Kris called me to come get my art.
"What??" I asked. "Why?"
"The landlord called. He wants us out." he said.
"Don't we get 30 days?!" I asked.
"No. He heard about the charges. It's all over the paper." he sighed and hung up.
I went down to Kronos and listened to Kris talk about how messed up everything was. The papers had not only shit all over Kronos, they also named Kris personally. And many of the writers did not have unbiased views of the situation. Which did nothing but paint Kris is a negative light.
"It's so bad that a lot of places won't even let me come look at a place. They already know that they don't want to rent to me." he said.
I started taking my art down, and he started cleaning the walls. Some Kronos kids showed up to help. As we were all working on packing the place up, everything hit me at once. I felt a pain in my stomach that echoed up my spine. I started crying. I couldn't do this. I couldn't let Kronos get pushed out like this. I couldn't let them treat Kris like this! I had to do something. But what the fuck could I do? I started tearing my artwork off the walls. I stomped on a painting until it busted apart. I threw a clay figure again the wall and watched it shatter. I took a relief sculpture and swung it like a baseball bat into the column. It broke apart like a piñata. I picked up a stained glass piece and held it up to the light from the window. I slowly walked over trying to decide if I really wanted to do this. I opened the window, and stuck my head out, holding the glass in my hand. I took in a deep breath of warm air as I extended my arms out infront of me. As I exhaled I let the glass slide out of my hands. I watched it fall and then hit the ground and shatter. Zane was walking out of the door as it shattered. He gasped and looked up. I just stared down at him and the broken glass. He put the painting he was carrying into Kris's jeep and ran back upstairs.
He looked around at the destruction. Kris came in behind him.
"You know what?" Kris said. "Fuck it. Fuck this, and Fuck them!" he said pointing in the direction of city hall."
He walked into the storage room. There was one gallon of red paint left.
Mandy and Mae walked into the room. We all stared at Kris with the bucket of paint in his hand.
He opened it up, and stuck in arm down into the red paint. Then pulled it out and smacked a big red hand print onto the wall. "They will try to paint over that, but they will never succeed."
Mandy pulled out a pile of sidewalk chalk she had found and started righting "FUCK YOU" on the brick wall. We all signed it.
Then we picked up the last of the stuff in the gallery and left.
- - - - - - - - - two days later.
Kris had arranged for a city hall meeting to address the issues surrounding Kronos. We made a Facebook page to encourage people to come out to support Kronos.
"Just showing up is support!" I posted on the event page. "We will have strength in numbers!"
Other people posted how much they'd hate to lose Kronos for good, how Kronos was their home, and how important it was to them. People told stories about how Kronos impacted their lives and what could have happened if Kronos wasn't around.
"There is literally nothing to do in Staunton if you are young." one poster said. "Except Kronos!"
Kris had made up a proposal to the city asking for financial assistance in getting a larger space. So the plan was to have as many people (mostly kids) from Kronos tell city council their stories and then have Kris pitch his idea.
We all gathered in the Wharf parking lot, wearing Kronos shirts, and "Question Authority" shirts, and other Kronos related attire, and marched our way to city hall. There was around 100 of us. When we first entered city hall the guards looked shocked and confused. They had to be reminded that this was public forum and that we were allowed to come in. The meeting was supposed to take place in it's usual spot for "unimportant matters" , a small conference room off the main council room. But as we started filing in they realized there were far too many of us to fit in such a small room. So they moved us to the actual meeting room. We filled up most of the rows and faced the members of city council while they sat on their podium. Kris went up first to introduce us, and briefly explain how he felt about recent happenings surrounding Kronos. He pointed out that no other business had to police their sidewalks. And that because we had to, it placed unnessesary chaos on an already tricky situation, which just made more problems, and those problems ended up in the paper and NOW no one will rent to him.
Friday, January 22, 2016
K is for Kid Chapter 18
What is sad is... Kris was right. They did find a way. One of the kids who was arrested that night had weed on him. They found it when they got back to the station.
The next day we got served charges for it. Kris protested.
"Why the hell am I responsible?" he asked.
"The kid was on your property. As a minor, you are responsible for him while he is here." the officer said.
"No way." I said. "There is a chance that this kid didn't even ever come in Kronos, which means he is not affiliated with us."
"That's right!" said Mae. "If he didn't have a wrist band, that means he never came in."
After a few days of refuting the charge, they ended up only fining Kris for "inadequate security" or something like that.
It was a $700 fine.
"We are going to have a find a different place." Kris said holding his head at his desk. "They will keep finding ways to get us until we do. And there is no way we can pay these fines AND keep the place running."
We all knew we had to throw a benefit show to raise money to pay the fine. It wasn't anything we hadn't done before, but this time we were scared. We were scared that something else would happen. We were worried that the cops would shut us down for good. We wondered what would happen if the cops came and found a kid IN the building that was breaking the law in ANY way. We were worried that now that we were under fire that there was nothing we could do but lay very very low.
We started planning a benefit show, and decided to break it up into parts. We'd have a band at 3pm, allow 35 entries for that, then another band at 5, allow 35 entries for that, and then the last one at 7, and again only allow 35 people in. If someone wanted to see all three bands, they'd have to pay 3 separate times. The bands were far enough apart that we could keep things relatively calm. And we decided that we'd sell 35 slots for each band, and that is it. No wait list, no chaos. We decided that this would be the last show for Kronos in the spot on Byers Street. We had already started looking for a different space. Kris was stressing out because there were not many places that fit our budget that also fit our need. But we kept hope.
The day of the show I showed up at Kronos at 1pm and started getting ready. The other Kronos kids trickled in, and helped. Kris was in an out all day, because he was looking at potential properties. The first band showed up at 2 for set up and sound check. During sound check an officer came up the stairs.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"We are getting ready to have a benefit show." I said looking around for Kris.
"A show?" he said looking around.
"Yea?" I spotted Kris coming up the stairs with a defeated look on his face.
"Hello?" he said to the officer. "Is something wrong?"
The officer took a breath. "Yea Mr. Post. We told you that you can not have shows here anymore."
My mouth fell open. WHAT?
Kris raised his eye brows. "Uh, no you didn't."
The officer went on to explain that because of the level of complains, paired with the charge and the fines, has caused the city to place a ban on Kronos.
"It might be temporary, but it is meant to help you, Kronos, keep out of trouble."
"Yea THIS is meant to HELP us." Kris yelled. "I'm sure THIS will HELP us!"
The officer tried to say something else but Kris slammed the office door.
He left with out saying another word to us.
Kris cancelled the rest of the bands for that day.
The next day we got served charges for it. Kris protested.
"Why the hell am I responsible?" he asked.
"The kid was on your property. As a minor, you are responsible for him while he is here." the officer said.
"No way." I said. "There is a chance that this kid didn't even ever come in Kronos, which means he is not affiliated with us."
"That's right!" said Mae. "If he didn't have a wrist band, that means he never came in."
After a few days of refuting the charge, they ended up only fining Kris for "inadequate security" or something like that.
It was a $700 fine.
"We are going to have a find a different place." Kris said holding his head at his desk. "They will keep finding ways to get us until we do. And there is no way we can pay these fines AND keep the place running."
We all knew we had to throw a benefit show to raise money to pay the fine. It wasn't anything we hadn't done before, but this time we were scared. We were scared that something else would happen. We were worried that the cops would shut us down for good. We wondered what would happen if the cops came and found a kid IN the building that was breaking the law in ANY way. We were worried that now that we were under fire that there was nothing we could do but lay very very low.
We started planning a benefit show, and decided to break it up into parts. We'd have a band at 3pm, allow 35 entries for that, then another band at 5, allow 35 entries for that, and then the last one at 7, and again only allow 35 people in. If someone wanted to see all three bands, they'd have to pay 3 separate times. The bands were far enough apart that we could keep things relatively calm. And we decided that we'd sell 35 slots for each band, and that is it. No wait list, no chaos. We decided that this would be the last show for Kronos in the spot on Byers Street. We had already started looking for a different space. Kris was stressing out because there were not many places that fit our budget that also fit our need. But we kept hope.
The day of the show I showed up at Kronos at 1pm and started getting ready. The other Kronos kids trickled in, and helped. Kris was in an out all day, because he was looking at potential properties. The first band showed up at 2 for set up and sound check. During sound check an officer came up the stairs.
"What's going on here?" he asked.
"We are getting ready to have a benefit show." I said looking around for Kris.
"A show?" he said looking around.
"Yea?" I spotted Kris coming up the stairs with a defeated look on his face.
"Hello?" he said to the officer. "Is something wrong?"
The officer took a breath. "Yea Mr. Post. We told you that you can not have shows here anymore."
My mouth fell open. WHAT?
Kris raised his eye brows. "Uh, no you didn't."
The officer went on to explain that because of the level of complains, paired with the charge and the fines, has caused the city to place a ban on Kronos.
"It might be temporary, but it is meant to help you, Kronos, keep out of trouble."
"Yea THIS is meant to HELP us." Kris yelled. "I'm sure THIS will HELP us!"
The officer tried to say something else but Kris slammed the office door.
He left with out saying another word to us.
Kris cancelled the rest of the bands for that day.
K is for Kids Chapter 17
4 of the 5 people showed up.
"Where is the fifth person?" I asked Mandy. "Who is the fifth person?"
"I don't know, everyone I called said they were on their way." She looked at her list. "Oh! It's John!"
"Uh guys... " Mae said running into the room staring at her phone. "John just posted on the event page that he can't make it and that someone could have his spot."
"WHAT!?" I shouted. "No 'someone' can't have it. WTF JOHN?!"
"I'm going to call him." said Mandy.
I looked around for Zane. Where was he? I spotted his friend that he went to get, but where is he?
I called him.
"Zane! Where are you?" I asked
"Uh, well. I thought maybe I should grab a few Monsters to restock our supply." He said sort of out of breath. "But then someone shouted that there was an open spot at Kronos. And uh well... " He paused to take a breath. "There are a lot of people coming your way."
Oh fuck.
"Kris!" I shouted as I hung up the phone. "We have a problem."
I started to explain what happened when we heard Liz yelling, "There is only one spot. I'm sorry!"
I ran out to the stair well. There were people crammed in the stair well. Liz shot me a WTF look. I saw Zane at the bottom of the stair attempting to make his way through.
Mandy came in. "John said he didn't give his spot to anyone specific so..." she trailed off when she saw the sea of people on the stairs. "Oh my god."
Liz stood up and left her seat, handing me the one bracelet.
"What do we do?" I asked. Do we give the bracelet to the next person on the list like we had planned. Is that person even in the sea of faces here?
I looked back into the band room, the band was ready. We had to make a decision.
Kris came in. "Just pick someone." He said.
Oh good. I thought. This will be fun.
I handed the bracelet to the first person in line that had their money out.
Zane and Mandy started attempting to get everyone else back down the stairs and out the door.
Some people started getting rough, and started pushing each other. Zane put himself between a few of them and ended up getting pushed down the stairs himself. He took a few other people with him. Mandy followed in the gap his fall created and helped him up. He seemed a little shaken but continued to try and usher people out. Kris stepped in and made himself a human wall as he made his way down the stairs. I stood my ground at the top of the stairs watching the slow moving chaos get pushed through the door. I heard the band start in the background. Liz came back to her seat. A little less shaken.
I took a deep breath.
As the last of the people were pushed out the door, I heard yelling coming from directly outside. I ran to the window, threw it open, and leaned out over the edge. Two kids were screaming at the top of their lungs at each other. Talking shit. Then one kid pushed the other, and the other kid pushed back. The door was still packed with people. "Shit." I thought. "Kris, Mandy, and Zane can't get through." Shit shit shit. The pushing and shit talking continued, I saw Zane break through he crowded door way.
"Zane!" I yelled pointing to the two kids.
He looked around confused. I kept pointed, and then started yelling. "Stop!" and "Don't do that shit here!" and other things, but they couldn't hear me over the roar of the crowd and the band.
Zane finally saw what I was point to. The two kids had gone from pushing to grabbing and sort of sparing. Then one kid flat out punched the other kid in the teeth.
SHIT!
The other kid hit back, and soon they were both on the ground.
Zane got to them and tried to jump in to break it up, but was grabbed by some other kid and thrown down. Zane pushed the kid off of him, and soon they were fighting too! Then two or three other kids started throwing punches. Kris finally made his way out, Mandy was right behind him. They started trying to get people to leave and break up the fighting. Then we all heard it.
A siren.
We all looked up and saw blue lights.
My heart sank.
Everything stopped.
Two cop cars pulled up to the curb. Some kids started to run, other's stood frozen in fear.
I watched as some kids were cuffed, others were questioned. I turned away from the window. The band had stopped playing in the other room. I heard Liz calling my name.
"What's going on?" she asked.
I told her what I saw.
Some people started making their way out of Kronos.
"Hey, uh, do we need to pack up?" the drummer of the band asked.
I nodded. "Yea go ahead."
"What if the cops come up?" Liz asked panicked.
"Let them in." I said. "We have nothing to hide. The show is over anyway."
Kris came up the stairs cussing.
Shit! Zane!
I ran down the stairs.
Zane was sitting on the bench. Most of the other kids were gone.
"Omg!" I said sitting next to him.
"I don't know what happened." He said. "I just don't know."
I put my arms around him. " I saw most of it from the window it's ok."
"No it's not." Mandy said. " They arrested like 5 kids!"
"For what?!" I asked.
"Fighting!" Zane said. "Duh!"
He stomped off into Kronos.
"Dude they are going to find a way to pin this on us." Mandy said also walking off.
I stood up to follow.
"Hey, no way. No way they can pin this on us. We did everything in our power to keep things under control. No freaking way." I said.
We got to the top of the stairs.
Kris turned around and looked me straight in the face.
"They will find a way." Is all he said.
"Where is the fifth person?" I asked Mandy. "Who is the fifth person?"
"I don't know, everyone I called said they were on their way." She looked at her list. "Oh! It's John!"
"Uh guys... " Mae said running into the room staring at her phone. "John just posted on the event page that he can't make it and that someone could have his spot."
"WHAT!?" I shouted. "No 'someone' can't have it. WTF JOHN?!"
"I'm going to call him." said Mandy.
I looked around for Zane. Where was he? I spotted his friend that he went to get, but where is he?
I called him.
"Zane! Where are you?" I asked
"Uh, well. I thought maybe I should grab a few Monsters to restock our supply." He said sort of out of breath. "But then someone shouted that there was an open spot at Kronos. And uh well... " He paused to take a breath. "There are a lot of people coming your way."
Oh fuck.
"Kris!" I shouted as I hung up the phone. "We have a problem."
I started to explain what happened when we heard Liz yelling, "There is only one spot. I'm sorry!"
I ran out to the stair well. There were people crammed in the stair well. Liz shot me a WTF look. I saw Zane at the bottom of the stair attempting to make his way through.
Mandy came in. "John said he didn't give his spot to anyone specific so..." she trailed off when she saw the sea of people on the stairs. "Oh my god."
Liz stood up and left her seat, handing me the one bracelet.
"What do we do?" I asked. Do we give the bracelet to the next person on the list like we had planned. Is that person even in the sea of faces here?
I looked back into the band room, the band was ready. We had to make a decision.
Kris came in. "Just pick someone." He said.
Oh good. I thought. This will be fun.
I handed the bracelet to the first person in line that had their money out.
Zane and Mandy started attempting to get everyone else back down the stairs and out the door.
Some people started getting rough, and started pushing each other. Zane put himself between a few of them and ended up getting pushed down the stairs himself. He took a few other people with him. Mandy followed in the gap his fall created and helped him up. He seemed a little shaken but continued to try and usher people out. Kris stepped in and made himself a human wall as he made his way down the stairs. I stood my ground at the top of the stairs watching the slow moving chaos get pushed through the door. I heard the band start in the background. Liz came back to her seat. A little less shaken.
I took a deep breath.
As the last of the people were pushed out the door, I heard yelling coming from directly outside. I ran to the window, threw it open, and leaned out over the edge. Two kids were screaming at the top of their lungs at each other. Talking shit. Then one kid pushed the other, and the other kid pushed back. The door was still packed with people. "Shit." I thought. "Kris, Mandy, and Zane can't get through." Shit shit shit. The pushing and shit talking continued, I saw Zane break through he crowded door way.
