the cadence of part time poets

Chapter 17: Christmas, 1975

Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
It's the time that every Santa has a ball;
Does he ride a red nosed reindeer?
Does he turn up on his sleigh?
Do the fairies keep him sober for a day?

- "Merry Christmas Everybody" Slade, 1973

It wouldn't be until years later, during some talk-show interview that he was definitely too sloshed to remember, that Remus would name the evening of December 23rd 1975 as the first time he realised that he wanted to do music. Of course at the time he wouldn't remember the actual date, or even that he was just fifteen. All he would remember was how it felt to be laid out in front of the telly with his friends, taking it all in. He'd never been as much in line with Bowie's creative insanity as Sirius, and it may have not been the 'rock star' moment, but that evening, in a dingy East End flat, his love for Queen was born.

They were scattered about the living room, bellies full of dinner courtesy of Tonya, who had turned out to be a fantastic cook. Most of them were smoking, Tonya included, though her cigarette was long and skinny, like the ones Remus had only seen in movies. She was draped over Tomny's lap and snuggled up with him under a blanket, but had slipped her toes out and tucked them up under Remus' thigh for a bit of extra warmth.

Top of the Pops had started as it always did, with the hosts giving a jaunty thank you for everyone tuning in during the holidays. Remus thought Rod Stewart's bit was quite good for a pop song, but both Lee and Doss had spent the entire promo calling him a poof and a knob-jockey until Tomny finally snapped at them to shut up so everyone could hear.

It was just the six of them, Remus, Tomny, Tonya, Lee, Doss, and Vint (who'd yet to say more than a few short grunts all evening), and they all seemed happy enough to be there, but Remus could tell the only one actually enjoying the music was Tonya. She knew all the songs, and sang along to Sweet, Mud, and Bowie—which Sirius would've definitely gotten a kick out of—before serenading Tomny with Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing". Doss tried whistling when she got up to dance, but a single sharp glare from Tomny was enough shut him up again. Not that Tonya seemed to care much; they were all drunk or high anyway. Lee had produced a very large bottle of whisky which Remus had graciously partaken from. It reminded him of Sirius' birthday, only this whisky tasted like it'd been made in a grimy bucket, which it may very well have been.

Tonya's drug of choice was something she called 'stardust', which Remus only realised later was cocaine. She offered him some, but he'd declined so he could remain coherent enough to watch the amazing finale he'd been promised in the show's intro. Tomny, Doss, and Vint did take her up on the offer though.

When the finale started and Queen's promo video came on, Remus was almost disappointed. He'd listened to the band before, and seen them live once on Pops, but he'd never been much interested. That train of thought ended roughly around the second verse of "Bohemian Rhapsody". It didn't matter if they were wearing makeup or bloody satin jumpsuits—it was like the band had reached into his soul and yanked on his vocal cords. He didn't know the song, but he hummed anyway, and soon all of them were into it—even Lee and Doss, who'd never cared much for music in the first place.

Tonya of course knew every word; Remus was almost jealous, but he'd hardly watched or listened to any new music since getting to Hawkings. Now he was kicking himself for it—how could he have missed such a masterpiece? Sirius was going to lose his mind when he heard it; maybe he was watching the same programme right now.

The moment the song was over Remus wanted to play it again, and again. Luckily, Tonya was the coolest girlfriend Tomny had ever had. Not only had she been responsible for the TV, but she was able to wheel out an entire turntable out from their shared bedroom.