The Sun, The Moon, and Their Stars

45 : Drizzle

Benjamin

The four-door white pick-up is already in their driveway when I arrive at their house.

It's about time for sundown, and their neighborhood is still alive. Young kids are playing with their slippers and an empty tin can in the middle of the street. There's a group of teenagers sitting on the sidewalk with cellphones in their hands. There are grown-ups out as well. They're in front of the store, and they're not so discreet in talking and laughing about something.

Kim and I stand against the concrete balusters of their veranda while we wait for her brother. She's wearing her striped shirt and blue jeans, and her hair is combed back behind her ears.

I ask how their father is doing, and she says that he's fine and getting better every day.

Kelvin comes out of the door, and we follow him to the car. There's a name of what sounds like an organization he belongs to and the NSU logo at the back of his black polo shirt.

Their car is a little old. Though it seems a bit worked up on the outside with traces of dirt around the wheels, it's well-maintained on the inside. The seats are covered in light grey stock, and the tints on the windows are dark. I'm in the middle of the backseat, and it smells like a lemon all over. The yellow pine tree-shaped air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror looks new.

Kelvin starts the engine, and the children outside start clearing the road. Then he sets the temperature of the air-conditioning at the midpoint.

We're out of their street now, and Kim turns to face me.

"Where's Jessy?" she asks.

"She's in the Metro, with things to do at their school."

Kelvin just joins the highway, and Kim returns to face the dashboard. He tunes in to the rock station, and no one says anything else until we're in the city proper.

On the west side of the city is the Capitol. It's a large compound of old buildings that serve as the center of the provincial and city government. Within the area is a park with two grassy ovals. There's a playground and an artificial pond on one, and plain grounds on the other.

During the Summer Fair, they close that part of the city to host booths of various kinds. They set up a stage at the grounds and hold programs. At some point, there were even rides. The event is held annually and during the two weeks in the middle of May. People from all towns in the province participate in it, where they showcase their local coconut products and other harvests. But the pulse of the fair can be felt in the evening when more young people come around. With concerts and other shows, there are more food booths at night.

Since the year 2000, there's also been the Battle of the Bands. And after one of the previous winners got offered a major record deal and had a song reach the airwaves nationwide, local musicians aspire for the same short-lived fame.

Ten Cents Short is said to play during the opening before the contest itself. Daryl also confirmed this to me. They'll be the second of the three bands the organizers invited. It's six forty-five now, and the show is set to start at around seven.

Kelvin parks three blocks away from the Capitol and in front of his friend's house. We walk to the fair, pay for our entrance tickets, and start going to the concert grounds.

We hear someone calling his name, so we stop and turn around.

A guy of average height, slightly overweight, and about his age comes approaching us. His head is shaved, his face is round, and his belly even rounder. He reminds me of Wimpy from Popeye, except this one has wolfish eyes.