Silver Currents of Change

Chapter 26

It felt good knowing, without a doubt, Harvey Wilson didn't want another man to steal her away. When he stepped in front of the approaching dance request, Zarah knew what he'd said earlier wasn't a slip of the tongue. They really were on a date. When they got back to their table, he introduced her to his friend, and she liked Ash, instantly. After they exchanged a few pleasantries, she asked how they knew each other.

"We went to Columbia together," Harvey said.

"Both journalism majors," Ash joined in, smiling. "When I could no longer afford my apartment, he let me stay at his place, the Taj Mahal. I had to endure him until I graduated. Now I owe him all my worldly success, and he never lets me forget it."

"It may not be immediately apparent," Harvey said, "But this bum is a fairly decent freelance journalist. Been nominated three times for a Pulitzer. Deadbeat's only won once. Poor guy."

"And how many times have you won?" Ash teased.

Harvey ignored his friend's jab. "Zarah, I just sold quite a bit of property in Hawaii just so I could afford to hire him to do that series of articles I told you about, for TrueSouth."

"The articles are coming along nicely," Ash said. "And thanks for asking, by the way. Beautiful lady, I lived in five southern states before moving back to New York, and this idler is taking advantage. I don't know how he came up with such a good idea for the series. He has no journalism talent and no imagination, but the project he tricked me into working on for next to nothing? It actually happens to be very interesting look at the South, from a Caribbean interloper's perspective."

"Sounds interesting." Zarah took a sip of her mocktail. Her head was clearing from the beer she gulped down earlier, and she was intrigued listening to two life-long friends who were close enough to trade insults. "I get this too," she said. "You're best friends. Because you sound like me and my best friend."

"Maybe. Only this one," Ash said. "No manners. Tonight? Brings the most beautiful girl in the world to my place, and I had to hunt him down to meet her. No Southern hospitality. Lovely Zarah, you're going to have to teach him quite a few things, as his woman, before you take him out in public again."

Zarah blushed when Harvey laughed louder than his friend. She felt embarrassed being in the middle of two buddies who loved each other like brothers. It was clear they were close, but it was time to stop the madness, so she asked. "Mr. Register, ah, when can we talk about the book?"

"It's 'Ash' to you my dear, and we can talk about it now," he said, smiling. "It follows a group of young men who moved to the states from the islands, to create their own brand of reggae music, in the style of Bob Marley. They're writers, musicians, rappers, all dedicated to traditional reggae. One of them lived a while in your state, then moved to New York. I think your boss knew him when he lived in Jackson. You know, Mr. Wilson here is quite deranged. He thinks he's a musician, this one."

"She already knows I'm a musician. There's a serious flaw in my DNA, Zarah. Draws me to people like this character. Until I can afford a lobotomy, seems I'm doomed to have to put up with the likes of him."

"Not only can this cunumunu afford a lobotomy," Ash said, "which by the way could do nothing for him—what he really needs is a brain transplant. Anyway, never listen to him. He can afford lobotomies for everyone in the country. He'll try to fool you now. Talking with his poor mouth, but you make him pay you well. Because believe me, this cheapskate? He's loaded."

Zarah was uncomfortable with their playful insults, but she knew it was how they bonded, so she smiled while feeling like frowning and wanting to ask them to stop it.