t they look around, all mad and
covered with beer, and see him there with the trumpet in his hand and a
funny look on his big face, and they put two and two together. I can see
they figure the answer is four. And what makes things worse, they are
between us and the front door, so we cannot sneak past like maybe we are
just tourists.

"Hotlips," I say to him, my voice not calm like is usual, "I think it is
a grand and glorious idea that we desert here and take ourselves
elsewhere."

Hotlips agrees. "But where?" he wants to know.

I am forced to admit to myself that he comes up with a good question.

"Over here," Mamie said suddenly, and we look across the room to see
her poking her nose through a side door.

We do not wait for a formal invite but zoom across the floor and through
the door into another, emptier room. Mamie slams the door and locks it
just as two or three bodies thump into it like they mean business.

"The manager is out there and is not completely overjoyed with your
actions of a short while ago," Mamie informs us, explaining, "I
recognize the thump the character makes."

"Evidently," I surmise, "he is in no mood to talk to concerning damages
and how we can get out of paying them, so we will talk to him later
instead of now."

"See what I mean, though, Eddie," Hotlips says. "I play fine when Stella
Starlight is not in the place. Like I say, it is love and what can I do
about it."

"It is a problem," I say. "Even if you _do_ play, you will no doubt be
fired and cannot pay for the damages to the bar room and to the
customers' clothing." Already there are holes in my plastic clothing
where the beer splashes. "If you can only give out on the _Saturn_ like
you play here," I sigh, "we can break all records and show Frankie--"

Suddenly Mamie is tugging at my arm.

"Mamie," I inquire politely of her, "why are you tugging at my arm?"

"That is it," she informs me and leans forward and whispers in my ear.

"But--" I say.

"Hurry," she says, pushing us out another door. "You have only got this
afternoon to do it."

"But--" I say again, and Hotlips and I are in the alley looking at the
door which Mamie closes in our face.

"What does Mamie say?" Hotlips wants to know eagerly. "Can she fix it up
with me and Stella Starlight?"

I scratch my head. "That I do not know, Hotlips, but she does give me an
idea which is so good I am surprised at myself I do not think of it
alone."

Hotlips gives me a