Sarah and Kevin 3

"Yeah, right. Like how?" slurred Peter, crossing his arms.


Jimmy stared hard at Peter for a moment and then took a deep breath. "There's a place about an hour's drive north from here where you can live at no charge until you start making some money. Two meals a day. It's in the country, in the middle of two farmer's fields, so you can practice without driving the neighbor's crazy. There's only two rooms, so you would have to bunk up. What do you think?" Jimmy leaned back in his chair and put his feet up on the desk.

For a moment they stared at him. Then they stared at each other. Scott shook his head.


"What's the catch?" Scott asked. "Do we have to do farm chores or something?"

Jimmy smiled. "No. the person who owns the house doesn't need any help."

"So, who is this person? And why do they want to help us?" Scott asked.


Kevin was starting to feel like he was watching a tennis match, turning his head from Scott to Jimmy and back to Scott again.

"Her name is Sarah. She lives in the attic of the house where you would be staying."


Peter sat up suddenly, grinning wolfishly. "Really?"

Jimmy pulled his feet off the desk and sat forward with a bang. "She's not you're type, Tansara.

She's a lady." The warning in Jimmy's voice was clear to everyone except Peter.


"Oh, so she's an old girl?" Peter shrugged. "That's OK, too."

Jimmy stood up and slammed his fist down on the desk. "Enough!" He looked down at the phone on his desk. "Sarah, I told you he was an idiot. Are you sure you want to do this?"


"Yes, I'm sure." A calm, smiling voice came from the speaker phone. A low chorus of swear words was directed at Peter and Scott punched him in the arm.

"My question still stands. What's the catch?" Scott asked.


"You follow my rules and you get to stay until you're ready to move out. No strings attached."

Kevin smiled at the sound of her voice. Something about it made him feel good.


"And the rules are...what?"

"Don't destroy the house. No drugs, alcohol, televisions or women. Cigarette smoking is done outside and you don't fling the butts out into the yard." She hesitated for a moment. "Knowing this, are you interested?"


Kevin, Tom and Scott looked at each other. Then they all looked at Peter who stared back indignantly. "What?" he asked loudly.

"You're the one with the 'problem'," Kevin accused in a low voice. "Do you think you can control yourself? For the sake of the band?"


Peter withered under their scrutiny. He held up his hands. "For the sake of the band, I will control myself." His words were slightly less slurred now.

"OK?" Scott whispered. Kevin and Tom nodded their heads vigorously. Scott looked at Peter. He nodded also, but more slowly.


Scott cleared his throat. "OK. We're interested."

"Great. The house is ready whenever you are." Kevin smiled back at the smile in her voice. He wondered what she looked like.


Kevin came back to reality when Tom smacked him on the leg. Scott was looking at him. "Are you ready to go? Or do you still have stuff in Jack's apartment?"

Kevin shook his head. Jack had given him the last of his stuff when he left for the show. He was going to have to spend the night in the van if he didn't find some place to crash.


"How about tomorrow?" Scott asked.

"That's fine," said Sarah. "Will you be here in the morning?"


"About 9:00?"

"OK. Jimmy will give you directions. See you tomorrow." They heard a click and a dial tone. Jimmy punched a button on his phone and there was silence in the room. He held out a sheet of paper to Scott. Jimmy gave them all a hard look.


"I promised Sarah that I wouldn't threaten you, but I lied. If any of you do anything to hurt her, you will rue the day you were born." With that, he waved them out of his office and picked up his phone.