which is why her crushes always get us into trouble.”
Maryann found Alex's camper. She knocked on the door.
Alex opened the door. “Hey, Maryann. It is Maryann, right? The way you guys dress all alike on stage throws me off.”
“Yes, it's me.”
“I didn't think you'd want to hang out with me after yesterday's trouble.”
She shrugged. “Yesterday was yesterday.”
“So you do think I'm the cause of all the mess yesterday?”
“You might be. You invite chaos. But we're both adults. I'm not going to give you some kind of long lecture about how you should use your magic. Nora probably would, but that's her thing,” she answered.
“I saw your show last night. You played a lot longer than I thought.”
“The Widgets' lead singer and drummer were out.”
“Life is hard for drummers,” he said with a slight smile. “But not usually lead singers. So, do you want to come in?”
“Sure.”
Later that afternoon, Maryann said goodbye to Alex and rejoined her band mates.
“Well?” Nora asked. “Did you tell him how stupid he was for having that damn demon?”
“That's your thing, not mine.” She shrugged. “Anyway, there's nothing wrong with wanting life to be interesting.”
“But people could get hurt. Did you ask him what he did with that panic demon?” she countered. “Why does he have it if he doesn't let it out every now and then? What's the point of that? Just to laugh at people?”
“Nora, I wasn't going to lecture him. I just wanted to spend a few hours with a cute guy. He's pretty smart and he's funny. Sure, I think what he's doing is a bad idea. And I think in a few years he'll probably get tired of all this trouble. And I think he'll find it's a lot harder to un-invite trouble from him life than it was to invite it in. But that's for him to deal with. He was fun to hang out with, and that's all I wanted, alright?”
Nora sighed. “Alright.” She forced a smile. “Well, I hope you had fun.”
“Sure did,” she said brightly.
“Great,” Leah said. “You're happy, we're happy, people saw our show, we've got leads, so can we get out of here before something else happens to Abuela's RV?”
“That sounds good to me,” Nora said.
“Me too. I've had enough Pandemonium to last me for a long, long time,” Isabella said.
“Hey, did you just make a joke?” Leah asked.
Isabella smiled slyly.
“Clearly we have all been in the sun too long. Let's go,” she said dryly.
The band changed out of their costumes, packed up, threaded through traffic, and finally left the festival behind them.
The Lyrics:
People plan so carefully,
Meticulous responsibility,
Perfectionist strategy
Plans so bright, so very organized,
The best laid plans,
of mice, and men!
Chaos comes, chaos goes
Where it stops, no one knows
Variables you thought were moot
Demand their due
And must be heard
Make your plans
Count on a forecast of no rain
A flap of wings and you get a hurricane
Chaos comes, chaos goes
Where it stops, no one knows
Now your calculations
Just don't compute
Find the shredder, start from scratch
Every last detail
Thought out to the Nth degree
All in vain; the butterfly prevails
Chaos comes, chaos goes
Where it stops, no one knows
Track 3: Secretly a Drow
The Interview:
Brad: The next track, “Secretly a Drow,” has the heaviest usage of a minor-key and guitar of all your tracks. It also has the highest angst quota. And I had to look up what the word “drow” meant. I asked before, but doesn't this show some inspiration from the dark fantasy genre? Or at least some familiarity with table-top role-playing games?
Lee: I will say one of us may be, in our real lives, a bit more of a geek than the others.
Belle: That said, we still don't know what you mean by “dark fantasy genre.” Drow are pretty common in mainstream fantasy books. They used to be more common than angsty vampires with a soul.
Brad: Okay, inspiration aside, this is a somewhat dark and disturbing song. It's about human sacrifice.
Lee: Yes. Drow do that sort of thing in the fantasy novels. You may imagine they are not very popular.
Brad: So is this song meant to be taken at face value, or is it a warning for anyone at college who has a weird roommate to be nice to them, or is a warning to anyone at college their weird roommate could be a psychopath?
Lenore: Take it anyway you want. College is a strange time. How many other times in your life, unless you join the military, will you be expected to be in close, even intimate quarters, with a stranger for at least a year?
