The Family: Ties That Bind (VOL. 2)

Chapter 23

The later the night grew later, the more potent the alcohol became and all of us were under its influence. I wouldn't say I was drunk–though I had no idea what drunk felt like to compare–but something definitely was awry. I only had a few sips, but my head was fuzzier than the broken static TV in the living room and the tension in my muscles had dissipated and left me all...loosey goosy. Every care in the world fell away until It was just that moment and the company I was roistering with. 

The hostages' car still had enough juice to crank the radio on and tune it to a golden oldies station. Modern-day music wasn't my thing. Matt used to tease me for my love of what he called grandma music. It wasn't my fault the music that was prime in generations before I was born was vastly superior to what was popular nowadays. How could you even begin to compare modern-day musicians to bands like the Ramones, Blue Öyster Cult, and The Doors? There was no competition, my grandma music was better and I'd fight anyone who tried to tell me any different.

Bubba lounged on the ground with his head in my lap as I sat behind him and twisted the hair of his mask, making tiny spikes all over his head. I rocked to the beat of the music drifting through the air and listened to the twins tell stories of their adventures as children and all the terrible things they did to torment their big brother, Drayton. I have to admit it, once they got to the part about the mousetraps, I actually felt a tinge of pity for poor old Dray.

Soft laughter like rolling thunder before the chaos of a storm left Bubba's chest as he relived the childhood memories with his brothers. That was a rare occurrence, hearing him laugh. There was always something going on that had him high-strung so seeing his stressed out countenance overtaken by a tranquil joy was a precious sight.

A melody came on over the radio that made me perk up. With a squeal of delight that I couldn't stop from letting slip, I sprang from my seat, leaving Bubba without a headrest. "Ohmygosh! Ohmygosh! This song is my jaaaam."

I climbed halfway inside the car kneeling on the driver's seat and reaching across the steering wheel to crank the dial knob on the radio till it was blaring full blast. The male's voice sang into my very soul.

"Hello, how are you?
Have you been alright
Through all those lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely, lonely nights?
That's what I'd say, I'd tell you everything
If you'd pick up that telephone..."

There was something magical when your very core vibrated and hummed along with music. Tonight, the music swelled within my soul, possessing my every thought and movement. My body was not my own. It belonged to the music coursing through my veins and enrapturing my mind. The second verse came on and closed my eyes, swaying slowly to the tune and feeling it pulse through my body. I listened to the singer's voice, enthralled by each intonation and inflection.

Chop spoke over the music, "This band's far out! You dig ELO, mama?"

His hippy-dippy sayings were too quirky not to crack a smile and play along with. "Oh, I dig them alright. Their music's heavy." 

The doo-wop chorus started and I couldn't resist the urge to dance along. The grass beneath my bare feet sent electric pulses up my spine. I flipped my skirt and swayed with the mellow tune. My body moved as smooth as the song and with the same fluidity of a snake slithering through the brush. At least, that's how it felt. Looking back, I was probably just a mess of flailing arms and hair. 

Nubbins pointed at me, a jar of moonshine in hand. "Ah-I like 'er b-better this way. We-we should get 'er blitzed more often."

I ignored his comment, not in the mood to defend my sober state, and sang the chorus to myself. I didn't care if I sounded like a dying cat or not. A moment like that called for relaxing your inhibitions and letting go.