We had been fine tuning the setting up and striking of the set. Thank God I wasn't a roadie and didn't have to participate in that. Joe helped out with the lighting, but I got to stay down on terra firma and repair guitars. Not a lot to do at the moment, although Elmer and Venn just *loved* to time me, to see how long it took me to restring a guitar. They kept saying (and I know they were teasing) "Yeah, Wren, what if we break a string during a show? WHATCHA GONNA DOOO?" So, they timed me! They just wouldn't accept my answer: "GIVE YOU ANOTHER GUITAR!" Teases; great big teases!
Halfway into the third week, around 10:00 a.m., I was sitting on an amp crate, watching them program the sound console, munching on a croissant. The door of the "hangar" swung open and daylight flooded in. "Hey, I made it!" called a familiar voice. I almost choked on my roll...VOZ!! I jumped off the amp crate and stuffed the rest of the croissant into my mouth as I skipped-ran to the door. Shawn, Jossie, Venn, Elmer and many others dashed to the door to greet him. I stopped and hung back, watching, suddenly developing an enormous case of the shies.
"Aw, now, just consider him a co-worker" said Joe as he put his hand on my shoulder. "Because, that's all he is, Wren: just a guy, just a co-worker." I really, really wanted to hide someplace. I suddenly did not want to meet Voz D'Oro; no, not at all!
"I need some water to wash down my breakfast" I said to Joe. And I turned away from the door and went down the corridor that had the Ladies room and the water fountain. I really am choking on my croissant, I really am. Voz D'Oro can wait, I told myself. I went into the Ladies room and sat on the orange vinyl love seat. I hid out for about ten minutes, until Jossie came in.
"Wren!" she said. "They are looking for you out there, girl! They've told Voz all about you; what a huge crush you have on him---"
"Oh, nooooo!" I moaned. "You're kidding me, right?"
Jossie sighed, "Why? Everybody knows you're crazy about him. Joe told us all about it one night after you had gone to the motel."
Oh, God! "Why did he do that, Jossie? That's nobody's business! Oh, how embarrassing! I am mortified! I can't believe this!" I moaned and hid my face in my hands.
Jossie smiled. "Awww, come on! Everybody thinks it's sweet; especially Voz, and he wants to meet you!" She took my hand and tried to pull me up.
"No, he'll just have to wait. We'll bump into each other. He'll have to wait until then. Sorry!" I got up and shut myself in one of the stalls.
Jossie laughed. "Wren, you're a goof! See ya later, girl!" At that she left. She went back to the main part of the building. Voz was sitting on the check-in table, talking to Venn. He looked up as Jossie approached. "I'm sorry; I tried. Stubborn as a mule!" She sat on the chair.
Voz chuckled. "Well, that's okay. I understand completely about shyness. Our paths will cross, and I'll be patient until they do. She sounds so sweet!" He smiled and got up. "I'll be in my trailer."
Jossie and Venn watched him leave the building. Then Jossie pulled out an issue of "Folks" magazine. "Hey, Venn", she said, "You know the Bicford Family?" She pointed to a photo in the magazine.
"You mean the family of Guy Bicford? Guy Bicford, who invented the ballpoint pen?" he asked.
"Yeah, that's the one!" she smiled. "So, I wonder if we're going to meet Tawni? Do you think she came with Voz?"
"Tawni?"
"Yeah, Tawni Bicford! They got married, secretly, about ten years ago!"
"Tawni Bicford, being the ballpoint pen heiress?" puzzled Venn.
"Yeah, right!" smiled Jossie.
"Wha--who got secretly married?"
"VOZ D'ORO and TAWNI BICKFORD!!!" Jossie rolled up "Folks" and smacked Venn on the head with it. "Gads, you are DENSE!!" she giggled as she playfully swatted him.
Voz left the warehouse and made for his large, black, brand new, ultra deluxe tour bus. He didn't go inside, rather, he leaned against it and flipped his cell phone on. He punched in some numbers. "Dan? Voz. She showed up here in a cab about forty-five minutes ago..." Something inside the bus howled. He grimaced at the sound of it, but didn't seem surprised to hear it. "...Yeah, I don't know how she finds me, but I know how she gets out...yeah, exactly...pays them off...yeah...So, just keep closing out those accounts as we find them, because she must have them---" Another howl pierced his sentence. "Damn! She must have them all over town, or even all over the state. Have you finalized the papers yet?...No, I mean the ones to declare her incompetent...Well, I don't know; get a doctor to sign off..."He sighed angrily "...Well, one that she hasn't bought off, then!" With his free hand, he stuck his finger in his ear, and walked away from where he could hear the whining. "Okay...do the best you can. Listen, I'm at the hangar, and you have got to come get her! Right away, Dan! I'll be in the motel across the street. Come find me there. You remember the name I register under, right?...Okay, so come find me so I can give you the key. And hurry!" He flipped the phone off, then pulled out a key and approached the bus door quietly and cautiously. He looked up to Heaven and uttered a silent prayer as the scratching started. Silently, slowly, he locked the bus door. He kissed his fingertips. Tears welling up, he placed his fingertips on the door and mumbled, "Please, God, get her well!" Then he turned away, and crossed the street. A loud howl issued from the bus, as if the one inside it had heard and understood him.