"Zane!" I yelled pointing to the two kids.
He looked around confused. I kept pointed, and then started yelling. "Stop!" and "Don't do that shit here!" and other things, but they couldn't hear me over the roar of the crowd and the band.
Zane finally saw what I was point to. The two kids had gone from pushing to grabbing and sort of sparing. Then one kid flat out punched the other kid in the teeth.
SHIT!
The other kid hit back, and soon they were both on the ground.
Zane got to them and tried to jump in to break it up, but was grabbed by some other kid and thrown down. Zane pushed the kid off of him, and soon they were fighting too! Then two or three other kids started throwing punches. Kris finally made his way out, Mandy was right behind him. They started trying to get people to leave and break up the fighting. Then we all heard it.
A siren.
We all looked up and saw blue lights.
My heart sank.
Everything stopped.
Two cop cars pulled up to the curb. Some kids started to run, other's stood frozen in fear.
I watched as some kids were cuffed, others were questioned. I turned away from the window. The band had stopped playing in the other room. I heard Liz calling my name.
"What's going on?" she asked.
I told her what I saw.
Some people started making their way out of Kronos.
"Hey, uh, do we need to pack up?" the drummer of the band asked.
I nodded. "Yea go ahead."
"What if the cops come up?" Liz asked panicked.
"Let them in." I said. "We have nothing to hide. The show is over anyway."
Kris came up the stairs cussing.
Shit! Zane!
I ran down the stairs.
Zane was sitting on the bench. Most of the other kids were gone.
"Omg!" I said sitting next to him.
"I don't know what happened." He said. "I just don't know."
I put my arms around him. " I saw most of it from the window it's ok."
"No it's not." Mandy said. " They arrested like 5 kids!"
"For what?!" I asked.
"Fighting!" Zane said. "Duh!"
He stomped off into Kronos.
"Dude they are going to find a way to pin this on us." Mandy said also walking off.
I stood up to follow.
"Hey, no way. No way they can pin this on us. We did everything in our power to keep things under control. No freaking way." I said.
We got to the top of the stairs.
Kris turned around and looked me straight in the face.
"They will find a way." Is all he said.
K is for Kids Ch. 16
The next day we all met at Kronos to hash out some ideas.
"Ok, we have to keep the head count under 35 for this show." I said feeling hopeless.
"So what does that mean for us? Does that mean we only sell 35 entries? Should we presell them? Should we make them cost more to cover our costs? Should we not worry about the money? What do you think?" I asked looking around at Mandy, Mae, Zane, and a handful of other Kronos kids.
"We should do wrist bands instead of X's on their hands." Mae said. "Only have 35, that way when we reach the end of them, we will know we only have 35 people."
"That's a good idea, but what if people leave after one band. Do we let them come back? Is their spot reserved? Is that fair? Should we let some one come in their spot?" Mandy asked.
"If we let people come in all night, to fill in the spots of people leaving they will be standing outside waiting to come in." Zane said concerned. "There can not be anyone outside."
"See what I mean!" Kris chimed in. "It is impossible. There are going to be people outside. No matter what we do!"
We all thought for a minute. If we allow people to leave, and allow other people to come in, there will be people waiting to come in outside. AND what if those people, who already paid want to come back? Then what? If we allow people to leave, but don't let other people come in we would solve those problems, but would not only lose money but risk not having an audience at some point. Which is lame.
"What if we just don't allow re-entry?" Kris said. "If you leave, you can not come back. Do you think people wouldn't leave then?"
"It might deter them." I said. "We'd have to provide some sort of food/beverages. That is why people usually leave."
"Maybe we can get the Dungeon on board with us." Zane said. "You know, like what if we direct people to go there to wait until there is a spot. Tell people if they leave there is not re-entry, and then we can text or call the dungeon to tell someone there is a spot open?"
"That could get really messy." I said. "How do you chose who gets in then?"
"The first one to the door gets in." Kris said.
"What if it breaks out in a fight?" Mae said concerned.
"What if the fight happens on our doorstep?" I asked.
"Maybe we should have a reserved list and go according to that." Mandy said. "Make the list ahead of time, based on who is in line when the doors open, and then when a spot opens try to contact people on the list in order they were in line."
"That is a great idea!" Kris said. "Will you take care of that?"
"I'll do my best." Mandy said.
So now the game plan was this: We'd run the show like normal, but instead of putting X's on people's hands, Liz would give them wrist bands. Once we got to 35 wrist bands, we'd close the doors. Then Mandy would get as many contacts as possible from the people still in line. Then Zane would suggest or re-direct those people to hang out nearby. Either the coffee shop, or the Dungeon, or anywhere else down town that wasn't our front steps. That way when we did contact them, they'd be able to get here quickly. It was sort of a half baked, omg I hope this works kind of plan, but it was all we had. So we ran with it.
"You only have 35 of these. When you give out the last one grab me or Kris and we will get things moving with the line, ok?" I explained everything to Liz.
"Got it." She said taking the wrist bands.
We opened the doors and everything seemed to go pretty smooth. Just like we had planned, we gave out 35 wrist bands, and then Mandy either got Facebook information, phone numbers, or waiting location of anyone still waiting in line. And Zane helped re-direct people away from our doors.
"That went really smooth." Mandy said amazed. "I have 20 people on the list." She said showing me.
"No one is outside." Zane said looking out the window. "I think we will be ok."
Ok good. We are good. Everything is going to be fine, I thought.
We had posted online about our no re-entry policy, and also explained it to people while they paid at the door. But we decided to make one final announcement before the show. There were a couple pissed off people, but we reassured them that we had sodas, monsters, teas, and coffees available for purchase, as well as snacks. So that there would be less need to leave. And people seemed to calm down. We also took $1 off the door price to help ease the sting if someone did have to, or decide to leave.
The first band played their set, and everyone seemed in good spirits. As they were packing up a handful of people left the venue.
"Mandy, we have 5 slots open, can you contact the first five people on the list?" I asked.
"Yea I got it." Mandy said pulling out her phone.
Zane went down stairs to watch for people.
A few moments later Mandy grabbed my arm. "Hey I can't reach this girl." She said pointing to a name on the list. "She said she'd be at the Dungeon, but they are not answering their phone. Should I just go to the next name? Or what?"
I looked at the name. "Oh! That's Zane's friend. I'll get him to contact her."
Zane didn't have her number, but decided to walk down to the hoard to get her.
"Hey Liz!" I said climbing back up the stairs. "We have 5 open spots, so here are 5 more wrist bands. Once these are gone that's it ok?"
"Okidoki!" She said smiling.
Cool, I thought as I watched the next band set up, this isn't so bad at all.
"Ok, we have to keep the head count under 35 for this show." I said feeling hopeless.
"So what does that mean for us? Does that mean we only sell 35 entries? Should we presell them? Should we make them cost more to cover our costs? Should we not worry about the money? What do you think?" I asked looking around at Mandy, Mae, Zane, and a handful of other Kronos kids.
"We should do wrist bands instead of X's on their hands." Mae said. "Only have 35, that way when we reach the end of them, we will know we only have 35 people."
"That's a good idea, but what if people leave after one band. Do we let them come back? Is their spot reserved? Is that fair? Should we let some one come in their spot?" Mandy asked.
"If we let people come in all night, to fill in the spots of people leaving they will be standing outside waiting to come in." Zane said concerned. "There can not be anyone outside."
"See what I mean!" Kris chimed in. "It is impossible. There are going to be people outside. No matter what we do!"
We all thought for a minute. If we allow people to leave, and allow other people to come in, there will be people waiting to come in outside. AND what if those people, who already paid want to come back? Then what? If we allow people to leave, but don't let other people come in we would solve those problems, but would not only lose money but risk not having an audience at some point. Which is lame.
"What if we just don't allow re-entry?" Kris said. "If you leave, you can not come back. Do you think people wouldn't leave then?"
"It might deter them." I said. "We'd have to provide some sort of food/beverages. That is why people usually leave."
"Maybe we can get the Dungeon on board with us." Zane said. "You know, like what if we direct people to go there to wait until there is a spot. Tell people if they leave there is not re-entry, and then we can text or call the dungeon to tell someone there is a spot open?"
"That could get really messy." I said. "How do you chose who gets in then?"
"The first one to the door gets in." Kris said.
"What if it breaks out in a fight?" Mae said concerned.
"What if the fight happens on our doorstep?" I asked.
"Maybe we should have a reserved list and go according to that." Mandy said. "Make the list ahead of time, based on who is in line when the doors open, and then when a spot opens try to contact people on the list in order they were in line."
"That is a great idea!" Kris said. "Will you take care of that?"
"I'll do my best." Mandy said.
So now the game plan was this: We'd run the show like normal, but instead of putting X's on people's hands, Liz would give them wrist bands. Once we got to 35 wrist bands, we'd close the doors. Then Mandy would get as many contacts as possible from the people still in line. Then Zane would suggest or re-direct those people to hang out nearby. Either the coffee shop, or the Dungeon, or anywhere else down town that wasn't our front steps. That way when we did contact them, they'd be able to get here quickly. It was sort of a half baked, omg I hope this works kind of plan, but it was all we had. So we ran with it.
"You only have 35 of these. When you give out the last one grab me or Kris and we will get things moving with the line, ok?" I explained everything to Liz.
"Got it." She said taking the wrist bands.
We opened the doors and everything seemed to go pretty smooth. Just like we had planned, we gave out 35 wrist bands, and then Mandy either got Facebook information, phone numbers, or waiting location of anyone still waiting in line. And Zane helped re-direct people away from our doors.
"That went really smooth." Mandy said amazed. "I have 20 people on the list." She said showing me.
"No one is outside." Zane said looking out the window. "I think we will be ok."
Ok good. We are good. Everything is going to be fine, I thought.
We had posted online about our no re-entry policy, and also explained it to people while they paid at the door. But we decided to make one final announcement before the show. There were a couple pissed off people, but we reassured them that we had sodas, monsters, teas, and coffees available for purchase, as well as snacks. So that there would be less need to leave. And people seemed to calm down. We also took $1 off the door price to help ease the sting if someone did have to, or decide to leave.
The first band played their set, and everyone seemed in good spirits. As they were packing up a handful of people left the venue.
"Mandy, we have 5 slots open, can you contact the first five people on the list?" I asked.
"Yea I got it." Mandy said pulling out her phone.
Zane went down stairs to watch for people.
A few moments later Mandy grabbed my arm. "Hey I can't reach this girl." She said pointing to a name on the list. "She said she'd be at the Dungeon, but they are not answering their phone. Should I just go to the next name? Or what?"
I looked at the name. "Oh! That's Zane's friend. I'll get him to contact her."
Zane didn't have her number, but decided to walk down to the hoard to get her.
"Hey Liz!" I said climbing back up the stairs. "We have 5 open spots, so here are 5 more wrist bands. Once these are gone that's it ok?"
"Okidoki!" She said smiling.
Cool, I thought as I watched the next band set up, this isn't so bad at all.
K is for Kid Chapter 15
We all knew to expect some sort of backlash from what had happened. We couldn't do anything with out getting someone's attention, so something like this would definitely not fly by unnoticed.
Kris was expecting a liability lawsuit, what we got was inevitably much worse.
The mother of the girl didn't call asking for money to fix her daughters nose, to anything like that. She decided that reason her daughters nose got broke was because we had way to many people in the building.
So she called the fire marshal.
He showed up one day while I was there for my mentorship. Kris also happened to be there, thank god!
"Hello!" He called as he climbed our stairs.
I peered through the window. "Hi?" I said suspicious of the man in the suite standing in our lobby.
"Shit..." Kris said under his breath as he went out to meet him.
Kris talked to the man a little, and walked him around the gallery for a while.
Then the man left.
Kris came in and sat in his chair.
"So, who was that?" I asked.
"The fire marshal." Kris said. Then he explained that even though we have three rooms in the gallery our max occupancy was 35 people.
Apparently since we only have one bathroom and no fire exit, our occupancy limit goes way down. I could see him telling us we wouldn't have 200 people in the place, we all knew that was pushing it. But 35? That is a death sentence.
"So what happens now?" I asked.
"I mean as long as we aren't obviously over capacity, we'll be fine." He said smiling. "You know. We could probably still have shows with 50-80 people and it'll be ok. As long as we don't get inspected during a show."
This is why I liked Kris. He was willing to take risks. Yea, we were going to actively double our capacity. But as long as we didn't get a complaint, we'd be fine.
The problem was.
We couldn't do anything without getting attention. So of course we got complaints.
We skidded by most of them. Someone would call in a noise complaint, or a customer of the bistro next door would wine that they couldn't eat a decent meal without being scared of teenagers or something. And we'd count heads and move people around, and do whatever we could to make sure we never got caught with more than 35 people in the building. It worked for a while. But then we had another issue on our hands.
The police had been getting so many complaints from people at the Bistro that they told Kris his customers could no longer "hang out" in front of Kronos. So shuffling people around became impossible. What was even more infuriating, is that some of the people who hung out in front of Kronos never actually came in. And a lot of them would actively harass passer-byers, well you know, because teenagers. And I know it's hard to pass up harassing the Bistro customers. I mean think about it. The people eating at the Bistro are either eating there casually, or maybe a date. Maybe occasionally a family. Now think about your average "at risk" teen ager. They can't even dream of eating out "casually". Let alone at a place that over charges for a cheeseburger. I mean really they serve Filet Mignon that costs more than school lunches for a MONTH! You get the drift. Of course not only will they be the kind of people that feel harassed by just the presence of teenager, but also be harassed by teenagers for being an easy and accessible target. I speak from experience.
So now we couldn't simply push people out the door to try and "appear" to be sticking to our head count policy.
"What are we going to do?" I asked Kris.
"I don't see how we can be responsible for people outside of our building." he said. "That is city property. And besides, what am I supposed to do if people hang out down there? I mean I can't physically remove them."
I daydreamed about Kris tossing punk kids around the wharf parking lot. It would be good stress relief.
"I can be your security guard!" Zane said walking into the room.
We all laughed.
"What?! I can!" he snorted.
"Ok." Kris said still laughing. "If you can keep people away from the entrance and side walk that will be helpful."
"Thank you!" Zane said sarcastically.
We all left the gallery that day feeling uneasy. We needed a better plan.
Kris was expecting a liability lawsuit, what we got was inevitably much worse.
The mother of the girl didn't call asking for money to fix her daughters nose, to anything like that. She decided that reason her daughters nose got broke was because we had way to many people in the building.
So she called the fire marshal.
He showed up one day while I was there for my mentorship. Kris also happened to be there, thank god!
"Hello!" He called as he climbed our stairs.
I peered through the window. "Hi?" I said suspicious of the man in the suite standing in our lobby.
"Shit..." Kris said under his breath as he went out to meet him.
Kris talked to the man a little, and walked him around the gallery for a while.
Then the man left.
Kris came in and sat in his chair.
"So, who was that?" I asked.
"The fire marshal." Kris said. Then he explained that even though we have three rooms in the gallery our max occupancy was 35 people.
Apparently since we only have one bathroom and no fire exit, our occupancy limit goes way down. I could see him telling us we wouldn't have 200 people in the place, we all knew that was pushing it. But 35? That is a death sentence.
"So what happens now?" I asked.
"I mean as long as we aren't obviously over capacity, we'll be fine." He said smiling. "You know. We could probably still have shows with 50-80 people and it'll be ok. As long as we don't get inspected during a show."
This is why I liked Kris. He was willing to take risks. Yea, we were going to actively double our capacity. But as long as we didn't get a complaint, we'd be fine.
The problem was.
We couldn't do anything without getting attention. So of course we got complaints.
We skidded by most of them. Someone would call in a noise complaint, or a customer of the bistro next door would wine that they couldn't eat a decent meal without being scared of teenagers or something. And we'd count heads and move people around, and do whatever we could to make sure we never got caught with more than 35 people in the building. It worked for a while. But then we had another issue on our hands.
