"Marley Emerson, female, brown hair and...blue eyes?" The officer furrowed his brow behind his sunglasses staring into Marley's obviously dark brown eyes. 

"I forgot to take my contacts out," Marley admitted, grimacing with guilt. She ran her hands across the wheel, thinking of all the profanities her mother would shout when she got back home. 

"Hmm..." The officer straightened back up and looked over her license again. "Twenty two years old, birthday June seventh...oh! Not a good birthday for you, is it?" Marley sighed. No, it wasn't. 

After waking up late for work, Marley rushed out the front door still wearing her pink bunny slippers. As she changed into her correct footwear, a pair of black flats, she closed the car door on her jacket, and took a good seven minutes removing it. Her mother waved goodbye from the front door in her bathrobe and hair curlers, narrowly missing her farewell. Giving a half-hearted wave in return, she sped down the street to the town library. But as her luck would have it, a police car had parked itself behind a cluster of trashcans and noticed her reckless getaway. 

Marley really hated Mondays.

"I'm  real sorry about this," the officer replied."

"No, I shouldn't have been speeding," Marley said. What she should have done, was set her alarm. 

"I'll be right back." The officer took her license with him back to his car, leaving Marley alone to beat herself up. Two years working at that library, and not one day had she been late. Called in sick sure, but never behind time. Perhaps she'd be let off easier then? She could only hope. 

Marley leaned back in her seat, the sun glaring through her windshield.  Her car was still running, Marley's secret hope that she'd be let off the hook and could quickly get back on the road to work. Reaching for the dial, she turned the volume up on the radio, a scratchy voice on the other end. 

"...Lotta Love by Led Zeppelin, seems everyone is listening to Led Zeppelin nowadays, doesn't it, Marcie?"

"It does! Just the other day I was cooking dinner and called my daughter in to eat when she came out of her room holding a Zeppelin record, it reminded me of my younger days with my Buddy Holly records, you know what I mean, Jim?"

"I sure do. Now! Next on the list is a band from the underside of the globe, by name of AC/DC, they've really brought a new kick to the rock and roll sound, haven't they, Marcie?"

"I haven't been to any of their concerts, Jim, but I've heard them enough to know they're good..."

Marley's memory from a year ago came rushing back. Annie Benson, her blonde best friend came hopping over her fence one day with the urgent news to turn the radio on. Apparently, the greatest band in the world since the Beatles was playing, and Marley must not miss it. Sitting on Marley's bedroom floor with the radio playing between them, Marley had to admit they weren't bad. This lead to a quick check at the nearest record store for any leftover albums. Annie took High Voltage letting Marley grab Powerage, with the idea that they could swap records and listen to as many songs as possible on their low wages.

"...this Friday they're playing a concert in Los Angeles, and tickets for the eight o'clock show are still available for anyone trying to get a seat..." Marley wondered how on earth the band hadn't sold out yet, being one of the most famous in the running. Annie would be begging Marley to go with her, to spend her entire paycheck on two tickets for the concert, plus two plane tickets for a flight from San Francisco. Not to mention a motel room. Librarians didn't make enough for such luxuries. "...here with their hit song, Sin City-"

Marley turned the radio down as the officer returned to her window with her license in his hand. "Well, you seem to be clear of any other misdemeanors," he said handing it back to her. A shaking hand took it from him and placed it on the seat next to her. "I'll let you off this time, but next time-" He pointed a finger at her. "Where are you headed anyway?" 

"Work," Marley answered with a smile. 

"You work as a race car driver?" the officer laughed.

"Librarian," she answered. "Thank you so much, sir, I'll be careful next time." Returning her smile, he bid her a good day and hopped back in his patrol car, accelerating out of the shoulder and onto open traffic. Running a hand over her hair, thankful for the simple warning, Marley switched gears on her Volkswagen Beetle, and followed the officer's trail. 

Feeling slightly happier on her twenty second birthday, Marley turned the radio back up and hummed along to the music.

The bell rang over the door catching Abigail's attention. There standing before her was a young, rather sweaty woman throwing her purse behind the desk and grabbing her book cart from the storage closet. "You're late," Abigail hummed over her Cosmo.

"I know, I got pulled over for speeding," she answered wheeling the cart over the carpet. One wheel had broken the week prior, refusing to turn and driving Marley crazy. "It won't happen again, I promise."

