Friday Night

Friday night I sat out on the fire escape looking at the neighborhood – the seeds of gentrification taking root.  Old buildings torn down and being replaced by high rises.  The University was starting to buy up more property and whiter, more affluent faces were moving in.  The days of early 80’s where Violet and I would sneak out to go to the Biograph to see Rocky Horror were long gone.  How much longer the Factory would be around?  There was an upscale restaurant going in on the ground floor – how much longer would the skate shop and Trax exist in these conditions.

While I contemplated the changing neighborhood, the sounds of Squats’ band, Striking Order practicing played in the background.

“HEY, SHOW US YOUR TITS!”  Some frat boys yelled up to me from the alley below.

“Fuck you!” I yelled as I threw an empty beer bottle at them.

“Whoa bitch!  Calm your shit.  Why don’t you come down here and talk?  We can, ya know, work it out.”  The smug rich kid said as he grabbed his cock.

“You want me to come down?” I asked with a flirty smile

“Yeah, I want you to come down.” He said

“OK.  I’ll be down in a second.”

He had no idea what was about to walk out that back door.  The band just finished a song and there was a collection of fresh cuts, skin byrds and some of the new recruits hanging out.  Billy was leaning against the door dozing off.

“Guys.  There’s some frat boys downstairs who want to see my tits.”

“Everyone wants to see your tits.” Billy said

I glared at him.  “I think we should give them a good scare.  You know, chase them down the alley.”

Everyone agreed.  Squats’ band put down their instruments and the whole lot of us walked down the back stairs.  I kicked open the heavy steel door and out poured fifteen skinheads.

“So, you wanted to see my tits?” I asked, grabbing my chest.  “My friends here don’t take kindly to rich kids coming into our neighborhood and disrespecting us.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, we don’t want no trouble with no Nazis.”

“We ain’t Nazis you little piece of shit!” Squats yelled as he stepped forward.

The frat boys started running down the alley and the crew chased after them until they turned the corner.  We all laughed hysterically as we returned upstairs.

“Hey, uh, Diane.” Squats said “You think those CLAS fuckers are gonna show up?  I hear that Bring It Down has been having all kinds of problems with Nazis turning up at shows.”

“If they do, remember, Medusa Boys, ARA – they’re our allies.  CLAS doesn’t have much reach up here anymore.” I answered “Every since Terri tucked his tail behind his legs and ran back to the south side, they haven’t had much pull.”

“Alright.  It’s just, this is a big show for us, ya know?  Fuckin’ those New York bands have this huge chip on their shoulders and I want them to see a good time here, ya know?  Show them Chicago’s different.”

“I hear ya.  If those guys need a place to stay tomorrow night, they stay here.  We’ll make space.” I said “We’ll even throw a party for them.  No drinking or anything.”

“That would be sweet.”  Squats said with a smile on his face.

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