“They all went to watch from the balcony,” Peetsa explains.
“Mom, do you want to come and meet the band?” Laura asks. I’m floored. I didn’t think she even wanted me here. I guess I’ve passed some unspoken test.
“You mean go backstage? You don’t have to ask me twice!”
Laura winces. Whoops. Not cool, I guess.
“I mean, sure,” I rebound. “You guys wanna come?” I ask the Tuccis.
“I think we’ll hang here and catch the Led Zeppelin band thing,” Buddy says, and Peetsa nods her agreement. I give them a knowing smile and follow Laura to the door beside the stage.
Town Hall isn’t exactly Wembley Stadium, but backstage still has the slightly seedy electric undercurrent of exclusivity. I’m in my wheelhouse. The only things missing are beefy security guards, a bevy of skanks, and a pass around my neck. And alcohol. But whatever, I’m here and I’m feeling great.
Laura leads me through a common area with sofas to a hallway by the back door where Sucker Punch is packing up their instruments. Laura runs to Travis and throws herself at him. Good lord! I guess I never taught her the art of playing hard to get. Actually, I never practiced that art, either.
When they come up for air, she is rapturous.
“You were amazing! You sounded so good.”
Travis seems pleased.
“Did you see when I gave you our sign?”
She beams and starts making out with him again.
I realize I should stop staring at them. I turn and see the rest of the band just packing up their stuff and joking around. The lead singer is wiping off his guitar. Up close, he really doesn’t look that much like John Cho, but he reminds me of someone.
“You guys were great,” I offer him.
He gives me a puzzled look.
“Uh, thanks. Are you with Lez Zeppelin?”
“Me? No.” I start to giggle like an idiot. “No, Laura’s my daughter.” I point to the makeout session.
“Oh, cool. She’s cool.”
I’m about to say something stupid like “Just like her mom” when I hear a voice that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up like quills on a porcupine.
“Jeen!”
We both turn and see Asami Chang walking toward us. Immediately three things pop into my head: 1. What the hell is she doing here?
2. She looks good in those leather pants.
3. Why did she call me Jeen?
“Hey, Auntie!” The lead singer scoots around me and gives Asami a hug.
Auntie?
“You were wonderful!” Asami is gushing and fussing over the man/boy, who I now understand to be her nephew and named Jeen. I realize she hasn’t even noticed me. Time to put a buzz kill on her night.
“Asami? Hi!”
They look over at me.
“Is this your friend, Auntie? I was just talking to her.”
The look on Asami’s face is pretty comical as she tries to fit all the pieces together.
“Jen. What are you doing here?” I can’t tell if she’s shocked or pissed off.
“Here to see the band, just like you.” I walk toward her.
And then something completely unexpected and magical happens: Asami smiles. It’s a genuine “I’m happy the stick is finally out of my ass” smile. It changes her face completely.
“Weren’t they wonderful? Did you meet Jeen? Jeen, this is Mrs. Dixon.”
“Just Jen.” I smile and shake his hand.
“Jeen is my nephew,” she explains needlessly. She turns to him. “I like this band of yours!”
“Thanks.” Jeen smiles. I can tell he’s happy to have her approval.
“So different from the string quartet!”
He laughs. “Yeah. Can’t get much more different.”
Just then the grinding beat of “Whole Lotta Love” starts up, signaling that the headliners have taken the stage. I can’t hear lyrics, just the muted bass and drumbeats.
I feel like I’m having a bit of an out-of-body experience. Asami has a nephew who left a string quartet to play in a rock band called Sucker Punch and she’s okay with it. Who is this woman?
“Has your father heard you play yet?”
I don’t get to hear the answer to this question, because Laura suddenly appears in front of my face.
“Mom!”
“What? Sorry. I ran into a friend.”
“Come meet Travis!”
With difficulty, I turn away from the Asami show and walk toward the object of my daughter’s unbridled desire.
Travis is hunched over his bass case. As we walk up, he straightens, hitches up his pants, and runs a hand through his hair. He’s nervous. Good.
“Mom, this is Travis.”
I put on my best mom smile and stick out my hand.
“Hi, Travis. You guys really rocked it tonight.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Dixon. Nice to meet you.”
His handshake is warm and firm, and he looks directly in my eyes. Not bad, Travis. You’ve been raised well.
“How many shows have you guys done together?” I ask.
“This is our third since Jeen came on board. We’re still working out the kinks.”
“Not at all. I thought you guys were pretty tight.”
Travis just smiles. I’m sure he’s thinking, How the hell would you know, old lady? To which I’m thinking: Well, I’ll tell you how I know, buddy boy. Ever heard of a little band called INXS?
“Mom, what were you talking to Jeen about?” Laura interrupts the cocktail party in my head.
“What? Oh, nothing. I know his aunt.” I look back over and see Asami talking to Jeen and the drummer. Man, peel an onion and you get a lot of layers.
Travis and the band finish packing up their equipment to the slow thumping beat of Lez Zeppelin playing what I think is “All of My Love.” I can’t help feeling like I’m missing the best band of the night. I go over to where Laura is standing.
“Do you need a ride home, sweetie?”
She blushes, which I take to mean either no or “I don’t know yet.” Travis answers for her.
“I think we’re going to hang for a while.” He puts his arm around her.
I’ve seen enough PDA to last me a while.
“Okay. Have fun, guys. Travis, it was nice to meet you. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
“I hope so.” He shakes my hand again. Call me lame, but that stuff goes a long way with me.
As I’m heading to find the rest of my posse, Asami catches up with me.
“Your nephew is very talented,” I tell her. “And he looks so much like you!”
“Thank you. He is a classically trained cellist, but we always knew he wouldn’t stick with it. This really suits him.”
I nod, and as we walk toward the front of the house, the music gets louder.
“Are you going to watch the band?” she asks.
“Not sure. I have to find my group. Is your husband here?”
She looks down. “No. I came by myself to see Jeen.”
“Well, I’m here with the Tuccis and Nina Grandish. You can hang with us if you like.” I can’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. Someone should check the weather in hell.
“That would be really nice, thanks.” I think we’re both surprised that she has accepted my offer.
I whip out my cell and text Ron to ask where he is.
He responds pretty quickly: Up in the balcony to your right. I look up and see him waving at me. Nina and Garth are with him, but there’s no sign of the Tuccis.