"Just teasin' ya' love, I know you didn't mean it." Abigail set her magazine down and stood from her desk, stretching her arms out in front of her. "You can start by returning those books to their proper shelves, they were all returned late this morning."

"All of them?"

"It's the kids these days, they do nothing but sit at home and listen to Tin Blimp on the radio, waiting for the world to do the work for 'em."

Marley placed the pile of books on the cart, nearly dropping one on the floor. "If they're taking books out of the library they can't be wasting all their time on music," she said. "And maybe this is their first time, just like it was my first time being late."

Abigail sat down again and adjusted her glasses, the chain swinging back and forth. "Maybe you're right, but it's still frustrating. If they can read the entirety of War and Peace, they can read the due date printed on their card." Marley giggled, making her way to the fiction section.

The library was a quaint little place. It stood on top of a hill, overlooking a clean view of San Francisco. There was a grove of trees nearby for a bit of outdoor reading, and a decent pizza place across the street. Designed and built almost a hundred years ago, the building had seen some rough times. Broken plaster, cracked stone steps, and shelves of toppled books all from the earthquakes that ravaged the city. With pride it remained standing, however, and was a great place to visit on rainy days.

Marley got used to the job quickly on her first day two years ago. Recently dropped out of college to pursue a more fulfilling career of article writing, she struggled to find work willing to give vagabond dreamers like her a try. Abigail took pity on her, she was sure of it, and was indeed quite impressed with her ability to name every book Hemingway had ever written. But what Marley thought had really gotten her the job, was the pan of brownies she had baked as a thank you for the interview. 

She swore Abigail gained six pounds that day. 

A few comic books were tucked in the pile of books, forcing Marley to spin her cart around and head for the other side of the lobby. The shelves were narrow, and difficult to steer around. More than once she knocked something over, quietly swearing as she bent down to pick it up. "Everything okay over there?" Abigail called over.

"Peachy," Marley mumbled wiping the sweat off her forehead. 

"Oh! Happy birthday!" Marley smiled at the sudden reminder.

"Thank you, Abby," she shouted. As the last day of school drew closer, more kids desired to go outside, rather than visit the library where they spent most of the school year writing essays and book reports. Marley shuddered, remembering her choice to leave school in the first place. Being one of two women in the vicinity present, speaking above a low volume was accepted. 

Until Annie Benson walked in.

"Helllllooooo!"

"Oh no," Marley whispered scanning the shelf for the last book's spot. 

"Yoo hoo, Marley?"

"Coming!" The wheel caught itself behind a wooden chair and Marley kicked it away as she hurried to the storage closet.

"Why if it isn't the rooster of San Francisco," Abigail smiled as she greeted Annie over her magazine. "And..." She mentally counted. "Her six guests..."

"Good morning, Abby, is Marley slacking off?"

"Just a little late this morning, no harm done." Abigail kept her eyes peeled to the six dogs standing in her library lobby: a Greyhound, a Toy Poodle, a Shih Tzu, a Golden Retriever, and two identical German Shepherds. All attached by the collar to six leashes hooked on one belt around Annie's waist. The Goldie had its tongue out, staring right back at Abigail with black eyes. Abigail shifted uncomfortably.

"MARLEY!"

Abigail started as Marley came running back to her desk, nearly dropping on the floor upon seeing the canine parade. "What are you doing?"

"Taking my dogs for a walk, like I always do," Annie shrugged. 

"You know dogs aren't allowed in here!"

"I couldn't leave them outside now, could I? Suppose one of them spots a paper boy across the street and takes of running, and the poor guy has to peddle his bike like a madman trying to get away from Fido and friends while I lose my dog walking job." Annie pet the Greyhound on the ears. "Mr. Johnston couldn't stand it if his little Roger went missing."

Kneeling down to pet the dogs, Marley sighed. Animals were absolute cherubs in her eyes, especially dogs. But the library had a strict no dog policy hanging on the front door. And Marley Emerson was not one to break the rules. 

"I'm sorry, Annie, but you'll have to take the dogs outside-"

"This will just take a second, Marley!" Annie begged. "Look. Guess who's birthday is today, and guess who's getting a present in T minus ten seconds?"

Marley gave Annie a look. "Oh gee, that's a tough one!"

