Aaron Connor

by Nathan Davey

  Lizzie came and sat next to me in front of the sound board. Like me, she fiddled around with the faders to see what they did. After figuring what which one was the master sound, I passed her the marker pen to note which one it was.

  “How you feeling?” I asked after our checks were done,

  “Ok” she replied, “Bit worried about this”

  “Why?” I asked,

  “What if I bugger up?!” she said, “One slip of that and everyone in here will be deaf!”

  “No need to get all dramatic” I said with a smile, “You’ll be just fine, I promise”

  “I don’t know” said Lizzie still feeling unsure.

  It was a good thing that Lizzie scared off that girl earlier, neither of us could do with any kinds of distractions. The band weren’t quite ready yet, so I looked over to the bar to see what was going on. One bloke was doing a line of shots, out of shot glasses which were rimmed with salt. The bloke was halfway through, with all his mates chanting and encouraging him, but already he was looking ill. Brave guy, I couldn’t do it. I can see how people get respect for drinking like that. If that was me I’d be afraid that my liver would explode, like I’d just swallowed a hand grenade.

  The hen night girls were cackling away like a bunch of witches at a table not so far from us. They were drinking their beverages through straws that had been deigned to look like men’s willies. One of the girls was wearing a bright pink tiara on her head, which had little lights that flashed on and off. I was guessing that she was the bride to be. She was by far the loudest of the cacklers. There would be a murmur, supposedly someone telling a joke, followed by an explosion of high pitched laughter. The sound cut through the air like a knife and make everyone jump out of their skin. It made one women jump so much, that she spilt her martini all over the bar top.

  Nick gave us a thumbs-up, to say that he was ready. Lizzie turned up the fader for the main microphone. Nick tapped the microphone to check that it worked. The tapping sound was amplified across the length of the bar and gained everyone’s attention. Nick smiled at the many staring eyes without any fear. He must have been used to all different kinds of audiences, because his entire persona was void of any signs of stage fright.

  The people in the bar quietened to listen to Nick. The bartender opened a cupboard where the CD player was and turned down the music. The place fell silent. All were ready for some live rock music. Even I was feeling a fair amount of anticipation to hear these guys play.

  “Hey everyone!” said Nick into the microphone,

  Every audience member in unison replied; “Hey!”

  “Are you lot having a good time?” Nick asked,

  “Yah!” replied the audience,

  “Very good” said Nick, “But, it doesn’t hurt to spice things up a bit”

  Nick turned around to the band, with his guitar strapped over his shoulder and a grin spread across his face. Zo had his drum sticks bared, Stewie held his bass ready, Stan held his guitar with a pick in one hand and Ritchie was at the bar nodding at nothing in particular.

  “Ready guys?” said Nick, “One, Two, One, Two, Three, FOUR!”

  After Nick said the number “four” the entire band went into action. The crowd cheered as they recognised the song they were playing instantly. I knew it was well. It was a perfect choice for a fun bar like this, a song that everyone knew and loved. It was Heartbeat by Scouting for Girls. I don’t think I’ve come across anyone who didn’t like a track from Scouting for Girls, they are the ultimate feel good band. Perfect.

  I gave the stage a basic glow with a mixture of white, red, green and blue. It wasn’t perfect. In fact I made it look like a Top of the Pops performance from the 80’s. Lizzie had the sound down though as she, without any previous experience in stage electrics, made the sound sharp and crisp. It sounded as if we were listening to a CD playing a studio recording, rather then an unsigned live band.

  Everyone in the bar was singing along during the chorus; the hens, the men, the women, the teenage girls, the teenage boys, the old fogies and one middle aged man wearing tight jeans, who was probably going through some sort of crisis. All differences were forgotten in those few moments, that my friend is the power of music.

  Music is the universal language. It’s the one thing that brings all sorts of people together to celebrate life in all its forms. Through music celebrate life’s high points, life’s low points and the experience of love. It can make us dance, it can make us cry, it can make us laugh and it can make us see the beauty of the world we live in. People remember their first kiss by remembering which song was playing. Music is a key part of weddings, funerals, birthdays and every important event we have. The art of the musician is the art to pull at your fan’s heartstrings. Music can even make a difference. The two different revolutions were started by John Lennon and the Sex Pistols. Bob Geldolf used music to help Feed the World with Band Aid and the forever legendary Live Aid concert of 85’.

  Even on the much smaller scale of the band playing in this Essex cocktail bar, the sheer power of music is still evident. I even found myself singing along. Lizzie sang too. Soon we had both of our arms around each other and were singing at an unbelievable volume. The feeling was electric and purifying. Lizzie stopped singing half way through the chorus to kiss me on the cheek. I felt my cheeks going red.

  This made me realise how right old Shakespeare actually was. I remember doing one of his plays for English class, Twelfth Night. I thought that it was going to be boring, but it was actually brilliant. Anyway, it was in that play that Shakespeare said: “If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On” and he was so right. The right music choice can be the difference between a successful kiss and an instant dumping.

