Linda's Shopping Date

Mike met Linda outside the large Manny's Music store in North Fitzroy.

"Hi Linda, hope I haven't kept you waiting."

"Not at all, I arrived stupidly early."

"Cool, let's go in."

"Wow, they have an enormous amount of guitars in here!"

"Let's grab a staff member to find the Stranbergs for us."

Mike motioned over a sketchy looking bored teenager in a store T-shirt.

"Something I can help you with, man?"

"The lady is looking to try a Strandberg guitar in red, if you have one."

"I'm not sure what colours we have in stock, but I'll grab you one to try. Were you looking for a particular model, Miss?"

Linda shrugged.

"Have you got a Boden Essential in stock?" Mike enquired.

"I've got a pink one on the floor, it's a bit cheaper because it's floor stock."

"Can I try it?" Linda asked.

"Sure." The shop assistant fetched the guitar from a rack toward the back of the store. He returned and plugged it into a small practice amp. "The amp has a few built-in effects if you are trying for a particular tone." He handed the guitar to Linda.

"How about some Stairway To Heaven?" Mike joked.

"Very funny Mike. Can you make yourself useful and dial in a tone for Rose?"

Mike fiddled with the amp. "That should be close."

"Excuse me, can I borrow a tuner?" Linda asked the store guy.

"Yeah no worries." He handed her a tiny clip on tuner.

Linda tuned up, punched in the effects and started playing the heavy chugging guitar riff from Rose.

"Woah, that's a cool riff!" Store guy exclaimed. "I haven't heard that song before."

"It's Japanese." Mike explained.

"Oh cool, cool. Like anime music or something?"

"That's right."

Store guy was looking a bit more interested, having ascertained that Linda and Mike were the real deal and not just time wasters.

"How is it Linda?"

"It's great actually, so much lighter than my Strat. The neck is comfortable. I think it sounds better than my Strat on this song."

"This one's on special for $1789 if you want it." Store guy volunteered.

"Do you have a red one?" Linda asked.

"I'll check on the computer, be right back."

"It's nice being here with you Mike. It takes me back to when we were working on 'Cover Up' together. We haven't had any time alone together since the band formed."

"True, I enjoyed working with you back then."

Store guy returned. "Sorry, we don't have red in stock. We only have Coral Pink, Granite, and Dusk Purple in stock."

"Do you have any other models in red?" Mike asked.

"I'll check again."

"Are you free after this Mike? We could grab a bite and have a chat."

"Danielle is coming over with some costumes to try on later. You can come round to mine for lunch and we can all get embarrassed together."

Linda looked crestfallen.

"The only red Strandberg we have in stock is a Boden Metal NX. It's a lot more expensive though, $3759."

"I don't really want to spend that much on a guitar, Mike."

"Don't worry, if you like it I'll get it for you."

"There you go again, being so nice to me. I might get the wrong idea if you keep this up."

"Nah, it's only fair. I'm the one trying to give the band a futuristic image."

"You guys have a band?" Store guy interrupted.

"Yes, it's called Girlfriend In Your Luggage."

"Haven't heard of you, I know most of the local bands."

"We're only just getting going. We've only played one live show so far."

"Ah okay. We have some other colour Boden Standard models. Blue, Charcoal, Amber, Green, and Black. If that helps."

"Can we try the red one please?" Mike requested.

"Sure." Store guy took the pink guitar back and fetched the requested model.

Store guy handed Lina the metal model. "This is a bit different to the Essential, the pickups are a lot hotter and the frets are ergonomically slanted."

"How on earth does that work?" Linda exclaimed.

"It's a multi-scale neck. Each string has a different scale length." Mike explained. "You might like to check if you like how it sounds clean."

"Can you dial in a bit of chorus for me?"

Mike changed the effects settings. "There you go."

Linda launched into her song, Sleep Warm With Me and started singing.

"Woah, woah. Where can I see you guys play." Store guy was getting excited.

