Chapter 71

The next morning we did it again before taking a shower together. I asked her out for breakfast. However, I did not want to leave my bike here so after giving her a kiss said I was going home to change clothes and come back. She said she understood, and once I did that and was driving back in the truck, I had an idea. I headed to a place in North Hollywood, and after we both ate I drove on down to New Dawn.

Gina smiled as soon as she realized where we were when I pulled in, but the lot was full as usual so I parked a block away. And hand in hand we headed on over. This time it was a punk group, and I had to admit they did not sound very good. I could not even understand what they were screaming, and even though I like a lot of esoteric music that did not appeal to me at all.

We went inside, and after introducing Mike to Gina I asked him who the hell that was on stage. He laughed and shook his head. “Oh, they call themselves the ‘Fick Sucks’. They were a last minute replacement, the band we had scheduled actually broke up two weeks ago. When they cancelled Becky went through her list of standby acts, and they took the offer. And trust me here, this is their first, last, and only appearance on our stage.”

I laughed, and said I could see why. He then gave Gina a tour of the place, and I think it surprised her it was both a music store and a small publishing company. “Oh, Becky started both when she was with George’s brother here. Back then it was music consignment and publishing games he did not sell in a corner of his store. Then it became a full blown vanity press for game designers, as well as music publishing for musicians, and then this.”

I saw Gina look at me, and I added that my brother had been writing games since he was in high school. “He sure was, I was part of his group back then. So was my wife, you might say that was how we got together.”

He then said something in Korean, and I was not real surprised when Gina immediately answered back. And the two talked a bit before going back to English. “Sorry, my Korean’s not very good, Peg’s is actually much better than mine is. She’s first generation American, I’m second.”

“Oh, that’s alright. I’m actually first and second. My paternal grandmother’s from there, as is my mother.”

Mike raised his eyebrow at that. “Wow, really? Like, they’re like an arranged marriage, like in the old days?”

Gina gave a soft laugh and shook her head. “Oh no, grandpa met grandma when he was in Korea in the Army. My dad met my mom there when he was in the Air Force. I’m three-quarters myself, my name’s actually ‘Ji-ae’. But I go by Gina.” At that time Becky saw I was there and came over to give me a hug. I introduced her to Gina also, and she actually smiled at me after. Then took me over to the side where she had a new display set up.

“This just came in, it’s the newest Korg Oasys.” And it looked to be a beast! Full 88 key keyboard, and one of those flat screen monitors on a stand in front of it. And in essence, it was a full blown computer built into a synth. And I had to whistle when she told me that model was over $7,000 dollars. But she showed me the banks, and I decided to try out Axel-F, and it sounded and played great.

I messed around for about five minutes, playing Rainforest, Popcorn, and a few more before Gina asked me if I knew the Sandra Dee song. I looked at her puzzled, because I had no idea what she was even talking about. Mike and Becky looked puzzled also. She then asked if I knew Beauty School Dropout, and Becky laughed.

“Oh wow, from Grease! OK, I don’t know either one, but how about this?”

And while I had only seen the movie a few times, what she played was very much like the song from the movie. And even Becky seemed impressed when Gina started singing the words to “Look at me, I’m Sandra Dee!” Gina hugged her afterwards, and said that was not the actual music to the song, but it was close enough that it did not matter.

“Well, I’ve never actually played that before. Just the final song a few times. But I knew how it went, so did the best I could. So you’re a singer?”

“Well, I did musicals back in school. Now I’m an actress, and do a few other things.” They talked for a few minutes, then Becky got called to the back and after a hug to each of us she headed off. I played with the synth a bit more, and wished I could find a reason to get it. But I sure as hell did not need yet another one, especially one that expensive.

When we left, Gina was surprised when I told her I had been playing since I was a baby. “My mom was in a band years ago, and still plays on occasion. She taught me, as well as my sister. I was even kind of in Keith’s band for a bit, mostly for fun and extra money. And it’s not like that’s the first time you’ve heard me play.”

