Opet and the Tales of Heroes

Chapter 9: August 18th, 1969

It was the last day of Woodstock. The days of music and harmony were pleasant for both Stephen and Opet. Everything was there. The need to relax and not worry about the dangers of the outside environment was gone. Woodstock's magic was constant and ongoing. However, as each day passed, the magic was slowly seeping away. The field was littered with trash as the crowds had dispersed. The little food left combined with all-out exhaustion had warranted its toll on the population. The fact that the performance had reached Monday had forced many to return back home, school, or work. People that wanted to escape the traffic early were simply blocked as they were stuck trying to get out. It was either leave much earlier or stay and enjoy what was left of the show. By the time the last performers got up, the population had decreased down to 50,000 of the original 400,000 to 500,000 that participated.

But it was the last performer that probably set the tone for the closing of Woodstock. The great Jimi Hendrix was performing for the dwindled crowds. Starting at nine o clock in the morning of Monday, the bands' performances were delayed continuously due to the harassment of weather and technical issues as each one would get up to perform their music. Dressed in his white shirt, blue pants, red bandana, and boots, the man would echo the closing of one of the most renowned festivals to ever occur in North America. With over 30 bands that had performed, the man with a dark complexion and white Fender Stratocaster guitar would be the most rememberable one. The man's energy was a powerful one as he continued to do his entire performance with the small band that accompanied him.

For Stephen and Opet, they held hands as they continued to listen to Jimi Hendrix's music. Being one of the many, they enjoyed the music for the entirety of every performer in the past. In many ways, the lesser population only made things more wholesome for the gathering that was left. Many continued to dance and listen to the music even if they were tired.

Stephen looked over to Opet as she would sometimes close her eyes and does a slow dance in her place. Mesmerized by the vocals, he noticed that her human form seemed to lack grace without her tail. For her, she seemed to be in her element of enjoying the festivities. She didn't want to leave until the last performance had been completed. Hendrix was currently finishing up his song "Voodoo Child" as they listened near the back of the crowd.

"I never want to see it end," Opet said to Stephen.

"Me too," Stephen replied. "I never want to see it end either."

"Jefferson Airplane......The Who.......The Band.........Janis Joplin........I hope they keep coming."

"Hendrix must be tired as we are," Stephen remarked. "I have never seen him perform in the morning."

"It is too bad to see so many leave without them hearing his music. Even Tiffany and Brendan have already left."

"Same here......same here," Stephen said as he frowned. "At least, we get to hear it."

"I hope Theo finds what she was looking for here," Opet said. "I really do."

"She was with that woman more and more. Maybe that is a good sign."

"We will see......"

With the smaller crowd, it was much easier to see the stage now than ever. Stephen could see as Jimi Hendrix poured his heart and soul into the performance. He would regularly close his eyes as he became mesmerized by his own music.

"It is like pure magic," Opet remarked. "He would beat Baron Samedi in his performances."

Even Stephen was doing his best despite how tired his legs had become. Staying awake all night was taking its toll. He would not leave until the last song was played. Even Jimi Hendrix was slowing down a little bit as he spoke about the bands that supported him and thanking the audience for participating.