The police had been getting so many complaints from people at the Bistro that they told Kris his customers could no longer "hang out" in front of Kronos. So shuffling people around became impossible. What was even more infuriating, is that some of the people who hung out in front of Kronos never actually came in. And a lot of them would actively harass passer-byers, well you know, because teenagers. And I know it's hard to pass up harassing the Bistro customers. I mean think about it. The people eating at the Bistro are either eating there casually, or maybe a date. Maybe occasionally a family. Now think about your average "at risk" teen ager. They can't even dream of eating out "casually". Let alone at a place that over charges for a cheeseburger. I mean really they serve Filet Mignon that costs more than school lunches for a MONTH! You get the drift. Of course not only will they be the kind of people that feel harassed by just the presence of teenager, but also be harassed by teenagers for being an easy and accessible target. I speak from experience.
So now we couldn't simply push people out the door to try and "appear" to be sticking to our head count policy.
"What are we going to do?" I asked Kris.
"I don't see how we can be responsible for people outside of our building." he said. "That is city property. And besides, what am I supposed to do if people hang out down there? I mean I can't physically remove them."
I daydreamed about Kris tossing punk kids around the wharf parking lot. It would be good stress relief.
"I can be your security guard!" Zane said walking into the room.
We all laughed.
"What?! I can!" he snorted.
"Ok." Kris said still laughing. "If you can keep people away from the entrance and side walk that will be helpful."
"Thank you!" Zane said sarcastically.
We all left the gallery that day feeling uneasy. We needed a better plan.
Friday, January 8, 2016
K is for Kid Chapter 14
I sold 23 of the 48 pieces. A Kronos record! I needed that money too. The college I was supposed to go to was already breathing down my neck for payments.
The show did really well too. Kris made sure we had our three top local bands in the line up. Embers from the Alter, Secret Ninja Death Squad, and Pablo and the Dregs. That night we have well over 200 people come through. The band room was packed so tightly, and people were so sweaty that people had to leave periodically just to breathe real air. People were getting so tightly squeezed that even before the first band had finished a few pit fight broke out. Generally there weren't many most pits at Kronos, because there was a lack of room. But Embers always seemed to bring a crowd that just did not care, and would swing their extremities with out any regard to the people around them. A lot of people liked that. Zane was one of those people. He looked forward to the Embers mosh pits, and would often start them himself. But that night was not a good night for a pit. Most of us knew it. We'd look around at everyone all crammed together, then look at each other like "oh well." But there was this one burly ass kid that decided he did not care, and he was going to mosh. It started slow like it usually does. Then he'd bump into someone. If that someone was chill, they'd just sort of push him in a different direction. Then he'd bump into someone else, and they'd push him in another direction. Eventually he bumped into someone who was not very chill. A kid larger than him, whom I had never seen crack a smile. When the burly kid bumped into him, he grabbed him and shoved him hard in the other direction. It was like watching someone throw a bowling ball, when the burly kid hit the wall of innocent bystanders, he knocked like 10 of them down. They all stood up, some shook it off. Other sought revenge and went after him, or whomever was closest to them. But, of course, they did it in a dancy fashion. You know, mosh dancing style. So a most pit broke out. I shot a panicked look to Zane. A sort of "Don't you dare get in that." mixed with "Omg we need to stop this." Zane stepped forward and tried to put the burly kid in a sleeper hold. But Zane was like half this kids size so he just kept thrashing around as Zane tried to hang on and get control of this kids arms. He'd get one in a hold, and the kid would trash it free, then he'd get the other, and rinse repeat. I saw Mandy had jumped in to try and move people away from getting mauled. I wondered if I should try to get Kris, I looked back. There was a sea of people between me and the Window Kris stands in to watch the shows. I wondered if he was watching what was going on too. I looked back over to Zane and the burly kid. He almost had him. His arms were locked with the kids and he was trying to lace his fingers behind the kids head. I could tell it was a struggle. I started making my way towards the pit. The kid bent down sideways, and jerked himself back up. Losing Zane in the process, who hit the floor. When the kid came back up, his arm flew around and hit this girl square in the nose. She had been standing in front of her boyfriend who had his arms around her waist. Her arms flew up to hold her face. I saw blood run between her fingers. I jumped over and around people to get to her.
"Zane!" I yelled as he was standing up. "Get her out of here!" I said pointing the girl and her now pissed off boyfriend. Mandy jumped in and grabbed the boyfriend to try and calm him down. I saw Kris coming in through the back entrance. He must have seen it. The burly kid was still swinging his arms. There was no way I'd be able to get him to stop. I had to stop the band. Hopefully Kris will be able to do something. I ran up to the singer and waived my hands in his face.
"Dude stop, stop!" I yelled now attempting to get the entire bands attention.
They all stopped and everything was quiet.
In that moment I turned to see Kris grab the back of this kids shirt, with both hands, and drag his ass out of the band room. I don't know if he threw him down the stairs, carried him down the stairs or what. But by the time I got back out to the lobby area, that kid was no where in sight.
"Charley..." Zane said coming out of the bathroom. "Her nose is broken."
"FUCK!" said Kris stomping off into his office.
"Can she get home?" I asked.
"Yea, her boyfriend is taking her." Zane said as they both came out of the bathroom, and silently left.
"Ok..." I said trying to breathe. "Ok.."
The drummer came out into the lobby.
"What the Fuck just happened." he asked.
"That girl just got her nose broke." I said.
The lead singer poked his head in. "Dude that's fucking metal."
"Oh yea dick head, a lawsuit is so fucking metal!" I yelled.
It was quite for a minute. People were starting to get antsy, not to mention nosey.
I looked at the drummer. "Finish your set." I said turning to the singer. "Tell everyone No more fucking Moshing!"
They finished their set and the other two bands played with out another incident. We decided that we needed to make some sort of policy for moshing, or have some sort of safety to insure that this kind of thing wouldn't happen again. But we never came to a conclusion. By the end of the night after everyone left, we were all so tired we all just passed out in the gallery.
The show did really well too. Kris made sure we had our three top local bands in the line up. Embers from the Alter, Secret Ninja Death Squad, and Pablo and the Dregs. That night we have well over 200 people come through. The band room was packed so tightly, and people were so sweaty that people had to leave periodically just to breathe real air. People were getting so tightly squeezed that even before the first band had finished a few pit fight broke out. Generally there weren't many most pits at Kronos, because there was a lack of room. But Embers always seemed to bring a crowd that just did not care, and would swing their extremities with out any regard to the people around them. A lot of people liked that. Zane was one of those people. He looked forward to the Embers mosh pits, and would often start them himself. But that night was not a good night for a pit. Most of us knew it. We'd look around at everyone all crammed together, then look at each other like "oh well." But there was this one burly ass kid that decided he did not care, and he was going to mosh. It started slow like it usually does. Then he'd bump into someone. If that someone was chill, they'd just sort of push him in a different direction. Then he'd bump into someone else, and they'd push him in another direction. Eventually he bumped into someone who was not very chill. A kid larger than him, whom I had never seen crack a smile. When the burly kid bumped into him, he grabbed him and shoved him hard in the other direction. It was like watching someone throw a bowling ball, when the burly kid hit the wall of innocent bystanders, he knocked like 10 of them down. They all stood up, some shook it off. Other sought revenge and went after him, or whomever was closest to them. But, of course, they did it in a dancy fashion. You know, mosh dancing style. So a most pit broke out. I shot a panicked look to Zane. A sort of "Don't you dare get in that." mixed with "Omg we need to stop this." Zane stepped forward and tried to put the burly kid in a sleeper hold. But Zane was like half this kids size so he just kept thrashing around as Zane tried to hang on and get control of this kids arms. He'd get one in a hold, and the kid would trash it free, then he'd get the other, and rinse repeat. I saw Mandy had jumped in to try and move people away from getting mauled. I wondered if I should try to get Kris, I looked back. There was a sea of people between me and the Window Kris stands in to watch the shows. I wondered if he was watching what was going on too. I looked back over to Zane and the burly kid. He almost had him. His arms were locked with the kids and he was trying to lace his fingers behind the kids head. I could tell it was a struggle. I started making my way towards the pit. The kid bent down sideways, and jerked himself back up. Losing Zane in the process, who hit the floor. When the kid came back up, his arm flew around and hit this girl square in the nose. She had been standing in front of her boyfriend who had his arms around her waist. Her arms flew up to hold her face. I saw blood run between her fingers. I jumped over and around people to get to her.
"Zane!" I yelled as he was standing up. "Get her out of here!" I said pointing the girl and her now pissed off boyfriend. Mandy jumped in and grabbed the boyfriend to try and calm him down. I saw Kris coming in through the back entrance. He must have seen it. The burly kid was still swinging his arms. There was no way I'd be able to get him to stop. I had to stop the band. Hopefully Kris will be able to do something. I ran up to the singer and waived my hands in his face.
"Dude stop, stop!" I yelled now attempting to get the entire bands attention.
They all stopped and everything was quiet.
In that moment I turned to see Kris grab the back of this kids shirt, with both hands, and drag his ass out of the band room. I don't know if he threw him down the stairs, carried him down the stairs or what. But by the time I got back out to the lobby area, that kid was no where in sight.
"Charley..." Zane said coming out of the bathroom. "Her nose is broken."
"FUCK!" said Kris stomping off into his office.
"Can she get home?" I asked.
"Yea, her boyfriend is taking her." Zane said as they both came out of the bathroom, and silently left.
"Ok..." I said trying to breathe. "Ok.."
The drummer came out into the lobby.
"What the Fuck just happened." he asked.
"That girl just got her nose broke." I said.
The lead singer poked his head in. "Dude that's fucking metal."
"Oh yea dick head, a lawsuit is so fucking metal!" I yelled.
It was quite for a minute. People were starting to get antsy, not to mention nosey.
I looked at the drummer. "Finish your set." I said turning to the singer. "Tell everyone No more fucking Moshing!"
They finished their set and the other two bands played with out another incident. We decided that we needed to make some sort of policy for moshing, or have some sort of safety to insure that this kind of thing wouldn't happen again. But we never came to a conclusion. By the end of the night after everyone left, we were all so tired we all just passed out in the gallery.
K is for Kid Chapter 13
I had 48 pieces for the show. I slowly transported them from the studio to the gallery. I drove a red minivan. To make more room I took out the middle seat and pushed the back seat all the way up. I could fit a lot in that van, but even still, it took few trips. Once all of the art was in Kronos, Kris went to work getting it ready to display. I had not realized that a part of the art is in it's display. I watched in awe as Kris added brackets and hooks to my pieces. Then we started putting them up for display. I watched as each one of my pieces found a home on the wall of Kronos. Kris made an event poster using a scan of one of my pieces, and I made up an artist bio. In it I talked about my dreams of going to art school, like a total big shot.
The night of the show had me buzzing like a florescent light bulb. I could not sit still. Every five seconds I was checking this, or straightening that.
"Charley, would you calm down!" Kris said reclining in his chair.
"I can't!" I said re-stacking my artist cards.
Zane grabbed my shoulders. "You need to chill!" he said. "Look we have an hour before the show, lets go to the Dungeon. I'll get you a Monster!"
I perked up a little.
"Yea that is the last thing we need" Kris said "Something to make her more on edge!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Well?" Zane motioned to the stairs.
"See you in a bit Kris!" I yelled as I leaped down the stairs.
I chugged that Monster. Zane chugged two.
"So what's the deal tonight, like what all is going down?" He asked between burps.
"Well the art show starts at 5 and runs until 7. The bands will show up at 7 and set up. Anyone who is already at the art show gets discounted and early entry, everyone else pays full price and can't come in until doors at 7:30. Make sense?" I explained.
Zane nodded.
"Wait say that again." Liz asked.
Liz always worked the door for us. Let me take a moment to tell you about Liz. When I first met her, I did not like her. Not even a little. She started hanging around us in the fall, right around the the time Kronos had it's first show. She started just showing up everywhere. Downtown, Kronos, the skate park, the dungeon. Nobody really knew who first brought her into the circle. I think it was Mae. Mae was always getting new friends, anyone that would take her away from her family and help her not think about them. Liz fit the bill perfectly, see... Liz lived out in the county, like way out. Her parents owned a bunch of land and built a house that could fit probably all of our houses inside of it. So when she came to town, her parents had to drive her. And trust me, that is a luxury none of us had. Nothing about her life was even remotely close to any of ours, so we all felt a little weird hanging out with her. But Liz could dress. Now maybe it is because she has a bunch of money to buy a bunch of clothes, but maybe it is just that she has really good taste. There was one moment that actually made me kind of like her. And that was a moment we had at the skate park. I was sitting on the bleachers with Mandy, Mae and a few other people when Liz jumped out of her mom's SUV.
"Oh for fucks sake." I said rolling my eyes.
"Yea for real." Mae said.
"WTF Mae, you are her friend, that is why she is here." Mandy said punching Mae in the arm.
"Yea, well that was before she became a little bitch and snitched on me for drinking." Mae said rubbing her arm.
"Say what?!" I said.
"Yea man she totally told her mom that I was drinking in my attic one night. And her mom told my mom, and that is why I was grounded for so long." Mae scoffed.
"Ooooh. Well, it looks like she is coming to hang out." I said nodding towards Liz who was quickly walking our way.
Mae just shrugged.
Oh this will be fun. I thought.
Liz came over and sat right next to Mae. "Whats up?" she asked eagerly.
We all just sort of stared at her.
She made a confused face.
"What's up Liz?" Mae said with a stone face.
"Not much, kind of bored." She looked around. "Hey I was thinking.... Can you guys help me gauge my ears?"
Mandy laughed.
I swear Mae's eyes turned red with evil.
"Charley gauged all of our ears, she's really good." She smiled at me. "You'll do it right Charley?"
I had no business gauging anyone. But I did it, because it was fun.
"Sure." I said as I dug through my bag for my taper.
Liz jumped up. "Really? Really really?"
"Yea." I said. "Sit down."
Liz sat down in front of me. I took a look at her ear. She had a tiny stud in it. I pulled it out and looked at it's post.
"Oh shit." I said.
"What?" she asked.
"This is an 18." I said shaking my head.
"What does that mean?" she asked sounding panicked.
"That means this is going to hurt. A lot." I said trying not to grin.
Mae started to snicker, and Mandy elbowed her.
I expected Liz to chicken out. Jump up and leave.
Not many people would willingly jump from an 18 to a 14 gauge in one go.
"Just do it." Liz said bracing herself.
My mouth hung open for a minute.
Maybe this was just pure ignorance. Ignorance is bliss right?
So I grabbed her lobe, and placed the taper.
"Ok, I am going to count to three, breath in on numbers 1 and 2 and release on 3 got it?" I asked.
"Got it." She said.
"Ok. 1....2...." I paused to make sure she was breathing in. "3!" I said as I pushed the taper through her lobe. It made a popping noise at the end, and blood starting oozing out. I quickly grabbed the 14 captive hoop I had and followed the taper through the bloody mess.
I looked at Liz's face. I couldn't tell if she was ok. She was already so pale, I wasn't sure if she was losing color.
"You ok?" I asked.
She had this sort of stunned look, with wide eyes that she moved only to look at me.
"Do the other one." she said without really moving her mouth.
So I did.
Then I asked her if she'd like to work the door at Kronos for free entry.
I figured she had earned it.
Today I looked at Liz, who still had those 14's in her ears, but they looked much better now that they had healed.
"Dammit Liz, weren't you listening?" I rolled my eyes. Just because I was starting to like her didn't mean I had to be nice right? Not yet, Damn.
I repeated the whole thing, which she protested to.
"How will I know who is already there? What if someone says they were at the art show, but left and came back. What are the rules for that? Do the bands have a plus one? Do I have a plus one? I should have a plus one."
I just stood up and walked away. We go through this every show.
Liz kept talking as she followed us to Kronos.
When we got there I turned to her and said what I usually say.
"What do you think Liz?" and left it at that. I don't know why, but it always worked. She would figure out every answer to every question herself, and there never seemed to be a problem.
The night of the show had me buzzing like a florescent light bulb. I could not sit still. Every five seconds I was checking this, or straightening that.
"Charley, would you calm down!" Kris said reclining in his chair.
"I can't!" I said re-stacking my artist cards.
Zane grabbed my shoulders. "You need to chill!" he said. "Look we have an hour before the show, lets go to the Dungeon. I'll get you a Monster!"
I perked up a little.
"Yea that is the last thing we need" Kris said "Something to make her more on edge!"
I rolled my eyes.
"Well?" Zane motioned to the stairs.
"See you in a bit Kris!" I yelled as I leaped down the stairs.
I chugged that Monster. Zane chugged two.
