"Why do you play like you jumped out of the early 1900's ?", Petra questions one Thursday afternoon.
Today was unusually pleasant. After Petra's 'thank you' I have felt somehow more lifted. I aced my practical exam and passed the written portion. Now all I want to do is to play some soothing music and try to end this day peacefully.
"1900's was the best period for music.", I replied barely glancing over at her continuing to eye the sheet music in front of me.
"But it sounds so depressing.", she responded.
I can't blame her for thinking that way. It is Blues. Everytime I hear Blues it makes me feel the pain.
"It's the Blues. Written with emotion. These artists pour their sorrows and hopes into their songs. In those times of war and depression they still found something in them to produce art." I explained.
Petra gives a soft humming sound placing a gentle hand on her cheek.
"Play me some Blues Kevin."
A small smirk came to my lips as I flipped to another song. "Got dem saint louis blues jes as blue as ah can be", I crooned before bringing my mouthpiece up.
I didn't get to blow my first note when my phone rang. It wasn't just any ring tone that played. It was Zarathustra.
With a soft groan I placed my trumpet down in its case. I bregrudly pull myself over to the side table where my phone rests. With phone in hand I stared with eyes narrowed at the caller ID
'Devil Woman'
"Hello Ma."
No going back.
"Kevin Tiberius Stoniness Falcon why haven't you called your mother!", my mother screeches into my desensitized eardrums.
"Ma, I am in school and working. It doesn't give me time to talk to you all the time." Nor do I want to talk to you.
"You think your a big shot now. Going off up to that school thinking you better than what you were back at home..." she nagged on and on after I started tuning her out.
"Why did you call ma?".I groaned not wanting to hear that same old speech again.
There was a soft huff on the other end of the line, "Your sister Everest is getting married next week.".
"That concerns me because?"
"This concerns you because I want your brown ass down her to play at her wedding." She continued to screech.
"Ma I don't -"
"And with a date!" She concluded and hung up the phone.
That fucking bitch. I haven't been to Florida since I was in high school and she really wants me down there.
"That sounded intense."Petra comments.
I let out long sigh looking back at her. "You wanna go to my sister's wedding with me?".
Petra gives a sly smile, "Does this mean I get to meet the family, such a big step.".
"Trust me you don't want to meet my family it's too fucking chaotic.".
Petra rose from her seat closing the small distance between us with a kiss on the cheek. I can feel the stain of her lipstick on my cheek like a lingering kiss.
"I like chaos." She hums making her way to the door.
"Where's you going?".
"To the mall of course. Got to get matching outfits for both of us." She declared and left with a click of her heels.
I flopped down onto the couch with a moan. This day started off so great but crashes to pure agony.
My mom always knows the right words to send me spiraling down from a nice day. Just like she always did when I was in Florida. Always trying to do something to irritate the living hell out of me.
Does she gain anything from it?
"Agh!" I groaned leaning my head on the edge of the coach. I casted my arm down and began feeling for my phone.
Once in hand I began texting Jeremy.
Kevin: You won't believe who called
Jeremy: your mother?
Kevin: Nigga you psychic or somthing?
Jeremy: Nah, she called me too asking me to play for your sister's wedding.
Kevin: you gonna do it?
Jeremy: Yeah. Seems interesting. Plus I get to introduce Nikkei to my parents.
Kevin: Plane tickets gonna be a bitch.
Jeremy: Your mom didn't send you tickets. She sent me two said the other for my date
Kevin: that fucking bitch
Jeremy: ttyl. Nurse called our names.
Kevin: K, hope kid's alright.
Upon exiting the messaging app I take notice to the notification banner taking over my upper screen from the ISpy app.
I always hated that app. A place were people post everything. From thier vacation pictures down to what they ate. This is all fueled by humans dire need for attention. It blocks out the fact if the high potential that they are being spied on. The name of it alone is questionable enough to stay away. The only reason I had the app was for Bess.
Bess...
My finger automatically opens the app upon the thought of the dark skinned girl. After a few quick scrolls past a sea of skimpy dressed 'Spy Girls' I found the one I was looking for.
My eyes grew to saucers when the first image came up. I would have never thought I would see the day she did this to herself.
She cut off all her hair.
All twelve inches of her beautiful coiled locks.
When the shock of the picture started to fade I finally read the caption.
'It's been a long ride. Time to let the healing begin'
What did this mean? Is she okay? Why would she do that?
So many unanswered questions with little to no answers.
I tossed the phone somewhere on the couch. I needed to vent. Too much things are happening and I just can't let build up and the already tightly packed problems in myself.
My trumpet sat in its case wanting to be held again. Picking it up I slowly began a few notes of a nice old tune.
Lawd, a blonde-headed woman make a good man leave the town
I said a blonde-headed woman make a good man leave the town
But a red-headed woman make a boy slap his pappy down.