The next morning I was wandering around the house, still in my pajamas, when the doorbell rang. Setting down a box of cereal, I went to answer it. I immediately wished that I were wearing proper clothes, as it was Dero and Mathias that stood on the stoop.

"Guten Morgen," we said to each other.

"What are you doing here?" I crossed my arms over my chest and wished that I had at least brushed my hair.

"We thought we'd come over and help you unpack. If you still have more to do. But, we uh, thought you'd be dressed by now," Mathias answered. He glanced at his watch and his eyebrows rose.

Laughing uncomfortably, I explained. "Stayed up a bit late. I'm a night person you see, and it seems like the only time that I'm ever able to do any decent writing is in the dead of night."

"Writing?" Dero asked with renewed interest.

"Didn't I mention?"

They both shook their heads.

"Right." I moved out of their way and shut the door behind them. "Well, I'm a writer. It's my second job, I guess. I write my own stuff mostly, but I'm also occasionally asked to translate things for various publishing companies."

"And you've been published, I take it?"

"Yes. I have a copy of my book somewhere…" I snapped my fingers when I remembered where it was. Holding up one finger, I asked them to wait a second then ran into the library to fetch it. Carrying it lovingly in my hands, I returned to where they were standing. "Here it is."

Dero took the book from me and stared at the cover.

"I've read this. Several times," they both looked up at me. "You wrote this?"

My voice suddenly gone again, I could only nod. They've read my book!

"You're impressing me more and more, the longer I know you."

Cheeks turning bright red, I took the book from them and set it gently on the coffee table.

"You probably want to get dressed, huh? We can wait, if you like. Unless you don't have any more unpacking to do."

"Well, I'm almost done. But uh, I was thinking about going out on the town this morning. I'd love some company."

"Here's an idea," said Dero. "How about I introduce to Crap and Flux? I told them about you and that you were coming over for dinner last night. I'm supposed to let them know how it goes.

"That sounds great. I'd love to meet them." I resisted doing a jig as I sauntered down the hall to get dressed.

The drive to OOMPH!'s private studio was surprisingly short. Crap and Flux had agreed to meet us there, but we arrived first. Mathias had come with us, which surprised Dero for some reason. Mathias mumbled something in German that I couldn't catch and Dero shrugged it off.

Crap and Flux arrived together and Dero introduced them to me by their first names.

"Es freut mich Sie kennenzulernen."

Settled on a bunch of squishy chairs and couches, we conversed amicably about…everything. The guys seemed very interested in my opinion on a whole slew of political topics. They thought I might be able to bring new light to some issues that they had been concerned about. Something about me being an American and working in politics. I pointed out that I've never been the most traditional American. They found that really funny for some reason.

Eventually, the conversation turned to music, as it was wont to do.

"Do you play any instruments?"

"A couple. I don't get the chance to practice most of them. But, the one that I do practice quite often is organ."

Robert seemed to be about to laugh; Andreas had his eyes shut and a silly grin plastered on his face.

"What?"

"You play the organ." It wasn't a question, I just shrugged my shoulders.

"That's not an easy instrument to learn," explained Mathias.

"Well, no."

"Are you any good?"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

All four of them looked at each other, as if deciding something.

"Would you be willing to play for us?"

My mouth hung open as I stared at them. A small, disgruntled laugh left my lips and I was sure my eyes were going to pop out of my head.

"Play for you?"

They must have heard the fear in my voice, because Andreas hurriedly told me that I didn't have to. Chewing my lip, I mulled it over.

"You know what? I will play for you. I haven't anything to lose. So why not?"

"Prima!"

"But uh, unless you have an organ hidden somewhere, we'll have to go back to my place to use mine."

"Fine with us."

My hands shook ever so slightly as I unlocked my door and let them all in.

"Didn't you just move in?"

"Yes." The question confused me.

"Where are all the boxes?"

"Most of them are in the recycling by now."

Flux's hand struck Dero abruptly in the chest. Dero slapped him back and rubbed the spot, apparently sore.

"She recycles."

"Of course I do? I believe I mentioned my brief stint with Greenpeace?"

"Oh right." Flux's brow scrunched up as though he still found that really odd.

"Organ's back here." I led them down the hall to what I think was supposed to be an office. But, since I wrote in the library across the hall, the office had been turned into my music room. There was a simple, but beautiful pipe organ that took most of the room and also my old glockenspiels, snare drum, and violin. A cupboard stood by the door, in which I stored my music and organ shoes.

"Right. Um…What should I play?"

"What can you play?"

"Lots of things." Tapping my finger on my lips, I pondered my choices. Smiling mischievously, I pulled out a stack of handwritten sheet music from the cupboard. I yanked off my tennis shoes and slipped quickly into my organ shoes before sliding onto the bench. Then, I began to play. It didn't take long for Dero to gasp in recognition.
"Holy shit, that's one of ours!"

Merely nodding, I continued to play through the medley I had arranged. When I reached the end, I was greeted by raucous applause.

"You really like it?" I asked as I turned to look at them all.

"It's genius! But how did you manage to do that without any sheet music to reference?"

"A heck of a lot of work, a lot of trial and error, and a lot of determination."

"I can imagine. Or rather, I can't. That's gotta be the most flattering thing any fan has ever done for us."

The red color returned to my face, it was starting to feel as though I would turn that color permanently.

"Speaking of fans," Andreas glanced at the time, "We should probably get going if we want to get anything done today."

Dero, Crap, and Flux left, but Mathias hung back until they'd gone. He stood awkwardly in my living room. It seemed like he was deciding on the proper way to say something, as he kept opening and closing his mouth. Finally, he spoke, in English, which surprised me.

"Would you like to go out with me sometime?"

"You mean on a date?"

He nodded emphatically.

"Sure. That sounds great."

Mathias flashed a delighted and perfect grin, and I was reminded of his father.

"Does tonight work for you? Say, six o'clock?"

"Sounds perfect." Mathias left then and I walked unsteadily to my couch. Looking at the clock and doing the math in my head, I saw that it was far too early to call my sister. Guess I'll call her after the date. Date. With Dero Goi's son. Holy fuck.