“Yes mum…” I laughed on the phone. “Yes…yes it’s just for a few days. I know…O…okay…okay, mum. I love you too, bye.” I eagerly hung up the phone and scurried around my flat quickly. I didn’t have long before it was time to leave. It was Thursday mornin’ and the time was 9:22. I was skippin’ my classes today and I admit, I was gettin’ a bit of a rush from that. I had also arranged for someone to cover my shift at the gallery for today and Friday.  We had to have the wheels rollin’ by 9:30 because it was six hour drive to the college town in which we were headed.  I honestly wasn’t sure how drivin’ six hours outside of Kensington was gonna help get some exposure for the band but it didn’t really matter. Our four day trip had turned into a three day trip because one of the on-campus promoters cancelled an event Rogers’ band was supposed to play.

 I ran over to my bedroom where I had an open suitcase on my bed. Suddenly…I remembered. “Shit! 9:30…” Well, it wasn’t yet but it was close. I ran into my bathroom where I had a large open cosmetic bag jammed full. I dug though it, findin’ the container I was lookin’ for. I popped a pill out of it and threw it my mouth, taking a drink from the sink. I zipped my bag, hopin’ and prayin I had remembered everything in the bathroom. I threw it into my larger suitcase. I had five outfits hangin’ on the door of my walk-in closet. I had never decided on any of them so I pulled them all off of their hangers and threw them into the suitcase. I looked at my dresser…I had so much lined up and so I threw everything haphazardly into the suitcase as well. I exasperatedly looked at it layin’ there on my bed in a state of disarray…I knew there was no way in hell it would close…I needed somethin’ else.  I rushed into my closet, looking around for somethin’ else to pack in. I found a medium sized train case I had had for some time. This would work perfectly.

 I hustled back out to my bed and threw some of the contents of my suitcase into the train case. “Oh, I need another outfit…” I said out loud to myself. I opened up one of my drawers and grabbed somethin’ else…just in case. I closed everythin’ up and carried my luggage to my door. I returned to my bedroom where I stood before my full length mirror. I adjusted my blouse, messin’ with all the buttons on it before loosely wrappin’ a scarf around my neck and pullin’ my long hair out from under it.

 I heard the buzzer on the autophone and it startled me because I was runnin’ around so frantically. I hurried over to my intercom button.

 “Is this the travelin’ act?” I asked. There was laughter on the other end.

 “I’m comin’ up to help you with your stuff… ‘kay?” Roger was out of breath.

 “Come on up, I’m ready.” I pressed the buzzer, opened up my door and rushed back into the bathroom realizin’ I’d forgotten my perfume. I quickly doused myself in it, fannin’ my body in a cloud of mist. I turned out the lights in my bedroom and in the bathroom and slung my purse on my shoulder. I threw my sunglasses in the bottom of it, knowing I would need them when we got to the sidewalk. I had no idea where I had put my pack of cigarettes or my lighter but I knew I had them somewhere. I heard the elevator ding in the hallway as I quickly counted the money I had crammed into the clutch that was in my purse. I pulled my compact out and worked on my lip gloss, daubing it on quickly. Roger appeared at the doorway rapping his fingers on the frame. He smiled all over and raised his eyebrows.

 "Oh, damn…you look amazin’.” He said. I laughed at him and outstretched my arms.

 “Thank you.” I kissed him and threw my arms around him. “You excited for tonight?” I asked.

 “Are you kiddin’? I can’t wait. You gotta’ help us hope for a big crowd tonight. C’mon. I’ll help you get your stuff.” I let go of him and Roger picked up my large suitcase while I grabbed the train case and my key.

 “Alright, sweetheart, I’m all set!” Roger took my suitcase into the hallway and I followed, locking the door behind me.

 “My god! What do you have in here? This is as heavy as my bass drum.” He commented. I laughed at him as we made out way to the elevator.

 “I may have overpacked.” I admitted as we stepped onto the elevator. He stole another kiss from me as we headed to the bottom floor.

 “I’m so excited for these three days with you. We’re gonna’ have the best party tonight.” He assured me. I laughed again.

 “Oh, I’m sure we will.” The elevator doors flew open and we headed for the door. The Thursday morning light burned through the clouds and enveloped me in a radiance I had only recently begun to appreciate. There it was; the white six passenger van parked right in front of the door. It already looked like it was loaded down.

 The sliding door of the van opened and Roger and I sat my luggage down behind the van. “Well, well…it’s been some time since I’ve seen you, love. My god, you look fabulous! It’s like someone ripped you right out of a magazine! Christ, look at this hair! Those big curls! Oh, can I touch them?” Freddie greeted me with much enthusiasm as he flailed his hands in the air with excitement. The past times I had met him our interactions were extremely limited. I laughed at him.

 “Thank you…and…I don’t see why not.” I answered him, smiling. He immediately dug his hands into my hair.

 “Oh! So soft! Just so perfectly soft. And to think, I thought Roger was the pretty one…but you…you are a fox. C’mon, darling I’ll help you with ya’ luggage. Rog and I will throw it back here with us.” He explained opening the back doors of the van. At least five things fell out when he opened the side by side doors. “Shit…apparently we need to rework this Roger.” Freddie said looking at him.

 “I told you not to put John’s base on top! It needs to go under the hihat.” Roger told Freddie.

“Alright, well you work on that… Lydia, you’re sitting with Veronica on the bench up there. John’s driving, Brian is co-pilot.” Freddie instructed me.

 "I can help you with…”

 “No! No! Sit. Don’t mess those beautiful big curls.” Freddie interrupted me and pointed to the sliding door that was open. I took my sunglasses off and looked inside.

 “Nice to see you again, Lydia.” John said from the drivers’ seat.

 “Hello John, oh, hi Brian….oh my god, you must be Veronica.” I asked extending my hand and sliding across the bench.

 “Hi, it’s really nice to finally get to meet you. I’ve heard so much about ya’. “ Veronica shook my hand. “Wow…I love ya’ clothes…you smell nice.” Veronica said rather excitedly. Veronica was John’s girlfriend. I had no idea how long they had been together. She had fair skin and reddish-brown hair. It was long and her eyes looked like they were hazel or something like that. She had a bright happiness in her face.

 "Alright, we’re all set.” Roger called from the back. The third row seat had been removed and in it’s place was so much stuff it was ridiculous. In fact, there were mike stands nearly impaling Veronica’s on her side of the van.

 “Excuse me loves.” Freddie said to us as he dove in between Veronica and I into the back where Roger was. Somehow they had managed to carve out a place on top of everythin’ to sit…err…lay…err…something in between those two. There were endless cords in the floor under the bench seat where Veronica and I sat.  John started the van and we were officially on our way.

 “Brian, you gotta’ tell me the route once we get to the north side of the city.” John told him.

 “Got the map right here.” Brian held it up. “Lydia, sorry this van is a bit beat up but at least it runs.” He told me.

 “Oh, I don’t mind. Looks like it couldn’t be jammed any fuller though.” I said. I turned around.

 “Are you sure, that’s gonna’ work for the next six hours.” I reached for Roger’s hand.

 “Don’t worry about me. It’ll be fine.” He assured me, kissing my hand.

 “Oh please, Lydia…don’t worry about his arse! He doesn’t way a hundred pounds wet! Of all of us, he’s the most logical choice to be stuck back here!” Freddie ranted. I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt a wave of excitement overcome me as we left my flat and began our road trip.