2 B Like U
By Bastet
Nothing could have been better. The band sounded awesome
as their soulful music blared from the newly installed sound system.
Leila was sitting at her usual table looking around when she noted something.
She got up and went closer to she if she had been seeing things. She
realized that she wasn’t. Grant it Betsy was new but this was
unheard of to Leila. Here was her new employee just standing behind
the bar with her head resting on her hands watching the band play while
people waited for their drinks.
Leila approached her. Betsy was so caught up the in music she didn’t
see her coming. “I’m sorry see I thought I was paying you
to work.” Leila said. Betsy turned to her half-shocked and half-embarrassed
at being caught slacking on her first day. “I’m so sorry
I guess I just got caught up in the music. Sally Anthony is my favorite
singer.” Betsy explained. “Really I had never heard of her
but still that’s no reason for you not to be doing your work.”
Leila said pointing to a man who had been waiting a long time. “I’m
so sorry.” She said finally getting his drink.
Once she had a free moment she turned to watch Sally perform some more.
“I realize you like her and I don’t mind you watching as
long as you do your work too. I’m afraid that if I see you slacking
too much I’ll have to fire you.” Leila warned before taking
off for her seat.
“Don’t let her fool you. She can be very nice.” A
guy said as Betsy bent down to wash a few of the glasses that had piled
up. She looked at him still washing the glasses. “She has a point
though; I should be doing my job. I can’t afford to lose this
job.” Betsy explained. “I see. My name is Mark. What’s
yours?” He asked. I’m Betsy.” She said.
“So you’re a Sally fan?” He asked. “Yeah, I’ve
liked her music for awhile now.” Betsy explained pushing a strand
of her blonde hair out of her face. “You look like her.”
He said. “I wish.” Betsy huffed looking at the stage for
a moment. “I think your better looking.” He added. She looked
at him dumb founded for a moment.
She had always been made fun of in high school because of the way she
looked, sure she had changed but still no one had ever said anything
like that to her before. So now she knew something was up with this
guy, and she started to doubt his intentions. “Are you flirting
with me?” She asked. “I was hoping you would notice, want
to have dinner some time?” He asked. She smiled, “I’ll
think about it.” She said and then walked off to take some more
drink orders at the other end of the bar.
She was making the drinks when Todd approached her. Todd was a bartender
too. Leila thought with the concert and all it would be best to have
two bartenders working tonight. “Don’t let that guy foul
you. He uses that stuff with every new girl Leila hires.” Todd
said. “I thought it sounded a little rehearsed.” Betsy said.
Todd smiled and then walked away.
Betsy smiled to herself, now Todd; there was a cutie. He had short brown
hair and blue eyes. He was bartending to make his way through college.
He was going to major in Photography and camera effects.
The night went on rather slow. Betsy would stop from time to time to
watch the show. Through she saw Leila look her way a few times. It was
getting late and Sally was only going to do a few more songs.
Todd approached her again. This time with a huge smiled on his face.
“What are you smiling about? I’m tired” She wined.
“I know something that will make your day.” He said. “What?”
She asked. “I talked to Leila and she asked Sally if it would
be okay if a few employees went back and got some pictures and autographs.
Sally said yes, so if you want I will cover for you and after these
few songs you can run back and meet your idol.” Todd said still
smiling. He was so sweet to her.
Betsy hugged him as soon as he stopped talking she also kissed him on
the cheek. “Todd you’re the greatest, I can’t tell
you how much this means to me.” She said. “I think I got
the point, just do your work for now. Leila will come tell you when
you can go back. She’s watching you, you know.” He warned.
“Yeah I know, but you’re a little late with your warning.”
She said getting back to work.
Some time passed and then Leila came over to the bar. “You can
go back now.” She said then walked away. “Better hurry.”
Todd said joking. Betsy smiled and the headed for the back. When she
got there, there were tons more people back there than she thought there
would be. She finally saw Sally sitting down drinking some water. Betsy
was surprised she wasn’t as nervous as she thought she would be.
