Page 55 of Rock Me

"Glad you’re spending your time wisely." He stands behind me and pulls my arm back, making my shoulder wish for amputation.

"Uhhh. OW! Seriously, when can I go?"

"That's not up to me. I'm just here to make sure you regain as much control of your body as I can. "

"Well, I feel pretty good." And for once, I mean it.

"Good, then the doc should see that when he sees you next.

"Ugh, that blood hungry ghoul.”

Brian laughs and lets go of me. "And what am I?"

"You're the sadist."

"You're right I am. Time for wrist rotations, your fav."

"I knew it, you’re enjoying me pain."

"Not only that, I get paid for it. Come on, ten times clockwise and then anticlockwise, start with the left."

I do what he says, because I’ve learned there’s no point in trying to do otherwise. “Owwwww, son of a bitch in heat!” I curse as my wrist turns.

"Yup. Just what I like to hear."

***

I'm sitting on the edge of my bed, testing out the range of my wrist again an hour later, when it sounds like an entire bus of school children is emptied into my room.

"What the-..." I say, before my words are drowned out by the noise.

I watch as my three band mates, their three partners, Dennis, Hailey, Hank, our assistant, Mike the bodyguard, two of our sound technicians, and four of our roadies pile into the room. They're talking amongst themselves, each carrying baskets and bags and magazines and toys.

"Excuse me," I say, trying to get their attention.

No one bothers to even turn in my attention.

"OI! Seb! Cadence! Brad!" I call out their names one by one. Nothing.

"ANCA!" Surely my baby sister won't ignore me. But she doesn’t even flinch, just continues laughing at something Dennis is telling her.

I push through the crowd into the middle of the room, and let out the longest dog whistle I can.

Everyone finally shuts up.

"What in the fuck is going on here, you bunch of DICKMUFFS!" I yell, throwing my arms as high as they will go.

They just all stare back at me, before bursting into laughter and resuming their conversations.

I must be crazy. This is some weird alternate wonderful life type fucked up universe where I don’t exist or everyone is playing a prank on me.

I whistle again.

And this time they shut up, and stay quiet.

"Thank you! Now would some please explain what is going on here?"

Anca clears her throat and steps into the middle of the room next to me.