Anna: Sometimes that forced closeness results in friendships that last for life. Sometimes it results in one person counting down the minutes until they can get the hell out of there. Sometimes it leads to feeling really alienated that the person you live with doesn't even really know you're there. Being civil to your roommate, while it doesn't necessarily result in best friends forever, at least usually averts the counting down the minutes situation.
Brad: I see. So, which one of you had the bad roommate?
Lenore: Who says any of us did? But we've all heard stories.
Anna: My friend's freshman year roommate was convinced she was a vampire. I have no idea why.
Lee: My friend's sophomore roommate was so messy her side of the room was nearly six inches deep in paper and other junk.
Anna: Another of my friends lived with a guy for a whole year, saw him a semester later, and couldn't even remember his ex-roommate's name!
Belle: My friend's freshman roommate failed out the first semester because all he did was play a certain extremely popular MMORPG all day instead of going to class.
Brad: Ah, so this does tie in with your other tracks.
Lenore: There is a method to our madness.
Brad: So this is sort of a worst case scenario?
Belle: Sure, if you think dark elves really go to human college.
Brad: [laughs] Well, obviously that's just artistic license to protect the innocent.
The Flashback:
“Every time I visit my sister, I forget how awful Philadelphia traffic is,” Nora sighed as she looked at the gridlock.
“Anything for a gig, right?” Leah said. “Traffic, high hotel costs, obligatory family visit...”
“Sharon's not so bad. Oh, I need to find out the weekend of May Day. I'm going to have to skip out that weekend.”
“What? Why?” Isabella asked, inching the van forward.
“It's yet another Bryn Mawr tradition and apparently it's very important to Sharon that I go to this thing. And what Sharon wants, Sharon usually gets,” Nora answered. “Some things aren't worth arguing about. By the way, if we don't make it big, my parents will disown me.”
“You've said before,” Leah replied.
Finally the band managed to make it to Bryn Mawr and find a parking space.
“Parking costs alone are going to negate any money we make from the gig,” Leah said.
“Oh, come on,” Nora sighed.
The weather was a nearly perfect spring day but it was just slightly too warm. Nora, as always, looked the nicest in a lilac dress, while Maryann wore an orange jumper with a red t-shirt underneath which was typical of her eclectic taste, and Leah and Isabella wore t-shirts and denim shorts.
A woman a couple of years younger than Nora but with a strong resemblance met them near the parking lot. She was a little shorter than Nora and had not straightened her hair, although she kept it short. She shared Nora's
fashion sense, although her style ran towards more relaxed looks as opposed to Nora's carefully casual looks. She was wearing a slightly rumpled button-up light blue shirt and denim capri pants.
“Sharon!”
“Nora!”
The sisters hugged each other and Nora introduced the band.
“I'm glad you could visit. I know you're working hard trying to make this music thing work out,” Sharon said.
“Thanks,” Nora said, mostly without anger.
“Come on; let me show you around the campus. It's really beautiful. I'll also show you the statue of Athena. There are still offerings piling up in anticipation of finals week.”
“Um, what?” Nora asked.
Sharon kind of laughed. “Oh, there are so many traditions here. The school's patron goddess is Athena. The students make offerings to her throughout the year. They make a lot of offerings near finals week.”
“What happens to all the offerings?” Maryann asked.
“The Tradition Mistresses keep it all, except anything that might rot, of course. See, the whole university is covered in owls too.”
The school was actually quite beautiful. The architecture and building materials for the most part all matched and most structures were adorned with owls. Then Sharon took the band to her dorm, which was Erdman Hall.
“Okay, with all the beautiful buildings on this campus, how in the world did you end up with the one ugly dorm?” Nora asked.
“The architects didn't set out to make it ugly. They were trying to satisfy a lot of design requirements,” Sharon said. “But yeah, the kindest thing to say about it is that it really doesn't fit in very well. Come on, I'll show you my room. I hope my roommate isn't in. I know Mom and Dad give you all sorts of grief for not going to college, but at least you get to miss out on the joy that is living with a total stranger in close proximity with no escape until the next school year.”
“Is it really that bad?” Maryann asked.