"So what's the deal tonight, like what all is going down?" He asked between burps.
"Well the art show starts at 5 and runs until 7. The bands will show up at 7 and set up. Anyone who is already at the art show gets discounted and early entry, everyone else pays full price and can't come in until doors at 7:30. Make sense?" I explained.
Zane nodded.
"Wait say that again." Liz asked.
Liz always worked the door for us. Let me take a moment to tell you about Liz. When I first met her, I did not like her. Not even a little. She started hanging around us in the fall, right around the the time Kronos had it's first show. She started just showing up everywhere. Downtown, Kronos, the skate park, the dungeon. Nobody really knew who first brought her into the circle. I think it was Mae. Mae was always getting new friends, anyone that would take her away from her family and help her not think about them. Liz fit the bill perfectly, see... Liz lived out in the county, like way out. Her parents owned a bunch of land and built a house that could fit probably all of our houses inside of it. So when she came to town, her parents had to drive her. And trust me, that is a luxury none of us had. Nothing about her life was even remotely close to any of ours, so we all felt a little weird hanging out with her. But Liz could dress. Now maybe it is because she has a bunch of money to buy a bunch of clothes, but maybe it is just that she has really good taste. There was one moment that actually made me kind of like her. And that was a moment we had at the skate park. I was sitting on the bleachers with Mandy, Mae and a few other people when Liz jumped out of her mom's SUV.
"Oh for fucks sake." I said rolling my eyes.
"Yea for real." Mae said.
"WTF Mae, you are her friend, that is why she is here." Mandy said punching Mae in the arm.
"Yea, well that was before she became a little bitch and snitched on me for drinking." Mae said rubbing her arm.
"Say what?!" I said.
"Yea man she totally told her mom that I was drinking in my attic one night. And her mom told my mom, and that is why I was grounded for so long." Mae scoffed.
"Ooooh. Well, it looks like she is coming to hang out." I said nodding towards Liz who was quickly walking our way.
Mae just shrugged.
Oh this will be fun. I thought.
Liz came over and sat right next to Mae. "Whats up?" she asked eagerly.
We all just sort of stared at her.
She made a confused face.
"What's up Liz?" Mae said with a stone face.
"Not much, kind of bored." She looked around. "Hey I was thinking.... Can you guys help me gauge my ears?"
Mandy laughed.
I swear Mae's eyes turned red with evil.
"Charley gauged all of our ears, she's really good." She smiled at me. "You'll do it right Charley?"
I had no business gauging anyone. But I did it, because it was fun.
"Sure." I said as I dug through my bag for my taper.
Liz jumped up. "Really? Really really?"
"Yea." I said. "Sit down."
Liz sat down in front of me. I took a look at her ear. She had a tiny stud in it. I pulled it out and looked at it's post.
"Oh shit." I said.
"What?" she asked.
"This is an 18." I said shaking my head.
"What does that mean?" she asked sounding panicked.
"That means this is going to hurt. A lot." I said trying not to grin.
Mae started to snicker, and Mandy elbowed her.
I expected Liz to chicken out. Jump up and leave.
Not many people would willingly jump from an 18 to a 14 gauge in one go.
"Just do it." Liz said bracing herself.
My mouth hung open for a minute.
Maybe this was just pure ignorance. Ignorance is bliss right?
So I grabbed her lobe, and placed the taper.
"Ok, I am going to count to three, breath in on numbers 1 and 2 and release on 3 got it?" I asked.
"Got it." She said.
"Ok. 1....2...." I paused to make sure she was breathing in. "3!" I said as I pushed the taper through her lobe. It made a popping noise at the end, and blood starting oozing out. I quickly grabbed the 14 captive hoop I had and followed the taper through the bloody mess.
I looked at Liz's face. I couldn't tell if she was ok. She was already so pale, I wasn't sure if she was losing color.
"You ok?" I asked.
She had this sort of stunned look, with wide eyes that she moved only to look at me.
"Do the other one." she said without really moving her mouth.
So I did.
Then I asked her if she'd like to work the door at Kronos for free entry.
I figured she had earned it.
Today I looked at Liz, who still had those 14's in her ears, but they looked much better now that they had healed.
"Dammit Liz, weren't you listening?" I rolled my eyes. Just because I was starting to like her didn't mean I had to be nice right? Not yet, Damn.
I repeated the whole thing, which she protested to.
"How will I know who is already there? What if someone says they were at the art show, but left and came back. What are the rules for that? Do the bands have a plus one? Do I have a plus one? I should have a plus one."
I just stood up and walked away. We go through this every show.
Liz kept talking as she followed us to Kronos.
When we got there I turned to her and said what I usually say.
"What do you think Liz?" and left it at that. I don't know why, but it always worked. She would figure out every answer to every question herself, and there never seemed to be a problem.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
K is for Kid Chapter 12
Having a mentorship meant that I could spend the last hour and a half of the school day at Kronos. Kris didn't like being at the gallery if there wasn't an event, or if it wasn't peak hours for foot traffic, so he ended up just giving me keys. Which naturally I thought was AWESOME! It was a really great set up. I went to the gallery most days. I'd work on planning and making/printing posters most of the time. But otherwise I had a lot of free time. So sometimes I'd bring my art to work on, or maybe homework. Sometimes I'd skip but not very often. And other times Zane would skip school to come hang out with me.
With all of this time and resources, we started having massive shows. 3 bands a night, two nights a week. And we'd pack the house. An average night had a door count of 200! Things were moving pretty smoothly. Kris started working on other parts of the gallery, throwing more art openings (often he'd host an opening right before a show just to see how many people would stay for the show, it was amusing.) A group started an improv night on Wednesday night and a private BDSM group rented the space on Sunday afternoons. We had a full schedule planned out months in advance! And trust me, we lived it up.
One night, at our weekly spaghetti dinner, Kris stood up to make an announcement. He even tapped his wine glass with a fork.
"Ahem. I just wanted to let everyone know that Kronos is not only steadily breaking even, we are actually making a profit!"
We all stood up and cheered. The gallery had come so far in the past few months. Kris had told us before that he had feared that he'd have to shut the gallery down. "No one buys art!" He'd say. "What is wrong with people?"
But now he didn't have to worry about that! The relief and happiness that filled the room that night was remarkable.
After dinner I pulled Kris aside.
"That is wonderful Kris!" I said. "You know, that the Gallery is actually making a profit!"
"Yea!" he said giving me a bear hug.
I took a step back. I was so grateful that Kronos had come into my life, I didn't want to ask for more. But I needed to do a thing for school and I wanted to do it at Kronos. So I took a breath and...
"Kris. Can I have my own opening?" I said starting to get hot from anxiety. "I need to have my art displayed somewhere as my final project for my studio art class, and I thought it would be really cool to do it at Kronos!" Now my eyes were even hot.
Kris pulled me in for another bear hug. "Yes! Charley that would be wonderful!"
He grabbed a bottle of wine and disappeared into the living room.
Really, I thought, holy shit WOW! My own opening! How cool is that!
I ran into the kitchen and grabbed Zane.
"Come here!" I said excitingly.
"What?" He said with a mouthful of spaghetti.
"Zane! Kris is going to let me have my own opening!" I jumped up and down a little.
Zane spit out his spaghetti in the trash can. "Really? That's great!" He said hugging me.
Then we all went into the living room to watch the X files. I laid my head on Zane's shoulder. I couldn't believe how lucky I was.
With all of this time and resources, we started having massive shows. 3 bands a night, two nights a week. And we'd pack the house. An average night had a door count of 200! Things were moving pretty smoothly. Kris started working on other parts of the gallery, throwing more art openings (often he'd host an opening right before a show just to see how many people would stay for the show, it was amusing.) A group started an improv night on Wednesday night and a private BDSM group rented the space on Sunday afternoons. We had a full schedule planned out months in advance! And trust me, we lived it up.
One night, at our weekly spaghetti dinner, Kris stood up to make an announcement. He even tapped his wine glass with a fork.
"Ahem. I just wanted to let everyone know that Kronos is not only steadily breaking even, we are actually making a profit!"
We all stood up and cheered. The gallery had come so far in the past few months. Kris had told us before that he had feared that he'd have to shut the gallery down. "No one buys art!" He'd say. "What is wrong with people?"
But now he didn't have to worry about that! The relief and happiness that filled the room that night was remarkable.
After dinner I pulled Kris aside.
"That is wonderful Kris!" I said. "You know, that the Gallery is actually making a profit!"
"Yea!" he said giving me a bear hug.
I took a step back. I was so grateful that Kronos had come into my life, I didn't want to ask for more. But I needed to do a thing for school and I wanted to do it at Kronos. So I took a breath and...
"Kris. Can I have my own opening?" I said starting to get hot from anxiety. "I need to have my art displayed somewhere as my final project for my studio art class, and I thought it would be really cool to do it at Kronos!" Now my eyes were even hot.
Kris pulled me in for another bear hug. "Yes! Charley that would be wonderful!"
He grabbed a bottle of wine and disappeared into the living room.
Really, I thought, holy shit WOW! My own opening! How cool is that!
I ran into the kitchen and grabbed Zane.
"Come here!" I said excitingly.
"What?" He said with a mouthful of spaghetti.
"Zane! Kris is going to let me have my own opening!" I jumped up and down a little.
Zane spit out his spaghetti in the trash can. "Really? That's great!" He said hugging me.
Then we all went into the living room to watch the X files. I laid my head on Zane's shoulder. I couldn't believe how lucky I was.
K is for Kid Chapter 11
It wasn't long before Zane and I started dating. And he quickly became a part of the group. He was at every show and he even started coming to spaghetti night. Before long he was helping with the shows too. He'd help get people interested in coming to the show, create hype that kind of thing. And he also helped a lot when it came to set up, break down, and clean up. With his help, and a few other regulars, we were able to add a second "show night" to the weekly schedule. Soon we had shows booked for every friday and saturday night!
With the extra work needing to be done at the gallery, I decided that I would try to do my senior mentorship there. But getting approval wasn't going to be easy.
I was in the principals office for the third time that week.
"Charley, I know you really want to do your mentorship with Kronos, but I just don't think Kronos is the type of place a high school student should be at." the school principal, Dr. Ellis said to me.
"What do you mean?" I asked already pissed off.
"Well I went to the website, artisdangerous.com, and well... it's very disturbing. I mean it's all F this and F that. And the music is loud and angry. It just doesn't send the right message as an "educational" experience." He said trying to sound assertive.
I had already had this conversation with my Mentorship instructor, the Assistant principal, and now I was going to have it with this loser.
I took a breath.
"Ok listen. For starters Kronos IS a local business. It is an art gallery. If you understood art you would understand that artist have artistic license and that means they might sometimes make things that are not just "pretty". Because they are trying to convey a message, and not every message is a nice pretty one. Secondly, that website is the owners personal artist webpage that contains his personal portfolio. IF you had read my proposal I clearly said that you have to scroll down to the bottom of the page, and click on the link that says KRONOS ART GALLERY, in order to get to the Gallery page. But no one seems to be willing to do that. And lastly, regardless of your own personal prejudice, if my parent says it is ok for me to have my mentorship there, then I can have my mentorship there. I even had my dad sign the form!" I said pointing to the form on his desk.
Dr. Ellis stared at me in silence for a minute.
I stared back.
"I am going to call your father, and see what he has to say about this." Dr. Ellis said picking up the phone.
I continued to stare.
"Hi! Mr. Quinn, this is Dr. Ellis, the principal at R. E. Lee High School." He paused. "I am calling because we are trying to place Charley in a mentorship, has Charley talked to you about this?"
My mouth fell open. The nerve of this man.
He reached down and put my dad on speaker phone.
"Yea." Dad's voice came over the speaker. "She said she's doing her mentorship at Kronos."
Dr. Ellis shot me a glare.
"Yes, and do you know the nature of Kronos?" He asked.
"Uh... yea it's an art gallery?" Dad said sort of irritated.
"Yes. I mean are you aware of it's explicit content? The strong language, the vulgarity of the artwork?" Dr. Ellis pushed.
"Yes. And?" my dad asked.
"Ok Mr. Quinn we just wanted to make sure that you were fully aware of the kind of place your child wanted to complete her mentorship at. We need to know if you are 100% aware of the mature content this art gallery displays and that you are 100% ok with Charley having her mentorship there." Dr. Ellis pushed some more.
"I signed the paper didn't I?" My dad said.
OOOOOOH snap, get them daddy. I thought.
"Yes but like I said we have to be 100% sure.." Dr. Ellis started.
Dad cut him off. "When will you learn that you should really just let Charley do what she wants to do?"
Now Dr. Ellis's mouth fell open.
Dad continued. "Yes Charley can have her mentorship at the gallery, she spends most of her time there anyway, and yes I am aware of its mature content. As if that is anything new for teenagers. Is there anything else you need from me Dr. Ellis?"
"No sir!" Dr. Ellis said quickly. "Thank you Mr. Quinn, goodbye."
He hung up the phone and stared at me some more.
"Fine. You can have you mentorship at Kronos." he said as he signed the administration approval form.
K is for Kid Chapter 10.
Eventually everyone left the Gallery. Everyone except Mandy, Mae, me and oddly enough Zane.
Kris came in the room. "Alright, time to go." He said turning off the lights.
I stood up and grabbed my had off Zane's head and headed outside.
"Wait!" Zane shouted nearly falling down the stairs. "Can you give me a ride home?"
"Me?" I said.
"Yea" He said. "please!"
I looked at Mae. "Don't look at me, I'm already taking Mandy home." Her and Mandy got in her car.
"Bye!" They said pulling away.
I looked at Zane. "Fine, get in."
He hopped in the passenger seat. I started the car.
"Actually can you take me my friends house he's having a party I want to go to." He asked.
"Where does your friend live?" I asked.
"Over by the elementary school." he answered.
"Sure." I said. I was too tired to argue.
We drove listening to my new Trivium cd. It was a good night, I thought to myself.
I pulled up in front of the house Zane had told me to go to. All of the lights were off.
"Are you sure this is the right one?" I asked looking at the dark house.
"This is his house." Zane said. "Maybe they are in the basement, that is usually where they party."
"Ok, see ya." I said.
Zane hopped out of the car, and I drove off.
I almost got home and my phone buzzed.
It was a text message.
"Hey it's Zane, Mae gave me your number, my friend isn't answering his door. Can you come get me?"
Fucking MAE! I thought.
"I guess. You need a ride home?"
"Yea."
So I turned around and drove back to the dark house. Zane hopped back into the car.
"Alright, where do you live?" I asked rubbing my eyes.
"AAACCCTTTUUAALLLY." He said. "I can't really go home. It is past my curfew and my parents will kill me."
You have got to be kidding me, I thought.
I stared at him for a minute.
"Ok look, my dad is at guard duty for the weekend, so if you need a place to crash, you can crash at my house."
"Really?" he asked. "Thank you! I owe you one."
"Yea whatever." I said turning up the music.
When we got to my house I pulled out my big art bin. "I am going to go through my art. I usually do this in the living room but since you are crashing on the couch I can take this to my room if you want to sleep." I said yawning myself.
"Im not tired." he said. "And I'd like to see some of your art."
So I started pulling out various pieces and deciding whether or not to trash them. Ever since Kris had told me everything in my portfolio was crap, I decided to be a little more strict on what I do and do not keep. I had also been changing my style a little. Being in advanced studies for the arts gave me a lot of opportunity to experiment and grow as an artist. I was developing a knack for "found object art". Anything I found became an art piece. I pulled out a traffic cone that I had cut in half, a hub cap that I had broken, a burned out light bulb, a rusty knife, literally anything. Some of the stuff I had painted, some of the stuff I had yet to do anything with. I started making piles.
"This is really good." Zane said holding up a piece of wood I had painted silhouettes on.
"Eh" I said. "I'm probably going to trash that one. Unless I can re-use the wood."
"NO!" said Zane. "Can I have it?"
"...sure I guess." I said and kept sorting.
At some point we both fell asleep. On the couch.
I woke up first. Somehow Zane had managed to wrap his legs around my torso, so it was a struggle to get free.
WTF? I thought. How the hell did he manage to get his legs around me in a death grip. Does he do this shit to his teddy bears? That's fucked up...
I tried really hard to get free with out waking him up, but I failed.
