Emenius Sleepus, chapter 1

Mike was brushing his tongue and ready to spit when his phone rang. He checked his watch. It was only a little after 10 A.M. so it couldn't be Billie calling and yelling at him for being late to band practice again. He had at least 15 minutes to get there. It could be Tr prank calling him, as if he didn't recognize his voice. But Mike hoped it was a girl he met at Gilman.

"Yello?"

"Mike Pritchard?"

"Who's this?" Nobody had called him that in years. Unless it was a billing company. As far as he knew, his bills were paid.

"Why it's Tom McDonough! Don't you remember me, old pal?" Tommy McDonough was probably Mike's best friend before he met Billie. After Billie Joe and Mike became inseparable, Tommy became an okay friend. They were still a lot alike, but Mike seemed better suited with Billie. When the guys were around 13, Tommy moved away and lost touch.

"Tommy McDonough. It's been what—at least 7 years. How are ya, man?"

"I'm fine. And yourself?"

"Great."

"That's terrific. Listen, I'm in Oakland this week, so I was thinking we could maybe get together. Catch up on everything. How about we meet for coffee?"

"Mmm sounds good," said Mike thinking of delicious coffee. "There's a great place on Towe Ave called Myrna's."

"Sounds lovely. How about tomorrow at 10?"

"Oh, sorry, Tommy. I've got band practice at 10:30 that I can't miss unless I have a death wish from Billie."

"Oh, I see. Well then how does 8:30 sound?"

Did he mean 8:30 in the morning?!? Mike could barely handle going to band practice 2 hours later than that. But his old friend was probably already inconvenienced. So he agreed drudgingly while thinking of how early he was going to have to wake up. After they settled it and hung up, Mike rushed off to band practice to tell Billie Joe who he got a call from.