TWO SOULS: INTO THE FIRE
60th installment
warning...adult content
Before the first song, though, Ghost put his finger to his lips and shushed the crowd. This was unusual, as they always just started the songs. When there was silence, he said, "Hey, y'all...thank you for coming to hear us tonight. This here show is dedicated to everyone who helped to rebuild our house. It was the coolest thing ever, to see all that you did, in so many ways, to help us. We love y'all and Missing Mile, forevermore!"
The kids all began clapping and whistling, as Steve took over the mic. "Ok, y'all, just to let ya know, we'll be on the road awhile after tonight, but we'll keep in touch with Kinsey, and he'll keep a map on the wall to track our journey. So, come in and see where all we've been, and when we get back here, we'll sing to ya some more!"
He strummed the intro to their first song, and Ghost began to sing in the same mesmerizing, golden, gravelly voice everyone knew and loved. Steve played loud, and the kids were dancing and singing along. Kinsey could see the open rafters above, shake dust down through the filtered lighting, onto the crowd of sweaty bodies below.
The newly initiated were spellbound at what they were seeing. So this is what everyone had been talking about, they found out. Ghost would raise his voice in a golden shimmer, and then bring everyone back down to the low, gravelly growl with him, then he'd whisper some lyrics while Steve played a softer riff. The crowd was transfixed. On the new songs, Kinsey thought his heart would break, or melt, or burst with love for Ghost and Steve and their love story, as it continued.
As they played the last song, everyone was holding hands and hugging; tears were falling freely. They were swaying along with Lost Souls? with their lighters held up in the air. It was such a great show, no one would forget this night.
~
After the show, Ghost meandered through the crowd, as he received high fives, and congratulations on the show. Steve put his equipment away, then they met up at the bar. Kinsey handed them both a cold beer.
"That was an amazing show, guys," he said. "What are y'all's plans, now?"
"You know, Kinsey," said Ghost, "we're gonna go travel around."
Kinsey smiled, "Yeah, I know. When are you leaving, and where's your first stop?"
Ghost thought a minute. "Well, we're leaving in the morning. I think we're going to the mountain to see the people that helped us out, a long time ago. At least some of them did..." and he frowned, remembering a bit of what happened there. "Just for a little while, to say hi...that's all."
Steve came up and joined the conversation.
"Where we gonna stop after the mountain, Steve?"
"Not sure, yet...maybe we'll just throw a dart and see where it lands, then head that way," Steve said.
"Kin I throw the dart, then?" asked Ghost.
"Yeah, sure, that's as good a way as any. We have a big 'ol map to throw at."
"Maybe we kin just go to places that have funny names!"
Kinsey and Steve laughed. "Yeah, that'd be cool, too," Steve said.
After awhile, the party wound down, and Kinsey began to close up the club. He reminded them to give him updates along the way, and he gave them a small present.
"Steve, I got ya this - it'll help send messages to us back here, and also, if y'all need help, ok?"
He handed Steve a cell phone, and showed him how to use it.
"Kinsey, wow, this is great. We never had a phone, before." Steve said, as he looked at it.
Kinsey marvelled at how the smallest kindness to Steve and Ghost always brought out their gratitude. A phone most people would consider a necessity, was something they'd never considered ever having. Scraping by as they did, a phone was a luxury way out of these two's reach. He had a hard time remembering they were now millionaires, and he realized, they never remembered it themselves.
"Now, Steve, I want you to show Ghost how to use this. I know he can't use the numbers, but make sure you show him how to make a call to 911, or to me, using the letters, ok?"
Steve nodded, and assured Kinsey that he would.
Steve rounded up Ghost, who was writing on the wall again, and they said their good-byes to Kinsey. Kinsey hugged them both, and said, "Guys...please be careful. Take care of each other. I love you both and hate to see ya go, but I'll see ya when ya get back." And then they were out the door, headed home to pack for the trip.
On the way home, they talked about how the show went.
"We did good, Ghost," said Steve. "I think everyone had a good time."
"Me too, Steve. Everyone was dancing and singing along...and they liked our new ones, too. But, I'm gonna miss everyone."
"Yeah, but we'll be back...and we'll get to meet new people...it's gonna be great," Steve said.
"I'm gonna keep a separate journal for our travels, Steve. It'll say where all we stopped, and who we meet, and where we play our songs, and what we get to eat..." Ghost said, as he thought of his plans.
"That's a good idea, Ghost...and I have to show you how to use this new phone, too."
"Is it hard to figure out?"
"Naw, it's easy," said Steve. "You'll get used to it after awhile. Oh, I forgot, I got you a present the other day."
"For me...a present?" Ghost asked.
"Yeah, it's at the house, and don't bug me about it...it's a surprise. I'll show you when we get home."
"Ok, ok," said Ghost.
Next installment coming soon!
Peace, Love, & Writing
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