“Don’t know. Why don’t you ask her?”
Hello. Trying my best! Which was more than I could say for his 1980s punk collection. No Black Flag to be found. But there was a rare twelve-inch by a Bay Area band that had some crappy artwork of a little boy trying to stand on his tiptoes to reach an old-fashioned pay phone on a street corner.
That’s when the bees in my body gave me a honey of an idea.
It was almost eleven. Probably too late, but I had to try. I took out my phone and called my mom. It rang too many times. I expected it to go to voicemail, when she picked up.
“Baby?” she said in a hushed voice. “Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong? Are you hurt? Where are you?”
“Mama, I’m fine. Are you back from Mad Dog’s? Need to ask you something.”
After a silence, her voice returned. “I’m listening. Be quick. Your father is in a foul mood.”
“What else is new? Can you get in touch with Mr. Zahn in the Philippines?”
Another hesitation. “Yes. I believe so.”
“Tell him that Live Nation would pay a higher lease for the festival grounds.”
“Fen…”
“Get him to call that guy from Live Nation out to his island in the Philippines to throw his hat in the ring along with Eddie.”
“Muddy a done deal? Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re sick of the business; you told Dad to sell the rights to the festival, and he wouldn’t—he went behind your back and got Mad Dog to invest money instead. And he’s sent Eddie there to sign a contract for show. Make Eddie do some actual negotiating. Is he just there to smile? Can’t contracts be signed on an app?”
“I will not sabotage your father’s work.”
“I’m calling in my marker, then.”
“Baby—”
“You saidif I moved out, I could ask for one favor, no questions asked. I moved out and kept the peace. I did my part.”
“Is this about the girl?”
I hesitated. Moonbeam’s electric teakettle was beeping.
“Fen,” Mama warned. “You are being reckless. She isn’t a pawn.”
“I know that. Will you make the call?”
“Over a girl you don’t know? She may despise you.”
“But she might not.”
“And it could ruin the festival.”
“But it might not,” I said, hoping it would. “Eddie could come through and negotiate a better contract. The lawyers are both there. They won’t let him do anything… too dumb. Mostly it will just keep him busy. And distracted. Why should it be easy for him?”
She made a noise. “Ah, youaretrying to buy more time with the girl before Eddie comes back. You are ruthless and wicked.”
“I learned it from watching you.”
“I will go to church and pray for you this weekend. Eddie hasn’t made it to the island yet. They’ve just arrived in Manila and won’t travel until tomorrow. He isn’t scheduled to come back for three weeks.”
Three weeks? That was a long time. Blood pumped faster into my blackened heart.
