Through Chrissie's eyes

Smile's show

The auditorium was already full and tight when we arrived. Great, I thought with irony, I love places full of people. But I took a deep breath, keeping the promise I made to Roger and Jo.
In the crowd, she tried to find the most discreet place possible. I noticed a corner table still empty, away from the stage, even so, I went there to see if I could see the band from there.
Speaking in the band, they were still arranging the instruments and checking the sound, so I got to know Roger's teammates from a certain distance.
Both were tall and thin, concentrating on what they were doing. But one of them was taller and more focused, his fingers trailing gently over the strings of the guitar, I think he was checking their condition to see if there was any risk of them bursting. I watched his instrument, I didn't understand much about guitars, but that one was definitely different.
Jo had left my side to talk to someone, so I sat in my seat waiting for the show to begin.

"Are you really going to sit there?" "Jo reappeared "it's too far away! I wanted to get closer so Roger can hear me."

I rolled my eyes, thinking of my friend screaming in hysteria, an exaggerated way of showing that she was proud of her boyfriend.

"I don't care if you want to sit somewhere else," I told her. "I'm fine here."

"Okay, right," she seemed reluctantly, "it's really a miracle you had came."

I was saved from her further criticism of my behavior by the drummer, who called her from the stage.

"Come on, Chrissie" Jo tried again "the boys are calling!"

"They called you and not me, and only Roger, if I'm not mistaken," I said, half-heartedly, "go, I promise you I'll be fine here."

I made a "go on" look and she got the message. She smiled a little and went over to Roger. I saw her say hello to the other two band members. He had mentioned their names but I couldn't remember.

Jo kissed Roger quickly and ended up sitting near the stage.

The three members of Smile positioned themselves and everything led to believe that the show would start in a few moments.

"Good night folks!" The shortest of the two talls pronounced with one raised arm "we are Smile and we hope you enjoy our show !!"

The trio was cheered by the university students' claps. For being polite and following the chill, I also clapped my hands.

The guitarist began to strum a heavy solo that soon was followed by the marking of the battery, the singer soon entered singing. It was not my favorite style of music, but I appreciated the effort of the boys.

One strange and peculiar thing that bothered me was the guitarist's big hair falling on his face. I wondered how he could see what he was doing with his hair falling in his eyes.
Occasionally he would throw his head away to solve this problem.

They played another handful of restless songs, I ignored the audience's excitement and concentrated on paying attention to the lyrics, the arrangements and the voices. When the three of them sang together, the phrase in the music impacted my ears in a melodic and harmonious way. I've never seen another band do something like that before.

So when I least expected it, they started playing a softer song, the guitar was slow but it caught my attention. And paying attention to the lyrics, it was as if they talked about how I was facing life, one day at a time, trying to overcome the challenges, trying to get well. Suddenly the heavy guitar solo cut through the slow music and made the crowd shake. That was my favorite song of the whole show.

"Good night and thank you!" The vocalist told the audience.

Roger and the guitarist played some more, and the drummer ended up beating hard on the largest plate of his instrument.

In the end, I thought Smile was a great band. And incredible as it may seem, I was in no hurry to leave.

"Chrissie!" Jo came running to me, I think she was afraid I might run away.

I went to her and the boys of the band, seeing that the auditorium was gradually emptying.

"So?" Roger approached me, already considering myself an old friend "was it worth seeing the show?"

"Look, I have to admit you're very good, and I quite like it," I said honestly, glancing at the other boys.

"You're very kind miss" the vocalist and bassist spoke a little discouraged "we have to improve a lot."

"Don't talk like that Tim" the guitarist pondered, "it was one of our best shows."

"Actually you have a lot of fans here," I tried to comfort them, feeling pity. "The auditorium was full."

"Really that's a good sign," the guitarist shrugged, but he looked pleased with my comment.

I felt he wanted to ask me more, but he restrained himself. I was like that too, I didn't even know how I was able to talk to those guys who were unfamiliar to me. Maybe their music had created a connection that made them feel familiar to me.

I watched the boys' trio for a moment. Roger exchanged a look with them.

"I don't think we were introduced," Tim, now I remembered his name, mentioned a short time ago, broke the silence "I am Tim and this is Brian."

"Chrissie," I smiled sheepishly, "I'm Jo's friend and roommate,she's Roger's girlfriend."

"Nice to meet you" Brian, now I had learned his name, spoke to me and just nodded.

"I don't know about you but I'm starving!" Roger announced in his casual tone.

"You never change Rog!" Brian rolled his eyes.

"Aren't you hungry too, Bri?" The drummer snapped.

"Ok guys" Tim interjected. "Girls, the university cafeteria is closed, isn't it? Where can we go now?"

"There's the nearest diner from here, we can go there" Jo suggested, "are you going to come with us, Chrissie?"

I paused to think about what I was going to say. I really felt sleepy, but I had enjoyed Smile's company.

"Well, I think I'm going to make an exception to sleep early this weekend," I told her, and Roger understood what I meant.

"Don't worry, we won't be long, Brian sleeps early too." Tim gave his friend habit away.

"Hey!" Brian protested, which made everyone laugh, even me.

In a way, I was glad for one of those nice strangers to have something in common with me.