Just Beyond the Curve (4 page)

“Awesome!” Billy declared.

“Don’t bull-crap me, Man!” Danny said, slightly
angry. He felt John was playing him; that he could really play the
guitar and was just trying to embarrass him in front of Billy. He
knew he needed a drink, or a smoke! Hell, even a toke! It was
unbelievable that this guy could pick tuning a guitar up on the
first go around. “Do you know how to play or not?”

“I don’t,” John answered sincerely. “Like I said, I
can usually pick something up after seeing it once or twice.”

“Yeah, right,” Danny said with a knowing grin. “Wait
‘till you see these!” He held the discs up knowing there was no way
John could pick up Kurt Hammitt’s licks the first time around. Not
even on the tenth time around he was betting. “I’ve been studying
these for months, now, and still can’t do ‘em right every
time.”

“Let’s see ‘em and see, then,” John said. “Maybe I
won’t be able to do ‘em at all.”

“We’ll have to go to the TV in the living room,”
Billy said, getting up and going for the door.

John laid the guitar in the case, then he and Danny
followed Billy. Danny noticed and said, wonderingly, “You’re not
bringing it?”

“What for,” John asked ignorantly.

“Well, to practice on. What else?”

“Either I’ll remember it or I won’t, right?” John
asked seriously.

Danny smiled sensing John’s total failure. Inside he
was pleased beyond belief. It would do his heart good to see this
strange guy fail. “Yeah, right!” he said, following Billy.

In the living room Billy turned the TV on and
inserted one of the video discs into the DVD player and started it.
They sat in silence watching the world class guitar player run
through his licks, explaining as he went.

“I never knew a guitar could be played like that,”
John said breathlessly, his eyes bulging in disbelief.

“He’s a
master
, that’s for sure!” Danny
agreed. “Think you can do it like that, John?” he asked
facetiously.

“Maybe,” John smiled back. “Ain’t but one way to find
out. Right?”

Danny and Billy laughed, then hurried to follow John
back to his apartment to see if he could do all the licks they had
just seen.

“Did you
really
get
all
that?” Billy
asked, disbelievingly.

“I think so,” John confessed confidently. “It’s like
I have a guitar fret board in my mind and my fingers just know
where to go and what to do. Maybe not
exactly
, but I think
with time I’ll get it down exact.”

“Yeah, maybe in about twenty years!” Danny said
sarcastically.

As they passed through the kitchen Judy said, “John,
you don’t have to prove
anything
to these two yo-yos!”

“Go away, Judy-pooty!” Billy said meanly, as younger
brothers will often do.

“Be nice to your sister, Billy,” John said. “She is
the only one you have. If something bad were to happen to her, how
would you live with how you were mean to her?”

“Ain’t nothing gonna happen to her,” he replied
confidently.

“So, you can predict the future, now?” John asked,
opening the door of his apartment and stepping inside.

When they were out of hearing of the kitchen, Misty
said, “He’ll have to prove himself sooner or later. He’s a big boy,
he can handle himself.”

“He’s so kind and innocent, I don’t like them trying
to embarrass him, that’s all,” Judy replied, looking at the door
the boys had just gone through.

“He’s certainly not the smartest man I’ve ever met,”
Misty said thoughtfully. “He’ll have to face harsher critics if
he’s ever to make something of himself. So, he may as well get used
to it now. It’s a tough profession for anyone. Can he sing?”

“You would not believe how he can sing, Momma,” Judy
replied dreamily. “His voice is
so
beautiful,” she
added.

“It’ll have to be,” Misty said. “Just think of all
the singers in the world. Shoot, in Austin for that matter. And
consider how many have made it big in the music business. That will
give you an idea of his chances, before you get your heart all set
on him being famous.”

“But he’ll make it, Momma,” Judy assured her.

In the apartment over the garage, Danny went into the
bedroom and grabbed the D-10 from the case. He carried it back into
the living room and handed it to John, who had taken a seat on the
sofa.

John took a few seconds to look at the fret board, as
if memorizing it. He held the guitar and gripped the neck up toward
the headstock, then closed his eyes and began to visualize what
Kurt Hammitt had done on the DVD.

