The Laws of Gravity by Lisa Ann Gallagher

Author:Lisa Ann Gallagher [Gallagher, Lisa Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, Memoir, 1980s, detroit, punk
Publisher: Lisa Ann Gallagher
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Stranger on the Town…

That winter would prove good times for me. There were gigs and parties and social activities -- but I wasn’t the underdog anymore. I wasn’t trying to prove anything and my self-confidence shone. I was coming out of my shell.

That winter Kevin began dating Melissa, a high school girl from Berkley. She, Nancy and I had a lot of fun that winter and spring. I remember going often to the City Club – a dance club in the basement of the Radisson in downtown Detroit. We called the bar “the Shitty Club.” They played dance and early House music. Michèle would occasionally join us, and Sandy. We would go drinking and dancing. I had a little shtick to pick up guys – I carried a pez dispenser with me to the bar, filled with candy. Then I’d walk up to cute guys and ask “Do you want some candy, little boy?” The clubby boys we saw at the Shitty Club weren’t exactly my type. I liked the rock-and-roll guys much more. But those nights were super fun and a big boost for my ego. After dancing, we girls would be drunk, covered in sweat and would drive through Taco Bell on the way home at three in the morning.

We frequently went to see Gangster Fun, a ska band which had recently formed in Detroit. Nancy had a thing for frontman Jon -- adorable, with his dark skin and sparkling shy smile. Gangster Fun were awesome and their live shows were crazy fun. Their original songs were great (my fave was “Mario’s Hideout”) but they also performed ska versions of classic Rock covers: “Takin’ Care of Business”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and “You Shook Me.” Flip was acquainted with a lot of the Gangster Fun members and we often saw him at shows that season. Nancy was cold as ice to him.

My relationship with Nancy grew stronger and stronger, ever since that conversation during The Colors party. The more confident I became and freer I became with my words and actions, the more I felt that she respected me. That was a good feeling. Nancy was the power center of Gravity and like many others before me, I wanted to stand on the platform of her respect. We socialized with Jen, but more often with the friends that I drew into No Bev, like Michele and Melissa. There were many good times, at clubs and on the town. Nancy, I recall, had a most mesmerizing way of smoking. She was petite -- about 5’2” -- and stood cross-legged as she smoked, flicking ashes off in a reckless, crisp snap. As much as I thrived under Nancy’s spotlight, I was always keenly aware of her fickleness. When Nancy was done with someone, she was just done. Her iciness toward Flip was a perfect example.

I did accompany Jen and Nancy to Grand Rapids that winter to see The Colors play. We rented a couple hotel rooms and partied with the band, which put on two shows during the weekend.

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