She smiled at me and nodded, and kissed me after I opened the door as she climbed inside the truck. And when I got in, she had already lifted the center console and slid against me, kissing me yet again. “Yes, and just like last time, I got fucking wet when you did it.” And I was a bit shocked when she reached down and leaned my seat back. I was laying in the seat at an angle, and she continued to kiss me as I felt her hand on my belt. And after opening my slacks, she whispered for me to keep an eye out. Then lowering her head she took me in her mouth.

And I did that, as I was reminded how good she was. After a few minutes I reached down and after opening her jeans slid my hand in the front of them. And it was all I could do to watch for people coming close, as I fingered her while she sucked my cock. And I moaned each time she took me all the way in her throat, then would start bobbing her head again. And her cunt was indeed wet, she was almost flowing. And I remembered that Shawna reacted almost the same way when she had seen me perform. And after our date at FM station a few weeks before Gina had also been hot as hell.

But I did not hold anything back, and in less than five minutes warned her I was about to cum. And I did, with her moaning as I shot into her mouth. Then resting her head on my thigh as I fingered her even faster, with her cumming just a minute later.

Gina gave me a huge smile when she sat back up, and used her hand to wipe her lips and asked what I wanted to do now. Well, I wasted little time and drove us back to her place. Where we barely left the bed until late Sunday afternoon when I headed home. Where I finished up a report and got to bed early.

The next weekend there was thankfully no game, as it was the Martin Luther King holiday and I had a flight scheduled. On Thursday after class I went to the airport and gave the Cessna a once over, and filed the flight plan. Thankfully it was fully fueled, so I went home and after calling Mike to confirm his being there at eight I went to bed early again.

Mike arrived as I was going over the weather report at the airport, and after getting his information and filing the manifest we headed on out to the plane. He helped me untie her, and after getting him seated in the co-pilot seat and showing him how the headset worked we took off. Once we were at altitude and heading to Las Vegas, I asked him what he thought. And it turns out he had been flying with Pete in the past, but this was his first time in the front.

And it turns out the entire family was looking forward to a week in Idaho in the spring. “Well, that’s a good time to visit. The snows are mostly gone, and the first of the wildflowers will be blooming.”

When we finally crossed over the Utah-Idaho border, I was soon circling the airport. And I could see both the large metal hangar that had been built for the Lockheed, but next to it was the DC-3. I was even surprised to see a Cessna that I did not recognize tied down in the parking area. After checking the windsock and checking for any other traffic or obstructions on the runway I brought her in then taxied to a parking spot.

I was a bit surprised though when I saw Grace and Amy waiting nearby in the van. Mike got out and was talking to the girls as I took care of the after-flight routine. And when I got out Grace gave me a hug, then she helped me tie down the plane. I then got a hug from Amy, and we all climbed in the van and headed to the hotel.

I asked Grace what they were doing there, and she said she just needed a break and invited Amy along. When we got to the hotel Darlene gave me a hug, then gave Mike and I the keys to our rooms. When I had everything in my room, I saw Mike and Harry talking in the lounge area, so knew he was well taken care of. The girls joined me in front of the TV where some really old show with a green clay man was playing with toys.

Grace asked me what the plan was now, and I said that the next day I was going to fly out to the runway and swap planes. Then have lunch meeting with Pete and Mandy before returning. Amy asked what the meeting was about, and I looked at Grace and winked.

“Oh, I gotta see them so I can pee.”

I saw her eyes get huge, and she asked again, so I repeated myself. At that Grace could not hold it in anymore and started giggling. “Amy, what George here means is that he is about to become an official pilot for Gem.”

“What? I thought he was already a pilot.”

