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The Boy With the Voice That Never Wavered
One song, and I became an instant groupie.
For many years, my uncle’s friend held a backyard “music fest” every summer. The line-up included everyone from neighbors to the man’s children and their friends who were musically talented.
As a newcomer to the event, I often stayed set in a lawn chair and simply observed. The smell of weed permeated the air, mostly from the young adults who had no qualms over sharing joints out in the open.
It wasn’t my type of crowd. In fact, it was an amazing feat that I didn’t jump out of my skin the first time I attended. I was nervous even though I knew the only thing expected of me was to sit and listen to some good music.
I didn’t expect a cute drummer in one of the makeshift bands to catch my eye. You’d think I’d be drawn to the front-man or the bassist — but, no, that first song I watched the drummer the whole time. His voice backed up the lead singer, sometimes even outshining that other voice which seemed lesser in comparison. And he looked like he was having the time of his life despite the eighty-plus degree heat.
I took a cold bottle of water from one of the coolers and handed it to him after that first performance. He shot me a grateful smile, and a part of me almost shivered in response. A grin like…