From Enemies to Enemies

Chapter 5- Tom's Record Store

We go to The Strip later that day and it's . Everyone of all ages walks up and down the streets and sidewalks, wallets in their hand. I don't understand why people are so quick to toss their money away at these stupid, cash grab sales. But then I remember I'll be spending no less than fifty dollars at the Record Store today. So, it doesn't really matter what I think now, does it? The Strip has a store for practically anyone. If you enjoy reading, there's a bookstore. If you like greasy burgers there's the diner. Or, perhaps you're my mom and like to have dates with your girlfriends once every month. Theres a candle store for you then. Theres even a store for Barren, my dog. He lives with my dad.

We meet up with the group and Lori does her entire 'Elijah Rum' spiel again before sticking her head back into her phone. She doesn't even look up when someone bumps into her. Rachel leads the group down the strip and calls out to Mason as we walk. He too, is submerged in his phone and doesn't pay attention to what his cousin has to say. Her high-pitched voice carries as she introduces each and every store we pass and gives a quick synopsis of the lore of the store. Eventually, Mason tells her that he's been into most of the stores because he works on The Strip. "Oh yeah!" Rachel says and then continues talking. We get to the alleyway that separates The Strip into two parts and I can see Mike, Chandlier and Sean, some of my buddy's huddles behind a trashcan. I can't see what they're doing but I assume their smoking something or looking at a porno. It smells like old trash and there's rats scurrying across the two buildings. I shiver.

 Suddenly, Sean looks up from behind a dumpster and calls out. "Look! It's Elijah." He waves dorkily and goes back to what he's doing. We exchange waves and Mike glares in my direction. I can't tell if it's because SJ's here or if it's because I ditched him to hang out with her. (I forgot about him. Big whoop.) "Let's hurry up and get out of here!" Rachel says, tugging on my arm. "We don't want to lose any brain cells by hanging around those guys for too long." I frown. Those guys are my friends. But Rachel clearly seems uncomfortable, so I go with her. We pass the cafe I notice it's called Exspresso's and not just the 'the cafe.' Embarrassingly, due to my lack of attention, I collide into someone's soft blond hair. Masons. It smells like gingerbread. I mutter a quick sorry and walk around him. I can feel his brown eyes glaring at me as I enter the building. Inside the record store, we sort of just stand there. Mason slowly spins around, taking everything in with wide eyes. I suspect this is one of the stores that he hasn't been in.

The record store looks like a big industrial warehouse with brick walls and black chalkboard paint and posters everywhere. Theres mirrors on the side wall so you can try on some of the graphic-Tees and a large counter where you can pay at on the other side. Rachel stops her rambling with an "I'm glad you guys could make it." and Lori agrees, of course. I've noticed Rachel talks a lot. Like almost to an annoying point. But in my eyes, she's perfect so everything she does must be perfect, so I don't mind. She also likes to be the ringleader of whatever group she's in. In this case, she's in charge of where we go and were supposed to follow her down the cramped isles, one by one. Eventually, we stop at the country section and Rachel spends a unnecessarily long time fangirling over how nice the songs are. My eyes roll. Besides maybe Dolly Parton and a couple standalone songs, I cannot for the life of me, enjoy country music.
We continued after a while but only for a short time, because Rachel now has to check herself out in the mirror. "Do I look ugly?" she asks the group, turning with big, adorable puppy dog eyes. I don't particularly soften at this move, but I admit, I look her up in down in a less than holy fashion. But only for a second! I don't understand how she can think that she's ugly. She's a beauty standard! Lori looks up from her phone for the first time since we entered the store. "Of course not." Lori tells her. "You look so beautiful." Rachel smiles and hugs herself, jutting out her lip to pout. "I just think my outfit is so drab, you guys." I disagree. Her tank top and jeans aren't anything special, but they look nice on her. If anything, I 'd describe her as average. Not drab, but just plain. "No, I think you've got an autumn vibe going on. SJ says.

