January 2025

“Paulie,” Kyle said, “Grab your guitar.”

The open floor basement was finished with bean bags and large pillow cushions. In one corner was a slightly raised platform with a drum set, keyboard, and small sound system. The scent of crisp patchouli wafted past Luke’s nostrils. The party took seats at the bar and along the floor. A woman named Kyrie came up to play bass, and another friend of Kyle and Myron’s named Julian also came forward to play keyboard. Kyle would be the drummer.

Kyle went up to Paul, who was sitting on a barstool next to Luke, and said, “Brother, I want you to come play with us.”

Paul smiled, “I would love to. What are you all playing?”

“We don’t have a setlist. We just like to jam out – folk rock, reggae – that kind of vibe. Think of it like what we used to do sometimes before large group back at Great Lakes.”

Paul then sat down his guitar case and took out Katie, a maple and spruce acoustic grand auditorium guitar stained in the color “Pacific Blue,” and strapped it on his body.

Julian then approached him and studied his guitar.

“Ooh, that’s a beaut, brother.”

“Thanks, man.”

He then pulled his neat, ebony locs in a bunch along his slender back, and looked straight at him. “Let me hear you play it…wanna get an idea of what we’re working with.”

“Oh, for sure,” Paul happily complied.

Luke assured Julian. “Believe me – you’re in for a treat.”

Paul then played the song ‘Drifting’ by Andy McKee. The melodic tune led Kyrie to approach the men. Her deep brown eyes sparkled and her mouth curled upwards as she listened to the song and bobbed her head.

After he was finished, she cooed, “Sounds beautiful.”

He smiled. “Thanks, Kyrie.”