Track 8. "Foot Steps in the Dark, Pts. 1 & 2"

The party went on. More chips in the bowls, more dip, sandwiches, and pretzels on paper plates, beer in plastic cups and more ice for the pop chest. I busied myself making up hoagies and warming them in the microwave. Mr. Turner’s foot didn’t seem to be in sync with the beat, but he was still at it. The music was now nearly being drowned out by conversation and laughter, but I could tell that the gentle rhythm was carrying the night forward and I was glad I’d brought this CD with me.

Track 9. "Lover's Eve"

Karen and Mike moved over to the folding chairs when the game of 8-ball ended, sat down and started talking quietly. Jim started his sixth beer. As this track started to “groove” Cheryl talked Bob into slow dancing too close to Gill’s break shot. Fearing a confrontation I steered them over near the bar out of the way. Mrs. Johnson won another hand and Mrs. King pretended suspicion and threatened to check her bra for hidden cards, which broke up the room with laughter.

Rich, our building manager left and came back a few minutes later with a big glass brandy snifter, which he put on the bar next to the pretzels and dropped a five-dollar bill into it. With a smile he went back to the poker game. Seeing this Jim began trying to sail quarters into it from across the room. Most landed in the dip, a bowl of chips, or the sink behind me.

Track 10. "Let Me Down Easy"

Alone again, Candy began swaying slowly and clicking her fingers as eyes followed her. A minute into this track she began moving her fist slowly and sensuously up and down her pool cue causing several male eyes to widen. Karen kicked her husband to get his attention back. Mr. Johnson got up and got a boilermaker from me, smiled and dropped a dollar and a handful of change from his poker winnings in the snifter, then sort of danced his way back to the game.

The room grinned.

Bill walked up to me and exclaimed, “I know that voice; he sang ‘This Old Heart of Mine’ with Rod Stewart — didn’t he?”

"Well… yes and no…” began a brief smiling music history lesson on how the Isleys had released it many years ago. After finishing, I turned around to get more celery and carrot sticks out of the fridge and one of Jim’s quarters bounced off the back of my head. The more I pretended annoyance, the more change flew from all directions when it was least expected.

Article Author: Jet Gardner

Jet likes to collect books, music, chess sets, and friends. Favorite quote: "Evil only succeeds when good men do nothing." In 2004 his "good life" came to an abrupt end with a robbery and near-fatal beating. …

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