Drowse - First Season - Finished

Chapter 41 - A New Guitarist for Queen? - August 1974

POV Brian

I had gone wrong once again. The doctor did some tests and it was verified that I have an ulcer and I will have to stay in hospital for three weeks. I had surgery in a hurry, because my situation was serious.

Today is Saturday, Sept. 17th. Three of the afternoon. Visiting hours.

"Brian, someone came to pay you a visit, someone very special," said the smiling doctor.

"Who came to see me?" Are the guys in the band? They've been here in the morning. - I said.

"They were in the morning, but soon they see you again. They want to make sure you're okay. Your parents come to see you later, "said the doctor." Whoever came to see you now is the beautiful Miss Universe, Helena.

The doctor smiled.

- You can call her. I want to see her, "he said, smiling.

At that moment the doctor spoke to her and she smilingly greeted the doctor and looked at me. Ms. Clotilde entered the room and greeted me, then sat down in a chair and flipped through a magazine.

"You're entitled to an hour's visit, Helen, and then the boys will come in to see Bri again," said the doctor.

"Okay, doctor," Helena said, smiling.

The doctor left the room. And Helena caressed my hair.

"I'm here again, Helena. I'm getting worried, "he said flatly.

"This is no time to be upset, Bri. You are strong. Thank God you've already had the surgery, now it's time for recovery. You have to stay here for three weeks and recover here, "said Helena, smiling." You will soon be out of here.

"Helena, I'm afraid ..." he said thoughtfully.

"Are you afraid of that, Bri?" - she asked.

"I'm afraid I'm being replaced, Rog, Freddie, or Deacy replacing me, putting another guitarist in my place." Helena, I'll be three weeks without recording. - I told her - I just wrote a song for the band. The boys wanted me to write more songs for the new album.

- You can write lyrics here at the hospital, Bri, during your recovery. Do not worry about it. She smiled at me.

I caressed Helena's face.

"I think I'm worried for nothing." I do not think they would do that to me, would they? He told her.

Helena became pensive and looked at me.

"Bri, Rog and you are the forerunners of Queen. You started Smile, became great friends, brothers. If by chance, Freddie or John said that he did not want you in the band, Rog would be against, be sure of that. You're the only Queen guitarist, period. The four are irreplaceable. They will not do this to you and if they do I would be disappointed. Stay calm, okay? Everything will be solved. Talk to the boys and tell them that you will write songs while you are here and they will record the other songs you have already written. Said Helena.

"You have the power to cheer, to give me strength," I smile. - I do not know how to thank.

"I know a very simple way you can thank me, Bri. - she smiled.

"And what is this way?" I asked anxiously.

"Getting well, doing everything the doctor asks for and leaving this hospital soon, very well. I travel to New York on September 6th. Until then, you'll be fine and you'll say goodbye to me. Do you promise to be well? She said, touching my hand.

"I promise, Helena," he said, smiling and kissed her face and she stroked my hair.

We talked a lot about the band and she talked about her Miss Universe commitments in London. We laughed at many things. She remembered things from her childhood and adolescence. Half an hour later the nurse brought me some gelatin to eat. Helena picked it up and handed me the gelatin.

"Open your mouth Bri, look at the airplane." She smiled beautifully and I smiled at her and ate the gelatin.

Then she filled the spoon with more gelatin.

I laughed the way she gave me jello and she laughed along. Clotilde sat on the sofa watching us and sometimes laughing with Helena and me.

We'll talk more later. It was time for Helena's visit and I was sad.

"I'll come visit you tomorrow night, okay?" I wanted to come during the day, but I'm going to record a show. But I promise I'll be here at night. "She smiled.

"I'll wait anxiously," I said, and she kissed me on the forehead. "Please come home carefully, drive carefully, Helen."

"I'm responsible, Bri. Rog and you who are crazy to drive - she smiled - I be careful, do not worry.

She kissed my cheek once more and said good-bye to me. Clotilde says goodbye to me too. I'm very happy with your visit. It's very important for my recovery.

POV Helena

As I leave Bri's room, I hear the voices of Rog, Freddie and John talking ahead and I stopped walking and motioned for Clotilde to stop too. They were talking about Bri.

- A new guitarist for Queen? Rog asked. "Think about it, okay?

"We'd better get into the room," Freddie said. "It's time for our visit."

"Come on," said John.

Clotilde looked at me and I was pensive. It's not possible. Rog wants Bri to be replaced? What falsehood is this? I was upset.

I was on my way out, when Freddie said,

"Dear Helena, were you here?"

"Hi Freddie, I left Bri's room now. I've come to visit you, but I'm on my way out, I have some appointments today, "she said thoughtfully. - Hi John, how are you?

"Hello, Helen, I'm fine," John said, smiling.

"Hi Helena," Rog said, but I did not answer.

"Freddie and John, I have to go, I'll see you later." Kisses. He said as he walked down the stairs to Clotilde.

A few seconds later I feel someone pull my arm. It's Rog.

"Hello, Helen, have you decided to ignore me now?" - said Rog upset - What did I do to you?

"What do you want, Roger?" He said coldly.

He looked at me confused.

"What did I do to you, to be treating me so coldly, Helena?" Asked Roger, annoyed.

"Nothing with me, but with Bri. "I heard you in the hallway talking to Freddie and John about Brian. You said: A new guitarist for Queen? Think about it, okay?

Roger, who was looking annoyed, hardened his face and sighed and shook his head.

"Do you want Brian to be replaced?" It is? What kind of friend / brother are you? After all, Bri and you have been in the Smile together, were precursors to Queen and now because he is sick, you want to strip him? You do not have that right, Roger. Brian commented to me that while he's here, he'll write some songs for the band's new album, but, you already feel like the owner of the band, do not you? "You think you have the right to take Brian out, and by the way, you're urging Freddie and John to do the same." Well tell you one thing: if you take Brian out of the band and convince Freddie and John of the same thing, forget that one day I was your friend, alias, forget that I exist ok?

Roger just stared at me with an indecipherable countenance. He said nothing.

"You have nothing to say?" I asked.

"Absolutely nothing, Helena," Roger said, looking at me without emotion, and went up the stairs to Bri's room.

"Clotilde, he said nothing," I said confused. "He just said nothing, he came up with nothing.

"Helena, come on, my dear, we have to go to your apartment, to get ready. We have a commitment. Come on, "Clotilde said, pulling me gently by the arm.

I got into my car and started, thinking of Rog's words, referring to Brian.

To be continued.