His eyes popped open.
"Shit." I said. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up, but you are holding me hostage..."
He looked down at his legs. Then he laughed. Then he tightened them more!
"DUDE! WTF let me go!"
We both fell off the couch and hit the floor. Eventually I got one arm free and punched him hard in the stomach.
"OOF!" He said and loosened his grip.
I wiggled free, stood up, and proceeded to cuss him out. Which he thought was hilarious.
I rolled my eyes and went into the kitchen to make coffee.
He followed.
"I gotta work at noon, where do I need to take you?" I asked.
"Um... just take me to the skate park." He said grabbing a mug.
"Oh sure. Help yourself!" I said sarcastically.
Kris came in the room. "Alright, time to go." He said turning off the lights.
I stood up and grabbed my had off Zane's head and headed outside.
"Wait!" Zane shouted nearly falling down the stairs. "Can you give me a ride home?"
"Me?" I said.
"Yea" He said. "please!"
I looked at Mae. "Don't look at me, I'm already taking Mandy home." Her and Mandy got in her car.
"Bye!" They said pulling away.
I looked at Zane. "Fine, get in."
He hopped in the passenger seat. I started the car.
"Actually can you take me my friends house he's having a party I want to go to." He asked.
"Where does your friend live?" I asked.
"Over by the elementary school." he answered.
"Sure." I said. I was too tired to argue.
We drove listening to my new Trivium cd. It was a good night, I thought to myself.
I pulled up in front of the house Zane had told me to go to. All of the lights were off.
"Are you sure this is the right one?" I asked looking at the dark house.
"This is his house." Zane said. "Maybe they are in the basement, that is usually where they party."
"Ok, see ya." I said.
Zane hopped out of the car, and I drove off.
I almost got home and my phone buzzed.
It was a text message.
"Hey it's Zane, Mae gave me your number, my friend isn't answering his door. Can you come get me?"
Fucking MAE! I thought.
"I guess. You need a ride home?"
"Yea."
So I turned around and drove back to the dark house. Zane hopped back into the car.
"Alright, where do you live?" I asked rubbing my eyes.
"AAACCCTTTUUAALLLY." He said. "I can't really go home. It is past my curfew and my parents will kill me."
You have got to be kidding me, I thought.
I stared at him for a minute.
"Ok look, my dad is at guard duty for the weekend, so if you need a place to crash, you can crash at my house."
"Really?" he asked. "Thank you! I owe you one."
"Yea whatever." I said turning up the music.
When we got to my house I pulled out my big art bin. "I am going to go through my art. I usually do this in the living room but since you are crashing on the couch I can take this to my room if you want to sleep." I said yawning myself.
"Im not tired." he said. "And I'd like to see some of your art."
So I started pulling out various pieces and deciding whether or not to trash them. Ever since Kris had told me everything in my portfolio was crap, I decided to be a little more strict on what I do and do not keep. I had also been changing my style a little. Being in advanced studies for the arts gave me a lot of opportunity to experiment and grow as an artist. I was developing a knack for "found object art". Anything I found became an art piece. I pulled out a traffic cone that I had cut in half, a hub cap that I had broken, a burned out light bulb, a rusty knife, literally anything. Some of the stuff I had painted, some of the stuff I had yet to do anything with. I started making piles.
"This is really good." Zane said holding up a piece of wood I had painted silhouettes on.
"Eh" I said. "I'm probably going to trash that one. Unless I can re-use the wood."
"NO!" said Zane. "Can I have it?"
"...sure I guess." I said and kept sorting.
At some point we both fell asleep. On the couch.
I woke up first. Somehow Zane had managed to wrap his legs around my torso, so it was a struggle to get free.
WTF? I thought. How the hell did he manage to get his legs around me in a death grip. Does he do this shit to his teddy bears? That's fucked up...
I tried really hard to get free with out waking him up, but I failed.
His eyes popped open.
"Shit." I said. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you up, but you are holding me hostage..."
He looked down at his legs. Then he laughed. Then he tightened them more!
"DUDE! WTF let me go!"
We both fell off the couch and hit the floor. Eventually I got one arm free and punched him hard in the stomach.
"OOF!" He said and loosened his grip.
I wiggled free, stood up, and proceeded to cuss him out. Which he thought was hilarious.
I rolled my eyes and went into the kitchen to make coffee.
He followed.
"I gotta work at noon, where do I need to take you?" I asked.
"Um... just take me to the skate park." He said grabbing a mug.
"Oh sure. Help yourself!" I said sarcastically.
K is for Kid Chapter 9
Over the next month we had really started getting things rolling with live shows at Kronos. We had a show every Saturday night, and were starting to get a wait list of bands that wanted to play.
"Do you think we could book a show on Friday nights too?" I asked Kris while he sat flipping through his emails.
"It looks like we are going to have too!" He said. "Wow this is great!"
Our shows went from 20 people to 100 people a night very quickly.
Tonights show was a band that we had do a solo show the week after we had our first show. They were a metal band that typically played their shows out in the sticks. They called them "Barn Shows" so they didn't mind playing a hole in the wall either. The good news is they had a following. Their last show pulled in a lot of county kids, we maxed out at 65 kids for the night. This time they asked to bring an act they knew from Harrisonburg. They would open for them. I had heard of that band from Harrisonburg, they had played the Crayola house a lot, and I saw some kids with their t-shirt at school. I knew this show was going to be huge, and man it was. 150 people, even with giving all the band members their +1 entries for the night, we made $600. We gave each band $100 and had a profit of $400. Kris couldn't believe it.
"See I told you!" I said laughing."This is where it's at."
"Are you sure we paid the bands?" Kris asked.
"Yes!" I said and went to sit on the futon. Mandy had a new girlfriend, and they were loving on each other, so instead I sat on the floor beside the couch and watched the bands carry their equipment down the stairs.
There was a kid laying on the floor near Mandy's feet. He was shirtless and pale and had sharpie drawings all over his torso. As he laid there another kid was drawing a penis across a blank spot he had on his chest.
"Dude are you ok?" I asked.
The kid turned his head to look at me. "I am so ok." He said smiling and laughing. "This is the best night of my life!" He then sat up and did a little dance. I noticed his eyes were blood shot.
He must be high, I thought.
"Can I wear your hat?" He asked me.
"Sure" I said passing him the hat. "But you have to tell me your name, because if you don't give it back I am not walking around asking people if they have seen the kid with a penis on his chest. I'm just not doing that."
He started laughing hysterically.
I waited.
"Zane. Now give me your hat." he said reaching for it.
"Rude!" I said pulling it away.
He then put his lip out and fake pouted the best he could being as high as he was.
"Fine." I said. "Whatever, here." I said and I handed him the hat.
He placed it on his head and continued to laugh like crazy.
I sat for a while longer, talking to various people as they came through the room.
I looked back at Zane to make sure he hadn't run off with my hat. He was back to laying on the ground.
"You ok?" I asked. Stupid question.
"Yea. Everything is great. Everything is gggrrrreeeeeaaaattt." he grinned from ear to ear.
"ok..." I said.
His friend tapped me and whispered. "He's high!"
"Yea you think?" I said.
"He's also weird." His friend said.
Zane sat up. "Weird? Oh I will show you weird." Then he grabbed Mandy's foot and shoved the toe of her shoe into his mouth and started to sort of "deep throat" it. It resembled a snake consuming a mouse. Slow, gross, disturbing, but you can't stop watching.
Mandy made a horrified face. "WFT man!" She didn't really try to get away, but she was clearly uncomfortable.
I watched in horror as Zane nearly stuck her entire shoe in his mouth.
Finally Mandy yanked her foot away from his mouth.
He fell back to the floor laughing.
"See, that is weird."
"Do you think we could book a show on Friday nights too?" I asked Kris while he sat flipping through his emails.
"It looks like we are going to have too!" He said. "Wow this is great!"
Our shows went from 20 people to 100 people a night very quickly.
Tonights show was a band that we had do a solo show the week after we had our first show. They were a metal band that typically played their shows out in the sticks. They called them "Barn Shows" so they didn't mind playing a hole in the wall either. The good news is they had a following. Their last show pulled in a lot of county kids, we maxed out at 65 kids for the night. This time they asked to bring an act they knew from Harrisonburg. They would open for them. I had heard of that band from Harrisonburg, they had played the Crayola house a lot, and I saw some kids with their t-shirt at school. I knew this show was going to be huge, and man it was. 150 people, even with giving all the band members their +1 entries for the night, we made $600. We gave each band $100 and had a profit of $400. Kris couldn't believe it.
"See I told you!" I said laughing."This is where it's at."
"Are you sure we paid the bands?" Kris asked.
"Yes!" I said and went to sit on the futon. Mandy had a new girlfriend, and they were loving on each other, so instead I sat on the floor beside the couch and watched the bands carry their equipment down the stairs.
There was a kid laying on the floor near Mandy's feet. He was shirtless and pale and had sharpie drawings all over his torso. As he laid there another kid was drawing a penis across a blank spot he had on his chest.
"Dude are you ok?" I asked.
The kid turned his head to look at me. "I am so ok." He said smiling and laughing. "This is the best night of my life!" He then sat up and did a little dance. I noticed his eyes were blood shot.
He must be high, I thought.
"Can I wear your hat?" He asked me.
"Sure" I said passing him the hat. "But you have to tell me your name, because if you don't give it back I am not walking around asking people if they have seen the kid with a penis on his chest. I'm just not doing that."
He started laughing hysterically.
I waited.
"Zane. Now give me your hat." he said reaching for it.
"Rude!" I said pulling it away.
He then put his lip out and fake pouted the best he could being as high as he was.
"Fine." I said. "Whatever, here." I said and I handed him the hat.
He placed it on his head and continued to laugh like crazy.
I sat for a while longer, talking to various people as they came through the room.
I looked back at Zane to make sure he hadn't run off with my hat. He was back to laying on the ground.
"You ok?" I asked. Stupid question.
"Yea. Everything is great. Everything is gggrrrreeeeeaaaattt." he grinned from ear to ear.
"ok..." I said.
His friend tapped me and whispered. "He's high!"
"Yea you think?" I said.
"He's also weird." His friend said.
Zane sat up. "Weird? Oh I will show you weird." Then he grabbed Mandy's foot and shoved the toe of her shoe into his mouth and started to sort of "deep throat" it. It resembled a snake consuming a mouse. Slow, gross, disturbing, but you can't stop watching.
Mandy made a horrified face. "WFT man!" She didn't really try to get away, but she was clearly uncomfortable.
I watched in horror as Zane nearly stuck her entire shoe in his mouth.
Finally Mandy yanked her foot away from his mouth.
He fell back to the floor laughing.
"See, that is weird."
K is for Kid Chapter 8
The days leading up to "the first Kronos show" were really exciting. I made a poster, Kris slapped the Kronos Logo and font on it, we set up a botched sound system of amps and microphones. And of course, we made a Facebook page for the event.
"Is there anything else we need to do?" I asked Kris.
"Eh, I don't know, there is something missing." He said staring at the blank brick wall behind what we called the "stage area". "We need a banner. Does the band have a banner?"
"No they don't." I said.
"Hmmm." He disappeared into the closet.
"We put up posters all over town!" Mae said as her and Mandy bounded up the stairs. "I mean everywhere! We put them on walls, cars, lamp posts, stop signs, strollers, old people.."
We all laughed.
"Great! Hopefully we will have a good turn out!" I said.
Kris came back into the room with a huge roll of canvas. "Think we can do anything with this?" He asked dropping it on the floor.
"Do you have paint?" I asked.
"Follow me" He said walking back to the closet. Inside were buckets and buckets of paint. I grabbed a bucket of black, a bucket of red, and a bucket of white.
I walked back into the show room and held the bucket up. "Paint Party?" I asked. Before I knew it we had the canvas rolled out on the side walk, rolled up our sleeves and pants legs, took of our shoes, and were practically swimming in paint. We covered the entire canvas in black, red, and white hand and foot prints. And maybe a few butt prints. Then we wrote the word "KRONOS" in big white sloppy paint letters across the front. Kris stuck his head out of the window above us. "Looks Great!" he said. "That's perfect!" When it dried we hung it up on that blank brick wall, and stood back to admire our work.
On the day of the show, none of us could contain our excitement. Kris had hung up new art work and I found a fresh sharpie to mark peoples hands with. Then we waited.
A few minutes before 7 the band showed up. Brian and his friends pulled their equipment up the stairs and begun setting up and checking their sound. Mae had gone out and bought everyone a round of Monsters, so once everything was set up we sat around drinking our monsters and waited for people to show up. Eventually they started rolling in. Kris turned on his playlist, and turned down the lights. And the show started.
When it was over I started to split the door money between the band and the gallery. Brian walked up "Hey listen. We don't want any money for this, this time, ok?"
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Well, we really like this place. And Kris had told us before the show how glad he was this was happening, and how much this kind of thing will help keep the gallery around. We want it to stay around too you know? So we figured all of the money should go back into this place so that we will have the opportunity to play again." Brian said.
"DUDE, that is freakin' awesome." I ran to tell Kris. He came out and started hugging the band.
"Really?" he asked. "You guys don't know how awesome that is."
We dubbed the night as the start of something.
"You know 20 people isn't a bad turn out." I said to Kris after the band had left. I had figured the band meant what they said about wanting this place to continue. But we had only made a 100 bucks that night. I had planned on giving the band $60 and the gallery $40. I knew it wasn't much but I had hoped maybe it could help somewhere. But the entire $100 would certainly help! "I mean 20 people isn't bad for our first show. You know?"
"Yea. And maybe if we pull in more than one band we'd also pull in more people." Kris said.
"Yea that could happen. If we have more bands we could charge more too." I said. "And you know once people know that this is here, and that we are booking shows, we will get more people. No doubt about that."
Kris smiled. "Well then that is what we have to do."
"Is there anything else we need to do?" I asked Kris.
"Eh, I don't know, there is something missing." He said staring at the blank brick wall behind what we called the "stage area". "We need a banner. Does the band have a banner?"
"No they don't." I said.
"Hmmm." He disappeared into the closet.
"We put up posters all over town!" Mae said as her and Mandy bounded up the stairs. "I mean everywhere! We put them on walls, cars, lamp posts, stop signs, strollers, old people.."
We all laughed.
"Great! Hopefully we will have a good turn out!" I said.
Kris came back into the room with a huge roll of canvas. "Think we can do anything with this?" He asked dropping it on the floor.
"Do you have paint?" I asked.
"Follow me" He said walking back to the closet. Inside were buckets and buckets of paint. I grabbed a bucket of black, a bucket of red, and a bucket of white.
I walked back into the show room and held the bucket up. "Paint Party?" I asked. Before I knew it we had the canvas rolled out on the side walk, rolled up our sleeves and pants legs, took of our shoes, and were practically swimming in paint. We covered the entire canvas in black, red, and white hand and foot prints. And maybe a few butt prints. Then we wrote the word "KRONOS" in big white sloppy paint letters across the front. Kris stuck his head out of the window above us. "Looks Great!" he said. "That's perfect!" When it dried we hung it up on that blank brick wall, and stood back to admire our work.
On the day of the show, none of us could contain our excitement. Kris had hung up new art work and I found a fresh sharpie to mark peoples hands with. Then we waited.
A few minutes before 7 the band showed up. Brian and his friends pulled their equipment up the stairs and begun setting up and checking their sound. Mae had gone out and bought everyone a round of Monsters, so once everything was set up we sat around drinking our monsters and waited for people to show up. Eventually they started rolling in. Kris turned on his playlist, and turned down the lights. And the show started.
When it was over I started to split the door money between the band and the gallery. Brian walked up "Hey listen. We don't want any money for this, this time, ok?"
"What? Why?" I asked.
"Well, we really like this place. And Kris had told us before the show how glad he was this was happening, and how much this kind of thing will help keep the gallery around. We want it to stay around too you know? So we figured all of the money should go back into this place so that we will have the opportunity to play again." Brian said.
"DUDE, that is freakin' awesome." I ran to tell Kris. He came out and started hugging the band.
"Really?" he asked. "You guys don't know how awesome that is."
We dubbed the night as the start of something.
