Maelstrom Extra: The Invitation

Late, as usual, for the band meeting, Bo stretched out his long legs and leaned back in his chair. “I’m going to have to cancel on tomorrow’s gig,” he said. “Something else came up.”

Ricky stared in disbelief. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Bo smiled that same lazy incubus grin that he used to disarm the ladies. “Sinister Posse is in town. You know that, right? They’re playing the Arena, and there’s going to be a big party at their hotel after.”

“And you got us invited?” Kalila clapped her hands. “This will be great.”

Bo gave a smug little smirk. “They only invited me, djinna. The rest of you will have to find your own entertainment for the night.”

While the others protested, Ricky waved a hand for silence. “Look, I’m glad you’re making friends with people in big-name bands, and I doubt you can create any trouble for Sinister Posse that they wouldn’t get up to on their own—”

“Don’t bet on it,” Bo said, still with that maddening grin.

“—but your gig at the Ampersand will be over in plenty of time to get to the party. And even if it wasn’t, you’ve been booked for two months. You don’t cancel over things like this. It’s not the human way.”

Bo sat up. “Maybe I’m tired of doing things the human way, ever think of that? Be on time, follow the set list, don’t engage in carnal acts with venue and hotel staff…I joined this band for the good times, not to follow a bunch of silly rules.”

Ricky was about to answer, but Kalila cut him off. “Let me handle this. Go in the other room and wait while I remind Bo about his contract terms.”

Reluctantly, Ricky left the room, shutting the door behind him. As he leaned against the wall, listening to the sounds of mayhem that followed, he wondered how Bo had managed to ingratiate himself with Sinister Posse. The shouts and muffled booms and thumps continued. Bo would be contrite at the end of all this, that was for sure. And maybe, just maybe, he’d be able to get an invitation for all of them.