Bette hangs up the phone and takes a big cleansing breath.

“***** fresh air,” she says as she pulls out a cigarette. Bette’s world had become a haze of smoke, alcohol, and a black abyss of despair. In fact, this was the first night that Bette had been anywhere. The only places Bette ventured were to work, the liquor store, and Tina’s favorite restaurant. She had ordered take out from that restaurant every night in the last two months.

After smoking three cigarettes, Bette steps out of the safety of her car. Standing in front of the door and adjusts her shirt. She stands in front of the door stuck in place by fear.

“Get your ***** together, Porter, you only have one chance at this,” she mumbles to herself.   

She walks into the Planet with a determined stride making a beeline for the stage. Seeing the band members setting up, she sends a silent prayer of thanks for her good luck. Reaching the stage her pulls the drummer aside and whispers in her ear.

            At their usually table, the gang was laughing at Alice‘s latest adventures.

            “So, I was trying to make a tea cozy, whatever the ***** that is, and all I can make is a ***** harness. So guess what everyone is getting for”

            “Oh the band is starting early,” Tonya interrupts.

 Everyone but Alice turns to the stage to watch the performance. Alice continues to send evil thoughts at the back of Tonya’s head.

            “What the *****?” Alice glances up at Shane to see her mouth gaping open in shock.

            “Huh?” Alice looks at the stage, in time to see Bette take her position at the keyboard.

            “Tina, Bette plays the piano?” Tonya asks. She doesn’t get a response, it is doubtful that anyone at the table even heard her. They all stared at the stage in complete shock. No one moved, no one spoke, the background noise of the bar cease to exist, they just sat there dumbfounded.

            Then she began to play. At first it was just her, and then slowly the drummer started a steady beat, she was soon joined by tenor sax and the guitarist. Alice and Shane stared to come back to life; Alice tapping her foot with the beat and Shane ever so slightly keeping time with her fingers on the table.  Just then Bette began to sing a pleasantly husky voice: