Chapter 3

Lilly

Lug Nut and Neil take me to a bar outside of town where the band plays every Thursday night. We have to get the owner's approval for me to be there since I’m underage. When we pull up the place looks deserted. Lug Nut says it’s because the bar isn’t open yet and the only people here are the ones needed to get it ready to open. Neil goes in first, then Lug Nut and I follow. I’m looking around to get a feel for the place. I see the stage in the front with a dance floor right in front. Small two to three-person tables are just behind the dance floor in a u shape. Six-person booths line the sidewalls and a sunken bar takes up the whole back wall. There are a few waitresses setting up the tables and light cleaning up. There is one bartender behind the bar checking its stock. The bar is where the guys find Harris, the guy they want to meet. “ Harris, buddy. Can we talk to you for a minute?” Harris turns on his bar stool. He is an older man probably in his sixties with short-cut salt and pepper hair.  It doesn’t take away from his handsome face. Sitting I can tell he is tall. By the smile on his face, I get the impression he is generally a happy guy. “ Boys, what can I do for you?” Lug grabs my hand and pulls me forward “ This is Lilly. She just joined the band. We want to get your ok to bring her in to sing with us on Thursdays.” He looks at me. “ How old are you, little one?” “  Just turned nineteen, sir” “ You bring a baby in and ask to let her perform with you. If I said yes I could get in a lot of trouble boys. She doesn’t look worth it to me. ” He looks me up and down again. I’m wearing my usual outfit of baggy clothes and a hoodie. I know he doesn’t like what he sees. “ We will keep an eye on her. She won’t go near the bar. We will make sure one of us is with her at all times.” Neil says.

 But Mr. Harris has his mind already made up. He isn’t going to allow me in. “ If you bring some young thing in here, at least bring some eye candy. She probably doesn’t have a lick of talent.”  I know Lug and Neil want this real bad so I know they are going to try to plead my case. I have already walked off toward the stage. I don’t need to hear what’s going on. Or any more insults. I walk back and forth across the stage. It’s not a bad setup. I can tell the acoustics are pretty good. I can still hear Neil and Lug trying to convince Mr. Harris to take a chance on me. “ Just give her a shot. I promise you won’t regret it” Lug Nut says. He is going to keep trying. I don’t think there is a point in it though. 

I just want to tune them out. This is the first and most likely the last time I’ll ever be on a stage. So I do the only thing I can do. I sing. I sing D. H.T ‘Listen To Your Heart’. I pour everything I have into it. I don’t know if anyone is even paying attention. And at this point, I Don't care! I’m just so tired of being put down. Made to feel worthless. This guy doesn’t know me. Just one look and he decided I wasn’t worth a second glance. But singing even if it's just to escape for a minute always helps me. Singing has always been my getaway when things got too rough. I sang when my parents died. I sang to hide from my guardian. I sang when I was sold to the Reapers. Even if no one could hear me I sang. It is the only time I could feel like myself even if it is for three minutes at a time. I take what I can get.

Lug Nut

We are trying our best to convince Harry to at least listen to Lilly. But the man isn’t having it. He doesn’t think she could bring money in. She doesn’t have the looks or talent according to him. He hasn’t even heard her and is passing judgment. He is pissing me off. I’m about to offer to pay for her to be here when I hear someone gasp. I turn my head to see what happened when I see the waitresses have stopped cleaning up and are staring at the stage. Lilly is slowly walking back and forth singing. She has her head down and her arms wrapped around her middle like she is in defensive mode. No one in the bar moves all eyes glued to Lilly. Even Harry has turned to watch Lilly. If anything is going to convince Harry it is Lilly’s voice.  I ran up and joined her on stage. I need her to sing with all she has to win Harry over. 

 I put my hand on her shoulder as she started to pass me to stop her. It looks like she is about to stop singing. I shake my head to let her know to keep going. I look out at Harry and see he is still watching but he is looking at Lilly not me. Good fucker see what you almost let walk out the door. I step behind her and make sure she is looking out at the bar. I lean over and whisper in her ear, “ Give it everything you have.” Lilly shakes her head but doesn’t stop “   I say loud enough for Harry to hear “  If he is too blind to see the jewel you are, it is his loss. It is not anything to do with you. He is just too blind to see what an amazing talent you are. I just want to hear you sing one while we are here. I want to hear you without you holding back ” I smile at her.  

I want her to focus on me so I put my hand on her waist and slow dance her to the center of the stage. Right where she should always be. In the spotlight. I place my other hand on her shoulder to show her I am here for her. I lean in and whisper to her “ It’s just you and me. Focus on that.” Lilly keeps her eyes on me while she sings. From the time I stepped on the stage with her to us dancing she hasn’t skipped a word, missed on the beat. I’m so proud of her right now. I look over her head at Harry and Neil. Harry's eyes look like they are going to pop out of his head. He didn’t expect that powerful sound could come out of someone so little. Neil is grinning from ear to ear. He knows Lilly just won Harry over. If Harry is really that big of a dumbass and doesn't want her to sing here after listening to her I will find somewhere else for us to play. Even if I have to go several towns over. There is no way I can let Lilly’s talent stay hidden now that I know about it. It would be unfair to her. And I honestly believe people are missing out by not hearing her sing.

When Lilly is done singing I wrap my arms around her. Pulling her close to me. “ I knew you had it in you,” I say. Then I move from behind her to escort her off the stage. When we get Harry I look at him and say “ Sorry we couldn’t change your mind man.” And start to walk off with Neil behind us. “ Now wait just a minute,” Harry says catching up with us. “ This is one of the few times in my life I am happy to be proven wrong.” He looks at Lilly and says “ I misjudged you, little lady. You have got some serious pipes on you.  I would be a complete moron if I let you slip through my fingers. I have a few rules that you are going to need to follow. They are for your protection and mine. But if you can accept my apology, I would like you to play with the guys.” Before Lilly can answer Neil asks “ What are your rules?” “ She has to stay with one of you guys at all times. That is more for Lilly. No trying to sneak any alcohol. And if any trouble happens keep her safe and out of the way.” It sounds reasonable to me. I look at Neil and nod in agreement then Neil asks Lilly `` What do you think, Lilly. Do you want to try?” Lilly looks unsure but answers Harry'' I don’t have a problem with the rules. I have no desire to drink so that won’t be an issue. My question is what happens if people don’t like me? I don’t want you to fire Mr. Neil and Mr. Lug Nut just because I didn’t go over well with the customers.” Harry laughs “ Lilly, I don’t think people liking you is going to be a problem. In fact, I think you are going to be excellent for business. But if on the off chance you aren’t liked I promise I wouldn’t fire Neil or Lug. So do we have a deal?” Lilly looks at me and I nod then she looks at Neil and he nods. I guess that is all the courage she needed. She turns to Harry, holds her head high, and shakes his hand “ We have a deal.”

Harry shakes her hand “ Great. I think this is going to work out for all of us.” I swear I see dollar signs in his eyes. He may be thinking about the money Lilly might bring in, as for me I think more people need to hear Lilly. Her voice could take her far. This will be good for her and I’m just happy to see where it goes.  We agree that Lilly will be starting in three weeks so we can get in some practice with her. Harry wants to start advertising the new addition to the line-up. He starts talking about how Lilly might bring in a younger crowd. She will appeal to the guys while Neil, the guys, and I can appeal to the ladies. He is going on and on about how much Lilly could do for the place. He is thinking about the future and Lilly hasn’t even had her first show. The same guy who until a few minutes ago didn’t even want to give her a chance. I shake my head and laugh as I escort Lilly out.