Page 59 of Charm City Rocks
Billy didn’t recognize him before, but the name places him. He’s the Baltimore Ravens’ new defensive end, acquired from the New Orleans Saints in the off-season. Billy introduces himself, although LaVar says he likes Piano Man better than Billy, which is fair. Billy introduces Caleb and Margot.
“This is my son, Jackson,” LaVar says, putting his hand on the boy’s head.
Jackson is maybe eleven, twelve. He’s a skinny kid in glasses, a stark contrast to the bulk of his father.
“Is your dog pettable?” asks Caleb.
“Who, Lincoln? Yeah. He’s not one of those rip-your-throat-out pitties. Get in there.”
Caleb pets Lincoln’s bowling-ball-size head. The dog doesn’t have much of a tail, so he wags his entire rear end. Margot joins, scratching Lincoln’s smooth back, and the dog tips over onto the pavement.
“Yeah, that’s my guard dog for you,” says LaVar. “Anyway,Jackson’s the reason I wanted to talk to you. I got another boy, too. Younger. Absolute monster. Tears the place up.”
Jackson nods, agreeing that his brother is a monster.
“Jackson, though, he’s real musical. A piano man, just like you.”
“That’s great,” says Billy. “How long’ve you been playing, Jackson?”
“Since I was six. Well, five and a half.”
“Had to say goodbye to his piano teacher when we left New Orleans,” says LaVar. “I asked around. Folks tell me you’re the best music teacher in the city.”
Margot and Caleb smile at Billy, and he feels a rush of pride. Lincoln smiles, too. He’s a friendly gargoyle sprawled out on the sidewalk.
“I’m thinking we should hook you two up,” says LaVar. “You’d like teaching him. You’re a good kid, right, Jackson? And he can play. No joke. Kid’s legit.”
Jackson pushes his glasses up. “Dad, stop it.”
“Nah,” says LaVar. “I wish I had five more just like you. What do you think, though, Piano Man? Got any openings on your roster?”
Internet fame has been good for Beats by Billy. For the first time in years, he has a waiting list. A universe simply doesn’t exist, however, in which Billy could tell this man who’s advocating for his son anything other than yes. “What’s your favorite song to play?”
Jackson thinks. “Probably ‘Für Elise.’ You know, Beethoven.”
“Who?” says Billy.
Jackson is startled at first but then gets it. “Oh. Yeah.”
Billy hands LaVar one of the business cards he keeps in his wallet, and LaVar claps him on the back, which nearly sends Billy into traffic. “And maybe after you get going,” he says, “you can give us some advice on pianos. Thinking we’re ready for an upgrade.”
Billy tells them that he’d be happy to.
“I miss having you around, Piano Man,” says LaVar. “You made this place sound like the French Quarter. Felt like home.”
When LaVar, Jackson, and Lincoln are gone, Margot hands Caleb her Slurpee to finish, because it’s too much for her, even a size small. “By the way, I take it back,” she says. “Thatis the tallest person I’ve ever met.”
Caleb sips Margot’s Slurpee, stands up straight, sighs. “Well,” he says, “it was fun while it lasted.”
Chapter35
On Friday, Billy pokes his head into the bathroom. “The Baltimore Department of Water called. They said they’re almost out.”
Behind the shower curtain, Margot says, “Good one.”
Yesterday he tapped the bathroom door and asked if she’d fallen. The day before that he asked if she wanted him to install a waterproof chair for her. He can tease her all he wants, but the water pressure here is amazing, like something you’d have to be sleeping with the mayor to get in New York. “I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Okay, but…technically we’re late.”
