An Unexpected Call

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(One week passes. I get an unexpected call on my cellphone.)

"Hello?"

"Hey, my man. This is Wolfgang."

"Wolfgang? Hi, how are you? How's your Mom?"

"We're not good. Dad passed away last night."

(Sighs)"I'm sorry to hear that. I had heard he was receiving cancer treatment in Germany."

"He was, but the treatments didn't keep the cancer from returning. Are you coming to the funeral? It's only right if you're one of the pallbearers."

"You sure Alex wants me there?"

"I'm inviting you. Mom wants to talk to you."

"Alright."

"David? Hi, it's Valerie."

"Hi

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"Hi. Sorry to hear about, Eddie. How are you holding up?"

"It's been tough. Are you coming to the funeral? I could use another shoulder to cry on."

"When is it?"

"In six weeks, in San Francisco. We're gonna give his fans a chance to pay their respects first."

"That makes sense. It's how Eddie would want it. I'll be there."

"So how have you been? We haven't heard from you in a long while."

"You know me. Work, eat and sleep... repeat."

"I do know you. You never take the time to relax. You still got that shitty-ass old guitar of yours?"

"Yea. I play it once in a blue moon. Not as much as I used too."

"I suggest you start practicing... a lot."

"Why? I'm never gonna be as good as Eddie was... nobody will."

"Just promise me, you'll practice hard every day... okay?"

"What are you up too, Valerie?"

"You'll see when you get here. Start practicing. See you then."

(The call ends.)

('What the fuck was that about?' I wonder. I hadn't seen or rarely spoken to Eddie in years. We had last meant outside a bar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Van Halen had played a concert in Philly earlier that night.)

(It was late at night. Eddie was drunk and yelling at his wife and their young son, who was in tears. I was about to close up a music store across the street, where I had delivered some hand-built guitars, and taught a few lessons earlier.)

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(I still remembered that night

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(I still remembered that night... unfortunately)

(I had helped his wife Valerie get Eddie into the music store, to avoid any bad publicity, or police involvement. After Eddie had passed out on a spare cot I kept in the back storage room, his wife and I started walking towards a nearby 24-hour diner.)

(She was complaining about their marriage

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(She was complaining about their marriage. When suddenly she grabs my arm and pushes me tight against the railing outside the diner. Her slender 5'5 frame pushed tight against me, as she kissed me. Her left leg hooked behind mine, as she grinded against my bulge. I had to grab her shoulders and push her away.)

"What are you doing?"





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