a family thing

At least Ian got in one good concert with Eric. It seemed to be the last of going to the concerts for a good long while, Eric suspected. Of course, Ellie went along and perhaps they didn't dress up for the occasion quite like the previous one they'd attended over the summer. But it was good fun. Both bands certainly knew how to put on a show.

It was colder now and if that wasn't enough, Ellie's sister was in labor.

"Are you sure you want to be here?" Eric certainly didn't want to make her feel guilty.

"Of course, I want to be here," she said. "What good could I be doing at a hospital? Nobody really wants me there." Of course, her mother was there for the duration.

"We could leave early if you like?" Of course, most of the conversation was screaming over music and well, it was better just to stop and get in the grove and the motion of the music because there was a lot of moshing going on. Somehow, that consumed them. Not family matters.

And yet, it felt important to Eric to be here with his brother, hoping he might be as much of an avid concert goer as himself. Naturally, he couldn't admit witnessing David Bowie or Rush in concert like his father could.

But it made Eric happy to realise that all three of them had something in common, rock'n roll.

It was a small venue, just in the basement of the auditorium where they'd seen AFI. But it was a small crowd too. Most everyone had been dropped off by their parents. Not a Kyle nor a Dylan in sight. It was a straight edge show. There were four bands to listen too. Although, Eric knew it was playradioplay! that Ellie actually came for. He was much more subdued than the earlier bands out, Ultra Violet and Danger Radio. But he still had it going on and even said after the show he would do an acoustic show for anyone who wanted to listen. Except, it took too long for all the bands to load up. They had to leave because there was school tomorrow and hopefully, Ellie's sister had had her twins, too.

Naturally, it was Family Force 5 everyone was waiting for. And they rocked. All the jumping and the moving and the pushing and the shoving. Just added more excitement. Of course, Eric made sure that Ian stay at the edge of the crowd. There was a time or two, Eric did think he was going to lose Ellie in the crowd. She could mix it just as good as she could take with the moshing.

Then there was the merchandise guy that Eric sensed Ellie might have liked. His chestnut hair was all messy as if he'd just gotten out of bed yet pretty, and he was a bit of a flirt. Of course, she told Eric that she was more impressed with the gray coat he wore that was double breasted. "I wonder where he got it." Naturally, thats what she would have been impressed with. They came away with a couple of T-shirts and a free CD from Ultra Violet.

"I can hardly wait to go to another concert, again," Ian just smiled. Eric liked hearing that.