Future Days

Why go?

AU Where Chris gave up music after the death of Andy Wood in 1990.

Eddies POV:

This place is just as it's always been. Posters of bands coated the walls from the base boards to the bannisters. The store smelled of classic old vinyls and mouth watering food from the adjoined cafe. Easy Street Records has been a home away from home for my friends and I for decades. The world constantly changes, but I can always count on this place being the same wonderful escape it's always been. These haggard walls have witnessed some bad ass history over the years. When the previous owner passed away a few years back, my best friend of over twenty years bought the joint to preserve it and it's history from the ever changing society.

He's also a musician. A far better one than I could ever hope to be, as a matter of fact. Unfortunately, after the loss of his best friend, Andy wood in 1990, Chris shelved his music career indefinitely. Andy overdosed on heroin and his death hit Chris harder than any of us although, we all loved and admired Andy. Chris and his band who were blowing up at the time, separated and all went their different ways after Chris called it quits. The only good to come of the split of Soundgarden was I was able to talk Matt into hopping on drums for Pearl Jam.

I spot the tall statuesque man leaning over the counter by the register. He had his long coffee colored unruly hair tied up in a messy glob atop of his head. The store owner was writing something feverishly on a small yellow note pad.

"Still writing I see? Eddie voiced.

"Son of a bitch! You scared the hell out of me man!" Chris yelped.

"Sorry Chris, you know I can't resist. You're too easy." Eddie explained with a hint of laughter in his voice. "So, you either have a great song idea, or you're writing me a long over due love note." Eddie chuckled.

"Oh, you celebrities and your entitlements. No it isn't a love letter for you, you weirdo. I had this idea for a song and I wanted to put it to paper before I forgot." Chris replied.

"Gotcha. I'm just stopping by to finalize everything for the show and see if there's anything else the guys or I could help with?" Eddie asked

"Actually man, were all set. All you guys have to do is show up and play." Chris said with a confident grin. "We even have a sold out house already. I can't thank you guys enough for helping me and the foundation." Chris praised.

"No worries, man. We're family. Anyways, I better get going before Stone has my ass for being late again. Come jam with us soon, Chris."

"I'm looking for extra hands around here to take a little of my load off, so I'll take you up on that soon." Chris shoots back as he sees a group of fans starting to recognize Eddie. "You better sneak out the back alley if you don't want to be late to practice." Chris giggles as he nods in the direction of the posse of girls forming by the entrance.

I parted ways with Chris and made my sneaky departure through the back door that led to an alleyway. I notice a heap of blankets moving up on a stoop. I eyed it cautiously as I got closer I noticed the lump of fur that rested on top of the pile. I accidentally kicked an empty aluminum can that littered the ground and startled the large wolf sized dog. He jerked his head up with his enormous ears standing completely erect as he detects where the sound came from. The beast spots me almost instantaneously and quickly stands over the small blonde girls petite frame as she lays obliviously sleeping in her blanket cocoon. The German Shepherd showed his teeth and let out a low warning growl.

"What a good boy." I whisper. I admire the dogs eagerness to protect the small woman. I can only imagine what it's like being a woman on these streets.

Although I want to wake her and see if I can offer her some type of assistance in anyway, I know better than to approach her right now. I dig my hand into my pocket and pull up a few twenties I had wadded together in my jeans pocket and placed them under a piece of brick that had broken off of the old nail salon next door and sat it at the bottom of the sleeping girls stoop. Cujo, watching me intently the whole time making sure I kept my distance. Hopefully she finds the money before someone else does.

Eddie hurries off as he's already ten minutes late to band practice. Of course stone being his Stoney self has a mouthful of creative insults and curse words to throw my way for making him wait ever so patiently. Stone can be a lot at times but he's often the glue that keeps Pearl Jam alive and well after all these years.

"Where ya been, dude? Stone was about to start auditioning for a new front man." Jeff joked

"My bad guys. I got caught up talking with Cornell. Chris said we're all set for the show Saturday and it's a sold out show."

"Good to hear boy wonder, now can we practice so those people can get what they payed for?" Stone said with sass in his voice and a hand on his hip.

Matt slaps his drum sticks in the most cliche way to start us off and the guys all join in on cue on their assigned instruments. Mike and stone were doing their thing on guitar, and Jeff giving the bass his all and getting everyone digging the rhythm as only Jeff could.

She scratches a letter
Into a wall made of stone
Maybe someday
Another child
Won't feel as alone as she does
It's been two years
And counting
Since they put her in this place
She's been diagnosed
By some stupid fuck
And mommy agrees
Yeah

Why go home?
Why go home?
Why go home?

I don't know what it is but I can't get that stoop girl and her Krypto sidekick off my mind. Does she not have a home? Is she all alone? Where is her family? I find myself hoping the dog is enough to protect her from the sketchy streets of Seattle. Maybe tomorrow I'll go look for her.

***Im not confident in my banter writing. Also I didn't realize how challenging it is to write from a male POV. Give me your thoughts, and thank you for reading!😘