"I look ridiculous."

"You look great."

"Says the girl who dyed her hair with Kool-aid..."

"Shut up, it worked out fine. And you don't look ridiculous." Vee spun the chair around to see my face clearly. I saw hers frown a bit. "Just...don't go out in direct sunlight too much."

I rolled my eyes at her and faced the mirror again. What was supposed to be a new hairstyle from a magazine Vee found, instructions included, turned out to be a failed science experiment. The grimace on my face, though going quite well with my new look, didn't reach the standards Vee held for my attitude. "It looks awful."

"Maybe because you're the one wearing it," she muttered, putting a hand to her chin and observing me like a vulture. I shrunk in the chair and looked at my watch, stressful, but a better view than the face in the mirror. It was gone in an instant and met with one not much nicer, as Vee spun my chair around to face her thinking frown. Hoping that whatever thoughts coursed her brain didn't involve a pair of scissors, I sighed in relief when she grabbed a comb and raked through it instead, but held my breath when it began to hurt.

"What on earth are you doing now?" I asked.

"Making it better. We have..." She checked her own watch. "Fifteen minutes before the guys are supposed to pick you up. Which means I've got to get to work." A few more violent tugs and she finally stopped, her actions growing slower. I looked up at her. "The guys are the ones picking you up...right?"

I shrugged. "That's what the man on the phone said. But who knows, there's always a catch with one of these contests." I sat back waiting for Vee to finish her maiming-uh, excuse me, taming of my hair, and when she didn't I looked back at her again. "What?"

Her comb was suspended over the vanity table. Her eyes were staring into the mirror, at the reflection of her bag of supplies she brought over. Tilting her head, she finally set the comb down. "Hannah...what if, this isn't actually-" I raised an eyebrow. "Ya' know, real?"

"How so?"

"You know how so, people are always pretending to run contests over the phone, it could be some crazy guy or this-John Johnson or whoever you talked to-could have been some punk pulling a prank."

"Try saying that five times fast," I mumbled with a grin. "I don't think it's a trend to be pretending to host contests over the phone...but I won't say you're wrong."

"I don't want you getting hurt."

I rubbed my leg. The brace from the doctor was lying across my bed on the other side of the room, waiting to be put on. Getting hurt already happened, and I did not need to endure any more pain. If this was a real deal contest that I had won, all the walking would do me in anyway. But Vee was right. I was suddenly glad she was there with me, in case there happened to be trouble when I got picked up. If I got picked up.

It was a quarter to five, when the band or whoever was coming was supposed to be there. In record time my hair was calmed down to look acceptable, and Vee grabbed my brace for me from the bed. "Do you need help?"

"It's alright, I got it." I stuck my leg through and brought the metal ends together but it wouldn't snap in place like it had for the doctor yesterday. My hands stung from prying it closed, and the metal burned through my fingertips. I looked up at Vee, who was cleaning up the mess of hair that had accumulated on the desktop, her lips in a thin line. I knew she had been watching me struggle. Releasing my grip I let the braces rest on my leg and stretched it out. "I suppose two more hands wouldn't hurt."

"I thought so." Throwing the hair in the garbage can, she knelt beside the chair and gripped the braces, pushing one side while I pushed the other. Her face was set in such concentration that I couldn't help but laugh, losing my grip. "Shut up," she mumbled, the brace snapping in place. Trouble is, it snapped rather hard, and one of my fingers happened to be in the way. "Oh, are you okay?" she asked when she saw my widening eyes.

"It's alright,-it's what I get, eh?" I gasped, shaking the pain out of it. It didn't bleed, but it felt like it would at any second. Standing up was a struggle on its own; the brace was not yet accustomed to the way my legs are, and it refused to act accordingly, making my journey one of most discomfort. I grabbed the desk and Vee's shoulder with my hands and pushed myself up, stumbling on one foot, then straightening out to head out of the room and pulling back the blinds on the living room window. It hadn't been sunny enough to keep them open. No sign of a truck, bus, or car coming down the street did I see, but then again, I wasn't sure what to expect. Surely the band was famous and wealthy enough to afford their own plane by now, but then again, it didn't seem likely that a jet was going to land in the middle of the street, did it?

