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."
Saturday, January 2, 2016
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."
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