Page 26 of Ring My Bell

Maybe if I brought a little generator along…

“What’re you smiling about?” Iggy demanded as I parked.

“Just thinking of what’s coming down the pike.”

* * *

From the looks of things, Gerald was running on fumes, and Paige was right behind him. We had one suite shared for the four of us since we’d stopped using Raymond’s card, pooling our meager savings.

“Okay. I’ve got some updates for you guys. I’m working on getting you a spot in the Thursday night showcase. It’s opening night so it’s not exactly high status, but.” Gerald shrugged. “It’s the most likely chance to get an opening. And it’s a not a juried showcase, but there are industry pros in attendance, label heads looking for new talent, yada yada yada. Also,” he paused for a jaw-cracking yawn, “Lord, I need to sleep. Also, I might be able to get you a meeting with an old family friend who has some pull in the industry. It’s not a promise. Just a maybe. I called them the other day, but they’re hella busy, so…”

“Thank you,” I said. “Seriously. You’ve just gone above an beyond, man.”

Iggy nodded. “I knew you were amazing, but I had no idea you were a superhero.”

Gerald snorted. “Dork.”

“Maybe, but I’m a dork with lodgings onsite.” Iggy told Paige and Gerald about Monty’s ‘gift,’ frowning when Gerald made a concerned sound. “What? It’s way closer than staying here and trying to drive in.”

“And it’s also somewhere Raymond knows. And could possibly turn up at, if he was feeling froggy..”

“But,” Paige pointed out, “it’s also free. Kind of.”

Gerald made another displeased noise, but it ended in a sigh. “I mean, there’s no great way to do this. Either stay here and spend money we’re fast running out of or use Raymond’s usual rental and hope he’s either staying at his condo in the city or just doesn’t check the place out.”

Iggy nodded. “It’s the least worst option. Because if we need to get back to California, I’d really prefer we had gas money to do it. Picking up these one-off gigs is awesome, but none of them have paid us a dime.”

I nodded. “I’m for it.”

Paige threw out their arms. “Cabin time!”

Standing to stretch, Gerald shook his head. “Cabin time it is. But we’re going to be lowkey with it, yeah? I just don’t want to end up going to jail or something.”

“Not high on my list of priorities either,” Iggy agreed. “Now, are we drawing straws for the first shower, or is this going to be when we get real friendly real fast?”

* * *

The next morning, we caravanned to the festival grounds, then consolidated to one car for the drive to the rental. Gerald’s car remained in the festival parking lot behind a secure gate. Whoever his connection was arranged a parking pass for him, as well as their work to get us in the showcase. We followed Monty’s directions and found the cabin at the end of a tidy little dirt road just off the festival grounds. It was perched on a hill with several other (much fancier) cabins, all overlooking the small valley where the Bremen Town Music Festival was already humming along. In addition to the festival ground’s lodge building and several small theaters and an amphitheater, huge tents were set up across the valley. A large camping area sat on the far end where the grounds narrowed, a creek running through like some postcard-perfect vision of a campground.

I’d have to make sure Iggy saw that later and knew there wasn’t a risk of being eaten by badgers or whatever he’d rambled on about last night, after I mentioned camping casually, just to test out the idea.

“I mean,” Iggy said as we pulled up to the cabin, “I want to say yikes in comparison to the ones down the street, but this is still pretty amazing.”

“Two stories,” Paige said. “I bet it’s haunted.”

“Because it’s two stories?” I asked.

“Nah. Because it looks like it should be.”

It kind of did. Rather than being white wood and glass and river stone like the others on the block, it was weather-worn siding and torn window screens. The landscaping was long gone, leaving only a tangle of dead bushes and a patchy lawn.

“Well,” Iggy said brightly, “I don’t care. Because there’s no fucking way I’ll be eaten by a bear in a cabin.” Hopping out of the car, he made a beeline for the porch and the spot where Monty said the key was hidden. I followed, Paige and Gerald bringing up the rear at a much slower pace. “Should we thumb wrestle for the master bedroom?” Iggy asked, unlocking the door. “Or maybe just… Oh my fucking god.”

“What is it?” I pushed past him and burst into laughter.

Standing in pride of place in the middle of the open plan den was an enormous replica of a grizzly bear. Across his middle was a sash with the legend Bremen The Bear, Honorable Mascot of Bremen Town Music Festival.

“Holy shit,” Paige wheezed. “That is awful and amazing!” They shot past us and, a few moments later, burst into laughter. “There’s an office down the hall! And Bremen has a tiny bear friend hiding out in here!”

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