I don't care for the clothing topic, so I pretend to take interest in the albums and sigh. I look over and see that Mason doesn't care for it either so I interject. "Why don't I take Mason to go find some music? You guys stay here and enjoy the country." Rachel looks a little disappointed but SJ tells her that we probably don't want to stick around and listen to them talk about the Reba reruns. Mason follows behind me. He's oddly close, like he's scared to lose me in between the shelves. We go to the other side of the vinyl section and then I start browsing. I want to find something that he's going to enjoy, seeing as this is his first time in this record shop, but I realize I have no idea what type of music he likes. Probably not country since he didn't even look at the options over there. I peruse for a few moments in silence, besides the overhead music but I come up empty. Nothing seems interesting to this man. Theres lots of great music. Some newer, some very old. There's boybands, and war music, and movie music too. It just doesn't seem like him.

 
"So, what type of music do you like?" I finally ask. Mason frowns at me and shrugs. He has no clue either. If he was anyone else, I'd shrug back at him and walk away but for some reason his mysteriousness just pulls me in. "Not country." he admits. I snort. I pick up an album but it's a screamer type song. he probably wouldn't be into that. "I don't like country music either." I tell him. We walk slowly down the aisles. He looks at each individually wrapped album with such a curiosity. "They don't have record stores where you used to live?" I ask. He shakes his head no. "I didn't get out much." He says, defeated. "There weren't many people, so there weren't many stores. Just the necessities." He must be enjoying the availability of content then. I'm surprised he's not overwhelmed by the sheer amount of people in this place either. People come in, not a lot come out. The place gets busier and busier by the minute.

 
"The funny thing about this place is that nine times out of ten, even if you come just to listen to some music, you'll end up buying something." I tell him. "Happens to me every single time." Records are outdated, by my god do people around here really like their music. Mason nods again coming face to face with a Bing Crosby Album. His Christmas songs. I'm very familiar with his voice. He's a holiday staple in my house. Mason flips the vinyl in his hands and traces the words. I yawn as he painstakingly inspects the piece. "I've never heard of him before." He says in a low whisper. "You've never heard of Bing Crosby? Mister Bing Crosby?" my voice comes out a little louder than anticipated but I'm genuinely surprised. "Nope." Mason says. He doesn't even seem worried that he's missed out on stuff. This guy has been living under a rock! "Tell me about him." He speaks.

 
"Mr. Bing Crosby was primarily popular in the 40s and 50s. He was sort of known as a swing musician. He made renditions of holiday classics and partnered with great orchestras to produce great quality and lasting music. He's like a really big deal." Mason looks at me confused. "He's definitely up there along with Frank Sinatra and Eartha Kitt." Mason gives the album another glance and then hugs it tightly to his chest. The vinyl packaging has a hollow part so you can see the red record inside. As a child I used to be so excited to see that familiar packaging. My dad would occasionally bring home different records for us to listen to. I smile at the thought. "I think I'll get this one. Thanks." Mason says, walking past me and running his shoulder into my arm. Memory gone. "Amazing choice." I tell him.

 
I drag Mason around the store to pick up some new things. A new Karate Kid rendition, some other DVD's and whatnot. Its mostly silent. I didn't realize I was one for the quietness but somehow just being next to mason and knowing he is there is entertainment enough. "Who's that for?" I ask Mason, as he picks up a Disney Album. "It's for my brother." He tells me. Eventually, I get a text from Sierra, and we go back to the front of the store. Both SJ and Lori have already checked out and have their contents in white plastic bags. I toss my stuff onto the table. Tom, the owner, is checking us out. "Who's this?" he asks, looking at Mason. "That's mason, he's new to town." I say. "Oh well its sure nice to meet you!" As Masons checking out, Rachel comes out from the apparel section with two Metallica shirts. "Do you like Metallica?" She asks me. She holds up the shirt. "Yeah, I guess." Then Rachel tosses the two shirts into her basket. "Now we can match!"