Letters

Letter 26

December 10th, 2004

            Remember the band members from a couple days ago? Well, they came into work today. They were looking for some surfboards to take as a souvenir for when they get back home to Las Vegas, Nevada. They told me that they graduated from an art school there, the same one that Daxus went to. This sparked up a conversation about how they became a band. They were just a couple of friends at school. They played covers of some popular songs of other rock bands as first, but then Don suggested writing their own songs. They started out with some poems that Lev wrote. They said that it was hard to figure out the right beat to the poem because sometimes it didn’t sound right.

             I presented them a surfboard that had California on it, and another that said “Golden State” on it. They accepted the first one, because of its simplicity. Then they asked each other if they knew how to surf. None of them knew, so I offered a personal surfing lesson, free of charge. They didn’t want a surfing lesson so close to winter, so they said, “Maybe later , when we come back” Before they left, I asked each of them for an autograph and I joked about selling them when they got famous. They didn’t mind at all and happily gave me an autograph on some blank pieces of paper.

            After work had ended, I saw them walking along the shores. They saw me and waved. I waved back, and continued walking. I didn’t think they wanted me to come over there, because Lev shouted, “Come over here” I ran towards them and we talked about life in general. Lev pulled out a cigarette and offered me one. I said no thanks. Don and Kit didn’t smoke either.

            I asked Lev, “Doesn’t smoking affect your singing?” He nodded, but he said that he didn’t care. I looked at Don and Kit and they both shrugged.

            “Maybe I’ll take your place once you get cancer in your lungs” Don said.

        Lev smirked and slowly shook his head, “Nah, that’ll never happen. You, I mean, will never get to be lead singer. If anything, Kit should become the next lead singer.” Nobody seemed to take offence from Lev’s words. They just didn’t care.

        When Lev was done smoking, he dropped the cigarette butt on the sand and buried it with his foot. I just looked at him, and he looked back at me completely oblivious. “Why’d you do that?” I asked.

        “Where else am I supposed to put that thing?” he asked. I suggested a garbage bin, but he just rolled his eyes.

        I decided to leave and I told Lev that I couldn’t handle this much anymore. I walked straight towards Uncle Alex’s house and sat in my room. I waited until night and then I waited to fall asleep, but I couldn’t.

Your son,

Rico