"Open your eyes."

I took my hands off my eyes and looked down to see a violin in my dad's hands. It was shiny and polished and very beautiful. It was almost too beautiful to touch. I looked to him for confirmation and he nodded, letting me take it from him. It was sturdy and I could tell it would last a long time, provided I took good care of it. My parents smiled at me. "Happy birthday, Esther."

"Thank you!" I said, almost crying from happiness. I couldn't believe my parents had spent this kind of money on me. It must have cost them a few hundred dollars. Who knew how long they had been saving for it? I cradled the beautiful instrument in my hands and admired the craftsmanship. Mom held a case in her hands containing the bow and a packet of extra strings. I'd helped Dad change the strings on his guitar plenty of times, I could do it.

When Mom set the case down I grabbed the bow and immediately began to play. The most awful screeching came from it, threatening to break the fine china. Mom and Dad covered their ears. I knew it sounded awful but I was so excited I couldn't wait to tune it up. I wanted to play, to get the feel of the bow on the strings. My parents exchanged loving looks before my Dad gently took the violin from me.

"Listen, honey, maybe we ought to rosin the bow first..."

***********

I twirled around in my new dress, admiring myself in the mirror. It looked just as good here as it did at home and I was pleased with my choice. Betty, styling her hair, smiled and rolled her eyes. I liked Betty. She had a whole 1930s thing about her. Even styling her short black hair like the famous Betty Boop. Her eyebrows were pencil thin but they looked perfect every day and her eyelashes were enviable.

"Don't fog up the mirror, Esther," she joked while I laughed. "We get it, you're hot."

"Not half as hot as you," I said, blowing her a kiss. She caught it in her hand and held it to her heart. Our goofing off was interrupted by a pair of bright blue eyes in a jet black dress.

"It's just a dress," Jeanie said, coming in to fix her makeup. Some of the foundation had come off from sweating. That was a downside to this job. Constantly running back here to fix things. Sweat stains, running makeup, mussed hair, and bunched up panties. The occasional broken heel. Jeanie grabbed some wet wipes and started removing all of it, attempting to start over. "She's not wearing the Pope's ring or anything."

"Aw, come off it, Jeanie, you're just jealous," Betty said. "Orange looks fantastic on Esther." Jeanie looked at me through the mirror reflection and smirked.

"It certainly does," she said. I balled my fists up and took a deep breath. Nope. Not today. Jeanie wouldn't ruin my good mood. I wouldn't let her.

"I like it," a tiny voice said behind me. I turned to see Henriette wearing a striking sapphire number that really brought out her blue eyes. They were a deeper shade than Jeanie's ice blue.

"Thanks," I said, smiling at her. "Henriette likes it." I looked to Jeanie and considered sticking my tongue out like a child.

"Of course she would, she's French," Jeanie said. Betty and I exchanged confused looks. Jeanie sighed. "France has all the best fashion."

"I'm not all of France," Henriette said coming to stand by me. She had already gotten used to the high heels and walked with grace and mystique. "I'm just one voice."

"And a darn good one," I said, wrapping an arm around her. I noticed she was much shorter than I was. Maybe that's why she could walk in the heels so well, she wasn't miles off the earth's crust.

"Have any of you gotten tickets to see AC/DC yet?" Jeanie asked changing the subject. Betty sighed in despair.

"I can't go," she said. "I'm seeing my parents instead."

"That's nice," I said making Jeanie roll her eyes. "What about you, Henriette?"

"I'm not a big rock and roll fan," she admitted and all of us turned to look at her. Jeanie's mouth could catch cockroaches and Betty almost got whiplash from spinning around. I stood there in shock myself. How?

"Not a fan?" Jeanie asked, her pale skin even paler. "How do you reckon?" Henriette shrugged.

"Ma mère played me music by Edith Piaf," she said with a cute smile. "And Judy Garland sometimes. That's what I like." Betty relaxed and turned back around.

"Alright, you're forgiven," she said returning to her hair. Jeanie shook her head.

"Rock and roll makes the world go round," she said, stars in her eyes. I admit, this was something we agreed upon. Rock and roll, punk, real and raw, something you could dance to. Of course I liked classical music too. Tchaikovsky's Overture was incredible. I always wanted to hear it played live in Carnegie Hall.

But we never got to. Dad got sick and we never could have afforded it anyway.

"I'm certainly going to see them," Jeanie said, snapping me out of my memories. "I want to see that lead singer in action. I heard he loves the female form." I rolled my eyes. Course he does. Like every other male musician out there. I loved the music but the people weren't your best friends. They could use you up and break your heart and in no way was I getting involved in that shit show.

I almost forgot that Bon was in a band.

"What are you gonna do, Jeanie?" Betty said. "Go backstage and make him yours?" Jeanie sat up straighter and grabbed a tube of lipstick.

"That's exactly what I intend to do," she said, painting on a red coat. She checked her teeth for any residue before turning to me. "What about you, Esther? Are you planning to see them?"

