Freddie

FREDDIE

"Fellas! How are we feelin' tonight?" I enter the back door to Foggy Goggles and turn into the break room where the bands hang out before and after the shows. Tonight is a big night for us. I received a call a few days ago from a music manager inquiring about the band. He was interested in coming down to see us play live. He wants to see how the crowd reacts to us, and how we feed back into them.

I'm not surprised we've been noticed. We've had a great following and it's only grown since playing here at Foggy Goggles for the last few weeks. I've seen a lot of our stuff floating around social media and that's exactly how Michael Murray says he found us.

I looked him up online to make sure he was a legit manager. He has his own label and has newly signed bands on his website. I did recognize one group, but the others were all new to me. Either way, even if he's an up and coming manager, it won't hurt to listen to what he has to offer.

Butch enters the back room. "Hey, boys." They all greet him in unison as he glances my way. "Got a packed house out there. Ya's are doing good." They all reply back with their appreciation for the bar and him, but he's already turned his attention to me, nodding to the hallway. "Come with me."

The guys watch me with wariness but I give them a reassuring smile and follow Butch out into the hallway, and down to his office.

"Take a seat." He pushes the chair out in front of his desk as he makes his way behind it, falling into his own chair. "Tell me about this manager tonight."

I sink into my chair and give his name, telling the story of how he sought us out. I explained that I looked him up online to make sure he wasn't someone trying to pull a fast one.

"I don't need to tell ya kid, that there's a lot of people out there trying to make a quick buck and take advantage of a young band like yours. Ya seem to have a good head on your shoulders, though."

"I try to. I've heard horror stories and I don't want to lead the guys down the wrong path."

He studies me and I just know I'm in for a different round of questioning now. "How about your path?"

"I'm not sure on that one, yet." He's silent and I know he's waiting for more. "Honestly, I want …" I let my mind wander for the right words. I take a breath and let it out.

Fuck it.

" Honestly? I don't want to leave Journey, Butch. I don't want to be anywhere but where she is at. And it's scary as all hell that in a matter of a few weeks, my entire life that I had planned for, has done a complete one-eighty." He continues to watch me and it doesn't make me nervous like it used to. "If the band gets noticed, they're not going to want to stay in the city. They're going to want to take it further."

"And you?"

"Me? My only worry is how do I tell them I'll choose my girl over them. Every time. I'll choose her."

He smiles at me. The old man actually gives me a huge smile and leans back in the chair crossing his hands over his big belly. "Does she know that?"

"I haven't said the actual words but I'm hoping she knows it."

"My advice kid? Tell her and do it soon. She knows you've got someone coming here tonight. She knows your original plan with the band is to move on. If you've got something different in mind, let her in on that plan. Then, make your own plans together. She's too good to get lost in this bar, Fred."

Don't I know it?