‘Rock & Roll Hall of Fame to Award Mercury Rising with Brand New Honor!’
“Did you know you were the saviors of rock and roll?” I ask Asa, peering over his shoulder.
“Ha! So stupid. We have to go to an award gala in LA next month.”
The article goes on to say that Hugo had recently been voted the sexiest man on earth.
“Does that bother you?” I ask him.
Asa laughs, “Hell no. I love being the one that gets slightly overlooked in the band. I have far more freedom than the other two. Can you imagine if Hugo or Lennox were in here? Even wearing the classic rock star disguise, people would know who they were within seconds. They just don’t blend with the normal people very well.”
A receptionist comes over with paperwork for me to fill in. She’s looking at Asa intently. I’m pretty sure his disguise is not working. As I work on the form, I shift slightly so he can’t see what I am writing.
I needn’t have worried though. Asa picks up another magazine to study and I appreciate his tact. Handing over my paperwork, I move back and freeze when I notice what he is reading.
‘Clash Towers: A Look Back on his Life and Legacy.’
He sees me looking at the article.
“That guy—what a legend, he's the real savior of rock and roll. So sad about his stroke. I heard he’s turned into a recluse. All communication through his manager now.”
I look away, feeling nauseous.
“You know what happened don’t you?” he asks me. “He had a huge stroke a couple years ago.”
“Yeah,” I mumble. “I’ve never really been a fan.”
He frowns. “Really? The guy was wild! Definitely had a huge influence on me.”
“I guess it was just never my thing.”
To my relief a tech comes out and calls my name. He helps me into the x-ray suite, and away from any more questions about Clash Towers.
HARMONY
An hour later I rejoin Asa in the waiting room, a new brace wrapped around my ankle and all my scrapes cleaned by the nurse-practitioner. I also have a pair of crutches, so there is no need for Asa to carry me any more. I’m a little sad about that.
“So just a sprain?”
“Yep, no big deal. It will probably be fine in a week!”
“That is cause for celebration then. Please say I can take you out for lunch?”
Asa may think that he is less recognized than Hugo or Lennox, but that doesn’t mean he goes unnoticed. It would be so easy for someone to see him, us, and take a photo. Tag it on instagram, and then bam.
“What about a sandwich to take home?” I suggest.
“What about a sandwich to go, and we eat somewhere spectacular?”
“Spectacular and private?” I ask.
“Oh, Miss Harmony, you are gonna make me blush.”
Instead, I blush. “I meant so you wouldn’t get pestered by fans, you idiot!”
“Whatever you say ma’am. Hop in. I’ve got the perfect plan.”
Asa drives to a classic fast-food drive-in, at the edge of town,