"They here yet?" Vee asked, causing me to almost tear the blinds as I let go. She was there, over my shoulder, looking at me with innocent eyes. "What?" she asked at my scowl.

"It means another trip to the hospital for me if you do that again," I said easing my way around her to sit on the couch. My hand grasped my heart and felt it pounding, faster than when my finger had been pinched, yet not so quick as it had been upon seeing Vee consider taking scissors to my hair. She sat down next to me after watching out the window herself for a few minutes. I rubbed my hands together. "This is the day, huh?"

"The day your life changes for the better?" she asked. "Absolutely. You're not making a mistake doing this, you know."

"I know, I know, but I'm still nervous."

"Of course you are! Who wouldn't be?" Her mind must have reverted back to the topic earlier, as her face turned to one of downcast thoughts.

"What?" I asked.

"Oh-nothing," she excused. "Nothing you haven't heard before. Just-" Her hands found her hair and she began to play with it, in a way that's considered a pet peeve to everyone else, but you let it slide so they can relax themselves. "What if this is all a trick?"

"Then I got seriously ripped off about my Chinese noodles," I laughed to myself. "And my bosses wouldn't be happy that they're out one employee."

"I'd be upset I ever talked you into it."

"Well, who's to say, huh?" I asked. "You're always telling me to take chances, and what has that led me to?"

"A broken leg?"

"Yes," I said, remembering when Vee suggested roofing as a good job when I asked. "And?"

"A tour with a famous band that may or may not be on their way to kidnap you?"

"You're starting to bum me out, Vee," I said making a face. She laughed at it. "What I mean is, I'm ready to take a chance now, provided of course, you're with me."

"All the way," she smiled.

"There," I said standing up as best as I could. "If we're by each other, we'll have a better chance of getting out if there should be any tricks. Right?" My words seemed to calm her down, so why couldn't they calm me down?

"Who's gonna be the shield if we have to fight?" she joked. I shrugged.

"Rock paper scissors?" I suggested.

"Coin flip?"

A nasty noise outside sent us both jumping out of our skins. Like a gunshot it hit the clouds, and then the outside was silent. I don't know whether or not I would have felt better had the blinds been open. Vee stood up and ran behind me, her hands on my shoulders. "You've got a brace, that's like a bullet proof limb!"

"And if it should miss, and hit my leg?" I whispered back, keeping one eye out on the window.

"Use it as a weapon first! Poison them with your cooking!" I rolled my eyes.

"Thanks, Vee." When a minute went by with no more sounds from outside, I made my way slowly to the window, limping every other step. Vee was still standing behind me, shaking like a leaf. I pulled back a blind and saw an empty street as I had seen before. Then turning to the right, I saw an old, brown van parked by the curb. The windows were black and the tires looked worn. No neighbor I knew had a car like that. "What a ride," I said.

"It's them?" Vee asked daring to step forward. I motioned her to join me at the window where we both pushed and shoved each other trying to get a good look. My arm was squeezed in between the couch and her elbow making me wince. "That's it?" she cried. "This has to be a trick! No band would own a car that-"

"Watch it, you just came back from Confession a week ago," I said, stopping her from uttering something she would regret. I looked back out at the van and suppressed a sneeze, the dust from the blinds greeting me. "Did a ghost drive that car, or what?" I asked when nobody stepped out of it.

"Maybe they're waiting for you," Vee suggested.

"I'm tellin' ya, this is the house."

"What's the card say, Phil?" The man in the passenger seat opened the glove box in front of him and began to rummage. The driver sighed when a collection of papers and various chip bags spilled out into his friend's lap. Not even thirty seconds until he was tired of waiting.

"Jesus, Phil, you couldn't keep it in your pocket?" he asked.

