Rhythm in Blue (6 page)

“Thank
you
,” he called after her, wiping the sweat from his face with his hand.

Chapter Five

It was several days before he saw Shelby again, in fact, he had to go looking for her. He went to the restaurant where she worked for a late lunch, hoping to see her when she finished her shift. He caught her eye as she carried a stack of plates from her station at the back into the restaurant. She tipped her head back in salute, and continued inside with the plates. A few minutes later, she emerged and hung her apron on the door. As she walked over to his table, he could see her soaked dress cling to her stomach.

“Is the apron just for show?”

Looking down, she laughed. “Yeah, I really get into my work.”

“Where have you been? I haven’t seen you in days.”

“I’m grounded. Didn’t make it home before my folks did the other night.” She sat down and pulled a soggy pack of cigarettes from her dress pocket.

“I’m sorry,” he said, offering her a light. He felt somewhat responsible.

“Not your fault. I was gonna stay later, but I started getting nervous. Turns out that intuition was right,” she said, snapping the elastic band that circled the table to keep the tablecloth in place.

“How long are you grounded for?”

“Couple more days is all,” she said with a shrug.

“Huh,” he nodded. “Well, I came to find you for a reason.”

“What’s up?”

“I’ve been thinking about what we talked about the other night…about you learning to play something?”

She nodded, “I know, I will, honestly…”

“Well, here’s what I was thinking – I know I’m not here for very long, but if you want, I could get you started on the guitar.”

“Like…lessons?” she asked, taken aback.

“Yeah, at least give you some basics, after that, you’re on your own. We’d need a guitar though.”

“My dad has a guitar, but Rick,” she was blushing again, “you really don’t need to do that. I mean, I wasn’t asking for your help or anything. It was just hard telling you because you’re, well, you!”

“I know you weren’t, and I know I don’t. But I want to. I’ve thought about it a lot.” And he had, for days. It wasn’t something he would even consider doing under other circumstances. “Do you think he would let you use it?”

“Of course he would!”

“Do you think your parents would mind me helping you?” He hesitated. “Or would they think it’s a little weird?”

“Are you shittin’ me? Guitar lessons, from Rick Rowland?” She jumped to her feet, “They would pay you!” She sat back down, blushing. “Sorry, of course they won’t mind.”

“Well, let’s go talk to them and make sure.”

~

It was early afternoon and the streets were deserted during siesta time. Most of the shops shut down for the afternoon – doors and shutters were closed – while the town’s people rested. The islanders kept late hours at night and rose early in the morning to begin their day’s work, so an afternoon nap was customary. Even the tourist, strolling the alleys with their cameras ready, spoke in hushed voices.

Deep in the village, nearly every house had a stoop, and many of them held earthen pots of Geraniums and assorted flowers. Hibiscus, bougainvillea, and Rhododendron’s grew over archways and walls, and their fragrance filled the air. The buildings, were all attached, and it was hard to know where one house ended and another began. As Shelby led him through the maze of streets to her house, she must have noticed Rick’s apprehension. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll bring you back.”

She was almost skipping, her excitement at the impending
lessons
obvious, and at last she approached one of the blue doors, opened it, and pulled him inside. The house was dark as they entered, and his eyes struggled to adjust from the bright sunlight they left behind. “Mom, Dad…” Shelby yelled, but then, more gently to Rick, “Come on, it’s okay.” She led him deeper inside.

Rick was beginning to feel nervous about how her parents might react to his idea. They entered what looked like the living room, as it contained several couches – single beds lined with pillows – overcrowded bookcases, and a cluttered table in the middle of the room surrounded by four captain’s chairs.

Judy entered from a side courtyard, drying her hands on her skirt. “What Shelby,” she said in an irritated voice, but softened her tone when she saw him. “Ricky! What a pleasant surprise,” she said.

“Dad!” Shelby yelled again. “Where’s Dad?”

“Upstairs in his studio,” Judy said, but Shelby was already up the stairs.

“What brings you here, besides Shelby?” Judy laughed.

“She wanted me to see your place and meet her dad,” Rick lied. He wanted to wait until they were together to approach them about the lessons.

Shelby came back down the stairs with her father in tow. “Rick…this is my dad, Larry.”

