We pull into Paul's place and I start gawking around "We ARE NOT meeting him, are We?"

"Who?"

"Paul, we're at Paul's so pretty logical I would say- PAUL.... not really like George is here now is it. George ISN'T here is he?"

"Are you nervous to meet him" Abe looked at me and laughed uproarishly. I usually like his laugh but today I felt like punching him the pie-hole. "You are! The Rat is nervous!"

We pull round the back of the compound far from the main house. The building we are behind is huge two storey and modern a rich red brick, stained timber surrounding its windows. Abe gets out and opens my door as I squint up at the windows and around the complex. "Come on you loopy nit"

He saunters into the double doors and I follow him, nervous to what's inside.

It's one thing being a big head in my correspondence, another to being that person in real life. I'm a tough cookie for the most part I scare most people cause I don't take a step back. But I don't usually know the people I am pig headed with.
If I know them I am comfortable and give them witty lines and sarcasm or if I know of them, I am- I don't know, quieter? Reserved? watching them do their thing.

Brian sat at the table cleaning his guitar "Brian you ugly mug" There I go again with my brand of witty sarcastic.

"Rat, get the dosh?"

"Yes thank-you"

"Yes bought vodka" Abe opened his big mouth. "But didn't open it" I must remember to check that detail...

"Well as long as you got some food"

"Sure bread and peanut butter! Hi Rust"

"Hey love, how's the shoulder?"

"Arr good, can't drum longer than around two hours I've worked out, oh well I'll get it back!"

They all looked at each other with a weird look. They seemed to be having a silent conversation between themselves.

"Rat have a look here" Abe was walking towards the back of the room a shining monster of a drum kit was set up "Like it?"

"Sure, she's beautiful" I walked around the set and checked out the double kick and snares, the cymbals were basically brand new. I spotted Abe's favourite sticker covered water bottle "She's a beauty - made for you, mate!" I smiled at him and gave him a hug, happy he has a job that is more hobby.

"Have a bang"

"One does not bang!" I talked in a posh voice and sat on the stool, it was great but everything was off.

"Go on"

"I can't - it's off"

"What?"

"Your big frame, you're a foot taller remember - this is set wrong for me- that reminds me, I need to re seat your kit at home!"

Oh- change it round then Rat"

"Are you sure!?" But I only waited a micro-millisecond before I set to work moving everything, setting the snares and drums at my position, the stool closer to the set.

"Go on, haven't got all day"

"You're sure, wont it upset Real Paul? Noise"

"We are well back of the house, this is a sound proof room if the doors are shut and Real Paul is a musician- if he didn't hear music he would go mad!"

I sat down and checked it all again, Abe wandered off to talk to Brian and Rusty. Nix was no where around maybe he was back with his fam after the tour.

I started off slowly checking the set was tuned. I fiddled, tightening the screws  to tune the drumheads and re-checked everything again, and again.

Perfect.

I saw Brian and Rusty finished cleaning and holding their guitars to me in question. A jam why not. I picked some girly songs I hadn't had a chance to hear in public with a band. I had only practiced them in my room, sorry Abe's room.