Into the Fire

This is from The Famous One . . . 

The Blues

     Pelting rain on the car windows in the grey light of day finally woke him up to a disgusting taste in his mouth and the sense that if he did anything too fast he would be throwing up. Slowly, he sat up and read his watch. It was 10:30 and a new year had begun. Another day, he thought soberly, carefully pulling himself out of his sleeping bag so he could walk to the house to use the bathroom before going home.

     To his surprise, a week later Rick brought a guy to Wembler's Grocery just before Joey got off work.

     "Joey, this is my friend Jay Garver, the one I was tellin' ya about who's lookin' for a singer for his band. We'll meet ya out in the parkin' lot when you're done, alright?"

     When Joey walked out to his car, Jay asked him how old he was.

     "Sixteen," he answered, lighting up a much welcomed cigarette.

     "Hmm. Well, Rick said you're really good. Can you come to a try out with our band tomorrow night?"

     "This is crazy, Rick. Look, Jay, I was jut goofin' around at Rick's party. I was smashed! Rick was smashed–how could anybody tell if I could sing or not? Everybody was ripped, man!" Joey tried to explain.

     Jay smiled subtly through his moustache and fingered his trimmed beard. "Well, maybe we'll just have to get you smashed so you can sing," he offered. "Joey, it takes a little extra to sing the blues, man. It has to come from in here," he said pointing to his chest. "Most kids your age don't even listen to the blues. I'd like to hear ya sing. We'll play somethin' you know. The guys are great–all they care about is the music, man. Give it a shot. What's it gonna hurt anyway?" 

     "C'mon, Joey! These guys are good, I'm tellin' ya," Rick urged.

     "What time?" Joey asked a little nervously.

     "How's 7 o'clock?" Jay asked.

     "Okay. Where?"

     "Just go over to Rick's house, and we'll swing by and pick you up, alright?" Jay instructed.

     "This is crazy," Joey said, looking down at his boots and shaking his head.

     "I got a good feelin' about you, kid." Jay smiled again.

Father, you know my heart, my soul, my everything. You know. Please continue to minister to me and instruct my writing. Apart from you, I can do nothing. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.