The Day the World Turned Blue

Say Mama

The concert was loud. Girls were screaming. People were dancing to the music. On the stage was a man that was wearing a full white outfit. His curly black hair was greased back. Whenever the song got to a guitar solo he would watch the lead guitarist with a smile on his face. During the quicker numbers he would hop across the stage on his right leg and sometimes he would kick his left leg over the microphone. His backing band would shout and scream and rock up a storm.
A young girl was in the audience staring at the stage. She felt her heart beat in her chest with the drums. She had worked so hard to get to this concert. She had had to hitchhike for days to get to the concert. She had come all the way from Texas to Ohio to see this concert. It had been hard and dangerous, but she was so desperate to make it. Her parents had refused so she had taken things into her own hands. She had made it and she was proud.
This girl stayed for the entire concert. She danced with strangers. She sang along with some of the songs. She had an all around good time. Then it was over and she had to get home. She'd have to hitchhike back to Texas. That was something she had been dreading.
The girl went to a small restaurant, a burger joint. It was late. The sun had set and the joint was empty. There was a jukebox in the corner, but the girl didn't have many nickels to spend so she decided to withhold her guilty pleasure called rock and roll. She walked to the counter of the store and ordered a hamburger, some fries, and a coke. It wasn't healthy, but it was food. Probably the only food she'd eat until she got back to Texas. Good thing she was used to not eating. She got her food and sat down in a booth. She ate her food slowly.
The door of the restaurant opened. The girl kept her eyes trained on her food.
"Don't you think they'll miss us?"
"It'll be fine, don't sweat it."
The girl glanced up to see two young men. One was wearing black pants and an oversized jacket, and the other was wearing blue jeans and a white t-shirt. The one in the oversized jacket walked up to the counter. He had a slight limp in his step. The girl stared at him in awe. It was Gene Vincent. She had just watched him at the concert. The man in blue jeans looked at Gene.
"Do you have any money?" He asked.
Gene frowned. "No, can you buy me something to eat?" He asked.
The man in blue jeans sighed. "I don't have a lot," He said.
"Thanks, Johnny," Gene said flashing a smile.
Johnny rolled his eyes. "Two hamburgers, two cokes, and an order of fries," He said to the man behind the counter.
Gene walked over to the booth in front of the girl. He sat so he was facing the door. The girl looked down at her food. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. He was so close. Only a booth away.
Johnny joined Gene in his booth carrying the food. Gene ate the burger Johnny bought for him. The fries were in the middle of the table, and Gene and Johnny were sharing them. Johnny noticed they didn't have any ketchup. He turned around in the booth.
"Ma'am?"
The girl looked up.
"Can we have that ketchup? We don't have any at this table and..."
The girl pushed the ketchup towards Johnny and he reached over into her booth to take it. Gene was staring at the girl. She caught him staring. He flashed a smile at her. She blushed and looked down at her burger. She continued to eat her food.
The girl was so vividly aware that Gene Vincent and Johnny Meeks were sitting just a booth ahead of her. Her heart was pounding, but she was so afraid to look up at them. She was afraid to stare, afraid to make a fool of herself.
The girl heard shuffling footsteps. She looked up to see Gene Vincent throwing away the wrappers of his food. He caught her gaze and flashed her another smile. She looked down at her food again.
A sliding noise.
The girl looked up. Gene Vincent was sitting right in front of her.
"Hi," He said.
She blinked. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened, but all she could manage was a small, quiet, squeaky hello.
Another sweet smile. "My name's Gene," He said.
"I know..." Her reply was soft and nervous. She could hear her heart in her ears.
Another sweet smile. "What's your name?" Gene asked.
"Lisa Stone..." She could hardly believe she was saying her own name. The words seemed to rush out in a strange way. She was so nervous.
"You were at the concert," Gene said.
Lisa looked up. It was a statement of fact. A simple phrase. Lisa nodded her head slowly. How did he notice her in a sea of faces?
"Did you enjoy it?" Gene asked.
Lisa smiled as she thought of the time she had at the concert. "Yes, I did," She said.
Gene flashed another smile. "Good, I'm glad you enjoyed it," He said.