"You know 20 people isn't a bad turn out." I said to Kris after the band had left. I had figured the band meant what they said about wanting this place to continue. But we had only made a 100 bucks that night. I had planned on giving the band $60 and the gallery $40. I knew it wasn't much but I had hoped maybe it could help somewhere. But the entire $100 would certainly help! "I mean 20 people isn't bad for our first show. You know?"
"Yea. And maybe if we pull in more than one band we'd also pull in more people." Kris said.
"Yea that could happen. If we have more bands we could charge more too." I said. "And you know once people know that this is here, and that we are booking shows, we will get more people. No doubt about that."
Kris smiled. "Well then that is what we have to do."
K is for Kid Chapter 7
I did not forgive Jason. I was way too hurt. He had the "skank", as Trent put it, call me and try to "put things in perspective" for me. But it wasn't helpful. She basically said all the things I said:
"You weren't exclusive right?"
"I mean he did tell me about you, so that is something."
"You know you are younger than him, and that can be hard. He is going to be 18 soon, you know what that means"
"In the alt(ergative) lifestyle, nobody is exclusive. It's lame."
It wasn't easy listening to her, but I couldn't hang up.
What if she was right?
That was the last I heard from Jason for a while. I started spending all of my free time either at Kronos or at Kris's house. Him and his wife started having spaghetti night once a week, and invite people from the gallery over. It was usually a mix of local artists and musicians, and us kids. Mandy, Mae, Myself, and who ever we brought with us.
One night after dinner we sat around watching an episode of the X-files, and I started thinking. Why isn't there a venue for music in our town. I mean sure we have restaurants that occasionally host live music, but there isn't a music spot. Harrisonburg had a few, Charlottesville certainly had more than a few. But not Staunton, which is between the two places. So if anyone in Staunton wants to see live music, they have to drive 30minutes to an hour to do so. There are bands in this town. There is a lot of talent. I thought through out the entire episode, and when it ended I spoke up.
"Kris, have you ever thought about hosting a live band in Kronos?" I asked.
"Well, I mean I have open mic sometimes, and the occasional acoustic act." He said.
Oh yea, I thought, that's right. But that wasn't what I was talking about. Open mic nights usually end up as just another poetry night with the occasional kid with a guitar. I was thinking bigger.
"Yea but I mean like bands. Like they do at the Crayola house in Harrisonburg. Do you know how many people come out to shows like that?"
"Keep talking..." Kris said.
"uh, I mean, I don't know. Mandy and I just went to see a show in Harrisonburg, two bands, $5 at the door, there had to be at least 100 people there right?" I asked Mandy.
"Probably more." She said nodding.
"$5 a person?" Kris's wife, Chelle said. "You know, the gallery has been struggling to make rent. It wouldn't be a bad idea to try and pull in more money." She nudged Kris a little.
"Yea ok. You know any bands Charley?" Kris asked.
"Totally!" I said with excitement.
"Rock and Roll!" Kris said grabbing his guitar.
I immediately sent a text to a friend of mine, Brian, who had just been telling me about his band. I had taken some photos of them for their EP they were working on, so they owed me a favor.
"Dude, want to play a live gig?"
I received a text back with in seconds.
"Uh.. really? Where?"
"Kronos, it's an art gallery down town."
"For real? Like a real gig?"
"Yes like a real gig. Are you down?"
"Yea totally!"
"Great! I'll get the details and get back to you!"
I spent the rest of the night planning the event with Kris. It was going to be a sort of rough, garage style show. But we didn't care. We were going to make it happen.
"You weren't exclusive right?"
"I mean he did tell me about you, so that is something."
"You know you are younger than him, and that can be hard. He is going to be 18 soon, you know what that means"
"In the alt(ergative) lifestyle, nobody is exclusive. It's lame."
It wasn't easy listening to her, but I couldn't hang up.
What if she was right?
That was the last I heard from Jason for a while. I started spending all of my free time either at Kronos or at Kris's house. Him and his wife started having spaghetti night once a week, and invite people from the gallery over. It was usually a mix of local artists and musicians, and us kids. Mandy, Mae, Myself, and who ever we brought with us.
One night after dinner we sat around watching an episode of the X-files, and I started thinking. Why isn't there a venue for music in our town. I mean sure we have restaurants that occasionally host live music, but there isn't a music spot. Harrisonburg had a few, Charlottesville certainly had more than a few. But not Staunton, which is between the two places. So if anyone in Staunton wants to see live music, they have to drive 30minutes to an hour to do so. There are bands in this town. There is a lot of talent. I thought through out the entire episode, and when it ended I spoke up.
"Kris, have you ever thought about hosting a live band in Kronos?" I asked.
"Well, I mean I have open mic sometimes, and the occasional acoustic act." He said.
Oh yea, I thought, that's right. But that wasn't what I was talking about. Open mic nights usually end up as just another poetry night with the occasional kid with a guitar. I was thinking bigger.
"Yea but I mean like bands. Like they do at the Crayola house in Harrisonburg. Do you know how many people come out to shows like that?"
"Keep talking..." Kris said.
"uh, I mean, I don't know. Mandy and I just went to see a show in Harrisonburg, two bands, $5 at the door, there had to be at least 100 people there right?" I asked Mandy.
"Probably more." She said nodding.
"$5 a person?" Kris's wife, Chelle said. "You know, the gallery has been struggling to make rent. It wouldn't be a bad idea to try and pull in more money." She nudged Kris a little.
"Yea ok. You know any bands Charley?" Kris asked.
"Totally!" I said with excitement.
"Rock and Roll!" Kris said grabbing his guitar.
I immediately sent a text to a friend of mine, Brian, who had just been telling me about his band. I had taken some photos of them for their EP they were working on, so they owed me a favor.
"Dude, want to play a live gig?"
I received a text back with in seconds.
"Uh.. really? Where?"
"Kronos, it's an art gallery down town."
"For real? Like a real gig?"
"Yes like a real gig. Are you down?"
"Yea totally!"
"Great! I'll get the details and get back to you!"
I spent the rest of the night planning the event with Kris. It was going to be a sort of rough, garage style show. But we didn't care. We were going to make it happen.
K is for Kid Chapter 6
Jason had tried to text and call a few times that night. I got the usual "I'm sorry baby." and "I love you, don't be mad" but I did not respond. I just sat and listened to the poetry with my eyes closed.
Mae elbowed me in the ribs.
"You gotta have your eyes open for this one." she said.
Loren had joined Kris at the front of the room. Kris had hung light bulbs on strings across the ceiling which gave the hole place a "hole in the wall" "basement in a big city" feel. Kris started playing breathy notes on his harmonica, and Loren begun to beat box. The audience, which was around 10 strong by this point, started clapping in time. The rhythm kept going, building, until the entire room was buzzing with sound. Then Kris and Loren stopped, and everyone else followed. Loren stood perfectly still as she started speaking words. One at a time, slowly, quietly, but clearly. Then Kris started filling in her silent gaps with other words. Until they finally started making full thoughts. The rhythm in their voices was mesmerizing. It felt like everyone was leaning forward in their chair trying to anticipate the next thought. They begun to move through a story of a drunk man, wandering the streets of some city, searching for himself. They talked about the street lights, they talked about the smell of the sewage and broken beer bottles that littered the ground. They talked about all the little details in this mans journey, and I could see all of them clearly. As if I was the drunken man soul searching in a lonely city. Maybe it is because I had felt like that man before, or maybe it was because I felt like that man right now. Kris and Loren finished their poem, and the room erupted with applause.
The next day I went into work early to finish some homework. I walked into the coffee shop, Mandy and Mae were sitting in the corner table. They motioned for me to come over.
"What's up Lady?" Mandy said, she seemed to be friendlier than usual.
"Just gotta finish up some homework before my shift." I said pulling out my laptop.
"Which class?" Mae asked eyeing my books.
"Humanities. I need to write a paper explaining the importance of the Scarlet letter. You know from the book?" I pointed to the book.
"Oh that's right your in that advanced school right?" Mae said flipping through the pages.
"Yea she is." Mandy teased.
I rolled my eyes and sat down. "Yea whatever, it's worth it. Free art supplies!"
"Hey Charley! You want a drink?" Haley, my coworker yelled from the coffee bar.
"Yea, make me a mocha!" I yelled back.
"I gotcha!" She said turning to the espresso machine.
"I got a dirty chai with 2 extra shots." Mandy said shaking her almost empty cup.
"That is three shots total!" I said, noticing that Mandy's hand was also shaking. No wonder she seemed happy. She was running on caffeine!
"What she is not telling you is: that is her third one!" Mae said.
"WHAT?!" I stood up. "Mandy that can kill you! That is nine shots of espresso!"
"Calm down Charley," Mandy said sitting me back down. "The first two did not have extra shots so that is only 5 total." She was shaking a lot.
This wasn't new for Mandy, or really for any of us. Between me working in a coffee shop, and a shop down the road that sold our favorite energy drink dirt cheap, there wasn't a day where we were not consuming way more caffeine than our bodies could handle.
"I'm cutting you off though." I said accusingly and only half joking.
"Yea whatever bitch." Mandy said.
My phone rang.
"Who is it?" asked Mandy.
"Jason..." I said sort of disappointed. I had not responded to his texts or calls. I didn't have it in me. I wasn't mad anymore but I just didn't know what to say.
"Don't answer it." Mandy said with a scoff.
I rolled my eyes at her. "I haven't spoken to him since he dropped me off. I should probably answer this one."
I hit the accept call button, and put the phone up to my year. "Hey Jason."
"Hey babycakes. How you doin'" a raspy voice said.
"Oh.. hey Trent." I said sort of confused. "What's up? Why are you calling me from Jason's phone?"
Mandy raised an eyebrow.
"Weeellllll..... that is because this little bitch has something to tell you." His tone a little less silly this time.
"What?" I said getting nervous. "Is he ok?"
"He won't be unless he grows a pair and decides to tell you what happened at the Dawning last night." I could hear Trent trying to hand the phone to Jason.
"Trent? Jason?" I tried to hear what was going on, but I only could make out a few random words, some name calling, and rustling.
"Ok. Since this little bitch won't tell you, I will." Trent said.
"No!" I heard Jason in the background. "Give me my fucking phone Trent!"
"Nope, you had your chance." Trent said losing his breath. "Ok listen Charley. Since Jason will never tell you, and even if he did he'd just make some stupid ass pussy excuses here it is." He paused to take a breath. "Jason slept with some skank in the parking lot last night, I just thought you should know! Alright, love ya bye!" I heard the phone either drop, or be thrown, or something.
I sat there stunned. Confused. Hurt. But more confused. Was this a joke? Should I be mad? Did we ever say we were going to be monogamous? I guess we did. I mean after the stuff happened with Mandy. But, maybe not? Is he sorry? Is this a joke? Tears started to pool in my eyes.
Someone picked up the phone.
"Charley?" it was Jason.
"I'm here." I said quietly. It was quiet for a moment, then I asked "Is it true?"
More silence.
"Yea." Jason said.
"So... now what?" I asked Jason.
"What do you mean?" Jason asked.
"I mean. I don't know. I'll call you back." And I hung up.
I told Mae and Mandy the whole thing. Mandy just sat shaking her head.
"I mean, should I be mad? I am mad? But you know. When we first started dating we were not exclusive. I don't know if that ever changed? Maybe it only changed in my head and not his? I don't know! I'm kind of sick to my stomach. What if I can't forgive him, even if he didn't really do anything wrong?"
Mandy grabbed my shoulders. "Nothing wrong? Even if you did not clearly state that you were exclusive, you still talk about these things with your partners. Come on Charley. You know he fucked up. He's a fucking loser. Why can't you fucking see that?" Then she stood up and left. Mae sat in the seat next to me and put her arm around me.
"I'm sorry Charley." She said, and I put my head down on the table.
K is for Kid Chapter 5
Homecoming was pretty typical. They almost didn't let Jason in because of his chains, and once we got in there was a constant stream of kids either saying "Wow look at you two!" or "Hey look at the freaks!" or a combination of the two. We danced a little. Chilled with a few friends, then decided to leave. On the way to Kronos Jason got a little weird.
"Hey I kinda want to go to the Dawning tonight." he said.
"Oh?" I asked. I had only heard of the Dawning, but I never had been. Jason talked about it all the time, and a few of my friends had mentioned it before. It was a goth club a couple cities over, and I had heard it was amazing.
"Yea, want to go with me?" he asked.
"Yes." I said. "But I have to come up with a cover to tell my dad."
"Ok but can you do it soon, I want to go like now."
"What? Like right now?" I asked "Doesn't the Dawning run until like 2 or something? Couldn't we go after Poetry?"
"Yea but it's going to take like an hour to get there, it is already 9:30, which means we won't get there until 10:30. Which is already late." He argued.
"Oh boo hoo." I mocked. "It's not a big deal if we are late."
"Yes it is." he said. "We might not get in if it's too late. You know we can't just walk in."
To get in to the Dawning, Jason had made friends with the door guy. But the door guy was a little finicky about when he would and would not let underaged people in to the club. It was best to get there early and hang out in the parking lot until he gave you the signal.
"Jason I am not missing Poetry night. Kris and Loren are amazing poets." I said.
"More amazing than the Dawning?" He asked.
"I don't know! I've never been!" I was getting irritated.
He pulled into the parking lot.
"Well if you want to go, you need to tell me right now." He said.
"What?" I asked.
"If you want to go you need to tell me right now, because I am leaving right now."
"What? Your not coming in?" I said pointing to Kronos.
"No, I just told you I want to go to the Dawning."
"UGH! Ok ok. How about you come in for just a second. See what it is like, and if you still want to go, we can leave and go?"
"No. I am leaving now. So if you want to go, lets go. If not, go ahead and go to Kronos." He said.
I sat there for a minute. Angry. Sad. Hurt. Pissed.
"Fine, go to the Dawning Jason. I'll see you some other time." I said as I got out of the car and slamming the door.
He rolled his window down. "I love you!" he said. I flicked him off.
That stupid son of a bitch.
I climbed the stairs to Kronos, Kris was reading his poem, "The Bus Stop." I sat down next to Mandy. And cried.
"Hey I kinda want to go to the Dawning tonight." he said.
"Oh?" I asked. I had only heard of the Dawning, but I never had been. Jason talked about it all the time, and a few of my friends had mentioned it before. It was a goth club a couple cities over, and I had heard it was amazing.
"Yea, want to go with me?" he asked.
"Yes." I said. "But I have to come up with a cover to tell my dad."
"Ok but can you do it soon, I want to go like now."
"What? Like right now?" I asked "Doesn't the Dawning run until like 2 or something? Couldn't we go after Poetry?"
"Yea but it's going to take like an hour to get there, it is already 9:30, which means we won't get there until 10:30. Which is already late." He argued.
"Oh boo hoo." I mocked. "It's not a big deal if we are late."
"Yes it is." he said. "We might not get in if it's too late. You know we can't just walk in."
To get in to the Dawning, Jason had made friends with the door guy. But the door guy was a little finicky about when he would and would not let underaged people in to the club. It was best to get there early and hang out in the parking lot until he gave you the signal.
"Jason I am not missing Poetry night. Kris and Loren are amazing poets." I said.
"More amazing than the Dawning?" He asked.
"I don't know! I've never been!" I was getting irritated.
He pulled into the parking lot.
"Well if you want to go, you need to tell me right now." He said.
"What?" I asked.
"If you want to go you need to tell me right now, because I am leaving right now."
"What? Your not coming in?" I said pointing to Kronos.
"No, I just told you I want to go to the Dawning."
"UGH! Ok ok. How about you come in for just a second. See what it is like, and if you still want to go, we can leave and go?"
"No. I am leaving now. So if you want to go, lets go. If not, go ahead and go to Kronos." He said.
I sat there for a minute. Angry. Sad. Hurt. Pissed.
"Fine, go to the Dawning Jason. I'll see you some other time." I said as I got out of the car and slamming the door.
He rolled his window down. "I love you!" he said. I flicked him off.
That stupid son of a bitch.
I climbed the stairs to Kronos, Kris was reading his poem, "The Bus Stop." I sat down next to Mandy. And cried.
K is for Kid Chapter 4
That was the end of our relationship, for Mandy and I. And sadly, sort of became the end of our friendship too. It was never the same really. We'd see each other at school or kronos and she'd give me that smile/frown thing and continue on her way. I missed her, but I didn't know what to do. I was honest about my feelings and that is important right?