"Here, close your eyes. Don't open until I say so, and no peeking!"

Thinking it wiser to go along with Annie's antics, Marley closed her eyes.

"Hold out your hand."

Marley did so.

"Marley Jane Emerson, happy twenty second birthday from all of us to you." Marley could swear Annie gestured to the dogs. One of them sneezed. "Open your eyes!"

In Marley's outstretched hand lay two small pieces of paper, each bearing the letters AC/DC on them. Two seats booked for the eight o'clock show in Los Angeles that Friday. "Oh my goodness..."

"I saved every last cent I earned on this job cleaning dog shit to buy these, I think I deserve more than a thank goodness!"

"Thank you, Annie!" Giving her a hug, Marley's smiled faded. "You know I really would love to have these-"

"Oh don't do this to me!" Annie wailed.

"What?"

"Don't try giving them back, don't try getting out of this, I waited four hours in line to get these tickets!" Annie explained. Roger began tugging on his leash. "I walked these sons of bitches for an hour every day for three weeks and spent everything I earned on these things." She held Roger in his place. "Not now, Roger. Please don't make me regret every decision I made. You know I almost bought that dress from Neiman Marcus instead."

"Annie, it's almost a seven hour flight to Los Angeles, you know this!" Annie groaned in annoyance. "I can't just take off like that, and neither can you! We need this money, we'll just have to wait until they can play at a closer venue."

"Wait what, five, ten years?" Annie asked. "Wait until they're all married with kids and don't want to play anymore?"

"You're overreacting."

"And you're aggravating! Roger, hold still! If you won't take them, I'll find someone else to go with me, and we'll have a splendid time watching our favorite band, singing our favorite songs, staying at our favorite hotel and stealing all our favorite soaps! So there!" Annie crossed her arms and pouted like a three year old. Marley wasn't threatened in the least. 

"Annie-"

"You're an ungrateful little imp, you know that?"

"I'm sorry, Annie, flattery won't work!" Marley turned on her heel to her desk where Abigail had fallen asleep with her magazine covering her face, snoring. Annie followed her, the dogs trotting along beside her. "My parents would never let me leave like that, and I can't take work off like you can, Abigail can't run this place alone!"

"Sure she can! Just put some sunglasses on her and say she's reading." Abigail snored like a train. "As for your parents, well, you are twenty two years old now."

"And still lives at home trying to earn money after dropping out of college! Going to concerts would be a completely irresponsible move!" Marley knew her parents would be abhorred to watch their daughter take off on a plane by herself to see some rock and roll show. Perhaps Annie's parents were loose, but not everyone could be so lucky. 

"Please? I'll die on your floor if you don't go," Annie threatened. Resisting the overwhelming urge to roll her eyes, Marley simply ignored her feeble plea. "Here I go!" Attempting to lie on the floor with six dogs attached to her waist was not an easy feat, and Annie had to comically accept this fact. 

Not that Marley didn't want to see her favorite band live. It just wasn't realistic. With a full time job working toward her goal of buying her own apartment, Marley was a long time away from reaching it. The trip would take at least a week with Annie wanting to explore the glamorous city of Los Angeles while they were there. After all, celebrities and rich people swarmed the streets, not to mention the tourist hot spots swimming in smog. 

Marley wasn't tempted in the slightest. But while Annie continued her attempt at collapsing dramatically on the floor and tripping over the Poodle, Marley looked at the tickets in her hand. For all she knew, there was no way she was getting this chance again. Perhaps if she could convince Annie to keep their trip to a maximum of two days, and if her parents would listen to reason, and if Abigail was sure she could run the library...

With these intense crowds of people capsizing the place...

"In a minute, Roger, I'm busy dying."

"Alright, I'll go." Annie looked up.

"Really?" Marley smiled.

"If I can get my parents to say yes," she said organizing a stack of place cards. "if I can get some time off work, two days at the most!" she said before Annie could protest. "and if I can get-"

"God to part the waters, mhm."

"...enough money to pay for a plane and motel," Marley finished.

"Oh don't worry about that, we're not taking a plane," Annie said pulling her dog belt up. The Goldie sniffed her shoe while the Shih Tzu settled down for a nap. "My brother lent me his station wagon, we can take that."

"But-that's almost a three day drive!"

"So? I can make the trip with enough coffee."