  It was these lovely moments that made me glad that I ran off when I did. If I’d stayed put in that depressive town back in the fens, I wouldn’t have been there in that bar at all. I would have never seen the unity of man, in a time of such struggling, in the form of adoration of a piece of music. I remember smiling to myself as I sat that stool. Running away was the best decision I ever made.

  I’m not saying that you should runaway just because it went alright for me. For many others it can go horrifically wrong. In my case I believe that I was meant to leave, like it was fate for me to go on an adventure with Lizzie. If I had stayed in St.Ians, I would had been stuck in that Town all of my life. I choose to go down a different road, literally, and begin a life that is full of uncertainty and excitement.

  I couldn’t help but think about Simon Grant, his gang, those teasing pretty girls and everyone of those poor sods who were going to be forever stuck in that pig sty. They chose the route in which they’ll spend their lives being arrogant, nasty, bicthy and nasty small town gits. I’d left that life behind. As the band finished up the song, I then realised how lucky I was. To be chosen to have a much better life then those losers back home. The most important thing for me to remember at that point was to not allow it to get to my head. I wanted to stay a nice bloke, instead of becoming big headed because I escaped from an ordinary life.

  The guys on stage played the final power chord, to receive a standing ovation from everyone in the audience. There was clapping, whooping, cheering and whistling. The band bowed and continued playing a few more tracks. It was a lovely night. The boys were fantastic players and Nick was a fantastic singer. Unfortunately, that was going to be the only night we’d hear them play. Even though at that point neither I nor Lizzie knew it, this was going to be our last night with Purple Skull.

  Not for a bad reason mind you. The next part of our journey was about to begin. The next adventure was the start, right there in the Speakeasy bar. As we sat there watching the band and the working the electric boards, we had no idea that a man was watching us two. He was watching us work on the desks and was very impressed.

  This man had been looking for two people who could work lightning and sound desks like that. In fact he was desperate to find someone. He’d just come into the
bar to unwind, after an unsuccessful day of trying to find people with those skills. He had unexpectedly found the two people he had required. He waited patiently for the band to finish their set, before coming up to the stage so that he could talk to me and Lizzie.

  CHAPTER TEN

  The man came up to the stage as the band were just beginning to pack everything away. He was a short fat man with no hair on his head. He looked at me and Lizzie through thick glasses, like the ones that Buddy Holly wore. He wore a brown jacket and a dirty white shirt, he looked like a time traveller from the 1950’s. The lads stared at him suspiciously, in case he turned out to be some sort of pervert or something.

  “Very nice job everyone” said the man in a loud and booming voice, “if I closed my eyes, I’d swear I was listening to Scouts for Girls, I would!”

  “It’s Scouting for Girls, mate” said Zo, who was holding his drumsticks in readiment to put them up this bloke’s backside if he causes jip, “what the bloody hell do you want?”

  “Just wanted to enquire to the employment of your Sparkies” said the man, “I’m the director of the local youth theatre. Joe’s the name, Joe Pepper. My troupe is heading for the Edinburgh Fringe to do a performance. Unfortunately our sound and lightning chaps have dropped out to do another job. I saw them two working away like two professionals, and I just wondered if I could use their services”

  “They’re not slaves mate!” said Nick, “they’re not for sale!”

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” asked Stan,

  “We’ll do it” I said,

  “Yah, we’ll do it” piped in Lizzie.

  The band members looked at us almost horrified. Ritchie didn’t really care either way, as he was too busy downing more drinks. The boys were giving us looks of confusion. I gave them a look and a smile and without words the boys understood. It was time to move on. We’d done our bit to help Purple Skull and now it was time to help someone else. As sad as I as was to leave them, I knew that I couldn’t stay with them forever.

  “That’s wonderful!” said Joe, “we leave for Edinburgh the day after tomorrow. We have the lights and such set up at the school’s drama studio, where we have been rehearsing for the last month. Come there tomorrow at twelve. It’s our last big rehearsal before we leave, it’s going to be an all-dayer, so that’ll be enough time for you guys to catch up. Thank you so much, you two are lifesavers. The school is just on the outskirts of the town, down the left side of the street from here, its right at the end of the road. There’s a massive sign and everything, you can’t miss it. Promise you guys can make it?”

  “Sure” I said, “we’ll see you there”

  “Fantastic!” he bellowed, “see you tomorrow at twelve”

  “See yah” called Lizzie, as Joe powered walked out of the building punching in numbers on his mobile,

  “What was that all about?” asked Stewie, “that blokes a complete stranger, are you seriously going to go with him?”

  “Before now, you blokes were strangers” I said calmly, “and I went with yah. The truth is, me and Lizzie are on a mission, to help as many people as we can. We’ve got no qualifications, there are no jobs for people like us and no way to make a living”

  “So, we thought that we’d make the best of the time we have” said Lizzie, “and…even though we really enjoyed your company, we’ve been given the opportunity to help someone else. Everyone in this country is so frigid, so a person asking for help doesn’t come often. When the chance comes, we’ve got to take it”

  The boys sadly nodded to say that they understood. Stewie looked like he might cry. Nick was pulling a rather strange expression. I wasn’t sure if he was sad or mad. He stared at me for a few moments, shook his head and went back to clearing up the equipment. The fun atmosphere from before had dropped dramatically.

