a thought shocked through Billie's mind. "I forgot to mention John!"
"Kyle, that's fucking fabrication! We have a drummer, a damn good drummer!" Billie said proudly.
"Really now? And who might that be?" Kyle replied quietly, while rubbing his bald head.
"John Kiffmeyer." Billie replied softly, but full of pride. Kyle thought about it for a little while, while slowly stroking his beard. Billie got on his knees to beg.
"Fine! But if better be good, Billie, or you'll never be allowed on that stage again," Kyle said with a smile.
Billie jumped up and down and screamed to the top of his lungs.
"You won't regret this Kyle! I promise!" Billie yelled as he began running to his mother's Oldsmobile.
"Yeah, so, Billie and me have been friends since fifth grade, and get this, we met in the cafeteria!" Mike said.
"Are you serious? You met your best friend in a cafeteria? Wicked, man," Ginger said with a surprised face.
"Wicked, man!" Billie imitated under his breath. "Stupid whore."
Mike whirled around so fast it nearly knocked Billie off his feet.
"Say one more fucking thing about Ginger and you'll fucking regret it Billie, and I fucking mean it," Mike whispered crossly so Ginger couldn't hear them. Mike couldn't believe how ignorant Billie was being. Mike had been thinking about Ginger for a while now, and thought he might like her.
When John showed up he walked up to Billie and asked, "Who's the dame?"
"Just some stupid chick that Mike has seemed to fall for, she's a total bitch," Billie said softly so Mike wouldn't beat the shit out of him.
"And you know this how?" John replied, a little confused.
"Everyone at school is talking about how easy she is. Plus she's in my speech class, and I always see her hitting on other guys. I just don't want Mike to get burned by her, he's my best friend."
"I get what you're saying man," John said with a frown on his face.
Finally the first weekend of the school year approached, and all that was on Mike and Billie's minds was Gilman Street. They couldn't wait to go back after the long week at school. Billie had been desperately trying to a gig there, but the manager wouldn't let them because he didn't think they were "angry" enough.
But this week was different. They had John, the Gilman legend.
Billie strolled by Gilman early Saturday and begged the manager, Kyle, for a gig.
"Look, kid," Kyle said gravely, "I just don't think the other people would like you guys, you're just too... . What's the word? Juvenile."
"Oh come on! Please Kyle! Just one gig, and if they don't like us, I'll stop asking! I promise." Billie's plea still wasn't enough for Kyle.
"You kids just aren't angry enough! You don't even have a real drummer!" Kyle said coldly, as his thick, long, black beard shook.
And with that, a thought shocked through Billie's mind. "I forgot to mention John!"
"Kyle, that's fucking fabrication! We have a drummer, a damn good drummer!" Billie said proudly.
"Really now? And who might that be?" Kyle replied quietly, while rubbing his bald head.
"John Kiffmeyer." Billie replied softly, but full of pride. Kyle thought about it for a little while, while slowly stroking his beard. Billie got on his knees to beg.
"Fine! But if better be good, Billie, or you'll never be allowed on that stage again," Kyle said with a smile.
Billie jumped up and down and screamed to the top of his lungs.
"You won't regret this Kyle! I promise!" Billie yelled as he began running to his mother's Oldsmobile.