Sally smiled and sat her water down.” Hi.” Betsy said going
closer to her. “Hi, Leila said you were a big fan of mine.”
Sally said. “Yeah, I am.” Betsy said. “Where had you
heard my stuff?” Sally asked intrigued. “A few times at
clubs and I hear you more and more on the radio.” Betsy explained.
“That’s cool.” Sally said.
Betsy jumped when she felt a hand on her back. “Todd what are
you doing I thought you were covering for me behind the bar?”
Betsy asked confused and exited to see him. “I wanted to meet
her too; you talk about her all the time.” Todd said. “Really?”
Sally asked. “Yeah, she wants to be just like you. She can sing
and everything.” Todd said before Betsy could stop him. “I’m
not that good your a way better singer that me.” Betsy said.
“Would you sing for me?” Sally asked. “No, I can’t
really.” Betsy insisted. “Sure you can.” Todd said.
“It’s okay to be shy at first.” Sally explained. “I
just get nervous in the spot light.” Betsy said. “Come on
I’ll help you.” Sally said taking her hand and dragging
her up on stage. Everyone had left by now and only the cleaning crew
was left. “I can’t sing there’s no music.” Betsy
said still trying to get out of it. Sally smiled and then motioned for
one of her band members to join them. She quickly explained what was
going on and he agreed to play a but for them.
“Is that better?” Sally asked. “Yeah, thanks.”
Betsy said with a hint of sarcasm. “Here hold this.” Sally
said handing her the microphone. “I can’t really. I sound
awful.” Betsy said pushing it away. “Relax,” Sally
said calmly, “It’s not on, we’re just going to use
it as a prop.” She explained. “Okay, I guess.” Betsy
said. looking out across the club. Todd had gone and taken a seat right
up front. He smiled and Betsy and she smiled back. God was he cute.
Sally gave her a few quick tips. “Okay, we’ll start out
with one of my songs, do you have a favorite?” Sally asked. “Not
really I like them all so much.” Betsy said. “Okay then
we’ll do real man then, it newer. Do you know the words?”
She asked. “Yeah, I think so.” Betsy said. Sally prepped
her a little more. then told her band member to start. He did. Sally
looked at Betsy it was clear that she was a little scared. Sally started
to sing and then motioned to Betsy when it was her turn. Betsy started
to sing, it was soft at first but then seemed to get a little louder
as she got more comfortable. “Your doing good.” Sally said
recalling her first time on stage.
Betsy smiled and started to sing a little better. The words of encouragement
from her idol moved her so much she felt that she could do anything
now. Sally stepped back and watched her, she was a natural and by now
she was relaxed enough to sing to her full potential. Sally was beginning
to like what she was hearing.
I’m impressed.” Sally stated once Betsy stopped singing.
Betsy blushed. “You’re just being nice.” Betsy said.
“No, I really mean it you could go far if you tried.” Sally
said. “I’m too shy.” She said. “You have to
be running out of excuses by now.” Todd said joining them on stage.
“I am,” Betsy laughed, “I just don’t think I
can.”
“I think you can.” Sally said, “No one can make that
chose as to whether your ready or not but you. But if you ever do be
sure you let me know.” Sally added. Sally gave Betsy her phone
number and e-mail address. So she could keep in touch. Betsy was so
happy but she could have killed Todd.
A few days passed, Betsy was at work the night was a little slow since
it was a week night. She was busy washing glasses when she heard a familiar
voice. “So when can I expect to see you on the stage?” Todd
asked nodded toward the vacant stage. Betsy looked up at him. “Never.”
She said with out hesitation. “Why not?” Todd asked. “I’m
not going to make a fool out of myself, Sally was probably just being
nice.” Betsy said. “I liked what I heard.” Todd said
placing his hand on hers to help clam her down, since he had fired her
up.
“Do you really mean it?” She asked sincerely. She looked
him in the eye. “Yes, I really do mean it.” Todd looking
right back at her. “And I bet Sally did too.” He added.
Betsy blushed once again he was being so sweet to her. “I have
a friend who has everything we need to record and make music.”