Today is homecoming. I have it all worked out. Jason is going to pick me up, then we are going to go to the dance, then to Kronos to catch the second part of poetry night. I kept texting him to remind him. He seemed to be a bit irritated.
Since Mandy and I split, Trent decided there wasn't any reason for him to come. I think that is why Jason is a little upset. I think he liked it being the four of us too. I tried to reassure him that it'll still be fun. He doesn't seem believe me. When I told him about what happened between Mandy and I, I had also told him I loved him, inadvertently. He actually seemed very happy to hear it, and even said it back! So now anytime one of us feels like the other is upset, we just text "I love you" to make it better. I had texted that a lot today.
I got home from school, which was nothing but pep rallies, and laid out my outfit. A pink babydoll dress, black fish nets, and black knee high boots. Awesome. I made some ramen noodles, stuffed my face, did my make up, got dressed, and waited for Jason to show up.
My dad came in the living room where I was waiting. "What's going on tonight?" he asked.
"It's homecoming." I said.
"Who's taking you?"
"Jason."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "And then what are you doing?"
"Then we are going to Kronos for a poetry night."
"And then?"
"Shit dad Idk?" I said annoyed. "Then I guess I will come home?"
"Oh?" He said "Your not going to stay at Mandy's house?"
"No." I said frowning.
"Why not? That is usually what you do after events like this."
"Idk dad, why are you so nosey?" I snipped.
"Oh nothing, just wondering."
I saw Jason's car pull up outside, I jumped up.
"Uh uh!" Dad said blocking my way to the door. "He has to come up to the door to get you."
"Ugh! Really dad?"
"Yep."
Jason got out of his car. He was wearing a black button up with a pink tie that matched my dress. Tripp pants with pink trim and chains, and a pink studded necklace.
"Yes!" I thought. "Perfect!"
"WTF is that." Dad said looking out the window.
"What?" I asked.
"What a pretty pretty princess you have as a date, Charley." he laughed.
"Shut up dad." I said. "Be nice!"
Jason knocked on the door. Dad opened it.
Jason's eyes get really big every time he see's my dad. And he never seems to be able to speak much either.
"Hi Jason." dad said. "Come inside. Sit down."
"Dad we really have to go." I protested.
"This will only take a second." Dad said.
"It is my understanding that the plan for tonight is first the dance, then Kronos, correct?" he asked Jason.
"Yes sir" Jason stammered.
"So that means after Kronos you will bring her back here, right Jason?"
"Yes sir"
"Good because if you don't bring her back here after Kronos, I will find you and I will not be alone." dad said as he nodded towards the corner of the room where he had propped up his rifle.
"Oh. My. God. DAD!" I said grabbing Jason's arm. "Stop it. I'll see you later, love you bye!"
I pulled Jason out of the house, down the stairs, and into his car.
"Your dad is scary." He said almost laughing, almost crying.
"Oh shut up." I said. "And give me your necklace. I want to wear it."
Today is homecoming. I have it all worked out. Jason is going to pick me up, then we are going to go to the dance, then to Kronos to catch the second part of poetry night. I kept texting him to remind him. He seemed to be a bit irritated.
Since Mandy and I split, Trent decided there wasn't any reason for him to come. I think that is why Jason is a little upset. I think he liked it being the four of us too. I tried to reassure him that it'll still be fun. He doesn't seem believe me. When I told him about what happened between Mandy and I, I had also told him I loved him, inadvertently. He actually seemed very happy to hear it, and even said it back! So now anytime one of us feels like the other is upset, we just text "I love you" to make it better. I had texted that a lot today.
I got home from school, which was nothing but pep rallies, and laid out my outfit. A pink babydoll dress, black fish nets, and black knee high boots. Awesome. I made some ramen noodles, stuffed my face, did my make up, got dressed, and waited for Jason to show up.
My dad came in the living room where I was waiting. "What's going on tonight?" he asked.
"It's homecoming." I said.
"Who's taking you?"
"Jason."
Dad raised an eyebrow. "And then what are you doing?"
"Then we are going to Kronos for a poetry night."
"And then?"
"Shit dad Idk?" I said annoyed. "Then I guess I will come home?"
"Oh?" He said "Your not going to stay at Mandy's house?"
"No." I said frowning.
"Why not? That is usually what you do after events like this."
"Idk dad, why are you so nosey?" I snipped.
"Oh nothing, just wondering."
I saw Jason's car pull up outside, I jumped up.
"Uh uh!" Dad said blocking my way to the door. "He has to come up to the door to get you."
"Ugh! Really dad?"
"Yep."
Jason got out of his car. He was wearing a black button up with a pink tie that matched my dress. Tripp pants with pink trim and chains, and a pink studded necklace.
"Yes!" I thought. "Perfect!"
"WTF is that." Dad said looking out the window.
"What?" I asked.
"What a pretty pretty princess you have as a date, Charley." he laughed.
"Shut up dad." I said. "Be nice!"
Jason knocked on the door. Dad opened it.
Jason's eyes get really big every time he see's my dad. And he never seems to be able to speak much either.
"Hi Jason." dad said. "Come inside. Sit down."
"Dad we really have to go." I protested.
"This will only take a second." Dad said.
"It is my understanding that the plan for tonight is first the dance, then Kronos, correct?" he asked Jason.
"Yes sir" Jason stammered.
"So that means after Kronos you will bring her back here, right Jason?"
"Yes sir"
"Good because if you don't bring her back here after Kronos, I will find you and I will not be alone." dad said as he nodded towards the corner of the room where he had propped up his rifle.
"Oh. My. God. DAD!" I said grabbing Jason's arm. "Stop it. I'll see you later, love you bye!"
I pulled Jason out of the house, down the stairs, and into his car.
"Your dad is scary." He said almost laughing, almost crying.
"Oh shut up." I said. "And give me your necklace. I want to wear it."
Friday, January 1, 2016
K is for Kid Chapter 3
Loren was able to pin down a date for the poetry night. It would be the same night as our homecoming dance. I had arranged for Jacob and Trent to take Mandy and I to homecoming, but had to figure out if we could also go to the poetry night.
"I think we should skip homecoming" Mandy said hopping into the passenger side of my van.
"No way!" I said starting the engine. "I already bought my dress and I had to drive all the way to Harrisonburg to get it."
Mandy sulked down in her seat and turned up the stereo. I had a Rise Against CD in. I left a few songs play then I turned it down.
"We can do both Mandy." I said assertively.
She scoffed.
I pulled over.
"Ok WTF?" I said trying to get her to look at me. "I don't get it. What is wrong with you? We can do the poetry night, then the dance, then back to kronos. OR we can do the dance, then poetry night and just stay at kronos. We have options Mandy."
She glared at me for a minute then spoke. "I don't get why Trent and Jason HAVE to come."
"What? They are our boyfriends?" I said confused. "Why wouldn't they come?"
"Maybe because I didn't invite them, Charley!" She yelled.
"WTF does that mean Mandy?!" I yelled back.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Mandy spoke.
"I want to go to homecoming, but have it just be us." she said.
I started to say "But what about Jason and Trent?" but she stopped me.
"And I don't want it to just be us at homecoming, I want it to just be us period." She said.
I stared at her for a minute.
oh.
I sat back in my chair.
oh shit.
"Are you saying you want our relationship to be just us?" I asked stupidly.
"Yes. It has to be either Jason or me." she sighed. "I feel like there isn't much room for me, I don't think I really like Trent, but I really like you. So you need to choose."
"WTF I see you every day. I only see Jason on the weekends, and that's if one of us isn't working."
"Yea but all you do is talk about him. That is all I hear about!" her voice was shaking now.
I started the car and started driving again.
My mind started to race.
What was I going to do? I loved what we had, it was exciting. If I chose Jason, would that mean that Mandy and I wouldn't be friends anymore? Should I chose Mandy? I think I love Jason, I mean I love Mandy, but it's different with Jason. What a stupid predicament to be in, especially right before homecoming. Couldn't she wait until after the dance. I coordinated our outfits and everything! GAAAHHHH. Nothing perfect lasts.
I pulled into the parking garage, and got out.
"When are you going to let me know?" she said sadly.
We walked out of the parking garage and I lead her to a bench, and sat down.
"Mandy, do you remember when you told me that you sometimes get sick to your stomach when you kiss Trent?" I asked.
"Yea."
"I don't feel that way when I kiss Jason. I feel something else." I blushed a little. "I think I love him Mandy."
Her face went white. She sorta smiled/frowned, a combination of the two. Stood up. And walked away.
"I think we should skip homecoming" Mandy said hopping into the passenger side of my van.
"No way!" I said starting the engine. "I already bought my dress and I had to drive all the way to Harrisonburg to get it."
Mandy sulked down in her seat and turned up the stereo. I had a Rise Against CD in. I left a few songs play then I turned it down.
"We can do both Mandy." I said assertively.
She scoffed.
I pulled over.
"Ok WTF?" I said trying to get her to look at me. "I don't get it. What is wrong with you? We can do the poetry night, then the dance, then back to kronos. OR we can do the dance, then poetry night and just stay at kronos. We have options Mandy."
She glared at me for a minute then spoke. "I don't get why Trent and Jason HAVE to come."
"What? They are our boyfriends?" I said confused. "Why wouldn't they come?"
"Maybe because I didn't invite them, Charley!" She yelled.
"WTF does that mean Mandy?!" I yelled back.
We sat in silence for a few minutes. Then Mandy spoke.
"I want to go to homecoming, but have it just be us." she said.
I started to say "But what about Jason and Trent?" but she stopped me.
"And I don't want it to just be us at homecoming, I want it to just be us period." She said.
I stared at her for a minute.
oh.
I sat back in my chair.
oh shit.
"Are you saying you want our relationship to be just us?" I asked stupidly.
"Yes. It has to be either Jason or me." she sighed. "I feel like there isn't much room for me, I don't think I really like Trent, but I really like you. So you need to choose."
"WTF I see you every day. I only see Jason on the weekends, and that's if one of us isn't working."
"Yea but all you do is talk about him. That is all I hear about!" her voice was shaking now.
I started the car and started driving again.
My mind started to race.
What was I going to do? I loved what we had, it was exciting. If I chose Jason, would that mean that Mandy and I wouldn't be friends anymore? Should I chose Mandy? I think I love Jason, I mean I love Mandy, but it's different with Jason. What a stupid predicament to be in, especially right before homecoming. Couldn't she wait until after the dance. I coordinated our outfits and everything! GAAAHHHH. Nothing perfect lasts.
I pulled into the parking garage, and got out.
"When are you going to let me know?" she said sadly.
We walked out of the parking garage and I lead her to a bench, and sat down.
"Mandy, do you remember when you told me that you sometimes get sick to your stomach when you kiss Trent?" I asked.
"Yea."
"I don't feel that way when I kiss Jason. I feel something else." I blushed a little. "I think I love him Mandy."
Her face went white. She sorta smiled/frowned, a combination of the two. Stood up. And walked away.
K is for Kids Chapter 2
Time passed. Before we knew it summer was over, and we were all back in school. Trent and Jacob lived in the next city over, so Mandy and I didn't see them much anymore. But we kept going to that little art gallery downtown, Kronos. I ended up getting a job at the coffee shop next to the gallery, and Mandy got a job at the bistro on the other side. Our days consisted of school, work, then Kronos for as long as we could. One day I decided to bring my art portfolio to the gallery. We had gotten to know the gallery owner pretty well by this point, so I thought he might be willing to give me some artistic advice.
"Hey Kris!" I said climbing the stairs of the gallery.
"Hey Charley."
Today he had a bottle of wine in hand, no need for a glass I suppose.
I checked my phone. Mandy had sent me a text. "I have to seat two more tables, then I'll be there."
Damn. Hopefully it won't take too long. I walked into the back room to see if there was anything new. Another friend of mine was sitting on the couch.
"Oh hi Mae! Whats up?" I asked and sat down next to her.
"I smell like cigarettes and beer." she said sniffing her shirt. "And three groups decided not to tip me tonight. What the fuck is wrong with people?"
Mae's place of work was interesting. It was called Mario's. The downstairs was a fancy, wanna-be 4 star restaurant. But the upstairs was one of the most rowdy bars in our area. I honestly don't know how she does it, she goes from waiting on rich assholes to clearing bottles and glasses behind the bar and everything in between.
She leaned her head on the back of the couch and sighed. "What a shitty fucking night."
I heard the toilet flush in the bathroom.
"Who else is here?" I asked.
"Loren. She had a shitty night too."
Loren was in her mid twenties and worked with Mae. She was a 5 foot nothing hurricane. You did not want to mess with her. She mostly tended the bar at Mario's, and I have seen her kick a man twice her size out. Dragging him basically by nothing but his nose hair down three flights of stairs and into the street. Cussing like a sailor the whole way. She was Mae's hero and was quickly becoming one of mine. She walked out of the bathroom, right up to Kris, and snatched the bottle of wine out of his hand. "Thanks!" She said, and came to sit with us.
"Oh hey Charley!" she said, squeezing in between Mae and I. "Where is Mandy?"
"Still at work." I said checking my phone again. "She said she'll get out soon."
Her and Mae laughed a little. "In restaurant language that could mean HOURS!" Loren said taking a swig of wine, and passing me the bottle. I opened my mouth to say something along the lines of "But we are minors" but decided it didn't really matter. I took a swig and passed the bottle to Mae, who nearly drowned herself in it.
"Ok, Ok jeez lady." Loren said grabbing the bottle. "Slow down!" She stood up and walked into the other room, tossing the bottle back to Kris, and laying down on the futon. Mae and I followed, finding various spots to sprawl out.
"So Kris, when are we going to do that poetry night?" Loren asked.
"A poetry night?" I asked. "Would you read your work Kris?"
"That's the idea kid." Kris said stretching a bit.
"Loren your going to read too right?" Mae asked.
Loren and Kris were VERY good poets. Kris once performed one of his poems, "The Bus Stop", while we were hanging out, and it left me in tears. On the floor. Face down.
"Yes I will." Loren smiled. "If this guy ever gives me a date!"
This was my chance. I could show Kris my portfolio, then after I wow him, I could say "I'll totally make the poster for poetry night!" followed by "please, please, please, please!"
I stood up. "That reminds me, I brought something I'd like to show you!" I quickly ran into the other room and came back with my fancy leather portfolio. I sat down on the floor indian style, and slowly unzipped the heavy duty zipper. To me, this was ritual. Then I carefully laid the portfolio open to reveal the first painting, carefully placed in the front sleeve. Kris came over and looked down at it.
"Uh huh." he said nodding a little. I waited for the "Wow! That is wonderful!" but it never came. Panicked I flipped to the next painting. Kris titled his head. "Uh huh." This time I stared at him for a minute. This was not going like I had planned it. I choked back a few tears and turned to the next painting. This time Kris bent down and picked up my portfolio, and took it back to his desk. Slowly he flipped through the rest of the paintings. I looked over at Mae and Loren. They were fighting back giggles. I glared at them. Rude. Someone was coming up the stairs.
It was Mandy. I stood up and ran to give her a hug, Mae followed.
"Dude what took so long?" Loren asked as we group hugged/tackled Mandy to the floor.
Mandy just stared up at the ceiling "What is the point of life?" She said sarcastically.
We laughed a little and sat up. "What's going on here?" She asked nodding her head towards Kris who was still examining my portfolio.
"Charley is showing Kris her art." She said laughing.
"Yea except I don't know what that is funny Mae!" I said pushing her.
"Look at him!" She said pointing to Kris.
"Dude Charley, you know what he is going to say." Mandy said.
Kris was known for being a critic, about everything. But I am good. Or well, at least I think I am good.
"Yea whatever guys, I just want some feedback." I said sort of pouting.
Mandy put her arm around me. "It's ok, I am sure it'll be fine" She said.
Kris finally looked up. "You are good Charley, but all of this is crap." he said flipping the pages back. My mouth fell open, Mandy's hand tightened on my shoulder. "Well, all except this one." He said holding up a water color I had done of a Geisha. Mandy's hand loosened then she whispered "Hey he likes one of them, that is impressive right?" I gave her a half smile and stood up to get my portfolio.
"You like that one?" I asked.
"Yea, this one has real feeling behind it. And these colors," He said pointing to the sun set. "I really like those."
