“Look, we need a female in the group and you’re the closest thing we got to a girl. We don’t have time to get anyone else and you already know the songs back and forth.” Jason looks towards Rustie sitting at the make-up mirror.

“Besides, you look so much like a girl and sound like one, that no one will know the difference.” Lou looks over towards Rustie as well.

“Just stop complaining all ready and finish getting ready, Rustie. We go on in fifteen minutes.” Russell wanted to win this contest.

They have been practicing their asses off for months and they needed to have an edge that made them stand out. Most of the bands they were going up against were all boys. If they had a girl in their group, it would give them an edge and show they weren’t like everyone else.

Rustie goes back to getting ready. He couldn’t believe he was doing this again. The last time he dressed like a girl was to act as Lou’s date for their junior prom. Normally, he wouldn’t be doing something like this. But because his suitcase got mixed up with another person’s suitcase by the shipping company, they used to send all their instruments and luggage. He had no choice but to dress as a girl, since that was what the clothes were inside the suitcase.

“Are you guys and ladies ready yet?” Dawn sticks her head in the dressing room to check on the next band.

Lou looks over towards Rustie before answering. He hopes their plan will work “Yes, we're ready.”

“Alright, I need you out here in five minutes.” Dawn shuts the door behind her as she heads towards the stage.

“Come on, guys. Let’s go show these people what we can do.” Lou leaves the room followed by Jason, Russell, and finally Rustie.

Rustie was having a hard time walking in the heels that were in the luggage. He has only worn heels one other time and it’s been six months since then. He hurries behind the guys and when they approach the stage, he picks up his guitar.

“Alright, let's show these judges what we can do.” Lou was at the mic.

“Ladies and gentlemen, are next band is from Wichita, Kansas. Let’s give a huge welcome to The Rattlers.”

Just as the curtains open, Lou gives the signal for the band to start playing. Jason starts the music, followed by Russell on the drums, and finally, Rustie as she starts playing. The song they played was one Jason wrote and it was strong and had a good rhythm and tune to it.

The song called for all of them to add their voice to the song and Rustie did just that, but sounding more feminine. Lou looks over towards Rustie and gives her the thumbs up.

They were allowed to play two songs. So, after they finish the first one, they go into the second one smoothly. The second one showed off their talent and gave each member a chance to show off their skills with their instruments.

By the time they were finished, they were requested to play one more by the crowd and judges. A smile appears on everyone’s face, as they start playing another song. Lou ups his game and the others catch on. They get the place rocking and by the time they finished playing, you could feel the energy in the place.

By the end of the judging, The Rattlers end up winning the contest. The prize was free recording time at any studio, owned by Dusty Gaskets Productions, plus fifty thousand dollars. The second place consisted of twenty-five thousand dollars, and the third place received ten thousand.

Rustie wakes up the next morning in the hotel room he was staying in. He could hear Jason snoring and noticed Russell had his head buried under a pillow. Rustie gets up off the floor where he slept last night and stumbles towards the bathroom.

He shuts the bathroom door and sits down on the toilet to pee. His head was still buzzing after the party they went to last night after the competition. He couldn’t believe that he managed to fool everyone last night.

He was glad that he took acting lessons when the local community center offered them. He finishes doing his business and washes his hands afterward. He walks back into the hotel room and sits back down on the blankets he slept on last night. He knew the others were going to be out for a while.

He pops open the suitcase and looks inside it. Everything inside the suitcase was clothes meant for a young girl his age. How his suitcase and hers got mixed up, he had no idea. He carefully digs through the clothes and finds some exercise shorts and a top he could wear to go jogging.

He takes the clothes out, along with the tennis shoes that are just a little snug on his feet. He goes back into the bathroom and changes into them. He was lucky that he knew how to tuck his small penis and testicles.

Rustie writes a note informing the guys where he went. He knew they had to leave the hotel by noon or they would be charged for another day. They barely had enough money to drive out to the competition and rent a hotel room. But luckily Lou was able to get a small loan from his father, which all of them promised to help pay back.

Rustie puts his ear pods in his ears and listens to some of his favorite music, including the songs they wrote. He had his rusty color hair tied in a ponytail. It bounced with each step he took. He wonders if from now on he is going to have to dress like a girl every time they perform.

By the time Rustie arrives back at the hotel. All the guys were awake and dressed. He was sweating and thirsty. He walks over to the cooler they brought with them takes a cold water out and adds a flavor packet to the bottle.

“You know, for a person who wasn’t born a girl. You sure as hell look like one dressed like that.” Russell liked how Rustie was dressed.

“Thanks, I guess. So, what is the plan now? Am I going to need to dress like a girl for every gig from now on?” Rustie takes a sip from the bottle of cold water.

“You might have to, Rustie. Anywhere we go from now on are going to be expecting a cute red-haired girl in our group. You knew a bunch of pictures were taken last night?”

“Great! How am I supposed to explain this to my family?” Rustie looks at Lou since this hair-brain idea was his idea.

“We’ll explain to them what happened when we shipped our bags and instruments ahead. Plus, it gave us a lot of exposers last night and won us recording time at any studio Dusty Gaskets owns.” Lou could only see the good parts of Rustie dressing and performing as a girl.

“How many do they own?” Russell was curious about that.

“I know they own Blue Grass and Roaming Rock studios back home.” Jason has been researching what studios Dusty Gaskets owns.

“Not to count that the prize money will pay off some of our bills and the loan I got from my father.” Lou had to remind the guys of that.

“I almost forgot about your father, Lou.” Jason looks towards Lou and knew without the loan Lou’s father gave them. They wouldn’t have been able to come.

“You might as well, stay dressed as a girl until we get home, Rustie.” Lou saw how Rustie was dressed.

“It looks like I have no choice. I’m taking a shower before we leave.” Rustie takes his ear pods out and puts them back in their case to recharge.

“Alright, we’re going to grab some breakfast. Do you want anything?” Russell looks towards Rustie.

“Where are you guys going?”

“Up the street to McDonald's.” Jason had spotted it when they arrived the day before yesterday.

“Yeah, grab me a sausage and egg biscuit combo, please.”

“What do you want to drink?” Jason typed the order into his cellphone.

“Sweet Iced Tea, please. Here, let me get you some money.” Rustie moves to grab his wallet.

“I got you covered. See you in twenty.”

“Thanks.” Rustie watches as the guys walk out of the hotel room.

Rustie picks the suitcase up and takes off the exercise clothes he was wearing. How was he going to explain to his folks about being dressed as a girl? He steps into the bathroom and takes a quick shower.