Rustie’s House:
Rustie listens to the interview she gave a week ago. The radio disc jockey was very understanding, and according to Timmy, who has taken over their website. Their music download increased afterwards. Their fans had found out where she lived and were sending get-well cards, flowers, and balloons to her house.
As for the band, the temp guitar person replacing her while she healed wasn’t as good as she was. Sure, the person could play the music, but didn’t have the flair or musical talent she had. She added a special touch to the music that she played.
Lou was getting more frustrated with their manager. Every time one of them wrote a beautiful piece of music. Mr. Carangi would listen to them play it and then give the music to a more established band to play either on their album or live.
The thing was, there wasn’t anything they could do about it, because of the way the contract was written. Their manager or studio could take any of the music they wrote and give it to another band or sell it. Lou missed that part of the contract when he signed it, and since he was representing the whole band. There was nothing they could do about it.
So, from now on. Whenever someone writes a piece of music. They leave out certain parts that only the composer of the music would know. Sure, someone else could play the music, but it wouldn’t sound right. Only the person who composed it would know what was missing.
Rustie was stir crazy just sitting around the house recovering. Sure, she went outside a few times to relax and get some sunshine. She and the others even went up to their old high school. They found out that all of them had more credits than they needed in order to graduate early.
Rustie was surprised because she hadn’t realized that all those summer classes she had taken had added up to what she needed to graduate early. The others hadn’t realized it either, so all of them would be graduating early. Rustie did promise the band director that they would play with the orchestra for a few holiday pieces.
Since the band was traveling to different venues and performing, Rustie had plenty of time on her hands to work on some new music for their second album. Two of their songs from their first album were doing extremely well on the charts. The comedy act they incorporated into their act was going well. Their fans loved it, and they loved doing it. So, she was trying to come up with another comedy act that would entice the fans as well.
After spending six hours composing a new song and leaving certain parts out of it, so that their manager won’t take their music. Rustie works on another piece and a lineup of what songs would be perfect for their second album. Later, in the evening, she works on dinner for the family. Since her family loved Mexican food, she made tacos, refried beans, and Spanish rice.
While Rustie is cooking, she listens to a few new groups that she managed to get a couple of their songs from. The new group sounded good and would give her group a run for its money. As she slowly stirs the rice, making sure it doesn’t stick. She starts humming a tune that is floating around in her head.
Rustie hears her mother arrive home early. A smile appears on her face because her mother loved tacos and refried beans.
“Something smells nice.” Shirley walks into the kitchen and spots Rustie sitting by the stove on a stool.
She was just putting the lid on the rice and slowly stirring the refried beans. She looks towards her mother, “Thanks, Mom. I hope I did everything right.”
“I think you did. How are you feeling today?” Shirley noticed when she left this morning. Rustie had fallen asleep in the recliner with her music notebook on her lap. Her normal guitar was sitting next to the recliner.
“Better, Mom. I just wish that I didn’t have to wear this cast for the next two weeks.” Rustie was getting tired of the cast on her leg.
“Well, sweetie, you know your leg is still healing. That bullet shattered your femur, and it takes time to replace the bone.”
“I know, Mom. I’m just getting tired of being home all the time.” Rustie slowly stirred the refried beans.
“Speaking of being home all the time. How is the band doing with your temp?” Shirley knew Lou had hired a temp to replace Rustie while she healed.
“The temp person they have playing with them is okay. They would be better off in a different type of band. They just can’t hit the notes like I can.” Rustie heard how the person played, and they were kind of average.
“You know that interview you and the others gave over the radio went over well. Some of my coworkers heard you over the radio and thought you did very well. It should open doors for you and the band.” Shirley got a lot of nice compliments about her daughter.
“We’re hoping it gets us noticed. It would be nice if we could get on television as well. Our website is bringing us a bunch of exposure, and we’re hoping we can hit a large number of fans and YouTube will notice.” Rustie was glad they made several music videos. They used footage from several of their live performances and an impromptu performance they did in the park.
Lou said that he knew a guy who had a flatbed truck and would allow them to perform on the back of it. Rustie later found the same stunt done by a bunch of women playing AC/DC music in another country. It was a pretty performance. The women added their special touch to the music they played.
After dinner, Rustie takes her pain pills and curls up on the sofa with her parents to watch a movie. She was loving being a girl and wondered why it took so long to decide to go full-time as one.
She used to just dress as a girl for Halloween and occasionally for special events. Now, she liked dressing full-time and wouldn’t mind living like that for the rest of her life. She snuggles close to her mother and enjoys having her mother hold her.
Later in the evening, Norman helps her up to her bedroom and tucks her in. He looks down at Rustier, “Sleep tight, sweetie.”
“Thanks, daddy.” Rustie loved when her father tucked her into bed.
Norman leaves Rustie’s bedroom and heads to his bedroom. He hopes Rustie has another job lined up just in case the music thing doesn’t work out. He knew his daughter loved acting, so maybe she could do that.
Rustie slowly closes her eyes and falls asleep.