“Amy, I am a pilot. But I’ve only been working ad-hoc for Gem. One of the requirements for commercial flying is drug testing, and I used to smoke pot. Mandy finally told me that if I wanted to actually fly for them, I needed to be drug free. So I quit last year, and have now been clean long enough I can pass the drug test. So the meeting really will be so I can pee in a cup, then sign some paperwork.”

I then smiled at Grace, and asked if she had brought along her uniform. I saw her eyes open wide, and she shook her head. “Darn, too bad. That probably would have looked great, both of us getting out of the plane in uniform to meet the owners of the company. I suppose you’ll now just look like you were deadheading.”

Grace turned and gave me a hug, and grinned as I asked Amy if she wanted to come along. “It’s only going to be for a few hours. I gotta fly up to Soda Springs, so I can drop off the Cessna there and pick up the Piper. Then I’m flying to Pocatello for lunch, then back down here.”

She actually looked a bit nervous, and admitted she had never flown before. And Grace nodded, saying that she had been offered many times but never gone with her.

“Amy, you should come. Trust me, George is really a good pilot. He has a ton of hours, and used to fly up and down California all the time for a freight company.” It took a little convincing, but Amy finally promised to come along.

I was about to head out for a smoke, and Amy said she was going to use the restroom and meet me outside. Grace went with me, and said she would not be flying. I smiled at her and nodded. “Well, at least the first leg. You want to be in the back with Amy, right?”

She nodded at that, and I hugged her. “Grace, that’s how it should be. But hopefully by the time we land in Pocatello she’ll be good enough to be in the back by herself as you fly us back here.” She smiled and nodded at that, and kissed my cheek.

I asked her where Robin was, and she got a look on her face and said they had broken up the week before. This surprised me, and I asked what he had done wrong. But she just shook her head, and said it was a bunch of things not any one thing.

When it was time to eat, Harry and Mike joined us and we walked to town. When we walked into the saloon, I saw about a dozen people inside. And near the back was now a food counter. It was mostly the typical fast food things, but I did see they had some things like finger steaks and clam strips. I asked Grace how the finger steaks were, and she made a face.

“Not bad, but not like mom or grandma make them. Mom says they taste a lot like ‘Red Steer’, but that place closed up when I was still a baby so barely remember it. They come out of a company in Twin Falls that makes them just for us.”

I went ahead and ordered that, and looked at the changes. There was now a big double door in the wall between the saloon and the opera house. And the new piano was in place of the old one, and playing out Joplin rags. We all sat together, and Mike asked how the new piano was working out.

“Oh, I love it!” Grace said. “It sounds great, and plays just like a piano. Most times it’s just like it is now, but sometimes they hold dances here now, and even karaoke with it. And since they started serving food, this has kinda become the place to hang out for those that live and work here.”

“Wow, so it’s gone from just a set decoration to a working saloon. That’s pretty good” Mike said. “Seen much improvement in business yet?”

“Well, I only come here once a month or so, but grandpa says it’s up quite a bit. They had tried food before but it did not do as well compared to the beer and wine. But the expanded menu has helped, and now more of the ones that live here are hanging out and not just drinking.”

Grace was right, the finger steaks were not as good as those her our moms made. But I tried a couple of her clam strips and they tasted pretty good. Mike asked what they were, and all three of us just stared at him.

“Guys, I think we all forgot that Mike’s not from around here” I said, and put a finger steak in his basket that had a burger and fries, and added a couple of Grace’s clam strips. “Mike, this is something that is common here in Idaho, but you rarely see elsewhere. The clam strips are just as they sound, breaded clams that are deep fried. Finger steaks are the same thing, but small strips of beef that are battered and fried.”

He tried each, and said they were pretty good. “You know, now that I think about it your brother used to make these all the time back in the day. But it’s been so long, I forgot all about them. I wonder why we can’t get them down in LA?”

“No idea, but I always try to get my mom to make some when I’m up here. They used to sell them at a local burger chain, but they got bought out ages ago.”