Lisa felt her hand brush her hair behind her ear. "I had to hitchhike here from Texas," She said impulsively. She immediately wondered why she had said it.
Gene's brow furrowed. "That far," He said. "How are you getting back?"
"Hitchhiking, I suppose," Lisa said messing with her fries.
"You aught to take a bus," Gene said. "It's dangerous hitchhiking."
Lisa shrugged. "I don't think I have the money for the bus fare back," She said. She ate a fry.
Gene stared at her for a moment. He put his hand in his pocket and fished out a few dimes and nickels and pennies. "Hey, Johnny," Gene called.
Johnny turned around in his booth. He looked over at Gene.
"Do you have any more money? I promise I'll pay you back," Gene asked.
Johnny pulled a few dollar bills out of his pocket and handed them to Gene. It wasn't very much. Together Johnny and Gene had about seven dollars. Lisa stared at the young rock star. Gene pushed the money towards her.
"This is what I can give you," He said. "I'd get more from my manager, but he's got me on a budget."
Lisa looked down at her hands. "I can't accept this," She said.
"Sure you can," Gene said tilting his head. "I can't have a fan of mine getting stuck in Ohio."
Lisa felt her eyes water slightly. "I can't take your money," She said.
Johnny turned around in his booth. "Just take it," He said. "Gene's got money to spare, so have I."
Lisa felt a tear roll down her cheek. She was so grateful for what they were trying to do for her. Gene leaned over the table and wiped the tear off her cheek.
"Pretty girls aren't supposed to cry," Gene said giving her a sweet smile.
Lisa smiled at him wiping the tears from her eyes. "Why don't you come with us for a little while? I don't think anyone would mind it," Gene said.
"I have to go home," Lisa said quietly.
"At least let me walk you to the bus stop," Gene said.
"I couldn't let you do that," Lisa said. "You already gave me money and talked with me. I couldn't let you waste more of your time on me."
Gene laughed. "Time is never wasted on a pretty girl," He said.
Lisa blushed and looked down at her hands. She felt so stupid. Her burger was only half finished, but she had lost her appetite. She rewrapped the burger and stuffed it into the purse she had with her. Gene watched closely. His brown eyes were taking in every move she made. It made her feel extremely self conscious.
Lisa pulled out her wallet and put her money on the table with the money Gene and Johnny had given her. All together she had just about thirty dollars. Gene frowned slightly. "It'll be tight, but I think you can make it," He said.
Lisa put the money back in her purse. "You don't know what this means to me," She said.
Gene smiled at her. "I know what it's like to be hard on luck," He said.
Lisa offered Gene her fries, but he refused. She ate the rest of them and returned the tray to the counter. Gene walked with her out the door of the restaurant. Lisa felt rather bad about making him walk so much. His limp was quite noticeable to her. Thankfully the bus station wasn't so far away.
It was a small station with a few rows of seats. Lisa sat down in one of the seats and looked down at her hands. Gene sat down beside her.
"I didn't make you walk too much did I?" Lisa asked.
Gene flashed her another smile. It seemed like he always had one to spare. "No," He said. "I took a lot of pain pills before the show and they still haven't worn off."
"Pain pills?"
"For my leg," Gene said. "It hurts sometimes."
Lisa looked down at his leg. She noticed the brace. It was hidden pretty well under his pants, but it was still visible.
"You aught to go back before your band starts to worry about you," Lisa said.
Gene frowned slightly. "I know you're right," He said.
Gene stood up. Lisa stood up with him. Gene turned to her. He was very close. Gene took her hands in his. "I hope I get to see you again," He said.
Another sweet smiled.
"I hope so too," Lisa said.
"If you're ever at another one of my concerts or I'm in your town or something along those lines contact me," Gene said leaning down so he was closer to her face.
"I will," Lisa said. She still felt her heart pounding in her chest.
Gene leaned down and kissed her on the lips. It was a quick kiss. Just a way to say goodbye to her. Lisa was left breathless as Gene left the bus station. She sunk back down in the seat. Her heart still rapidly beating. The full intensity of the moment hadn't hit her yet. She had just kissed Gene Vincent.

(Well, this is the first chapter of the only Gene Vincent Fanfiction on Wattpad, currently. The video attached above, if it worked, is a live performance of Gene Vincent singing Say Mama in 1964. This part of the story would have taken place in 1957 so Gene hasn't started wearing black leather yet. Um... I guess that is all. Until next chapter!)