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little
convertible, he said, “What’s the name of your band?”
    “ Well, I’m not
actually in a
band right now. I was hoping to hook up with one that needs a good
drummer.”
    “ I like your accent. Where
are you from?”
    “ I grew up in Dallas. My
family and I just moved here a few weeks ago.”
    Craig felt better. That’s why he had
never met her.
    “ My parents are Russian.”
And then, in a perfect Texas twang, she said, “But I’m a true-blue
Texan.”
    “ Yes, you are. And a
beautiful one.”
    “ Thank you. Now, where are
we going?” she said, as they got into her car.
    “ You ever been to The Buttard Biscuit ?”
    “ What’s that?”
    “ You’re in for a treat,
Honey. It’s my family’s restaurant. Our biscuits are better than
cherry pie.”
    “ Sounds great.”
    Lenny walked out the door just in time to
see his brother and some blonde driving away.

    Chapter 4

    Sondra arrived at 1:00 PM
sharp. Billy-Eye’s Arcade and Dance
Barn was located on Highway 87, north of
town. She was not impressed. It was nothing but a huge commercial
metal building with the name painted in big lettering across the
front. There were about fifteen cars in the small gravel parking
lot—mostly older models like hers.
    She walked in, and saw a line of people
standing at a closed office door. Clearly, they were band members
waiting to register for an audition. A couple of the guys had their
electric guitars strapped on their backs.
    Sondra was quite familiar
with Billy-Eye and his two sons. She’d eaten her share of Buttard Biscuits growing up. And she still remembered the time in high school
when Craig walked up to her in the hallway and asked her for a
date. She had nearly laughed in his face. He was just a kid—three
grades below her.
    A couple of years later, when she found out
about his reputation as a stud, she wished she had accepted his
offer. She would have given the little punk the ride of his
life.
    While she was still thinking about Craig,
the office door opened, and he walked out.
    He glanced at the long line of rockers.
“Okay, we’re about to get started, Guys.” Then he spotted Sondra at
the back of the line. The blonde six-footer was not easy to
miss.
    “ Sondra Crench? Is that
you?” He walked up to her.
    “ How are you,
Craig?”
    “ Well, I’m impressed that
you remember me. So, you’re here to sign up?”
    “ Yeah.”
    He checked out the young men standing in
front of her. “Are these guys with you?”
    “ No.”
    “ Well, where’s your
band?”
    “ I’m working on
it.”
    “ Follow me.”
    She hesitated. There were at least thirty
people in front of her in line.
    “ Come on,” he
insisted.
    She followed him into the office.
    “ Hey! That’s not fair,”
somebody yelled.
    “ Look,” said Craig to the
crowd, “ I’m doing the hiring, so I will decide what’s fair.
Understood?”
    Nobody said a word. He closed the door.
    There were four metal chairs facing a large
wooden desk. Craig offered her a seat. The leather executive chair
behind the desk gave Craig a superior position from which to look
down on lowly band members sitting in old metal chairs in front of
him.
    He surprised Sondra when he grabbed one of
the metal chairs for himself, and dragged it right in front of her.
When he sat down their knees were nearly touching.
    “ It’s great to see you,
Sondra.”
    What’s he doing? she wondered. Is he going
to register me or make a move on me? “Yeah. It’s been a long
time.”
    “ So, what have you been
doing with yourself?” He acted as if he had all the time in the
world.
    “ Living in Houston, playing
clubs. Sometimes solo, but mostly with a band. I sing lead, play
rhythm guitar. Write songs.”
    “ I always loved it when
you’d perform at the annual high school talent show. I just knew
you’d get a big record contract some day.”
    “ Nope. Came close a couple
of times. But it’s a tough business.”
    “ I’ll bet. So, are you
living here in the Golden