I held in a scream, and politely put my art away.
"Wait, leave the geisha one out." Kris said.
"Why?" I asked pulling it out of it's sleeve.
"Can I hang it up in the gallery?" He asked.
My mouth fell open again.
Loren nudged my shoulder.
"Yes." I said smiley. "Yes you can."
"Hey Kris!" I said climbing the stairs of the gallery.
"Hey Charley."
Today he had a bottle of wine in hand, no need for a glass I suppose.
I checked my phone. Mandy had sent me a text. "I have to seat two more tables, then I'll be there."
Damn. Hopefully it won't take too long. I walked into the back room to see if there was anything new. Another friend of mine was sitting on the couch.
"Oh hi Mae! Whats up?" I asked and sat down next to her.
"I smell like cigarettes and beer." she said sniffing her shirt. "And three groups decided not to tip me tonight. What the fuck is wrong with people?"
Mae's place of work was interesting. It was called Mario's. The downstairs was a fancy, wanna-be 4 star restaurant. But the upstairs was one of the most rowdy bars in our area. I honestly don't know how she does it, she goes from waiting on rich assholes to clearing bottles and glasses behind the bar and everything in between.
She leaned her head on the back of the couch and sighed. "What a shitty fucking night."
I heard the toilet flush in the bathroom.
"Who else is here?" I asked.
"Loren. She had a shitty night too."
Loren was in her mid twenties and worked with Mae. She was a 5 foot nothing hurricane. You did not want to mess with her. She mostly tended the bar at Mario's, and I have seen her kick a man twice her size out. Dragging him basically by nothing but his nose hair down three flights of stairs and into the street. Cussing like a sailor the whole way. She was Mae's hero and was quickly becoming one of mine. She walked out of the bathroom, right up to Kris, and snatched the bottle of wine out of his hand. "Thanks!" She said, and came to sit with us.
"Oh hey Charley!" she said, squeezing in between Mae and I. "Where is Mandy?"
"Still at work." I said checking my phone again. "She said she'll get out soon."
Her and Mae laughed a little. "In restaurant language that could mean HOURS!" Loren said taking a swig of wine, and passing me the bottle. I opened my mouth to say something along the lines of "But we are minors" but decided it didn't really matter. I took a swig and passed the bottle to Mae, who nearly drowned herself in it.
"Ok, Ok jeez lady." Loren said grabbing the bottle. "Slow down!" She stood up and walked into the other room, tossing the bottle back to Kris, and laying down on the futon. Mae and I followed, finding various spots to sprawl out.
"So Kris, when are we going to do that poetry night?" Loren asked.
"A poetry night?" I asked. "Would you read your work Kris?"
"That's the idea kid." Kris said stretching a bit.
"Loren your going to read too right?" Mae asked.
Loren and Kris were VERY good poets. Kris once performed one of his poems, "The Bus Stop", while we were hanging out, and it left me in tears. On the floor. Face down.
"Yes I will." Loren smiled. "If this guy ever gives me a date!"
This was my chance. I could show Kris my portfolio, then after I wow him, I could say "I'll totally make the poster for poetry night!" followed by "please, please, please, please!"
I stood up. "That reminds me, I brought something I'd like to show you!" I quickly ran into the other room and came back with my fancy leather portfolio. I sat down on the floor indian style, and slowly unzipped the heavy duty zipper. To me, this was ritual. Then I carefully laid the portfolio open to reveal the first painting, carefully placed in the front sleeve. Kris came over and looked down at it.
"Uh huh." he said nodding a little. I waited for the "Wow! That is wonderful!" but it never came. Panicked I flipped to the next painting. Kris titled his head. "Uh huh." This time I stared at him for a minute. This was not going like I had planned it. I choked back a few tears and turned to the next painting. This time Kris bent down and picked up my portfolio, and took it back to his desk. Slowly he flipped through the rest of the paintings. I looked over at Mae and Loren. They were fighting back giggles. I glared at them. Rude. Someone was coming up the stairs.
It was Mandy. I stood up and ran to give her a hug, Mae followed.
"Dude what took so long?" Loren asked as we group hugged/tackled Mandy to the floor.
Mandy just stared up at the ceiling "What is the point of life?" She said sarcastically.
We laughed a little and sat up. "What's going on here?" She asked nodding her head towards Kris who was still examining my portfolio.
"Charley is showing Kris her art." She said laughing.
"Yea except I don't know what that is funny Mae!" I said pushing her.
"Look at him!" She said pointing to Kris.
"Dude Charley, you know what he is going to say." Mandy said.
Kris was known for being a critic, about everything. But I am good. Or well, at least I think I am good.
"Yea whatever guys, I just want some feedback." I said sort of pouting.
Mandy put her arm around me. "It's ok, I am sure it'll be fine" She said.
Kris finally looked up. "You are good Charley, but all of this is crap." he said flipping the pages back. My mouth fell open, Mandy's hand tightened on my shoulder. "Well, all except this one." He said holding up a water color I had done of a Geisha. Mandy's hand loosened then she whispered "Hey he likes one of them, that is impressive right?" I gave her a half smile and stood up to get my portfolio.
"You like that one?" I asked.
"Yea, this one has real feeling behind it. And these colors," He said pointing to the sun set. "I really like those."
I held in a scream, and politely put my art away.
"Wait, leave the geisha one out." Kris said.
"Why?" I asked pulling it out of it's sleeve.
"Can I hang it up in the gallery?" He asked.
My mouth fell open again.
Loren nudged my shoulder.
"Yes." I said smiley. "Yes you can."
K is for Kid Chapter 1.
I like to think of our generation as pioneers. We are the kids that will break all of the societal norms, bend gender identity, and redefine family roles. I say that because here I am, barely 16 years old, sitting between my boyfriend and my girlfriend, and her boyfriend, whom is also my boyfriends, boyfriend. I say this because we are sitting here, in public, out in the open; watching people pass by with faces of disgust, and we totally don't give a shit. Just to be clear, I am sure that some of the looks we are getting have nothing to do with our relationships, but instead are in response to how we are dressed. But that doesn't stop us from kissing each other to ensure our message is clear.
ahem.. "WE DON'T GIVE A FUCK!"
Today is a very nice day. It's summer vacation, we are all off school and work, and it feels like we have nothing but time to do what ever we want.
"I'm so bored." Mandy groans.
"Yea me too." Jacob sighs.
We had been all over town that day, looking for something to do. We tried to go to our mall, which is basically a ghost town, and had been kicked out due to the chains on Jacob's pants. After that we tried the skate park, but a fight broke out between Trent and some kid.
"Lets go find that punk from earlier. " Trent grinned. "I'll fuck him up."
"Go ahead! I'm staying here." Jacob said. "I'll laugh at your busted ass later."
"Fuck you." Mandy stood up. "He's just scared, lets go Trent."
"NO!!" I yelled, grabbing Mandy. "That shit is stupid. Just stay here."
"Why? So we can spend another hour sitting on our ass?" Mandy scoffed.
"We could always lay down and look at the sky!" I said as I stretched out on the concrete. "How many times can you say you took a nap on the side walk?"
Mandy layed down next to me. "Yea this is pretty stupid Quinn." she laughed. "Man get up we have to find something to do before I kill myself"
That is when I heard it.
"SHHH Shut up!" I said. Everyone got quiet. "Dude do you hear that?!"
"No, what?" said Trent.
"The music?" asked Jacob.
"Yea! shhhh!" I tried to listen again.
"Where is it coming from?" Asked Mandy.
I listened harder. It was rock... no metal... no rock... no that had to be metal. But Metal music being played loud enough to hear on the streets in our town? No fucking way. That is a crime in this town. Shit what isn't a crime in this town?
"Oh shit, that is the Deftones!" Jacob exclaimed and started running around to pin point where it was coming from. "Do you think this restaurant is playing it?"
"Fat chance." said Mandy. "Maybe it's coming from the coffee shop?"
Mandy poked her head in the door. "Nope, they are playing Fiona Apple."
I spotted an open window on the second floor of the building behind us. That had to be where it was coming from, but the sign at the door said "Children's Art Museum."
"Mandy, is that an apartment?" I said pointing to the window.
"I don't know, maybe?" She said.
"Let's go in!" Jacob said. "I've never been to a children's art museum."
"Yea and you'll probably get us kicked out!" I said laughing.
We all started in. The entrance way had a second door that lead to the museum, then a tiny stairwell with an iron gate. I peered into the museum. It was closed.
"Let's go up the stairs." I said.
"No way! You don't know what is up there." Mandy said.
"Maybe there is a murder up there!" said Trent as he bounded up the stairs.
"Wait!" I said running after him.
I nearly ran him over when we got to the top, he was just standing there, with his mouth hanging open. I caught my breath and looked up. I realized why he was in awe. I heard Mandy and Jacob gasp behind me.
Infront of us stood a naked mannequin, painted blue, and facet nobs for nipples. Behind her hung a painting of the american flag with a bucket of black paint spilling on it. Next to that was a painting of a surreal figure, a girl I assumed, with way too much makeup, and a blank stare. I turned the corner, the music became way louder. In the next room we found more bizarre painting and a few portraits of BDSM models, and a man. He sat behind a desk with sunglasses on and his feet up. He was asleep.
"Dude he must be stoned" Jacob said, and disappeared into the other room. Trent followed. Mandy and I continued to explore the art. There was a piece that was nothing but bullet shells, and another that looked like bullet holes. I kept looking back at the man at the desk to see if he had woken up. I walked up to his desk and picked up a sticker, it read "Art is Dangerous" I laughed and put it down. The music stopped, then the man moved. I jumped right out of my skin. "Holy Shit!" I yelled. He hadn't been asleep, at least I don't think so. "No, I think you mean BULLSHIT!" he said with a smirk.
"I'm sorry I thought you were asleep!" I said. "Oh I might have been, I don't actually know." He said standing up. He was tall. Very tall, with black spiked hair. "I like the art here." I said suddenly getting nervous. "Thanks." He said "Most of it is mine." I looked around for my friends. Where had they gone. I looked into the other room. They were all sitting on the couch. "Hey!" I said and ran over to sit with them. The tall man followed me. I squeezed my ass between Jacob and Mandy. "Scooch!" I said. "Oh your ass is so boney!" Mandy complained.
"So what are you doing here?" asked the man.
We all exchanged sideways glances. Mandy elbowed me hard in the ribs.
"OOOFFF! oh.. uh... well..." I stammered. "We heard your music and we liked it."
"I liked it." said Jacob. "You guys didn't know who it was."
"Oh you like the deftones?! That is a nice change." the man said. "Usually if I get a visit, it's from someone complaining about the "noise"". He did air quotes and rolled his eyes behind the sunglasses. Then he started talking about the art and how he has had a lot of trouble in this town.
"Man people just don't get art you know?" he said. "They come up here, glance at the pieces, and ask if I have anything that would match their furniture. Can you believe that?"
We laughed. We all knew how hard it was to not be mainstream in our small town.
"Tell me about it. Welcome to Staunton!" I said.
"For real!" Mandy laughed. "What is this place called, I never saw a sign."
"Oh yea I should get one of those." The man then cleared his throat and in a theatrical voice said. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, hold on to your seats kids. This is KRONOS!"
ahem.. "WE DON'T GIVE A FUCK!"
Today is a very nice day. It's summer vacation, we are all off school and work, and it feels like we have nothing but time to do what ever we want.
"I'm so bored." Mandy groans.
"Yea me too." Jacob sighs.
We had been all over town that day, looking for something to do. We tried to go to our mall, which is basically a ghost town, and had been kicked out due to the chains on Jacob's pants. After that we tried the skate park, but a fight broke out between Trent and some kid.
"Lets go find that punk from earlier. " Trent grinned. "I'll fuck him up."
"Go ahead! I'm staying here." Jacob said. "I'll laugh at your busted ass later."
"Fuck you." Mandy stood up. "He's just scared, lets go Trent."
"NO!!" I yelled, grabbing Mandy. "That shit is stupid. Just stay here."
"Why? So we can spend another hour sitting on our ass?" Mandy scoffed.
"We could always lay down and look at the sky!" I said as I stretched out on the concrete. "How many times can you say you took a nap on the side walk?"
Mandy layed down next to me. "Yea this is pretty stupid Quinn." she laughed. "Man get up we have to find something to do before I kill myself"
That is when I heard it.
"SHHH Shut up!" I said. Everyone got quiet. "Dude do you hear that?!"
"No, what?" said Trent.
"The music?" asked Jacob.
"Yea! shhhh!" I tried to listen again.
"Where is it coming from?" Asked Mandy.
I listened harder. It was rock... no metal... no rock... no that had to be metal. But Metal music being played loud enough to hear on the streets in our town? No fucking way. That is a crime in this town. Shit what isn't a crime in this town?
"Oh shit, that is the Deftones!" Jacob exclaimed and started running around to pin point where it was coming from. "Do you think this restaurant is playing it?"
"Fat chance." said Mandy. "Maybe it's coming from the coffee shop?"
Mandy poked her head in the door. "Nope, they are playing Fiona Apple."
I spotted an open window on the second floor of the building behind us. That had to be where it was coming from, but the sign at the door said "Children's Art Museum."
"Mandy, is that an apartment?" I said pointing to the window.
"I don't know, maybe?" She said.
"Let's go in!" Jacob said. "I've never been to a children's art museum."
"Yea and you'll probably get us kicked out!" I said laughing.
We all started in. The entrance way had a second door that lead to the museum, then a tiny stairwell with an iron gate. I peered into the museum. It was closed.
"Let's go up the stairs." I said.
"No way! You don't know what is up there." Mandy said.
"Maybe there is a murder up there!" said Trent as he bounded up the stairs.
"Wait!" I said running after him.
I nearly ran him over when we got to the top, he was just standing there, with his mouth hanging open. I caught my breath and looked up. I realized why he was in awe. I heard Mandy and Jacob gasp behind me.
Infront of us stood a naked mannequin, painted blue, and facet nobs for nipples. Behind her hung a painting of the american flag with a bucket of black paint spilling on it. Next to that was a painting of a surreal figure, a girl I assumed, with way too much makeup, and a blank stare. I turned the corner, the music became way louder. In the next room we found more bizarre painting and a few portraits of BDSM models, and a man. He sat behind a desk with sunglasses on and his feet up. He was asleep.
"Dude he must be stoned" Jacob said, and disappeared into the other room. Trent followed. Mandy and I continued to explore the art. There was a piece that was nothing but bullet shells, and another that looked like bullet holes. I kept looking back at the man at the desk to see if he had woken up. I walked up to his desk and picked up a sticker, it read "Art is Dangerous" I laughed and put it down. The music stopped, then the man moved. I jumped right out of my skin. "Holy Shit!" I yelled. He hadn't been asleep, at least I don't think so. "No, I think you mean BULLSHIT!" he said with a smirk.
"I'm sorry I thought you were asleep!" I said. "Oh I might have been, I don't actually know." He said standing up. He was tall. Very tall, with black spiked hair. "I like the art here." I said suddenly getting nervous. "Thanks." He said "Most of it is mine." I looked around for my friends. Where had they gone. I looked into the other room. They were all sitting on the couch. "Hey!" I said and ran over to sit with them. The tall man followed me. I squeezed my ass between Jacob and Mandy. "Scooch!" I said. "Oh your ass is so boney!" Mandy complained.
"So what are you doing here?" asked the man.
We all exchanged sideways glances. Mandy elbowed me hard in the ribs.
"OOOFFF! oh.. uh... well..." I stammered. "We heard your music and we liked it."
"I liked it." said Jacob. "You guys didn't know who it was."
"Oh you like the deftones?! That is a nice change." the man said. "Usually if I get a visit, it's from someone complaining about the "noise"". He did air quotes and rolled his eyes behind the sunglasses. Then he started talking about the art and how he has had a lot of trouble in this town.
"Man people just don't get art you know?" he said. "They come up here, glance at the pieces, and ask if I have anything that would match their furniture. Can you believe that?"
We laughed. We all knew how hard it was to not be mainstream in our small town.
"Tell me about it. Welcome to Staunton!" I said.
"For real!" Mandy laughed. "What is this place called, I never saw a sign."
"Oh yea I should get one of those." The man then cleared his throat and in a theatrical voice said. "Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, hold on to your seats kids. This is KRONOS!"
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