I looked from one girl to the next, all of them awaiting my answer. If I took the night off work I could go see them. As long as I had enough food for Scout and could afford to lose a day of pay. Why the fuck not? They mesmerized me when I danced and I had to see for myself the kind of show they put on. And maybe see if this lead singer was all he was cracked up to be. "Of course I'm going," I said proudly. "Who wouldn't?"

Betty and Henriette smiled while Jeanie started putting on mascara. Celine came in with her clipboard and startled us with her command. "Betty! You're on next, love."

"Shit, I forgot," Betty said scrambling to straighten herself out. I thought she looked fine but Betty had to look absolutely perfect. Not a hair out of place. If there was, the clients would just have to wait. Deciding she was perfect enough, she hustled out the locker room and took to the stage. Supertramp started playing, the music coming in faint from the distance. Jeanie looked satisfied with making kissy faces at her reflection so I led Henriette out of the locker room, both of us giggling.

**********

I couldn't believe they were still open. Must have been running a 24/7 sale on these tickets. If I had known just how big this band was I would have guessed they were already sold out. And my luck was with me as I grabbed one of the last ones.

"Here you go," a tired looking man said, handing me my ticket. He could have used about three days to make up for any sleep he lost doing this job. Didn't they switch people out during shifts? What kind of band was this turning out to be, making their cronies work like mules?

I stepped back, the powerful smell of KFC and an Altoids mint hitting me in the face as he yawned. I choked back a cough. "Thank you," I said, grimacing. He went back to reading his comic book and drinking his black coffee, the steam fogging up the glass in the booth. I stepped away from it, heading towards a streetlamp to see my ticket better.

AC/DC....the show started at eight and it was strictly eighteen and over. I knew that meant there'd be an open bar. I was okay with that. Either the band would be so good I'd have to celebrate, or so bad I needed something to get me through the night. But if they were anything like what I heard in the club, I wouldn't be disappointed.

I stuffed the ticket in the pocket of my leather jacket and headed towards the Silver Dollar Diner.

**********

"There she is, the woman of the hour!" Joe said with his ever sparkling smile. "You here for your usual?"

I looked around the diner, expecting to see Bon at the counter. But he wasn't there. I didn't see him anywhere as I took my seat. "Uh....could I just get a coffee and a slice of apple pie?" I asked and Joe smiled.

"Sure, anything for you." He poured the coffee right away and I tapped my fingernails on the counter.

"Actually, Joe, have you seen a man stop by here?" I wasn't sure if Bon told Joe his name so I described him instead. "He's got long hair and-"

Before Joe could answer a man stepped out from around a corner where I knew the telephone was. It was just the man I was looking for, long hair and everything. He didn't seem to notice me as he walked up to the counter until he sat down. "Ya' made it," he said smiling. I offered him one back.

"Sure did," I said. Joe left us to talk while he fetched my pie. Bon had already eaten as evidenced by the empty plate covered in crumbs. "Sorry I'm late."

"Nah, I got here early," Bon said. "Band went out drinkin' an' for the first time in my life I declined. Teased me about seein' a woman." His smile sparkled even more than Joe's. "They're not far off."

Joe set the plate down in front of me and I dug in. Apple pies weren't my favorite but it felt good eating dessert. Dessert was one of those luxuries I skipped out on. Not even on my birthday did I get any cake. I felt Bon's eyes on me as I ate. "I'm sorry, did you want some?"

He shook his head. "You have it." I took his advice happily and stuffed my face. "How was work?"

"Good," I said. Work had been great, actually. I got signed up for several dances and made about three hundred dollars in total, minus the amount I owned the house. The garter did well to hold extra tips and I think my orange dress really made an impression. I felt more confident onstage wearing something I knew I looked good in. And the confidence must have affected my dancing. I washed the bite of pie down with some coffee. "How's the band going?"

"Great, we're playin' a few shows down in bars an' all that," he said. Joe flipped a pancake at the stove.

"You'll be wanting a beer with your meal, I take it?" he asked.

"I'll have what Esther's havin'." Bon winked at me. Joe poured a second cup of coffee and slid the mug over to Bon who caught it perfectly. "Thanks, mate."

"I've been meaning to ask you...." I said wiping my mouth of crumbs. Bon fluttered his lashes over his mug as he drank. "What's your role in this band? Guitarist or something?"

He set his cup down and and wiped the edge with his thumb. "Well, actually...." He seemed shy all of the sudden. "I'm the singer."

Of course. The frontman who only had eyes for beauty. The face of the band who got first pickings for the girls waiting backstage and went through them like crackers. I stopped myself from getting too far ahead of myself. That wasn't fair to assume that about him, I had only just met the guy. If he knew where I worked, there was a lot he could assume about me too.

"You can sing?" I asked, pretending to not believe him. He shrugged. "Alright, sing me something."

"Maybe later, hon, where I can't break anythin'."

