Gypsy Pig Bar, Roxbury, Kansas:
“Speeding down the highway at neck-breaking speeds. Trying to outrun my troubles, as the lights of other cars become blurs as I pass them at reckless speeds.” Lou empathizes the words of the song while everyone else backs him up.

Rustie was watching the crowd as they sang their new song tonight. She had written it while the guys were out enjoying themselves. She had written the song while she wasn’t feeling good because of something she ate for dinner.

So, far the crowd loved the song because it touched something they experienced themselves. A smile appeared on her face as she played a unique guitar part she practiced with Jason over and over again. It drove Lou and Russell crazy as they practiced it in the van while traveling.

After they finished that song, they started another new one named Gambling Man. The song was about taking risks and hoping the bets you placed on horses, the lottery, and poker paid off. The song was originally written by Jason, but it turned into a group effort because Jason couldn’t come up with more lyrics and asked for help from the group.

That song seemed to go over as well. For the rest of the first set, they played a few more songs they rewrote or changed just enough from the ’60s, ’70s, and 80’s versions that technically they could claim as theirs. They also do an old song called Always Leave Them Laughing. Lou and
Jason thought it would be funny to redo an old song but modernize it.

Jason was good at comic relief and came up with a skit to entertain the crowd, which involved all of them. By the time they finished performing, everyone was laughing their asses off.

“I have to say, Jason that was a good idea.” Rustie looked towards Jason as they walked back to the band room.

“Thanks, I thought we could do something fun for the crowd.” Jason was proud of how everything went. He didn’t think adding it to the lineup was going to work.

“You know, we could add something else to it.” Russell was thinking about an additional part of the skit.

“Oh? Are you volunteering to be the victim of the joke?” Jason looks at their drummer.

“Sure, why not.” Russell figures it would be fun.

They spend some time relaxing and eating a snack before going back out on stage. They play some more and do three encore songs. One of the songs was their version of The Devil Went To Jamaica. The rewrite of the music for it was more modern and up-to-date.

Lou even uses a prop on the stage to represent the Doogie. It was extremely huge and fake smoke came out of it as he puffed on it. The crowd loved it and wanted to have one just like it.

By the time they were finished, they were so tired, that the only thing they wanted to was hit the hay. Their road manager comes walking into the band room.

“That was a brilliant idea with the old marijuana song. Also, with the comic skit you guys did. I think you should make it part of your act every time you perform.” Max loved being this band's manager. He also loved the female guitar player traveling with them. She looked hot and could make money on her if he could get her to do some soft porn shots.

Rustie didn’t say anything, she had a strong dislike for Mr. Carangi. There was something about him she didn’t trust. He gave off bad vibes and the words of her mother kept coming back to her. She said that if something or someone doesn’t feel right, stay away from them or the situation.

“I got your money and already transferred it to your accounts. You have this weekend off, so enjoy it, because for the next two weeks, you guys will be performing every day.”

“Is it at the same place or broken up?” Jason wanted to know.

“Three days at one place, four days at another place. Then the following week, you’re playing at a place called the Golden Theater. You’re the opening act for two bands that will be playing there.”

Jason looked towards Lou and knew what that meant. They better hope the band they were opening for was good.

“You might want to wear something more veiling and sexier, Rustie. You're going to be performing in front of two thousand people and they want to see a sexy rocker chick.” Max wanted Rustie to be a little more sexy.

“Fine, I’ll see what I can scrounge up.”

“I already took care of it for you. It will be waiting for you at the hotel rooms I reserved for you.” A pleasant smile appears on Max’s face.

“Thanks, I guess.” Rustie grabs a cold bottle of water from the cooler.

“Well, you guys need to get a move on. I’ll see you in a week.” Max turns to leave.

“You’re not coming?” Jason looks at Max.

“I’ll be there for your second week. I have other bands I need to look in on.” Max waves goodbye as he leaves.

“I think I have an idea for three more songs after listening to Max.” Jason didn’t like Max either.

“Let me guess the title of one of them, I’m a musical prostitute?” Rustie looks at Jason.

“Yep, that’s one of them. The other is I made a terrible deal with the devil, and The Demon is hunting me.” Jason had a few ideas for lyrics for those titles.

“Didn’t Freddie Mercury say he was just a musical prostitute?” Russell looks over towards Jason as he changes shirts.

“I think he did or something like it on that Bohemian Rhapsody movie,” Rustie remembers watching that movie.

“Well, come on guys. We need to get everything packed up and on the road.” Lou had finally patched things up with Rustie.

“Okay.” Rustie grabs her gym bag and heads into the bathroom to change.

By the time everything loaded they are on the road. Jason and Rustie worked on the lyrics to the new songs Jason wanted to do. I’m a Musical Prostitute song everyone contributes to. For the other two songs Jason had in mind, the group had a rough outline.

They stop at an all-night diner and grab a meal. Rustie orders a salad with grilled chicken, while the guys grab freshly made hamburgers. Rustie does add three sliders to her order.

After they finish eating, they get back on the road again with Jason and Rustie up front and Lou and Russell in the back. In no time, Lou is snoring and after a few minutes, Russell joins him.

“Ugh! You guys are loud when you snore.” Rustie looks toward Jason when she says that.

“Hey, you talk in your sleep. I can carry on a decent conversation with you.” Jason glances over towards Rustie when he says that.

“I didn’t know that.” Rustie was surprised that she talked in her sleep.

“You do, Rustie. Do you mind if I ask you something personal?”

“No, go ahead.” Rustie has known Jason for a while.

“Why do you enjoy dressing like a girl? Doesn’t it go against how you were born?” Jason glances towards Rustie.

“Let me see if I can communicate this right. For me, it feels right. It was more like I should have been born this way. As for your second question, no it doesn’t. It’s hard to explain how I feel inside to how I look outside.” Rustie wonders if Jason would understand.

“I guess it makes sense.” Jason concentrates on driving, while Rustie sits in the passenger seat and sends her folks an update on where she is going to be.