Page 22 of Behind the Bars

“That’s from Mikey’s Tavern. Whatelse?”

“Um, is that…BillieHoliday?”

“That’s coming from the rhythm and blues bar, Jo’s Catz.” I raised an eyebrow. “You can pick out Billie Holidaymusic?”

“My mom’s boyfriend is a musician, so my brain is pretty much a sea of musicknowledge.”

“But you didn’t know ‘The Rose’ by BetteMidler?”

Her cheeks blushed over as she started swaying her feet back and forth on the edge of the dumpster. “I might have knownthat.”

“Why did you askthen?”

“Because…I wanted to talk to you and I didn’t know what to say. I get tongue-tied with yousometimes.”

“Withme?”

She nodded. “You make menervous.”

“Why?”

“Because when you look at me, you actually look me in the eyes. A lot of boys at school never look me in theeyes.”

“Sucks for them,” I told her. “Your eyes are reallypretty.”

She blushed some more. “Thanks,Elliott.”

“Tell me something I don’t know aboutyou.”

“Ising.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Youdo?”

“Yeah. I love soul music, but my mom thinks pop is the way for me to get famous. So, pop music itis.”

“I don’t getit?”

She laughed. “Is that aquestion?”

“Yes, kind of. I mean, i-if you like soul, why wouldn’t you sing soulmusic?”

She shifted around in her seat and shrugged. “My mom says soul music is for a certain type of person with a certain type of skin tone, and my skin doesn’t fit thatdescription.”

“Tell that to Adele,” I toldher.

She smiled. “Mama says Adele is one in a million, and I’m not. I can’t break down the same barriers Adeledid.”

“No offense to your mom, but that’s the st-stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You don’tseemusic, youfeelit. Music doesn’t see color. Music transcends all stereotypes. You’ll be the greatest soul singer known tomankind.”

She laughed. “You haven’t even heard mesing.”

“Then go ahead.” I waved my hand in front of us. “Sing.”

“Right now?” she asked, swallowinghard.

“Rightnow.”

“I’m nervous,” she whispered. “I don’t want you to watchme.”

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