  I felt quite bad then, so I got up and started to help them pack up. Lizzie followed suit and helped Zo to put the drum kit back into the various cases. No one spoke. It was completely silent for the time that we started packing up, to when we were loading the stuff into the back of the lad’s van. Then Nick turned to me, with that funny old smile of his and said:

  “Thanks guys, the world could do with some more people like you.”

  “Thanks Nick” I said,

  “No” said Nick, “thank you Aaron”

  We closed the doors of the van, strapped the bass back into the sidecar and went back off down the street. Within the hour we were back at the hotel. I took all of the straps from the side car and placed them on the roof of the van. This was so that the lads could carry the bass around after I left. I was originally going to suggest that, when we were all at that service station, but I knew that that wouldn’t lead to anything interesting. I wanted to go with them, so I went forward with plan B. I crossed the straps like in the sidecar so that the bass wouldn’t fall off. It just meant that the sidecar no longer had any safety straps. No one could ride in that now, it was purely going to be for carrying stuff.

  With the new straps attached to the van roof, we all went inside the hotel. We all went to our rooms in silence. Later in the evening Ritchie came around all the rooms and gave everyone their share of the money, during our conversation with Joe he had collected the money from the club’s owner. We all knew that he was drunk at the time, so we all checked the money first, it was all cool though. Ritchie finally came into our room, he gave Nick his money and gave me and Lizzie £10 each in £5 notes.

  “Mate!” I shouted, calling him back as he headed for the door, “I thought we said that we’d do it for a fiver?”

  “I know” said Ritchie simply, “I know. But you deserved more”

  Ritchie then left the room without another word. Nick looked at us two and smiled. As he went past us to go for a shower, he patted by shoulder and said; “He’s right mate”

  The sound of the shower could be heard muffled through the wall and closed door. Lizzie and I were left in the room together. We were both sitting on our bed and feeling quite low. She shuffled up behind me on the bed and gave me a hug around the waist. I could feel her head resting on her shoulder.

  “Did you think it was the wrong thing to do?” I asked her,

  “No, it was right” she answered while snuggling up with me, “doesn’t necessarily mean we wanted to. I want you to know that I would have stuck by you even if you choose to stay. I trust you Aaron Connor, You’re a good guy”

  “Thanks” I said, “but you can make your own decisions too you know. You can pack up and go back when you get fed up of me”

  “When I get fed up of you?” she repeated, “I’m not going to! Why would I? If I didn’t want to be here I would have gone ages ago. I want to be here. I’ve gone along with you because I agreed with your ideas and plans. If I didn’t I would have said so. I trust you. I love you”

  I had not expected that. It’s just assumed that he was going along because she felt obliged to do so. I never thought that she actually wanted to be with me. I felt all silly then. I didn’t know how to react. I just smiled at her and held her hand tightly. It was a nice moment. I found myself laughing for no real reason. She started laughing too. It was that kind of laughter that comes not from finding something funny, but from being so overwhelmed with happiness that there is nothing else to do.

  She took my head in her hand, brought my head to face hers and kissed me. I know that I’ve said this a dozen times before, but I was so lucky to have her. I was lucky to have someone who truly loved me, someone who would go to the end of the world with me, someone who would forever be by my side and someone who will be my soul mate for life. I was so lucky. Even now I don’t think I fully appreciate how lucky I really am. She’s my star, my angel, my light and my life. I know it sounds corny but sometimes life is corny. Corny is good. Corny means that you’re so genuinely happy, that you don’t care that you’re being so corny.

  Each of us had a shower, one after the other. There was a late night comedy show on that we wa
tched together. It was one of those shows which showcased lots of the UK’s top comedians. Comedians in this day and age have become almost like rock stars. They pack out stadiums and areas, go on huge worldwide tours and are at the top end of British celebrities. We all laughed our heads off at this one Welsh comedian, he had us in stitches.

  For a few moments, Nick had completely forgotten that we were leaving in the morning. For a few moments we were all problem free and at our highest. I hadn’t seen Lizzie smile like that in a long time. If she was pretty when she was sad, blimey was she stunning when she was happy. That smile lit up her entire face and created little wrinkles in the corners of her eyes. I was so lucky. I was so lucky.

  After the show finished we turned off the television, got changed into our pyjamas (underwear) and got into bed. Before we turned off the light, Nick had something he wanted to say first.

  “I’ve only known you guys for two days” he began, “but you’ve made more of an impression on me then anyone I’ve ever known. What you guys are trying to do is proper beautiful. I and the boys are rooting for you both. I promise yah that one of these days, we’ll write a song about you. Just you wait and see”

  “I’ll look forward to it” said Lizzie, “make sure it gets to number one!”

  Nick laughed at that. I did as well. There were a few moments silence before we turned off the lights and went to sleep. I couldn’t sleep for ages. I couldn’t get the thought out of my mind of what the next task might hold. Edinburgh, that’s in Scotland. I was going to go to Scotland. Even though I was saddened by the ending of this chapter, I was excited by the possibilities that might come in the next one. I couldn’t wait. Then, finally, I fell asleep.