“George’s right, I had them last night and they taste just like the ones as Dead Steer” Harry said. Mike looked at him as we all laughed. “Dead Steer is what we all joked should have been the name of ‘Red Steer’. But it was in love, their Baconeer was amazing. Think of a Big Mac, with bacon. And they still made shakes with a mixer like the olden days. But about ten years ago Jack in the Box bought them out, but many of us still miss them.”

When we finished eating, after waving to the bartender the five of us walked through the double doors into the opera house. And the change was amazing. The plain wood floor had been sanded and stained, with a shining coat put on top. And about two dozen round tables with four chairs at each covered the main floor. The red velvet curtain was half open, and I saw a wall had been added next to the doors.

Grace pointed out there was now a small waiting area in the front, where they could sit while waiting or get tickets. And near the stage on the wall shared with the saloon were double swinging doors. Grace pointed out that was to get to and from the kitchen. “The saloon and opera house here both share the kitchen, same fare at each. But here it will be a sit-down meal with a show and waitresses, not self-serve like over there.”

Mike took us to the back where behind a small door was a stairway that led up some stairs. And I could see over the waiting area they had added the control booth. He hit some switches, and brought up all of the lights in the main area. Then used another to open the curtains. And yet another rolled up the backdrop to reveal another twenty feet of stage behind it.

We went back to the main area, and Mike walked to the center and looked around. “OK, looks pretty good here. But I would add some mood lighting along the sides. And consider some baffling on the walls.”

Harry looked at him, and asked what he meant. “Well, the stained wood looks great. And I mean that, it is authentic to the period. But acoustically, it’s going to sound like crap. In the earliest stages they would do that because it helped amplify things a bit, like an amphitheater. But when electronic amplification came in, they turned rooms into echo chambers.”

Mike then suggested two possible solutions. Either covering the wall with foam and adding a decorative curtain in front of it, or just adding heavy curtains that could be opened or closed remotely like those on the stage.

He looked around a bit more, and smiled. “Harry, it would cost more, but suggest to Dave he put in the retractable ones. It would be a shame to cover up all that beautiful wood. And you said most events would likely just have the piano as accompaniment. For that, the wood would be perfectly fine. But say if you’re doing a concert or sound movie presentation, closing the curtains would improve the acoustics a hell of a lot. Deaden the echo, make things from the stage sound more crisp.”

We then went onto the stage, and Mike pointed out how he would add lights. Even some they could use at the front of the stage as footlights. “I see you have footlights there now, but just bulbs. We just got some single bulb controllable LED lights that would be killer there. They can be tuned to almost any color you want, and even add a flicker effect. One of the theme parks down there uses them to accent flame effects; here we can do that to simulate actual candles. And also project colors for other requirements.”

All in all they spent about an hour going over it, and were still going when I said the girls and I were heading back. Harry just waved at us, and Mike was telling him about the new projector that was about to hit the market.

We walked back to the hotel, and Grace and I looked at each other and started laughing. Amy asked if they were always like that, and we both nodded. “Harve has worked for my dad for as long as I can remember. He’s one of their lead techs, but also their presentation room specialist. If Simplot or Albertson’s wants a high quality presentation room, he’s the one that gets called in.”

“Yep, and Mike is kind of the same, but more for actual stage lighting. Got a bar, club, strip club, theater, or skating rink and want killer sound and lighting, you call in Mike. I found out he is really the expert in that area in LA, and almost everybody knows it.”

Amy giggled when I said that, and looked at me. “Strip club? Really? How would you know about that, George?”

And Grace did not help when she grinned and said “Yeah, how would you know about that, George?”

All I could do is shake my head, realizing I had opened my mouth without thinking so only had myself to blame. “Well, I am a guy after all. And yes, I’ve been in strip clubs. In fact, I know about that and Mike because of that. Grace, remember when I told you last year I was working as a DJ?” She nodded her head, and I saw her eyes widen.