"If you haven't noticed, Mal, this ain't my car," Phil retorted, inspecting a pair of nail clippers and tossing them back inside.

"It ain't none of ours, but considering the real owner is a real slob..."

"Wait, here it is-" A man in the backseat, Brian by name, reached a hand into his jacket pocket, pulling out a small card, a sharp crease made from the lack of space. It was handed to the front of the car, Phil taking it with a slight frown. "Forgot, you gave it to me a bit ago."

"Well, if you ever need a snack while you wait, you know where to find them," Phil said slamming the glove box closed. Brushing the crumbs off his lap with one hand, he held the card up to his eyes with the other. Sloppy handwriting of an address marked it with blue ink, matching the house they were parked outside of. "Yeah, yeah this is it."

"Who's gettin' out?"

"I'll do it, I need the fresh air," Phil said already opening his door. A second door in the back opened up as well.

"I'll come with ya', it's the least I can do for holdin' us all up," Brian said as he stepped out of the car. Angus shifted away from Cliff, glad of the room he got from being stuck in the middle the entire drive. The car got smaller as the two men neared the house, unaware of one blind on the window turned slightly.

"What if she changes her mind?" Angus wondered, closing his eyes and relaxing in his seat, arms behind his head.

"Then someone else is drivin' us back, 'cause my legs are killin' me tryin' to reach the pedals," Malcolm said, tapping the wheel with his thumbs. I know a van can fit us better than a car, but damn it all the same."

"We could have gotten one of those cars they use for the circus," Angus suggested with a smile. "The ones that the little clowns use."

"I think we sell enough tee shirts, we don't need a car modeled after us too," Malcolm snickered. "Though I'm sure someone out there would buy one, with you as a hood ornament."

Cliff laughed to himself, watching Angus for his reaction. Angus only closed his eyes again. "Don't use any of those real strong glues," he mumbled, half asleep. "I don't quite like standin' still for too long, I might peel the paint off."

"Maybe we'll just keep ya' in the trunk," Malcolm said. "As a little surprise gift. "Gotta flat? Spare tire in back. Car won't start? Here's a jumper cable. Need a good time? Look no further." This time, Angus laughed along with Cliff.

At the door of the house, Phil and Brian checked the address once more, in case some older gentlemen with a lack of hygiene should answer the door instead. When both were congruent with the other, Phil knocked on the door and stuck the slip of paper in his own pocket, making sure to know exactly where it was. Brian leaned against the side of the house, looking it up and down. "Not bad," he said. "Not bad at all."

"Wonder how much this place costs," Phil said.

"Certainly more than our van cost Roger," Brian laughed. "He's glad to be rid of it for the day."

"As packed as it is, I'm sure it can fit the ghost that lives here," Phil said glancing around at the windows. "Wonder what's holdin' them up." Brian knocked this time, playing a little tune on the door. Behind the blinds, the two women watched closely.

"That's them all right," Hannah confirmed.

"They don't look dangerous," Vee said, looking them up and down with more than suspicion in her eyes. "Muscular, yes, dangerous...well, why don't we find out?"

"You're gross," Hannah said despite the snicker she hid behind her hand. With one hand she steadied herself on the wall, the other hand picked up her suitcase situated beside the black piano. With a slight wobble, she stood upright, and limped toward the door. "Should probably answer now, huh?"

"I'll say," Vee said still looking through the blinds. "Hey, take the one on the right, eh? The one on the left is more my type."

"No thanks, Vee, take any one of them you want." Hannah opened the door where the two men stood facing each other, having an engaging conversation.

Sometimes I wonder why I opened that door. "Geese and swans are not the same thing, swans have those long necks," the taller one said.

"Geese have long necks too, we saw them comin' up the highway," his companion said.

"Geese don't have long necks."

"Yes they do!"

"Those were swans we saw, Brian, ask anyone."

"Can I intervene?" I asked.