Marley sighed again, fixing the hair bow that had slipped from her head. "Alright then, a week at the most! No exceptions!" Annie's face of utter excitement made Marley laugh. "I'll go, I'll go."

"Good. We don't have to stay at any five star hotel, just a place to sleep will be enough. We'll leave on Wednesday, alright? Should give us plenty of time to-oh, fuck!"

"What?" Marley asked surprised.

"Oh, clean up on aisle twelve!" Annie groaned, frowning at her now drenched shoe. Marley threw her head back in laughter. "Oh, Roger!"

The front door closed noisily behind her, Marley too tired to bother. After a long day of helping four whole customers find specific books, Abigail let her go and even granted her the week long vacation. Throwing her jacket on the couch she made for the kitchen pantry and pulled out a box of crackers.

"You ought to have more than that to eat on your birthday!"

Almost dropping the crackers in a fit of surprise, Marley closed the pantry door to see her mother standing next to her, her bathrobe replaced with a feminine suit. "You scared me!"

"Sorry, honey, next time I'll...knock," she answered taking a seat at the kitchen table. "There's a pizza in the oven and ice cream in the freezer. I've been given the late shift, so I'll have to miss your party."

"Don't worry, Dad will still be here."

"I'm afraid he works late tonight," her mother apologized. "I'm sorry, Marley."

"Oh..." Marley's head lowered at the news. She stared at her box of crackers instead of her mother. "Well...that's okay, I can throw my own party."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure, I'm old enough, I'm not disappointed." But she sure was nervous. "Listen, uh, can I ask you something?" Mrs. Emerson stood from the table to check the oven. A bit of light smoke billowed out of it.

"I think it's done. Ask away, then."

Marley rubbed her hands together. With the late spring heat, the oven, and the upcoming question it was no wonder she had begun to sweat again. "I was wondering if I could go somewhere for my birthday."

Her mother closed the oven. "Go somewhere? Like-" She shrugged. "Like a movie? To a friend's?"

"A concert."

"Oh, sounds fun! When is it?"

"Friday." The pepperoni pizza, cooked to perfection, rested on the cooling rack while Mrs. Emerson grabbed a few plates from the cupboard. 

"That's perfect, your father and I can go out to dinner then. Will you be back in time for a movie night?" There it was.

"Well-" Marley swallowed. She twisted the watch sitting on her wrist. It seemed to be ticking backwards. "It's pretty far from home. B-but Annie said she'd drive us."

"Far from home, where is it?"

"Los Angeles." Marley couldn't read her mother's expression. The following conversation exchanged so quickly and so quietly that only a small, estimated manuscript was recovered. 

"Los Angeles?" she asked quietly. "Annie's driving?"

"Yes."

"In what car?"

"Her brother's station wagon."

"Who's all going?"

"Me and Annie, that's it."

"Where are you staying?"

"In a motel when we get there, I've got the money for it. I am twenty two years old now, aren't I?" Mrs. Emerson didn't think she was so sure anymore.

"This band can't play anywhere closer?" she asked.

"I guess not this time, they're really busy. Look-" Marley pulled the tickets from her pocket, both of them perfectly crisp and without blemish. "Annie bought them herself, all I have to do is pay for the motel. Annie's brother covered the gas."

Boy, was she convincing. Thinking she could have studied her way into law school, Marley anxiously awaited her mother's answer. 

"How long will you be gone?"

"A week at the most, I promise." Marley put the tickets back in her pocket and rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet. The pizza was getting cold. "I promise."

Mrs. Emerson sighed. "Well, alright, if you really want to, and if you've put this much thought into this...I guess I can't stop you. What band is it?"

"AC/DC."

"Isn't that the band from New Zealand?" her mother asked.

"Australia, actually." Marley took a plate from the counter and took three pieces of pizza. "The show starts at eight, then we'll come straight home."

"Why can't you kids go to a real concert, like Elvis?"

Marley wondered whether she should break the news or not. "Elvis passed away last year, Mom."

"Oh, damn," she said taking food for herself. "Guess that ruins any of my future plans. Well, I guess music changes every year or so, huh?" Giving her daughter a smile, she took a bite. "You two have fun then."

"Thanks, Mom, we will. We're leaving Wednesday so I have time to say goodbye."

"Good. Can't have our daughter running away from us, now can we?"