"How thoughtful," Joe muttered. I wondered how much of our conversation he was overhearing on purpose. I went back to my pie while Bon sipped his coffee. I felt him tap me on the shoulder.

"Nice jacket," he smiled. I looked over and saw that we did indeed match.

"Thanks, it's new," I said, happy to own something that wasn't a hundred years old or fraying. It did little in keeping me warm but since when did women's fashion designers ever care about functionality? Bon's leather jacket looked super warm and so did the scarf around his neck. Thankfully the diner was warm enough without a jacket as Bon demonstrated the other day.

"It's cute," he said smiling. Did he ever not smile? I was beginning to think he was trying to charm me or something. And I wasn't sure I wanted to be charmed. "Mum said I looked cute in mine."

I smirked. "Did she?" I asked. "Mine said I looked cute when the barber fucked up my hair." Bon choked on his coffee as he laughed. "My bangs looked like an isosceles triangle and I had a goddamned mullet." Bon set his cup down and shook with laughter. I couldn't help but laugh a little as well, despite the memory stinging a little. "At least yours was telling the truth."

Joe looked our way to see what the hell was going on. Bon got himself together and cleared his throat. "Ya' think I look cute in this thing?"

Shit. I hadn't realized what I said until he pointed it out. What was I supposed to do, take it back? I looked him over and shrugged. "Not bad," I said. If I told him the truth I would say yes, he was rather cute. But he might take that to mean I had a thing for him. Which I didn't. At least, I didn't think I did. I never could tell when I liked a guy. The confusion only got worse once I reached high school.

"Thanks," he said sitting up a bit straighter. Maryanne, one of the waitresses here with a brown beehive hairdo, came up to the counter with a couple menus under her arm, a notepad in one hand, and a pencil behind her ear.

"I'm gonna need two plates of waffles, an omelette, and three coffees," she said, tearing the note out and tossing it at Joe. He clumsily tried to catch it and it flitted to the counter. "Think you can manage that, doll?"

"They don't call me Joe for nothing," Joe said. It got really quiet all of the sudden and I wanted to burst out laughing. Joe flipped his spatula in his hand and turned to the stove. "I'm on it."

Maryanne turned to me and Bon. "Hey, Esther, good to see you again," she said smiling, her red lipstick looking almost a faint orange under this light. She caught sight of Bon and looked him up and down. "You too, rockstar."

"This is Bon," I said, introducing himself before I knew what I was doing. At the moment it felt like the right thing to do. "He's my...." I winced. "Acquaintance."

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Bon," she said holding out her hand. Bon shook it happily, smiling like always. "I'm Maryanne."

"Pleasure," he said.

"Can I get you two anything?" she asked. "Or all you all set?"

"We're all set," I said. "Where's Charlene?"

"Out sick again," Maryanne groaned. "I've been covering her shift every day for a week. She must have mono or something 'cause she's been out of work forever." Maryanne and Charlene had been working here as long as I could remember. Joe looked at them like his sisters since they were all the same age. I would have believed they went to school together if you told me. "But I'm getting paid double so I can't complain too much."

"Got your coffees, Maryanne," Joe said sliding three mugs at her on a tray. Maryanne took the tray and balanced it on one hand. She winked at Bon and turned on her heel.

"Ya' know everyone here?" Bon asked. I shrugged.

"Kind of, yeah," I said. I'd been coming here so often that I just sort of....mingled. Bon nodded. The smell of waffles cooking got my attention and I finished my pie, hoping it would satiate my hunger. Bon and I finished our coffees at the same time and Bon reached for his wallet.

"I can pay if ya' want," he said. "Seems like the nice thing to do, ya' know?"

At first I was about to stop him and insist on paying for myself. Then I got to thinking...I got a free meal. I got to eat without paying a cent if I let him go through with it. Part of me thought I was being rude by taking advantage of his generosity. The other part acknowledged that he offered to pay and I wasn't forcing him to do anything. I'd let it slide just this once. "Thank you," I said.

Bon emptied some notes out on the counter as Joe got started on the eggs. I still wasn't entirely full but it was easier to stop now and leave. And I couldn't have Bon spend even more on me. Guilt threatened to hang over my head the rest of the day if I tried. I stood from the counter and Bon stood up with me. Making sure Bon knew this is where our date ended, I held my hand out for him to shake.

"Well, Bon, it was nice seeing you again," I said in spite of Bon's confused expression. "I ought to be getting home and get some sleep."

"I could walk ya' home if ya' wanted," he said and I shook my head.

"No, no, that's okay," I said, my voice shaking. Having Bon see the decrepit apartment I lived in wasn't something I needed in my life. The entire building was a bit run down and my place was the worst. Bon didn't seem like a judge of character based on material possessions but I wasn't willing to risk it. I had enough on my plate as it was, I didn't need anyone on my case. "Goodbye, Bon." I waved at him, bumping into a table as I left, a couple menus scattering to the floor.