"Excuse us, Miss, this will only take a minute," the taller one spoke back at me. I crossed my arms and huffed, Vee staring back at me and shrugging. The shorter man standing outside the door had also crossed his arms, looking at his friend like he was an idiot. "I think you're thinking of ducks, the little ones with the shorter necks."

"I'm not thinkin' of anythin' but a goose, Phil," he answered. "You should know what one is, considerin' you look an' act just like 'em."

This was getting ridiculous. I put my fingers to my teeth and blew, but no sound came out. I've never been an excelled whistler, but now would have been a good time to practice. Again and again I tried to gain their attention but their pointless arguing had deafened them.

And because I can't whistle to save my life.

I don't know when the arguing stopped, all I remember is that I looked up with my fingers still between my teeth while the two men stared at me, each trying to think of a proper question. Straightening myself out, I attempted a proper smile. "You're both wrong," I corrected politely. "Swans and geese are not one and the same, but they both have long necks. After all, they are in the same family. Those must have been geese you saw as there are a lack of swans in this area, but I can see why you were confused..." My face must have been fire truck red as I swallowed, my crimson fever choking me. No one was talking anymore, and it must have been because of my smartass mouth. "Uh, sorry about that."

"No problem," the taller one said, still looking at me with narrowed eyes. "So." He looked behind me at the entry way then down at the suitcase in my hand. "This is it then?" he asked. "You're the one."

"Uh, yeah, this is me, and this is my stuff." I feebly lifted my suitcase up higher to show them, when my eyes cast a glance at Vee, who still watched me from the window, a look in her eyes that had laughed at my random knowledge about birds. I waved my hand at her and she came to stand by me. Her face turned just as red. "This is my friend, she'll be watching the house while I'm gone."

"Lucky her, gets this whole place to herself?" The man shook his head as he marveled at the size. "Sure beats the mystery machine on the street." He held his hand out to mine. "I'm Phil, that's Brian."

"How do ya' do, lass?" I shook Brian's hand next, and Vee mumbled something unintelligible, and most likely unintelligent. Who could blame her? Brian noticed her state and grinned, holding his hand out to her next. "And what's your friend's name?"

Once again she made some alien sound, and I stepped in for her. "This is Vee, spelled V-E-E, and she's a little nervous," I said, making sure she hadn't any drool on her mouth. There was a little, and I grimaced. "I guess we both are."

"That's all right, no need to be nervous. Van's parked just out front here, we'll put your stuff in the trunk, then, yeah?" Phil walked away from the front door taking one look at my suitcase. He stopped walking and frowned. Pushing Vee off my shoulder and making my way to follow, I saw him point at my leg. "What happened to you?"

I rubbed my leg, the top of my brace feeling cold against my fingers. "Oh, just a small roofing accident, it's nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing, you okay?"

"I will be, in a few months." I hobbled out a little quicker, hoping to get to the van without any more questions. The closer it got the faster my heart raced, and the dingier it looked. But anything was better than walking on the leg that gave me all kinds of pain. "I was supposed to have continuous doctor appointments about it, but ever since I won that contest I've been a bit less than eager to miss it for a tiny sprain."

"We don't want you puttin' pressure on yourself," Brian said, walking to catch up. Vee had snapped out of her shock and followed him, very closely I might add. "Yes, there's more drivin' than walkin', but still, that doesn't look comfortable."

"I can handle a small sprain, I have a brace! And look-" I reached into my pocket, pulling out a small bottle. "The doctor gave me some medicine yesterday, as long as I take this, I'll be fine." Both men looked at each other then back at me.

"You're sure?" Brian asked. "We don't want you to not enjoy yourself, I mean it is six months."

"Don't worry about me, I'm taking the chance of a lifetime! I just might need a boost getting into the car," I mumbled continuing my limping toward the waiting vehicle. The driver's door opened and out came the smallest man I had ever seen. He walked around the van and smiled when he saw the four of us.

