Drumming Up Some Business

Twilight in South Carolina is a special thing. Two women and three men sit in lawn chairs in the middle of a middle class house's middle class driveway. One of the men is Bryan, the bartender from Palm's Sweat. He is dressed in a red t-shirt and jeans. Beside him, to blond guys, who happen to look like they are brothers. Next to them sits a woman of Asian origin. Last, but not least, kicked back in cut off jean shorts and a t-shirt with more holes than a wheel of swiss cheese sits Jessica Mathis. The quintet watch the sun slowly disappearing behind houses on the quiet cul-de-sac.

Bryan: "Hard to believe such a beautiful sunset."

Murmurs of agreement echo his sentiment.

Jessica Mathis: "Yeah. It really is pretty when it does that orange to purple to pink thing."

More murmurs.

Bryan: "Well, should we get back to it?"

They all stand up, stretching and folding their lawn chairs. Slowly, with the five time repeating "ker-thlap" of flip-flops they walk up the driveway and into the garage. There, in classic set up, are two guitars, a mic on a stand, a keyboard and a drum kit. Everyone takes their places. Bryan grabs the bass and plucks absent mindedly at the strings. The others settle to their instruments as well. Jessica walks around and sits on the stool behind the drum kit and picks up two silver and pink painted drumsticks.

Jessica Mathis: "Okay, Seymour Butts. Let's get this party started."

One of the blond guys turns around and sticks his tongue out at her. He turns and adjust the mic stand so it is perfect height. The other blond guy kicks in.

Blond Guy: "Why do you do that every time we come back from a break? You end up taking the mic off the damn stand and walking around like you're really on stage anyway."

Seymour Butts: "Shut it, Turd Ferguson."

Everyone has a laugh at the exchange.

Seymour Butts: "Okay. Jess, if you'll count us in."

Jessica Mathis: "What are we playing?"

The Asian lady, at the keyboards, starts playing the Theme from Jeopardy. Laughter breaks out.

Seymour Butts: "Something with no drum in it?"

Jessica pump fakes throwing a drumstick at him. He straightens back up, just in time to take the delayed toss right in the chest. He catches it and holds the tip of it to his chest.

Seymour Butts: "Oh! Y'got me! Unnnnnngh...I'm done for!"

He staggers around, exaggerated death scene from Shakespeare likely, before finally tossing the stick back to her.

Seymour Butts: "Okay. Lets take 'Alive' from Bat Outta Hell Three."

Jessica Mathis: "Oh, yes! One we all get to sing on!"

Jessica settles in and starts the count in...

=====

Night has fallen. The two blond men and Jess stand in the driveway.

Jessica Mathis: "You know, Steve. You could just use your last name, Muskwitz. That's off beat enough."

Steve Muskwitz: "Yeah. I know. But as long as we are just messing around, playing for fun, there's no need to give it serious thought."

He looks at his brother, the younger of the two.

Steve Muskwitz: "And him being Johnny Muskwitz. It would work well."

Johnny Shrugs.

Johnny Muskwitz: "Not going to matter. You're leaving, Jess. So we should just keep having fun while I can."

Jessica shrugs.

Jessica Mathis: "I have a few application videos out there. Rob is doing what he can with the contacts he still has. I've gone after a few myself. We will just have to wait and see what happens. For now, I am here."

The brothers look at each other and smile.

Steve Muskwitz: "What do you think old Percival would think of letting us play the Sweat?"

Jessica gives that a few moments of thought.

Jessica Mathis: "Somehow I doubt a Meat Loaf cover band is what he thinks would draw sales."

Steve Muskwitz: "To heck with sales. We just want the experience. Just once. You've become such a great drummer over the last two years."

Jess sighs and turns, walking down the driveway toward a small, light blue Scion.

Jessica Mathis: "I promise you this. I will ask him. I will also try to get Bryan to film it on his phone. Never know what YouTube will send viral next."

Steve Muskwitz: "G'night Jess. Be careful heading back to the island."

Jessica Mathis: "Will do. You guys have fun with your finals tomorrow."

Jess gets in the car, clicking the seat belt.

Jessica Mathis: "Hell. Why not? Maybe he will. Humor me since I'm leaving soon. Hopefully."

She turns the motor over, smiling as Breaking Benjamin picks up from where it left off in her playlist. She pulls out, waving to her friends and singing along, turning around and heading east, toward the starry night.