The ringing of her alarm four hours later had Noni bolting up in bed and clicking it off hurriedly. Groaning and rubbing her eyes she rolled onto the floor, a two-inch drop, and went to shake Kit awake.
   "Come on, Kitty." She grumbled tiredly, "Time to get up for school, sweetness."
   When Kit rolled over and blinked her blue eyes, Noni grinned down at her. "Wakie, wakie." She cooed and her grin broadened when Kit smiled and threw her arms around her neck.
   Hugging her back, she sat up on her knees, lifting Kit up a bit. "Let's go, girlie. We've gotta get you to school, and me to work, and make sure mama's still sleeping."
   Nodding, Kit got up and moved around the room, picking up her clothes she laid out last night and headed for the bathroom with her royal blue towel.
   Moving to the kitchen, where the sweet aroma of coffee wafted, Noni drew on it as if it were a lifeline. But by the time she got there, their automated coffee machine burned the coffee. Again.
   Wrinkling her nose at the taste, Noni continued to drink greedily. Relying on the caffeine charge to get her through the eight hours of waitressing at Denny's this morning.
   Which reminded her, she needed to get her clothes. Setting it for another two minutes while she finished her coffee, she hurriedly stripped down and into her work clothes there on the back porch and started her performance clothes in the wash machine.
   Kit appeared in the doorway, her blue shirt and jeans sticking to her still partially wet body. Her hair dripping down her back and onto the floor, she stuck up a socked foot. "Noni, where's my shoes?"
   Smiling at the disgruntled look on her face, Noni mentally projected the living room and their bedroom, then she smiled. "Try the living room closet." She remembered seeing them when she was storing her equipment early this morning.
   Running off, Noni smiled after her and proceeded to fill bowls with Trix and milk. Not forgetting to bring out the color changing spoons to eat with.
   She caught the phone halfway through its first ring and cursed whoever it was. "Yeah?" She grumbled around a mouthful of the fruity cereal.
   She tensed at Chad's slightly slurred words. "I've got class tonight, and you know it."
   Smiling to reassure the now solemn Kit, Noni tried hard to answer the questions without her usual acid remarks. There were just so many things she allowed said in front of Kit. And so many that she didn't.
   Shrugging Noni replied, "Mom's off tonight, Chad. I've got class. I can't do it. Hire another friend or something."
   She sighed and continued eating, "I get off at ten." Her eyes narrowed as she brought another spoonful to her mouth. "They won't mind if we don't play until then? All right then, but you know the rules. You don't drink until we're done. I won't play if you have." She nodded to herself, "Fine then, it's on. Who are we playing for and where."
   Kit rushed off to get her a paper and crayon and Noni grinned appreciatively at her and wrote down the address before picking her spoon back up. "And who are we playing for?"
   The fact he hadn't answered her yet made her a little nervous.
   The spoon dropped from her fingers. "Why?" She croaked out. "Yeah, bye, Chad."
   Swallowing hard, Noni tried to go back to eating nonchalantly and teasing Kit about the new boy in her class. Struggling to pull off an air of indifference as she thought of the possibility Chad had talked of.
   Racing Kit to the bus stop, she waited with her and laughed as Kit climbed on the bus and smashed her face against the window and wave goodbye.
   Waving back she waited until the bus drove down and off their street and hurried back to the house. A chance to play for a band who might be able to help us get a record deal.
   The idea was ludicrous, and Noni knew the chances were extremely low of happening. But oh it made her hope!