"There you are, thought the boys got kidnapped," he said opening the trunk for us. My suitcase was taken from my hands and stuffed in the back, where there was also a guitar case and a snare drum draped in a purple cloth. He rearranged their positions to get it all to fit. "Sorry about our transportation, we didn't want to attract attention to ourselves, or you. A friend lent us this van, and while it's a complete piece of shit, the gasoline is paid for, so."

The man closed the door of the trunk when Phil pulled him aside. "Mal, we ought to let you know, this girl has a slight injury."

"What'd you do, knock her head instead of the door?"

Phil put a finger to his lips to keep him quiet. Both looked back at me, and that's when Malcolm spotted my leg.

"Shit, you okay?"

"It's just a result of my clumsiness, it'll be better in a couple of months," I said waving him off. Malcolm gave Phil a look, at which Phil shrugged.

"All right, if you say so. The boys are inside, come on, I'll help you in."

I turned around and saw Vee, standing there with her hands in her pockets and a small smile on her face. And-I'll never be sure, but I thought I saw the faintest tear in one of those brown eyes. Limping over to her I hugged her, and she gladly returned it. "You be good, okay?" she asked me.

"Tell that to the men, not me," I laughed. "Now remember, this isn't your house, and it's not mine either. So if you blow it up-"

"I won't, I won't, Scout's Honor," she said, saluting me. I gave her one last hug then turned to limp back to the van. Malcolm noticed my stride and pushed the back door open a little wider as he went to my side, and helped me up.

Let me say the back was cramped. Two other men were seated next to each other, one scooting even closer to the other one to make room. Forget what I said before, he was the smallest man I'd ever seen. They both politely nodded at me as I sat down next to them, with Brian opening up the other back door and squeezing in on my other side. Phil opened up the passenger side and Malcolm took to the wheel, nearly slamming the door on his thumb, then grabbing the seat belt. I noticed there wasn't enough for us in the back, and no one seemed to be wearing one anyway.

"So, you're the one we heard about, yeah?" the small one asked me.

"The contest winner?" his friend asked.

"Yeah," I smiled. "Yeah, that's me."

"Nice to meet ya', I'm Angus, this here's Cliff, an' you met the rest of the zoo," Angus grinned, holding his hand out. I shook both his and Cliff's hands, and Malcolm turned around wiping his hand on his shirt.

"Pardon my rudeness, I'm Malcolm." He held out his hand and I took it as well. "Not too crowded for you back there, is it?"

Not wanting to drive these guys up the wall with complaining about the arbitrary, and deciding to make the best out of any situation, I sat up straighter. "It's a little cozy, but there's nothing wrong with that." Angus snorted.

"Glad you like it. As small as I am, a good stretch never did anyone no harm."

"Would you like to run behind us, Ang?" Malcolm asked bringing the van to life. "Since your breakfast consisting of nothing but chocolate milk must have given you a high, you might need to go burn it off?"

"If our guest can handle it, then I can be a gentleman and share a seat with-with..." Angus smacked himself in the head and then reached up and smacked the driver's.

"Ow! What?" Malcolm asked turning around.

"We're bloody fuckin' idiots, Mal! Have any of you asked what her name is?" The men looked at each other, Phil and Brian looking away first. Angus sat back in his seat. "Buggers. Please excuse us, love, we're sorry about that. Now, what's your name?" I sat back in my own seat, suddenly embarrassed. "I mean, we found out when we had that contest but-forgive us for sayin', we haven't quite got it memorized."

My embarrassment alleviated some, and I managed a smile. "My name is Hannah, Hannah Ruth."

The car jerked a few times, then drove down the street with Malcolm pulling every lever there was, and with all his strength too. Looking out the window behind me, I saw Vee waving, and I waved back. My luggage in the back rolled around with every bump in the road and I was almost knocked back into my seat. Situating myself, I felt around my pocket for my bottle of pills. They were right where I left them. Exhaling most of my worries and stress away, I closed my eyes, and relaxed for the ride, the beginning of my adventure.