“Show us what you know,
Superstar
,” Danny said
facetiously, then laughed enjoying John’s uncertainty.

“I think he did this,” John said without opening his
eyes or looking at the fret board. “But, I never heard it in a
country song before...”

“It’s not,” Danny interrupted. “That’s Kurt Hammitt
of Metallica fame. Awesome guitarist! You’ll never be that good, so
don’t get your hopes up...” he continued, then his voice faded off
as he began to hear the same music licks he had heard on the
DVD.

Danny stood up, his face turning red in anger. He
glared at Billy, then at John. He began to tremble, believing he
had been played for a fool. “Why?” he demanded, glaring at Billy.
“I’ve never done anything to you! But be your friend! Why do you
shame me?” His voice held a note of very deep hurt and
disappointment.

John looked up innocently. “I’ve never played a
guitar before, Danny. I promise,” he said honestly, bewildered at
Danny’s anger. “We never...”

“It’s all
your
fault, Billy!” Danny yelled,
his reasoning evading him. “You brought him to show me up!
Embarrass me! I thought we were friends!”

“Somes got it and some ain’t, Danny,” Billy replied,
not realizing how insanely upset Danny really was. “You ain’t! Not
like John. Besides, Danny, Judy brought John here, not me!”

Danny glared at the two, turned, and stomped to and
out the door, slamming it hard behind him.

“What’s wrong with him?” John asked innocently, his
eyes indicating his absolute confusion.

“He don’t seem to be real stable, huh?” Billy
grinned, failing to realize the seriousness of the incident.

“Guess not,” John agreed, not knowing what else to
say, then went back to running through the riffs.

Billy watched in awe as John’s fingers began to move
faster and faster. He stared at the concentration and intensity of
John’s expression. “I gotta go tell Judy!” Billy declared, jumping
up and running from the apartment. He didn’t notice that John
hadn’t even looked up from his practicing.

Billy came through the kitchen door like a tornado.
“He is so awesome!” he said overly loud and excited.

“Why?” Judy asked, completely at a loss for Billy’s
excitement.

“John didn’t miss a note!” he declared, gripping his
fist in front of his face excitedly. “He played everything on the
video like a pro! Danny said he was a fake! Just trying to
embarrass him. Said it was all my fault! I said
you
brought
‘im! He still got mad and left. Probably won’t be back,
either...”

“Slow down and breathe, Billy,” Misty laughed,
enjoying seeing her baby so excited. “You’ll pass out!”

Judy jumped up from the chair where she had been
sitting talking to her mother. She ran from the kitchen excitedly,
wiping tears of joy from her eyes. She thought her tears were for
her gratitude that John had not been embarrassed.

John was still sitting on the sofa when Judy came
through the door without knocking. She stood crying, staring at
John without speaking. He lay the guitar aside and stood up. Whoa,”
he said softly. “What’s wrong, Judy?”

“I’m so proud of you!” she cried, moving closer to
him.

“You are? Why?” he asked innocently.

“Cause you showed ‘em you’re a genius!” she said
looking lovingly up into his eyes. It was only then she realized
she could love him quite easily and that he was quite a bit taller
than her. And actually a lot bigger than he looked.

“But, I’m not, Judy,” he said calmly. “Truth is, I’m
not real smart. I just remember
some
things better than most
other folks. I got it from my Daddy, I guess. That’s what Momma
always said, anyway.”

“You’re gonna be famous, John Travis!” she said
seriously. “Just you wait and see!” she added kissing him quickly
on the lips. Then kissed him again, longer this time.

John stood like a statue, feeling the warmth and
softness of her lips on his and feeling his heart swell and go out
to this innocent girl who had trusted him from the moment they met.
She was unlike any girl he had ever known. Not that he had ever
known that many girls. He had certainly never had sex with one.
They didn’t seem to like him; considered him
strange
. And
here was this girl he hardly knew kissing him right on the lips! He
was stunned beyond words. He felt a swelling in his groin and
stepped back, embarrassed.

“What?” Judy asked seeing John was deep in
thought.

“Only my Momma ever kissed me before. And that was on
the cheek!” he replied.

“I’m not your momma.”

“When I’m famous, I won’t forget you, Judy
Rivers.”

