by W E DeVore
She stopped playing and whispered into the microphone, “Goodbye New Orleans, it’s been a hell of a ride.”
◆◆◆
The second-line for Stanley Gerard shut down half the city. Q half-heartedly danced with Ben, listening to Charlie’s pure trumpet tone dominate the large brass band that had assembled for such an auspicious occasion. As they made their way through the Tremé back towards the French Quarter, she spied Sanger, leaning against his truck, arms folded. He hadn’t shaved in a week. From the dark smudges under his eyes, she assumed he hadn’t been sleeping again.
She took Ben’s hand in hers and pulled him towards their friend.
Sanger stared down at his feet. “I wanted to pay my respects, somehow. It didn’t seem right. Me coming to his memorial.”
Q smiled at him. “Stanley once told me that there were two ways of dealing with ugly things: let them twist you into something ugly, too, or twist them into something beautiful instead.”
He looked up at her and she wrapped her arm around his waist, pulling him towards her and Ben. “Come dance with us, cowboy.”
THE END
Author’s Notes
This novel was written after the heart-wrenching year that was 2016. A year that saw the loss of so many breathtaking talents, it was almost too much for this musician to bear. David Bowie, Prince, George Michael, and Allen Toussaint were giants among men and I felt each of their losses deeply. I’d be lying if I said their deaths didn’t heavily influence the direction this novel ended up taking. Sometimes my characters know what they need better than I do.
While QT and the Beasts’ performances are fictionalized and all the music descriptions and lyrics are products of my imagination, inspiration was drawn from the following, for those interested:
Little Rain - Hiss Golden Messenger
I’m Beginning to See the Light – Ella Fitzgerald & Duke Ellington
I’m on Fire - Number One Gun
If I’m In Luck - Dumpstaphunk
Freeek! - George Michael
QT and the Beasts’ jam on Motherless Child was inspired by Prince’s epic live performance on Septimo. To the very best of my knowledge, this performance never made it onto an album, but every fan of this beautiful soul should get online immediately and search up this amazing video.
Other songs referenced in passing:
Gasoline and Matches – Buddy & Julie Miller
Hello Dolly – Louis Armstrong
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain – Willie Nelson
Sway – Rosemary Clooney
I encourage all my readers to support these and other talented performers and songwriters by buying their music.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
W.E. DeVore is a musician, audio engineer, and sometimes rock star babysitter, who has been fortunate to know some of the most entertaining and unique individuals that seem to only grow from the Louisiana soil. She's also experienced some things that a nice Jewish girl from Montana probably shouldn't know about - but it does make excellent fodder for a little fiction. DeVore has lived in Southeast Louisiana for the last two decades and currently lives in Baton Rouge, although her heart will always be in New Orleans - dirty, sweaty, crime-ridden, music-filled wonderland that it is.
To learn more, visit www.wedevore.com.
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