Sam

My Name is Sam

To really love a woman

To understand her - you gotta know her deep inside

In the damp, cold street, she stopped walking and approached the old man playing and singing with a rustic guitar. Checking if she has any spare coins in her jeans, the feel of the coins confirmed she still has some. She placed them gently in the guitar case while the man continues performing. She always has an affinity to street performers and will try to help as much as she can to them. She was like them before, trying to make a living by performing despite the weather or the stares and judgment they get from people passing by.

Hear every thought - see every dream

N' give her wings - when she wants to fly

She knows this song far too well. This is one of the songs that she played as a beginner in guitar. But now, she tries to avoid that song as much as she can yet it can't be helped. Disregarding the inner critique in her, it is still one of the classics. She continued walking while still listening to the guitar sounds slowly fading away.

Then when you find yourself lyin' helpless in her arms

Ya know ya really love a woman

And she thought, "Did he really..."

She realized she is in front of her destination already, which is a small bar. It is kind of a chic kind of bar with dark, rough tones that shows a little gloom but it is still relaxing to the eyes. A typical kind of acoustic and rock and roll bar, which is her favorite type of bar. She went inside, letting the presence of the place sunk onto her as she observed further. It is getting a little rowdy and has drunk people as it is a typical Friday night, people are getting merry and having a fun time waste themselves to good food, company and music after the long work week. To her, this is her job, playing to small crowds just to get by in living.

"Sam!"

A petite woman approached her as she placed her guitar bag down and sat on the tall chair near the bar. The woman is smaller than her but she is actually older than her around two years more. She has a lighter complexion, seemed coming from her Chinese blood. Her short black hair is tied to the right and wears a light blue dress.

"Oh, hey, Karen," Sam said while opening a gig bag, pulling out a black acoustic guitar. She is pretty happy with the engraving around the sound hole, it has a red design with triangular patterns around. The inlay has white leaves and flowers that contrasted the dark brown fretboard.

"Nice to see Ivy restringed and maintained again." Karen spoke while wiping off some of the new cleaned plates. Sam smiled and nodded. Being a rock star and touring around the world is sure a sweet life for the guitar maintenances but not to the other spectrum, as musician's expenses for gear is always expensive.

They looked at the stage when the guitarist on stage is now quickly getting his things done. Sam clipped the capo on the headstock, checked the tuning of the strings, preparing her memory retention for the set list she is going to perform and lastly, patting her pockets for the extra picks. The musician before her went down the stage. She sighed deeply and went up to the stage for another performance.

This is Sam. She is a guitarist.

"Here is a cover, guys!"

"Another well done performance." Karen muttered as she watches Sam bid her goodbyes to the audience and started packing. The bartender seemed satisfied for Sam to be a regular performer here. This is one of the rare times where business is good. Karen sighed, she wished every day is like this. At least she is able to pay the musicians more than the usual tonight, she thought.