“Well, this is a pleasure,” said Larry, shaking Rick’s hand, “I heard you were on the island, and I was hoping I’d eventually get to meet you.”

Larry offered him a seat at the table while Shelby disappeared. Rick told them he and the other three were on the island for Erin’s wedding, how Shelby had shown them where to snorkel, and that she helped them out with the misunderstanding over the bread – he left out the part about her teaching him to dance. Shelby returned with four glasses of lemonade and set them around the table. As she sat down, her father patted her arm and thanked her.

“Anyway, Shelby and I were talking, and she was hoping I could give her a few guitar lessons while I’m here.” Her eyes grew wide, and she shot him a quick, questioning look, but her parents had both started:

“Oh Shelby, how could you?” her mother began.

“Shelby, why would you bother Rick?” scolded her father.

“He offered!” She jumped from her seat, looking panicked.

“I really don’t mind. I think it would be fun, and it would be good for Shelby,” Rick assured them, “broaden her education a bit, you know?” A guilty knot formed in his stomach.

Larry shook his head at Shelby, “Rick, it’s a nice offer, but you’re on vacation, and if Shelby wants to learn to play, I can teach her.”

“Honestly Larry?” Rick said, afraid he’d blown the deal, “I’m sick of the beach already, and I need something to keep me busy or I’ll start getting bored.”

“Dad, you don’t have the time or patience to teach me.”

“Well I think it’s a very kind offer, Ricky,” Judy said, and turning to Larry, she added, “and it’s best you don’t teach Shelby. Whenever you try to show her anything, the two of you end up fighting.” She turned back to Rick, “You guys could start tomorrow, when Shelby gets off work, would that be okay?”

“Fine with me,” Rick said.

Shelby nodded, but still eyed Rick with uncertainty, and he tried not to meet her gaze.

He spent the rest of the afternoon with Judy and Larry, entertaining them with stories of the road and Smoke n’ Mirror’s exploits. Shelby disappeared to her room when it became clear that her parents did not welcome her participation in the conversation. As she left, she mumbled something about finding some dolls to play with.

It was early evening by the time he left. Larry showed Rick his paintings and Judy read him her poems, and soon the lemonade changed to wine. They were easy to talk to, and the time passed quickly. He declined their invitation to dinner, thinking it was best to give Shelby some time to forget his duplicity. Rick followed the narrow streets, back the way Shelby led him, light-headed from the wine, and hashish Larry and Judy smoked with him. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

Chapter Six

“You’re doing what?” Devon didn’t hide his shock when Rick let it slip he’d been giving Shelby guitar lessons. The group sat at the Islander, having a drink before the place got going for the night. Kostas and Erin joined them since it was only about eight thirty. The waiters led
Hasapiko
lessons to tourists on the dance floor. Other than that, the place was empty.

“I’ve been giving Shelby some lessons on the guitar,” Rick repeated.

“Why?” asked Erin.

“I don’t know, I guess because she’s been so helpful and nice, I just felt it would be a good way to repay her.”

“So buy her a Coke!” Devon said.

“Yeah, you’re not gonna be able to teach her much in four weeks anyway, actually, less than that,” Randy added.

“How long have you guys been doing this?” Erin asked.

“I don’t know…three or four days is all. Four I think,” Rick said, in an attempt to sound detached. He wasn’t sure why he felt so defensive. “It’s not that big a deal. And I’m not expecting her to be Bob Dylan or anything, just kinda get her started is all.”

Erin chuckled and shook her head. “How did this even start?”

Rick explained how she confided to him that she wanted to be a songwriter, but couldn’t play anything. Shelby was right about not being a singer. He gently persuaded her to sing him one of her songs, and she
did
sound as though she should be singing in a church choir – too much vibrato in her voice. “You have to relax and not try so hard,” he told her. “If you work at it, you can change your delivery.” He taught her to experiment with the shape of her mouth, and to
sing lazy
, both of which would change her sound. Her song was good, though. It was a lot like her – naïve and unpolished on the surface, but deep and soulful at the core.

“Well, I think you’re nuts,” Devon said, shaking his head.

“I think it’s sweet.” Erin reached over and scratched her fingers lightly over Rick’s back, but Devon continued to shake his head.

