Fireflies

Chapter 2: A Fiddler's Tune

                                                                           SAGE

May 15th

A smoky room. The sound of wood striking heavy porcelain. I sit by the bar smoking a cigar and nursing a glass of gin and tonic. The doors to Luke's swing open to the sound of heels quickly clicking across the tiled floor. I know those sounds.

A damsel in distress.

"Help! ANYBODY!" She calls. "I'm looking for Sage Walker."

The commotion in the bar stops. Nobody says a word. Even the jukebox goes silent.

I stab the end of my cigar in a glass astray, giving it few twists for good measure. I slowly turn. My hat real low. I don't look up.

"That would be me," I drawl. 

"Oh thank God!" she gushes and rushes over to me. She grabs the front of my shirt and nearly knocks my hat to the ground. I look up and stare into the eyes of the beautiful Colbie Caillat.

All of sudden the room goes dark and a spotlight shines on her slender frame. She's wearing a ruby red dress, her golden tresses falling in Farah Fawcett waves around her head, she dazzles me.

A microphone is lowered and she croons in acapella. She pauses and looks at me expectantly. I find that a second spotlight has appeared... on me! Not just that. I have a guitar in my hands. Not just any guitar. A polished D-28 six string made of the finest East Indian Rosewood with ebony at the fingerboard and bridge.

I don't have to whistle and admire the glossy beauty. I got one in the flesh calling my name, beckoning me with her song. So I pull out the pick I somehow know is in my front pocket and I begin to play.

Colbie's voice curls around me like warm honey. She saunters towards me, plays two hands on either of my shoulder blades, leans forward her ample bosom and whispers in my ear...

"WAKE UP, SAGE! COME ON NOW!" The bed trembles as Lucy, my little sister, jumps up and down and up and down. I groan, bringing a heavy hand down my face.

"Luce, do you ever get tired jumping around like that?"

"Nope!" she squealed continuing to use my bed like a trampoline.

I opened one eye and spied on my little five year old sister in a yellow polka dot dress and jelly sandals. Her soft chestnut hair was already in ribbons curling at the nape of her neck. With each leap, the coils soared. Her bright blue eyes caught mine.

"MOMMA SAYS YOU GOTTA TAKE ME TO SCHOOL TODAY!"

"Well must you yell?" I inquired. She couldn't help it. She got excited about any old thing. "Don't answer that. Just get down before you hurt yourself."

Both eyes were open now and I stared at the ceiling. She didn't stop.

"Alright. You done it now!" I yelled. She squealed in laughter as she anticipated my next move. I sat up quickly lunging after her. I managed to grab her by the waist, pick up her tiny little body and tickle her mercilessly. Her peels of laughter echoed throughout the room like wind-chimes.  Her cheeks grew rosy.

"Arrgggghh" I fake growled at her. "Now you're my prisoner, forever and ever," I teased.

"Sage, honey. You'll ruin her dress," chided my mother from the doorway. "Both of you come down for breakfast."