Last month’s short story was about a fictional singer that rose to prominence in the 1980’s. Probably what we would call a one-hit wonder, his flame died out fairly quickly at a young age. While I wanted to give Jimmy B. a happy ending, I just couldn’t realistically see how that was possible. So, it was a bit of a downer. Apologies for that.
Continue readingEnd
Songbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter V
CHAPTER V: VH1 Behind the Music
“Is your homework done?” Amanda asked her daughter Millie even though she knew the answer.
“I am just getting to it,” Millie replied rolling off the futon.
“I bet,” her mother said and picked up the remote. “Let’s get rid of the distractions, shall we?” she aimed it at the television but stopped before turning it off.
“Whatever happened to Jimmy B.?” the unseen announcer in the television show asked. “This is VH1 and you are watching Behind the Music, stay tuned.”
Amanda sat down on the futon.
“Mom?” Millie asked. “What are you doing?”
“I loved Jimmy B.!” she said. “You know, he was my very first concert.” She looked at her daughter. “I was probably about your age.”
Continue readingStranger
The camera is not my friend.
Mainly because it lies
and shows a stranger on-screen
someone I do not recognize.
Continue readingSongbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter IV
CHAPTER IV: Descent
Jimmy B sighed and closed his eyes. He hated playing this particular venue. Two years ago he played at this arena and his whole life changed. That was his first big concert with 20,000 screaming fans. Nothing could have prepared him for the whirlwind that night thrust him into.
For starters, his mom and his manager Pete drew definite lines after that concert. Neither one was willing to give an inch on Jimmy’s future. Pete was concerned with the bottom hard line: money and profit. Namely his. Jimmy’s mom was more motivated toward making sure her son was healthy and happy. The two lines never crossed and Jimmy was stuck in the middle. He often felt like a rope in a tug of war.
Continue readingWorse
Songbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter III
CHAPTER III: The Rise
Jimmy B’s knee bounced nervously. He swallowed and swallowed again. His mouth felt dry. How was he going to sing with a dry mouth?
His new manager was looking over some forms and sat next to him on the couch. “Son, you need to stop that thing from shaking. I’m trying to read our agreement here. I need to focus.”
Jimmy put his hand on his knee to get it to stop moving but it didn’t work.
“Jimmy,” his mother said, “why don’t you get yourself some water?”
He nodded and stood up.
Continue readingCranky Like Me
A lot of time in my youth
was spent trying to please others
with age I changed my druthers
and to completely tell the truth
I don’t really try being couth.
Continue readingSongbird: The Rise and Fall of Jimmy B. Chapter II
CHAPTER II: Discovered
Jimmy swept the floor dutifully. He worked as a janitor for one of the small music studios that had opened during the disco fad and performed his duties with exactness and precision. In this instance, his methodical and precise ways helped him excel. Unlike when he went to school. He managed to graduate a year after the rest of his class but it was a struggle. The only way he made it was with his mom’s help. That first year of junior high was particularly rough. At least until his mom and him developed a coping system. Every day he came home and discussed some new social situation he was unfamiliar with and together they developed a plan. Armed with a memorized script of what to say if the situation arose again, he would go to school the following day. Of course, what was rehearsed the night before rarely occurred two days in a row but after several months, he had enough scripts and practiced scenarios he was able to navigate school.
Continue reading
ck's days 