Suzie’s House 547 : At Justin’s Place

They heard it before they got there. Some crazy jam session was going on with a lot more than just a drum or two and some guitars and maybe a didgeridoo. Though muffled by walls, it made his fingers twitch.

Bruce had never been to Justin’s place before. Until Tracy walked up to the door, he had more than half hoped it was just some stranger’s house. If it didn’t belong to Justin, then Bruce didn’t have to envy the guy so much it hurt.

But no. Tracy pressed the doorbell like it was part of the music but someone inside shouted “Come in” like they did it all the time and there was Justin already in the hall with a bowl of cereal in one hand and two spoons clacking together in the other, and Bruce knew for sure there was no way in the world that life was fair. No way at all.

“Snacking so close to supper?” Tracy wiggled her eyebrows at the cereal.

“This IS supper. Lunch too. There’s no food in the house.” But instead of sticking a spoon in the cereal he kept up a beat with the spoons. “Want to go upstairs?”

“We need to talk about our next album so, yeah.” Tracy acted like she was the boss but Bruce was too distracted to really care.

“Could….” Bruce swallowed hard. “Could we maybe get in on that?”

“Jam? Sure.”

“No!” Tracy grabbed at Bruce as he went into the living room. “I remember what happened last time I was here. We need to make some decisions.”

Bruce ignored her. There were two drummers, three guitar players, the didgeridoo he’d guessed before, someone who held a flute in her lap and nodded in time to the music but never seemed to blow a single note, and a couple of people people tapping out rhythms on whatever came to hand. A few nodded to him, but they didn’t stop the music for him.

He pulled out his keyboard while Emma and Gene followed him in. Tracy groaned loudly, but he didn’t care. Most of the jams he’d been in had been with band mates or something agreed on before hand. There was more of a purpose or direction to it. This… this was music on the hoof – wild and free. He wanted to dive in like a cliff diver dropping into the ocean.

No one seemed to even notice when he started noodling around on his keyboard. It felt good to him, but a few minutes later everything fell apart. He was afraid he’d somehow messed up.

“Oh yeah. Now I remember,” Gene said like he didn’t really care. “That way it all stops randomly drove Tracy nuts.”

“Come on, guys. We need to talk about or next album.”

“Later.” Bruce waved her off. He didn’t know if he’d ever get another chance to do this.

“Let’s try something in C minor.” One of the guitars emphasized the suggestion with a cord and they were all off.

Bruce loved it. Imagine growing up in a family like this where music was actually loved. If he’d been born here, he wouldn’t have to hide it. He could barely keep up with everyone here. Clearly there were professional quality musicians here. When it flowed to a stop again, Bruce turned glared at Justin.

“Is it like this for you all the time?” Bruce tried not to sound like it was an accusation, but he was so jealous it was killing him.

“Sure.” Justin shrugged. “When people are around.”

Bruce wanted to say more, but the jam took off again. Gene had found a guitar and was noodling around. Emma hummed just loud enough to be heard. Justin ate his cereal. Now and then he tapped out a rhythm. But Tracy stood in the door and crossed her arms angrily. She was right about one thing, with this kind of distraction there was no way he could concentrate on anything else.

The next time the music lulled, Tracy put her foot down.

“We are leaving now.”

Gene and Emma stood up. Justin put his empty bowl down.

“Come on.” Tracy grabbed Bruce’s arm and pulled.

“Wait. Just… just one more….” He didn’t really fight her. Although he loved it, the ragged, drifty way the jam moved was starting to wear him out.

“No. It’s useless.” Tracy lead them out. “Let’s try your place.”

“My place?” Bruce’s throat tightened too much so it same out weird. Then he saw Emma’s smile. “Yeah. My place.”

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