Shelly pulled the guitar case out of the car & carried it inside the shop,

Tony, Jay, Chris& Stacy following, she sat the case on the counter & opened it up.

The guitar was beautiful, simple acoustic, she picked it up & lifted a small flap, digging past the numerous picks she found it a small wad of cash she pulled off the paper clip & counted it out, it was mostly twenties & tens. As she counted the last bill she smiled.

"Well I'm not hopelessly broke have $1,000 right here thank god for emergency cash."

"Yeah always comes in handy." Chris said "Make that on your way here?" they all looked up

"Skip! Hey I though you where still in Seattle." Tony laughed , all happy to see him.

"Sure did! 7 gigs in 5nights." Shelly said smiling every one looked at her,

" Your kidding right?" Stacy said stunned as every one else.

"Nope!" she grinned.

"There is no way you did 7 gigs in 5 nights!" Chris said.

"How much you wanna bet baby?" she said, Tony smiled at her fire

"Ok how did you do this I wanna know!" said Jay with a smile

"Ok I'll tell… left home Monday had a gig in Nashville at 7,one of the local honky tonks , driving through Tennessee I stopped in a Bar in Memphis, Owner Let me play, I made $500 dollars that night but spent a lot on a room & some food, stopped in Tulsa Tuesday , 3 honky tonks in between a hour of each other. Wednesday didn't play at all went to church instead. Thursday, had to drive through Austin, found about 7 bars but because I'm under twenty one, only one of them let me play, car got a flat tire. gentle man & his wife helped me out, place to stay& he fixed my tire & gave me some money $50 to take care of my self. Friday played a club in Arizona, made $300, got detoured to Vegas, Made $100 in a bar there. & $100 at a bar in LA last night.& This is Saturday. " she finished Tony mentally counted the gigs, & cash in his head.

"Wow she's right 7 gigs 5 nights." he said

"You must really be able to play to make that much." said Stacy, with a laugh .

"Not really I'm still learning." they all looked at her amazed. "How in the world…"

Skip smiled , Shelly laughed " I learned from a friend who plays taught me a life time worth."

"yet your still learning?" Skip said staring at her. She nodded he then smiled and added. "You play for us, & if your good enough, you get a board of your choice." she smiled & chuckled.

"Skate or Surf?" she asked

"Both, If your really good."

"I do love a good challenge." she smiled picking up her guitar.

Chris helped her up on the counter so she could sit down.

She thought only for a second & said to here self "that's a good one"

'Cause I'm broken when I'm open
And I don't feel like I am strong enough
'Cause I'm broken when I'm lonesome
And I don't feel light when you're gone away

She ended with the final chords & said

"Well?" …