“It's just weird.” They entered Sharon's room. “See, weird.” There was a very clear demarcation in the middle of the room Sharon’s side of the room and her roommate’s side of the room. “It's not like she's really messy or she plays alarm clock games. It's just, well, you see.”
“If you didn't tell me you had a roommate, I'd never know,” Nora replied, looking at the practically bare side of the room.
“She's got clothes in the drawers and clothes, but not very many. She just keeps everything really neat. Like, too neat. And she's got no posters, no pictures; even her laptop wallpaper is nothing but a standard selection. All of her clothes are weird too.”
“What, she dresses in black leather and chaps?” Leah asked.
“Oh, she's the funny one you talk about,” Sharon said to Nora.
“Hey!” Leah snapped.
“No, they're ordinary clothes, but no name brands or logos or anything. The only thing I think she looks for is something that's natural fibers.”
“Oh, so she's a modern hippie. That's not so weird,” Isabella said.
Sharon looked skeptical. “She keeps weird hours, even for a college student. She joins in all the traditions, but she doesn't seem to have any friends. I've tried to make friends with her but she just doesn't want to talk.”
They heard the doorknob turn and Nora abruptly switched topics.
“Are you coming to the show tonight?” she asked as the door opened.
“Oh, hey, Frieda, come on in and meet my sister and her friends,” Sharon said.
Frieda was a tall, thin girl with light brown hair and unremarkable facial features. Her clothes were plain and all neutral colors. “I didn't know you had company,” she said in a low voice. Even her voice was forgettable. Everything about her was bland and ordinary.
“That's fine. Like I said, meet my sister and her friends. They're in a band and they're going to play tomorrow night. Where are you playing again?”
“I forget. I'll have to look it up,” Nora answered. “Hey, where did she go? Did she just leave?”
Sure enough, the door was closed and there was no sign of Frieda.
“She does that all the time,” Sharon said. “I told you, she's just weird. I'm about convinced she's an alien or something,” she laughed.
“Well, being afraid of Nora doesn't make someone an alien,” Leah said, still stinging from Sharon's offhand remark.
“Hey!”
“It's not just the disappearing thing. Sometimes there are things she acts like she's never seen before. Like she's got a computer, but had no idea what a computer game was, and she was completely baffled by online games.”
“Maybe she's from a Quaker background,” Isabella offered. “This is a Quaker-founded college, after all, so I'm sure it's not unusual to have Quakers and maybe even Amish attend.”
“Hey, yeah, I never thought of that. Maybe that explains what she eats too. I think she's vegetarian or vegan or something but she didn't know what tofu was. Who doesn't know what tofu is, especially a vegetarian?” Sharon said.
“Are you sure she's from the U.S.?” Nora asked.
“Well, she's not enrolled as a foreign student or anything, but she doesn't talk about her family. Anyway, you guys don't care about my roommate issues. But I'll tell you that coming and going without a word thing is really annoying. But she's not breaking the honor code, so I can't complain. I just hope I get someone else next year.”
“Then take us to meet your other friends.”
“Are you saying that because you honestly want to meet them or because you hope to sell some more tickets to your show?”
“Both,” Nora answered without embarrassment.
“That's fair,” Sharon agreed. “Come on.”
The band spent the rest of the day with Sharon and her many friends, who regaled them with the history and traditions of Bryn Mawr, of which there were many.
“Hey, can you take me back to the Thomas Great Hall, please?” Maryann asked as the visit drew to a close.
“So you can see that ugly statue of Athena again?” Nora said. “Er, no offense, sis.”
“Hey, none taken. The original is better, but those Haverford boys ruined it for everyone. The plaster replica really is not flattering to our patron goddess,” Sharon said.
Nora raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Sharon obligingly led them back to the statue of Athena. There were already a number of items placed at the foot of the statue. Mostly there were pieces of paper with requests but there were also small plastic trinkets and a few odd food items.
“Are the Tradition Mistresses going to keep the Twinkies for all time?” Leah asked. “Because I'm pretty sure those things don't ever go bad.”
Sharon laughed. “I don't know, but that's a good point.”
