Author Note: … Donna's day continues…keep an eye on the clock and where all the players are at specific times and you won't get confused….
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Chapter 04 – Events Set in Motion
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3:00 PM
Blonde hair spilled over his sweaty chest. "What's with the marathon sex honey?" Hyde ran his fingers through the long straight strands of silky hair. "Jackie's cheating on me."
Sam rolled over and pressed her chin on his chest. "What's the problem? You're cheating on her with me. You have been for months."
Hyde scratched his chin. "I mean she knows this is my thing. I cheat, she forgives but she's bizarrely happy now. How can she be happy?" Samantha leveled a blue eyed gaze. "Just tell her you're leaving and move to Milwaukee. I'm not going to be working in Kenosha for much longer."
That just sounded distasteful. "I can't….we got the condo together, we're getting along. Kinda. I've been with her for years and I feel like I owe her."
"Hyde, honey. You are having an affair! Granted you guys aren't married, still you're free to see whoever you want whenever you want. This isn't high school and you're not going steady."
Hyde's last thought as Sam's head disappeared under the sheets was, "I am free and I can do whatever I want." Oh God! Samantha gave a little tug just to bring home her point.
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3:30 PM
"Thanks Paul and that was the wacky weather forecast for Kenosha and lower Wisconsin. This is Hot Donna bringing you a block of Scorpions, Beatles and REO Speedwagon." Donna started the music and took off the headphones. She waved at Paul, the weatherman for WFPP and the AM station and headed for the vending machine.
Randy was bringing some Fatso burgers on her break but that wasn't for at least another 30 minutes. She still had those interviews and this freaking day was lasting forever. She wondered if Eric got that promotion. Maybe he would finally upgrade from the Cruiser to a better car. Should she call him? Nah, he'd call if he got the job.
Stan knocked on the window of Donna's booth and pointed to a group of irritated looking young men. Next to that group was three British looking men wearing preppy clothes and Buddy Holly glasses. He opened the door and the men tried to squeeze in which made Donna feel very claustrophobic. "Guys…please be patient." She looked at Stan, "Let me take these three first."
Stan replied, "Nasty Ned and the Nobodies." Donna laughed apathetically. "Oh….kay. Then this must be the Angry Ants. Stan, can you please show them to the green room?"
Stan nodded and motioned for the group of Mohawks to follow him. Donna indicated that the Nobodies should have a seat as she went around to her board and put on her own gear.
"Welcome back. This is Hot Donna and in the studio with me is the new group, Nasty Ned and the Nobodies. Guys, please introduce yourselves….."
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3:30 PM
"This is your baby." The technician held the sonogram wand over Jackie's belly and pointed to a little inch and a half sized little strawberry of an embryo on the screen.
Eric squeezed Jackie's fingers as he gasped. That was his child! She was right, this was a blessing! God he wished he could share this with Donna….but his Donna that didn't want a family now.
Jackie looked at Eric with tears in her eyes. She was thinking the same thing about Steven wishing this could have been a little baby with soft blue eyes and curly hair. Her Steven, the man who didn't want the trappings of a family or marriage - two of the most important things in the world to her.
Eric wiped Jackie's tears with his finger. "We'll work this out. We're going to be great parents." She sniffed, "I know. This baby will be loved." The technician printed out a photo and handed it to Eric. She looked at Jackie, "One more week and you'll be out of your first trimester. The doctor will see you after you change and she'll talk to you about what to expect."
Eric was polite enough to turn around as Jackie got dressed and when she grabbed his hand excitedly, he turned around and kissed her. "This is so unconventional and so freaking awesome! My mom is going to be over the moon!"
Jackie gasped and covered her mouth. "Your dad! He's gonna be pissed."
Eric hugged Jackie against his side, "Nah….you're his business partner, plus the mother of his only grandchild….you are the safe one."
She smiled into his happy green eyes. "Our baby is going to have grandparents. I gotta find my mom. She'll either stroke out or be happy. I can hear her now…" Jackie started speaking in a falsetto tone, "Oh Jacqueline! I'm too young to be a grandmamma…." Jackie giggled. "I almost have it all Eric. I almost have it all."
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3:30 PM
Randy waved at Donna through the glass booth windows and held up a bag of Fatso burgers. She smiled and gave him a thumbs up before turning the Malcolm Dillon, lead singer of the Angry Ants.
"So Malcolm, can you tell our listening audience what made you decide to venture into the post punk medium?"
