Page 10 of The Devil's Tattoo
We were sitting in the corner on some couches, drinking and passing the time until it was time for us to go on. Frank was all worked up and ready to go. He’d done this a million times, and so had Chris, who was so mellow it made me jealousashell.
Right now, I felt likethrowingup.
To my complete annoyance, Dee had this uncanny ability to guess whatever I was thinking, and he poked me, stuck two fingers in his mouth, and feignedthrowingup.
“Not funny,” I said with agroan.
“Take your hair out,” Dee said, tugging on mybraid.
“Why?”
“I’m not getting up there with you looking like that. And if you do happen to throw up, I’ll hold it outtheway.”
“Thanks, girlfriend.” I punched him in theshoulder.
“You look better with it out,” he said with a laugh. “Image, Zo Zo. You can hide behind it, and people think it looks rock ‘n’roll.”
“Sold!” I pulled my braid out and shook my hair, much to Dee’s amusement. I was suddenly very glad I’d let my fringe grow out because now I could hide behind it, as well. If your eyes were the windows to your soul, then on stage, I didn’t want anyone looking into them and seeing the fear I was trying desperately tosquashdown.
One of the guys from behind the bar leaned over and said something in Dee’s ear, and my heart almoststopped.
“Time to rock ‘n’ roll, Zo Zo,” he saidtome.
I swallowed hard, and for the first time, I looked at the crowd around us and understood just how popular Ipswich were. The place was crammed with people, and now I had to go and play in frontofthem.
“Close your eyes and jump, sweetness.” Frank wrapped an arm around my waist and guided me through thethrong.
“We believe in you.” Chris squeezed my shoulder as hepassed.
I couldn’t hear a word Dee was saying into his mic as I stepped up onto the stage and slung my guitar strap over my shoulder. People began to push up against the stage, and I turned my back to them, fixing my gaze onto thedrumkit.
Frank smiled at me from his position behind the drums and began to count us in for the first song. It was now or never, so I turned back around, and as I began to play, the words of our opening song tumbled from my mouth, and I imagined myself in Frank’sbackroom.
We are atrehearsal.
No one elseishere.
I know thestuff.
Iknowit.
It’s going to beawesome.
Then the first song was done, and the crowd was clapping and cheering. I didn’t understand what the hell was going on until Dee was in my ear saying, “They fucking love you, Zo.Iknewit.”
I grinned at him and realized he was right. They liked us. Theyreallyliked us. We powered through our set, not skipping a beat, and all too soon, it was time for ‘Walls’—the song that bared my soul. Nausea washedoverme.
“This next song,” Dee was saying, “is one that’s close to home. It’s quite personal, and we hope it resonates with some of you. It’s called ‘Walls.’”
Taking a deep breath, I dove into it and played the intro solo. As the music progressed, Chris added his bass, and then Dee came in on the second guitar part. Frank was playing a soft beat, and other than the hum from the bar at the back of the venue, everything seemed deathly still. I forgot about the crowd in front of me and begansinging.
There’scalm in the storiesnowtold
A tale of a girl gonewrong
Turned on, set upon, smash,andburn
I guess youknowwhy
