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Start here: Let it Rock Chapters 1 & 2
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LYNN
After we got back to the car and were moving again, Angie and Kanu started talking about school. It turned out that Kanu was still in our music class, she just normally sits on the balcony, since it's quieter. Then they started talking about other classes, so I tuned them out and went back to letting my eyes wander the landscape.
This area is really dead. It has the theater, and the club we're going to, but otherwise these streets are empty. It's only 8 o'clock, and there are no restaurants, no shops selling clothing. It's so different from home. In the city you can get ice cream at 3am. I don't know if I could ever like living here.
Just as I finished that thought the jeep crested a small hill and exposed the town of Stonyfield, sheltered in the valley below. It sparkled. It was like a holiday tree at midnight when the whole house is asleep. Or maybe bubbles, like a glass of champagne. I remember trying champagne several years ago, once, during a high school new year's party. It wasn't great, but then again it wasn't a rich crowd so it probably wasn't real champagne. This was a real view, though, and with the school buildings lit up and the dark mountains around the town I feel like I'm wrapped in a warm blanket, and sitting by a roaring fire. The fire was the stars in the sky and the twinkling lights below. There were so many stars.
We don't get that in the city. I guess there are some good things about being out here.
The car pulled over. Angie and Kanu were still talking about school, only now, they seemed to be worried about what classes to take next semester.
"Hey guys. Are we here?" I asked. "I see a sign on the entrance, but I can't read it."
"Yes," said Kanu. "This is the place. I have met him here before, although I have never been inside."
The Dirty Socks wasn't a theater, or a club, even.
"Kanu, this is a bar," said Angie. "And it looks scummy."
"Yes, that is correct. I understand it is also full of scum on the inside." Kanu paused. "Oh. This is a problem. None of us are old enough to drink." She sounded worried, and a little frightened. "I do not want to go inside, actually."
I said, "Angie, you look the oldest." She turned aound and gave me a look. "Really! I know you can do it. You should go, and check it out for us. If you're quick, maybe they won't notice you?" I tried to sound convincing. "I've been to a few bars in the city, I even worked at one for a while. If they are carding at the door, they won't let you in, and you can come right back to us. If they aren't checking IDs, they'll probably just ignore you. The worst that could happen is they ask you to leave, right?"
Angie looked worried. "Er, I don't know."
"C'mon, it's fine. You aren't buying any alcohol, so it's fine. It's likely only the bartender who will card you. We'll be right here. You go in, look around, and then come right back out and tell us if you think it's clear for us to join you and look for Jim."
"Yes, this is a good idea," said Kanu. "You should be the one to check it out for us."
Angie puffed out her cheeks and said resignedly, "Oh-kay, but just for a second." She opened the door and walked around the car to the sidewalk. Before going in, she turned back, but I waved her on. "G'wan!" I shouted, then realized that Angie couldn't hear me through the closed window.
We watched her go inside. It looked like a heavy solid wood door, and there weren't any windows. There was no way to tell what was going on, just that she had made it in.
Kanu asked, "Do you want to listen to the radio?"
"No, thanks." I quickly replied. "I'd rather just wait."
I leaned back and thought about Jim. What if he's not here? I dunno where else we would look, if he's not here. Maybe I should have asked for the radio, at least then I'd be distracted and not thinking about what could be happening to him. Suddenly, I saw movement - the door to the Dirty Socks opened, Angie came out and immediately ran to the car.
She knocked on the window frantically, and Kanu opened it up.
"Lynn! Kanu! You won't believe who's inside!"
I had already started to reach for the door, and I yanked the handle down. "Who? Is it Jim? Have you found him?" I demanded, stepping outside. At the same time, Kanu asked through the window, "Yes, it is Jim, right? He is here?" Then I realized, no, she doesn't know what he looks like.
Angie stopped and waved her hand in dismissal. "No, it's not it. I mean, he could be here, it's very crowded inside, and I wouldn't know. That's not what I meant - I meant it's fine, you can totally come in. Nobody's checking IDs. But no, it's someone else that you've got to see. You won't believe it!"
Once we were walking to the door, Angie couldn't hold it in any longer. "It's Mr. Lee!" she screeched.
"What? Did he recognize you?" I asked. "Are you sure it was him?"
"The music teacher? Are you certain?" asked Kanu.
Angie held the large door open, and ushered us inside. Somehow the look on Angie's face was telling me there was more to it than just the fact that she saw him.
The door closed behind us, blocking out all light from the street. The room was dimly lit with track lighting, and smoke drifted over the small group of men and women who stood at the long bar to our right. Some old gym socks were haphazardly tacked up above the bar for some reason..no...I get it. The Dirty Socks. Duh.
The smell was intense. It wasn't like a school gym locker, more like we were standing in a shower of sweat, beer, and urine. The walls were painted a dark purple and there was something plastered to them, but I couldn't see what. A new Compact Disc jukebox was hanging just inside the doorway, and it was blaring "Cradle of Love" by Billy Idol.
I tried to get a glimpse of Jim or Mr. Lee. Where were they? I just saw college kids.
I felt Angie tug on my sleeve to get my attention before I saw her. She had moved past me, toward the back of the bar, and I followed with Kanu in tow. Suddenly, Angie stopped, turned back and put her mouth right up to my ear.
"I SAW HIM TALKING TO THE BAND," she shouted, then pointed her thumb to what looked like a small stage at the back of the establishment.
"Rock the cradle of love..."
Kanu stopped too, leaned over, and shouted into my ear. "WHAT IS GOING ON?"
"Rock the cradle of love..."
I shrugged my shoulders and gave her an "I dunno" look. I pointed to the stage, and Kanu nodded. I coughed to clear some of the second-hand smoke out of my throat, then returned to following Angie and looking for Jim.
The air cleared somewhat as we moved inside, letting me notice more details.
This place is actually pretty cool, for a bar. It's so much different from how it looked from the outside. I wonder where they got some of these old monster movie posters? I see some concert posters, too, I think that one is from Woodstock? I know I've heard of some of these movies, Dracula and The Creature from the Black Lagoon, but I've never heard of "I Married a Monster from Outer Space." I moved on and kept looking for Jim, searching the faces sitting at tables and in the booths.
The crowd thinned out a bit as we left the bar-area proper, then became more dense again as we approached the back. I lost track of Angie for a second and tried to hurry ahead.
The song ended just as I spotted Angie's ponytail, standing out above the others by the stage. I moved fast, pushing past some t-shirt and leather-clad ladies, and finally broke through the mob. I found myself standing behind a group of small tables. They were filled with patrons and densely packed together, right up to a small gap near the stage. That's when I saw Mr. Lee, except, he didn't look like Mr. Lee.
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Janet
like the cliffhanger. want to know more