Page 88 of Music Heals the Heart

66

Nicolette

“Listen sweetheart, I don’t know what kinda game you’re runnin’, but I ain’t goin’ in the back, so you can run off with all this shit. So either pay for what you got there or get steppin’.”

“You want the money before going back there? Fine! But ain’t no way in hell you only have five bags. Listen I’m pregnant and these are the only things I've been craving. I’ve not had them in a week! I need more Takis!”

“Look lady, I don’t care if you’re carryin’ Christ himself, I ain’t leavin’ nobody out here when I know we ain’t got it. I get shipments two days a week and ain’t none of them days today. Get a bag of fireballs or somethin’ I-” He looks up as the bells on the door jingle. “Hey, is this your old lady? You wanna put a muzzle on her or maybe a leash?”

My head swivels, and I see Kris, with a guitar case. He shakes his head, “Tink, what are you doing?”

“I need Takis! Don’t give me that look. I didn’t get the pickles. I did get fruit by the foot.”

Kris walks over to me. “Pay the man, and let’s go. I got a surprise for you, but I can’t give it to you if he calls the cops.”

The guy huffs, and crosses his arms.

“Fine.” I smack the fifty on the counter and wait for him to ring me up.

He slides the bill under the glass toward himself. “This’ll cover it, and my annoyance.” He bags everything and hands it over. “Have a nice day.”

I take my bags before calling the man and asshole. “Pan, I don’t like New York. It’s full of pricks.”

He wraps his arm around me grabbing the bags. “You’re being awfully snippy. Eat a bag of Takis would ya?”

“Are they selling guitars in the bathroom now?”

“Oh yeah, didn’t ya know it’s a thing out here. Let um watch ya pee and they give you a vintage gituar.” He laughs as we head across the street toward the park.

“That’s not even funny.” I say popping a Taki in my mouth.

Thankfully it’s not a terribly long walk to the park. Kris leads me to a bench by the pond. The fountains are much bigger than I’m used to. Kris is feeding the ducks and peidgons while I’m feeding myself.

“Pan, you’re procrastinating.”

“Not procrastinating, just waiting for my balls to drop. In this heat they’re pretty much stuck to my thighs.”

“Pretty sure the baby in my belly means they dropped awhile ago.”

“Ha, ha.” He deadpans, setting the bread aside, he pulls the case to him. “I warn you it’s a little rough.” He tunes the strings on a beautiful acoustic, then takes a deep breath setting the tenor.

‘I was running from the dark, just searching for that spark.

Drinking, binging, begging for the screams to stop.

Drowned by my demons, held by dark deceivers.

Wishing I was still a believer.

Then a voice rose up, calling out my name,

Resurrecting my passions and igniting the flames.

She is the Music, she is the light in the night, she is what it takes for me to want to do what’s right.

Makes me want to be the man who can make the music that heals her heart.

She brings me back with a glance, makes me believe there can be a second chance.

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