Far Beyond Broken

January 14, 1987. Wednesday

There was a knock on my bedroom.
“Come in.”
Mad sat on my bed.
“Darrell wants us to come to his house tonight. He said the new guy is gonna be there.”
“Alright. Where's Vic?”
“I haven't seen her this morning. Probably still sleeping.”
Vic dropped out of high-school a few months into her sophomore year.
A year later Jessie broke up with her because her parents found out about them. Vic has been sad and distant since then. Sometimes we try hard enough and get her in a good mood for a few hours. It usually doesn't last longer than that though.
She still comes to all the party's, but she doesn't enjoy it. All of the emotions have given her a new drive to play the drums. She always comes up with new beats and ideas. The most excitement I see her get is when she's playing.
The phone kept ringing. I laid in bed trying to sleep hoping someone would pick it up. No one did. Finally, it quit ringing.
It started again. I forced myself out of bed and to the phone.
“Hello?”
“K, where are y'all? I told Mad to tell you Phil would be here today!” Darrell was in a good mood.
“She did. They're asleep I think. I'll get them up and see you guys over there.”
I hung up the phone before he could say anything else.
I loved Darrell's bright energy, but not when I had just woke up.
I banged on both of their bedroom doors.
“Wake up, we gotta go!”
I looked at the digital clock on my nightstand.
8:43
I slipped some shoes on and grabbed my keys.
Mad slipped out of her room, rubbing her eyes.
“We slept late, we're supposed to go meet the new guy.”
Vic still hadn't got out of her room.
“Wake the hell up Vic, now!”
She through her door open while sliding on a leather jacket.
“Dammit, I was on my way!”
We ran to the car and raced to Darrell's house.
We ran straight to the garage where I could hear a guitar being played.
“Sorry we're late,” I said plopping down on the couch.
Phil, or who I assumed to be Phil, was sitting next to Vinnie.
His hair was teased. Blonde consumed his hair except at the roots. He was wearing jeans, Converse, and some sort of black band shirt.
“I'm Phil Anselmo,” he stood up and walked over to the girls, and I ready to shake hands.
“I'm Katie, this is Mad and Vic.” His grip around my hand was strong.
“Good to meet y'all, I've heard a lot about you guys.” His voice was deep. He had a nice southern accent.
“Let's play, we can chit-chat later,” Darrell said.
The guys got ready, Darrell handed Phil a paper. I guess they had lyrics on it.
They played a song I had never heard before.
It was good.
Rex, Vinnie, and Darrell all had the same smile on their face. I could tell they liked Phil. I did too, he definitely had a set of vocal cords in him.
Darrell ran up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“That was great man!” He was ecstatic.
Phil chuckled, “Yeah, that was pretty good.”
“Let's do a cover,” Darrell said.
“What about Electric Eye? You know that one?” Phil turned around to face the guys.
“Uh,” Darrell fiddled around with the strings on his guitar.
“I think, yeah.” Vinnie and Rex nodded.
Phil had an unimaginable note range. It was shocking. I was a bit jealous.
They played a few more songs than Phil wanted to hear the girls and I play.
We played Guillotine and Blood Lust.
“Damn, I wouldn't have expected that from you guys. You're pretty damn good.”
“Thanks,” Mad said.
I slipped out of the garage and walked down the street.