Malcolm sneered, "You heard our clip. We are freaking superior to any new band out there. We have the look and the attitude to command an audience of the snotty little punk ass American royalty."
Donna quickly hit the censor button so the delay would bleep out the "ass" of his sentence. She laughed uncomfortably. "Okay Malcolm, we can't say "beep" on this station. How long has your band been playing this venue?" Donna waved at Randy through the glass and held up her hands indicating that she would be done in ten minutes.
Malcolm saw this gesture and ran his hand over his spiky hair. "Look Hot Donna….maybe my band isn't old school rock and roll but you shouldn't dismiss our music because you want to go on your break." The Angry Ants snarled their signature smile as they agreed with the lead singer. Malcolm leaned forward, "In fact, you should cancel your break and play the whole tape, not that pissy little 30 second clip we were forced to make." Eddie, Malcolm's best friend, threw a cassette tape on Donna's desk.
Donna could feel like the room closing around her. "Hey guys, let's be cool. I'll play the clip again so the listening audience can hear but it's against station policy to play the entire song." Donna put the bumper music back on and hissed, "Are you trying to get me freaking fired?" She gestured towards Stan's office. "Unless you are on the play list and have been approved by the production staff, I can't play squat. Chill out!"
The clip ended and Donna came back on air. "Again, that was Angry Ants. You can catch them live at Kenosha's Open Air Swap Meet this Saturday. Hey, what are you doing?" Donna froze when she saw the gun in Malcolm's hand.
"Listen bitch, play the entire tape or I'll make you sorry you didn't."
Randy looked up when he heard the mike squelch and saw Stan sudde3nly start running from his booth. The lead singer from the punk band was holding a gun at Donna's face. The Fatso burger dropped to the floor.
3:35 PM
"I have to go back to work, but if you can manage to come by my folks place tonight….lets tell them before anyone else finds out." Eric kissed Jackie on the lips and she hugged him. "I know…I need some time before I tell Steven."
Eric smiled sadly, "Yeah…Donna's not gonna be real happy either but I'll find a quiet time and place to tell her."
Jackie held Eric's hand. "You're gonna be an awesome father."
Eric squeezed Jackie's hand. "You are going to be the best mother ever."
3:35 PM
"So Hyde….are you going to come over tonight?" Samantha crooned.
Steven leaned against the condo door. "Yeah, I think Jackie's doing that promotional shit for her business. Let's meet at WB's. He's cool with us Sam. He always liked you."
Samantha toyed with the buttons on Steven's shirt. "I always loved you too. And not just for sex. I have to work the lobby desk but I'll get off at five….or whenever you want me too." She added suggestively.
Steven swatted her ass and sent her on her way, "Later babe!" He was rewarded with a wiggled finger wave.
3:37 PM
Donna was sweating and her hands were shaking. "Malcolm….really, just put the gun down. Please put the gun down."
Eddie, Malcolm's drummer was freaking out. "Dude, a gun? Are you out of your fucking mind? We didn't come here to kill anybody! We just wanted publicity!"
"Shut your mouth Ed." Malcolm hissed. "This cunt is going to play our song and we're gonna be famous." From the corner of his eye, he could see Stan the producer and Paul the weatherman trying to open the door of the booth. None of the group had realized that in her fright, Donna forgot the mute button. The entire conversation was being aired live on the radio.
Randy's hands were pounding at the tempered glass and Donna could see he was shouting for her but she tried to remain calm. She held up the cassette tape and slowly pushed it in the player. "Okay, I'm doing it. You're whole tape is going to be played. Just. Put. Down. The. Gun."
Angry Ants first song began to play its loud abrasive guitar riff and Malcolm's cigarette-husky voice sang the heated lyrics
I hate yer muther
I hate yer brother
You suck at sex
Gonna kill yer daddy
Drive his old caddy
Yer granny's gonna be next
Donna kept eye contact with Malcolm while her fingers pressed 911 on the telephone pad. Little did she know that the police were already on their way. Randy was trying to help Stan bust the door with a fire extinguisher and could see the remaining Ants banging Mohawk shaved heads to their own music which was flooding the speakers in the hallway and the rest of the building.
"911 what is your emergency." The dispatcher asked. Malcolm looked at Donna, his eyes were fierce. "Oh you are such a bitch. Now you've really pissed me off."
Eddie nudged Malcolm's shoulder and when the pair spied the police running towards the door, Malcolm's gun accidentally went off. The shot rang out in the booth, in the radio station hallway and over the airwaves.
Silence.
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