“I sure hope not, John Travis.” She stepped back and
dropped her arms to her side. She looked at him a little
embarrassed at her forwardness. She had never acted so compulsively
before. In fact she had never been alone with a boy in his
apartment before. She turned away and walked out the door without
looking back. She closed the door behind her gently, feeling as if
she were floating.

John sat down on the sofa and picked up the guitar.
He began running through the riffs again. As he did he added his
own ideas and improvisations. His full concentration was on the
neck of the guitar and the sounds coming from it. He had already
forgotten Danny,
and
Judy.

CHAPTER FOUR

Misty stood in the kitchen with her back against the
sink. Her arms were crossed angrily across her waist. In one hand
she held a cigarette and in the other was a steaming cup of black
coffee. She glared at Judy, who sat at the table staring blankly at
its surface. Tears slid down her cheeks and her eyes were red
rimmed from her crying.

“So,” Misty demanded her anger momentarily in check,
“What’s he going to do, Judy. And when’s he going to do it? He’s
been here long enough! Over three months! He needs to make a move
one way or the other!”

“I don’t know, Momma,” Judy replied, wiping her eyes.
“All he does is practice his songs and read his music books.”

“And eat like a damn horse!” Misty added
sarcastically. “Well, you need to say something to him. You brought
him here.”

“I don’t want him to go,” she replied seriously. “I
like having him around.”

“You haven’t been sleepin’ with him, have you?” Misty
asked in a concerned tone.

“I’m twenty-one! So, if I was, it would be my
business, Momma!” Judy retorted.

“You’re under my roof, Judy,” Misty said seriously.
“Everything here is my business! Now, answer me!”

“I haven’t been sleeping with him, Mom! Okay?”

“Well, see what he’s gonna do, then. It’s still
business ‘till it gets personal.”

John stopped in the doorway, hearing the last part of
Misty’s statement. He automatically assumed she wanted him to
leave. He had become used to being rejected and took it all in
stride. The only people who hadn’t turned their back on him so far,
was Billy and Judy, and Misty; up until now, that is.

“You want me to go, Misty?” John asked,
innocently.

“No,” Misty replied, before Judy could. “I just want
to know what you’re going to do, John, besides sit and practice,
day in day out.”

“Do about what?” John asked, completely missing her
meaning.

“Money,” Judy said angrily. “She doesn’t think you’re
pulling your weight. You’ve been here three months already and all
you do is practice playing the guitar. And eat, according to her!”
She shot an accusing glare at Misty.

“I’m sorry,” John said, not knowing what else to say.
“How do I get started? Where do I go?”

“Ever hear of a recording studio?” Misty asked
arrogantly.

John seemed to think hard, staring at the floor,
before he looked directly at Misty and said, “I don’t think so,
Misty?”

Misty rolled her eyes heavenward, took a deep drag
from her cigarette and sucked the smoke deep into her lungs, blew
the smoke half out of her mouth, half out her nose, flipped the
ashes in the sink, sipped her coffee. “You’re worse than Billy!”
she stated angrily.

“Billy’s a good kid, Misty,” John said with an honest
smile. “I like Billy fine!”

Misty looked over at John with eyes of fire. She
found it nearly impossible to believe a grown man John’s age was so
ignorant about life. Either he was the most ignorant man she had
ever met, or he was a profound actor and should be in Hollywood
instead of Austin!

“Judy, do something with him!” she said seriously.
“Get him out of here! Take him to a recording studio or something!
We need some money or Brant’s Finance is going to foreclose on the
loan and take this house from under us!”

John looked over and down at Judy. He wondered what
Misty was talking about; take the house? Where would they take it?
He thought it was firmly anchored to the ground, somehow. “What
does she mean, Judy?” he asked innocently.

“I’ll explain in the car. Now come on,” she replied,
jumping up, taking his arm and rushing him out the door. “Go get
the acoustic guitar!”

*****

An hour later John stood on the sidewalk looking at
the sign in the window. He pushed through the door and stepped
inside. The studio was cool and clean looking. At a front desk a
young woman sat. John figured the twenty something, brown haired
girl had to be just a secretary or something. He stepped up to the
desk and looked down at her, not really knowing what to say.