“So, the rumours are true then,” she smiles, taking a seat opposite me.
“Very true, unfortunately,” I laugh out at her.
“Not for me it’s not.” she waves her hand at my statement, and I cock my eyebrow at her, wondering what the hell that means.
“You still sing?” She asks bluntly, completely in her fashion; she definitely hasn’t changed.
“Uh, I- Yes, Ma’am, I do?” I question her, wondering her goal from asking me.
“Good,” she pauses. “My band has cancelled for the spot before your brother on Saturday,” she pauses again, and I now know where this is going.
“Mrs Hamilton, I can’t,” I start before she interrupts me. “You’ll do perfect, will be like a big welcome home, no?” I don’t think she’s asking me anymore, more like demanding.
“I can’t, I have-” I start to say a date, but I don’t manage the words out.
“Excellent! You my boy, are a life saver.” She stands up from her booth as I start to stutter.
What is wrong with me?
Why can’t I get any of my words out?
“I’ll email your Mama the details so she can pass along to you,” she starts to walk off.
“But I-” I stutter out.
“You’ve just saved the whole fair! Send my love to your parents.” And with that she’s out the door.
How did that just happen?
How am I performing at the fair on Saturday before my brother.
How the fuckam I going to pull this off?
Lord, help me now.
****
“So, she just, cornered you?” Colter laughs as he leans down against his pool cue, ready to take his shot.
“Pretty much,” I shrug, taking a swig of my beer.
Colter shoots his shot on the pool table, takes hold of his beer and stands to the side as I line up my shot.
“Are you gonna do it?” Luke asks from his bar stool next to my brother.
“I don’t think I’ve got much choice,” I snicker, shooting the cue and potting a ball, which annoys my best friend as he lets out a growl.
“I don’t think you do-” my brother starts. “That woman terrifies me,” he chuckles.
“Some things certainly don’t change,” Luke winks back at me.
I feel slightly more at ease laughing about it now with these fuckers; however, the problem is still there.
The fair is in two days’ time, I don’t have a band, songs picked out, nothing. Not to mention I’ve already asked Mabel and Ellie there as a date.
Sweat drips on my brow as all these things are running through my head, my hands are becoming clammier as the minutes wear on.
I hold onto my chest and practice my deep breathing exercises the doctors gave me with my anti-anxiety meds, not that they’d ever helped much; I don’t need to have a panic attack in front of these boys.