Kostas didn’t say anything up to this point, but finally nodded his head, stood up, looked at Rick and said, “It is good, yes? It is good you do this to her.” As Kostas headed toward the bar, the others snickered at his broken English, but Rick didn’t laugh. Erin and Devon followed Kostas, and Randy left the table, announcing he needed to take a piss.

When they were all gone, Keith came over and put his hand on Rick’s shoulder. “I gotta say, I’m with Kostas on this one. You need to watch yourself.” As Keith followed the others to the bar, Rick could feel his irritation growing. After all, Shelby wasn’t some powerful temptress, she was just a kid, and he was perfectly capable of controlling himself. In fact, it made him angry to think that anyone might get the wrong idea about his relationship with her.
They know me better than that, they know I’m not a fucking pervert.
As visions of the last young lady he bedded flashed through his mind, he tried to dismiss them, reminding himself that she claimed to be older, and had he been sober, he never would have slept with her. The knot in his stomach remained.

~

When the dance lessons ended, people began to wander into the club. On his way back from the bathroom, Randy struck up a conversation with a German woman who had been learning the Hasapiko. She and her three her friends invited Randy to bring his friends over to their table for a drink.

He rushed to the bar – “Come on guys, I’ve got four hot ones on the line.”

Rick wasn’t in the mood to party with them, but Keith teased him, “Man, you haven’t gotten laid since you got here. Has the well run dry for ya?” Shame made him agree to the drink, so he followed the others.

As they approached, Randy whispered, “The blond in the red top thinks you’re cute, she called dibs on you.”

Randy made introductions, helped by the girls as he went along – Eva (in the red top), Anna, Gretchen, and Christine. The girls all worked at the same hospital in Munich. They were on Paros for two days, then off to the other islands. They all shook hands and pulled stools from neighboring tables, squeezing together to fit around one table.

As soon as Rick sat down, Eva’s hand was on his leg, making her intentions clear. Her long, blond hair draped over her ample bosom, and accentuated her curvaceous body as she moved. Gorgeous, and just the type he would normally go for, he couldn’t work up any enthusiasm to be with her.

Anna was just as forward with Randy, but the other two girls were more reserved, so Randy tried to explain to the girls that they were famous back in the States. Rick shook his head and had to laugh. Fame, Randy assumed, was an aphrodisiac for everyone, and Rick knew Randy figured if the girls knew who they were, or at least knew they were famous, Devon and Keith would have an easier time getting Gretchen and Christine into bed, so he crooned the first few lines of
Bring It to Me
until the women began to nod their recognition.

“Have you been to Greece before?” Eva asked him in an attempt at a more personal conversation.

“No, first time.”

“How do you like it?”

“It’s great,” he said, without elaborating.

She nodded, trying not to show her frustration at not being able to draw him into a discussion. “Have you been to other countries in Europe?”

“England, a few years back,” he said, looking around to make sure Shelby hadn’t slipped in. He didn’t want her to see him with Eva, and maybe get the wrong idea.

As they finished their drinks, the disco music was in full swing, so Eva asked Rick if he would dance with her.

“Oh, thanks, but I’m really not a dancer.”

Randy piped up, “That’s not what I heard. I heard the other night you were a regular
Dancing Queen
.”

Rick shook his head, “I was drunk, and made a fool out of myself, onetime thing.” He turned to Eva, “I’m sorry, but I’m sure there are lots of other guys here who will dance with you.”

“It’s okay, we don’t have to dance, but I see you are watching the doors. Are you waiting for someone?”

“No,” he slowly shook his head, “No, I was just thinking maybe we should go someplace else, someplace better.”

Randy clapped his hands, “Now you’re talking, let’s blow this joint and go paint the town!”

“This means what?” Anna asked him.

“Let’s go have some fun,” he translated.

~

They headed up the waterfront to an area thick with discothèques from which to choose. The crowded waterfront road, or
Paralia
, teamed with people out for an evening stroll and those jumping from one club to another. The walking of the Paralia was an activity in itself, and many people spent the entire evening just walking back and forth, stopping to visit with a friend or acquaintance now and then. The Greek women wore their best outfits, and the men walked casually, flipping their prayer beads as they went. Children darted in and out, and around the strolling people in an endless game of chase. The Paralia was the only road running the entire length of the village that could accommodate vehicles, in the evenings, it closed to any traffic other than foot.