Maryann pulled out a small bottle of olive oil she had brought for exactly this purpose. She wrote, 'I am at your service' on a piece of paper and taped it to the bottle. Then she knelt down reverentially and placed the bottle near the foot of the statue.
“Is she serious?” Sharon asked Nora in a low voice.
Nora nodded.
Maryann stood up. “Thank you.”
“Is she even your goddess?”
“She's not one I regularly worship, no, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't be respectful. This is her place and I know she's here. At best, it would be rude of me to offer nothing while I'm here.”
Sharon gave Maryann an odd look, but the other women didn't think Maryann's behavior was odd at all. Sharon escorted them to the parking lot and they braved the Philadelphia traffic to find their hotel for the evening.
Maryann looked around. She appeared to be a grove of olive trees in the shadow of a mountain. There were no signs of buildings around her and it was very quiet, even though it seemed to be about mid-afternoon. She was wearing her usual style of clothing but felt she was probably out of place. “Oh, so this appears to be a dream,” she thought. She
realized there were also owls asleep in some of the trees. “Hello?” she called.
A tall, lithe, handsome woman walked into the grove. She had dark blonde hair, gray eyes, and an olive skin-tone. She wore a long, white tunic, sandals, a helmet, and was carrying a spear and a shield with a snake-headed woman's head emblazoned on it.
“Oh,” Maryann said, recognizing this woman. “I'm humbled and amazed you've come to talk to me, Pallas Athena. Should I, um, bow, or something? I really don't know much about ancient Greek etiquette.”
“As long as you are respectful, I will know it.”
“Oh, good. I am totally respectful of any deities, or I try to be.”
“You are surprised to see me?” the goddess asked.
“Surprised does not begin to describe how I am feeling right now,” Maryann replied nervously.
“Good. You made an offering to a statue today, did you not? You said you were at my service.”
“Yes, yes I did. I didn't want to be rude.”
“I appreciate your consideration. It happens there is a matter that bears investigation, and I believe you and your group are uniquely qualified to do so.”
“Is this dangerous?”
“It could be. There is a student here who is not what she seems to be. I dislike illusions and glamours. As the motto says, 'I delight in the truth.' Find out who this girl really is. Once that comes to light, I believe a plan of action can be developed,” the goddess said.
“Um, how does someone hide from one of you?”
“That is your first clue, is it not?”
“What's the girl's name? I mean, there are hundreds of girls here.”
“Her name is not her real name, but you have already met her. She goes by the name of 'Frieda.'”
“Oh! Sharon's weird roommate! I hope this doesn't get too dangerous. I don't want Nora's sister to get hurt.”
“That is something you'd do well to keep in mind. Have you any other questions about the task I have set before you?” Athena asked.
“No,” she answered. “No, ma'am,” she added, because she felt that was more respectful.
The tall goddess almost seemed to smile.
Maryann woke up. “Oh, the others are going to get so mad at me for making that offering,” she thought. Since it was nearly time to wake up anyway, she got out of bed and procured breakfast.
“Hey, doughnuts,” Leah said, exiting the room had been sharing with Maryann. “Wait a minute. You never get breakfast. What's going on?”
“Um.”
The other women made their way over to the common area of the suite. “So what's up?” Isabella asked.
“I had a dream last night,” Maryann answered.
“So did I,” Leah said. “I dreamt I was a giant Great Dane cooking hamburgers at a carnival. It was weird.”
“No, a different kind of dream.” She proceeded to tell them about her dream. “You guys don't have to believe me,” she finished, “but I have to find out who this girl is.”
“Which means you won't be rehearsing with us until you do?” Nora asked.
“Yeah. Listen, when a god gives me a task, and it's not unreasonable, I generally don't refuse. Anyway, I did ask for this.”
“And we get dragged in with you.”
Maryann shrugged. “Well, Frieda is weird. I mean, I can't even really remember what she looked like. I know she was tall and thin but I can't really picture her face. Can any of you?”
They thought for a moment.
“No,” Isabella said.
“I think her hair was dark blond or maybe light brown. Definitely not red or really blond,” Leah said. “But I can't think of a