Todd said sounding a little eager. Betsy smiled at him. “Will
you be there right beside me like Tony was for Sally?” Betsy asked.
“Yes, I’ll be there right beside you.” Todd said smiling.
Betsy smiled, the two of them talked a little more before Betsy had
to close up. Then he walked her to her car. “Tomorrow, I’ll
call you. We have to get started soon.” Todd explained. Betsy
nodded she was starting to get excited. The two said good night and
then she left.
The next day Todd called her as promised, He’d set up a recording
session for her with a friend of his. The two meet up with Todd’s
friend later that day at his friends apartment. “Hello.”
Mike said eyeing Betsy. “HI, Mike, this is Betsy.” Todd
said introducing the two. “Well she has the look of a star.”
Mike said. Todd quickly gave him a mean look. Mike smiled and the let
the two enter. Mike was really into music, he had his own sound stage
set up right there in his apartment.
“Do you have a song?” Mike asked. “Yeah, kind of.
I have one in my head, it’s really good I think.” Betsy
explained. “Okay, we can use that, you just won’t have any
background music. It’ll be just your voice.” Mike told her.
“That’s fine.” Betsy said. Mike motioned for her to
take her place inside the sound stage. She did and they quickly got
started. Mike and Todd both liked what they heard and after the several
hour session they finally had a complete song.
“I’m impressed.” Mike said once they were done. “Now
what?” Betsy asked. “I’m going to send a copy of this
tape to a few of my friends and we’ll see if we can’t get
you a gig.” Mike explained. “You’re going to need
to find a band first.” Todd said. “Where am I going to find
one?” Betsy asked. “Just keep your eyes open.” Mike
said. Betsy nodded.
Some time passed and Betsy had almost given up on the whole thing, she
couldn’t find a band and there were no calls in regards to her
demo. She was working late at the club one night. It was open mic night
and she couldn’t stand the horrible sounds that filled the air.
It was toward the end of her shift when the sound changed. The band
on the stage was pretty good, but the lead singer wasn't qualified to
sing.
When some one came to take her place she went over to where the band
was. They were chewing out the leading singer for having sounded to
bad. “Fine, I quit then.” The lead singer said then stormed
off. Betsy smiled and walked up to them. “Excuse me.” She
said sweetly. “Yeah, can we help you?” One guy asked. “I
hope so. It looks like you could use a lead singer, and I’m looking
for a band. You guys sounded awesome.” Betsy said quickly.
“Thanks, but we’re not so sure she really gone. She walks
out at least once a week.” One girl laughed. “But what’s
you’re name?” The other guy in the band asked. “It’s
Betsy, listen here is my demo. You guys can have it and if it doesn’t
work out with that other girl, give me a call.” Betsy said handing
them her demo tape and business card. “Okay thanks.” They
said. Betsy smiled and then walked away.
She had to start some where and she wasn’t sure they would call
her back. But a week later they did and she met up with them later that
day to try things out. They clicked almost instantly. They sounded perfect,
Betsy told them about Mike and asked if they could make a new demo.
It wasn’t long before they booked their first show, and it was
at of all places, Leila’s club. Betsy was nervous but this was
her dream and it was coming true. Leila announced them and she walked
out onto the stage and almost froze. The club was packed, she looked
around for a familiar face and finally saw Todd smiling at her from
behind the bar. She smiled back and was about to sing when she was something
out of the corner of her eye.
It was Sally Anthony, she was in from of the stage cheering her on.
Betsy couldn’t help but smile. She opened her mouth and began
to sing. It was almost surreal, the next thing she knew it was over
and they were back stage hugging and celebrating. Suddenly it died down
and Betsy turned around to see Sally standing in the door way. “You
were awesome.” Sally said.
Betsy ran over and hugged her. “Thank you for all your support.”
Betsy said not letting go of her. “How would you guys like to
sign on to my label and make a record.” Sally asked once the stopped
hugging. The band was quick to say yes, Betsy just nodded. “I
always wanted to be like you.” Betsy said. “That is so cool.”
Sally said.
The End