"Our next gig is likely to be in Brunswick at the Anime Music Festival."

"Cool, I'll look it up."

"I think it sounds fine, Mike."

"Great, I was worried the metal pickups wouldn't sound nice clean."

"The Suhr Aldrich pickups are pretty flexible," Store guy noted.

"Do want it, Linda?"

"Sure, it's a nice guitar."

"Okay, we'll take it."

Store guy was looking very happy.

"Shall I walk with you to your car?" Mike enquired.

"I came on the tram today."

"Are you coming for lunch? I can drive us straight to my place."

"If you could drop me home first, so I can pickup my car, that would be great."

"Of course."

"We can talk some more in the car." Linda brightened.

"I'm parked just across the road, by the park." Mike indicated the direction. They crossed the main road and walked along the crescent that bordered the park. "Here we are." Mike opened the Ioniq's boot with his key fob. Linda loaded her new guitar, in its gig bag, into the boot. They got in the car and fastened their seat belts.

"Mike, I want to date you." Linda blurted out.

"Okay, I hear you. I've always suspected as much."

"You're not interested then?"

"I thought you'd take the hint when I was avoiding your calls."

"Oh. You're not into me at all. That's a bit of a shock. I thought we got on. You were always so friendly and generous to me. Am I not your physical type? I'm losing faith in my womanly charms here! I thought I could read people better than this."

"I like you Linda. Yes, I find you attractive, who wouldn't. I tried to push you away because you are too much like my ex. I don't think our personalities are compatible."

Linda was flummoxed, she couldn't help but ask Mike about this ex. "So what exactly happened with this woman?"

"I had a girlfriend at Uni. She broke it off with me because I wasn't good enough at pretending to enjoy social functions with her. I'm not really a people person and she liked to attend endless parties. Eventually she wised up to the fact that I wasn't enjoying it. She said it was the best for both of us to end it. I haven't dated anyone since. I don't want to feel those wretched break up feelings again."

"So you think that I'm a party girl and things would end up the same way?"

"Essentially, yes."

"You've got me all wrong, Mike. My bubbly persona is just a facade I wear for clients. I don't go out that much, mainly just to see bands I'm interested in. Was your ex a musician?"

"No she wasn't, I wasn't heavily into music back then either."

"See, we have something in common that you didn't have with her. It's so unfair, you typecast me without really getting to know me."

"I guess I'm guilty of that."

"I'm guilty too. I should have spoken to you honestly about my feelings sooner. I guess I'm too used to guys that I get along with jumping at the chance to date me. I was too dumb to realise you were actively avoiding me."

"Communication is good. It solves a lot of issues."

"So how about it Mike, can we give it a go? I won't be the least bit fazed that you don't enjoy parties."

"Well as of right now, I'd say I can't. Xiang Ling and Danielle would be pissed if we start dating. I think it would be the end of the band. I don't want that. If we'd had this conversation when we should have, it might have been different."

"Why would they get bent out of shape over that? Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"Danielle is after me as a fuck buddy, she'll be jealous."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

"She's looking for someone to do all her domestic chores for her. She's been openly asking if she can move in."

"For fucks sake."

"So far I have resisted her feminine wiles."

"What about Xiang Ling?"

"It's complex, there's stuff I can't tell you about her, unless she agrees to share."

"How did I end up in such a band of weirdos?"

"Wasn't that because you were chasing after me? I guess you can just quit now your objective hasn't been achieved."

"You really think that little of me? That I'd let you all down like that?"

"It had crossed my mind that your motivation for joining the band wasn't pure."

"I'm in the band for the long haul." Linda blew a raspberry.

"Very mature."

"Looks like we're going to be stuck with each other for now. I make no apology for fancying you. If that makes you uncomfortable, that's your problem, not mine."

"So you're not giving up then?"

"Hell no. Danielle isn't getting her hands on you."

Mike stifled a laugh. "She's not really in the running unless she lifts her romance game. We'd better get going. I'm glad we had a chance to talk honestly."