There are Birds in My Ears – And Gold in Them Thar Hills

Cheryl has come with me to my first Open Mic in three, maybe four years.

I have birds hanging from my ears.

Cheryl leans forward, squints at my head.  “What are those, birds?”

I press one side of my face toward her side of the table.  “Birds hanging inside of hearts,“ I say.  I lean back at the table, pick up my decaf.  “I’m trying to look artistic.”  I wiggle my eyebrows at her.  “Is it working?  Do I look clever?”

She laughs.

“I like your earrings, too,” I say.  This is true.  Made of a slender pieces of dark wood, an overlay of silver hanging over them, they dangle alongside the dark brown sweep of her ponytail.

I do love the dangle.

“Speaking of birds,” she says, “I bought these in Bodega Bay.”

I stare blankly at her.  I am nervous, and Nervous Pearl sometimes lacks insight.

“The Birds!” she says.  “Remember?  It was filmed in Bodega Bay.”

Ah! 

To be fair, the biggest thing I remember from the movie is that Suzanne Pleshette had a career before Bob Newhart. 

My brain experiences an adrenaline rush. 

Holy moley.  It's been ages since I've been on a stage.

This is crazy.  I should leave now, save myself some embarrassment.

“What are you going to read tonight?”

I reach into my purse, pull out the Second Book of Pearl.  “A little somethin’ out of this,” I say.

Cheryl nods appreciatively.  “You have wonderful stories,” she says.  “Hey, do you have a dollar I can borrow?”

I grin, reach for my purse.  “I will gladly pay you for saying I have wonderful stories.”

“No, seriously!” she laughs.  “That sounded funny, but I meant to tip at the front counter, and I’m out of cash.  Unless –“  A funny, self-aware grin creeps across her face as she reaches down the neckline of her shirt.

“You’re kidding me,” I say.

She laughs, triumphantly pulls a dollar bill from her bra.  “Ta-da!”

Suddenly, I feel a whole lot more relaxed.

“Everyone should sit with you prior to being called up to a stage,” I say.