The next morning I drove to the music store.
- Hey Matt!
I shouted as I approached my boss.
- Josh! Hi!
He responded and patted my back.
- We've got a break from the tour and I thought it would be cool to see how you're doing.
- Oh man, we're doing better everyday. People are bringing their guitars for sale. But there's not enough space in here to sell second hand stuff.
Matt said and scratched his head. I didn't need any time to think about this.
- Let's open another location so we could buy and sell used instruments. Not everybody can afford new stuff.
I told him.
- Yeah, I thought about it. But premises in the downtown are fucking expensive.
- I can become your business partner and pay half of the expenses.
- Would you do that? Investing in business like this is very risky. You never know if there are going to be any customers.
- Some risks are worth taking. I've always dreamed about opening my own store and it's a great opportunity.
- Let me think about that. I'll call you soon.
- Great.
I said and sat behind the counter next to Matt.
- How's life?
My boss asked.
- Depends on which field. I'm still heartbroken and alone, I haven't talked to my ex for at least 2 weeks. I hadn't seen Johnny in over a month. I'm afraid to confront her.
- Why?
- We fought. She made the decision to send him to a nursery and I didn't want to agree. And she found another guy. She's been bringing my son to his house and it makes me fucking angry.
- This is how the things are, Josh. People move on. You should as well. Are you still living with John?
- No, actually yesterday I moved into a new house. John bought it for me. I'm so fucking happy.
- Whoa, you're lucky, man.
- I know. I'll invite you over for a beer when I finish unpacking.
- Sure, I'll definitely come.
I went up to shelves with records and thought about Maggie. I saw a special edition of Physical Graffiti with 3 CDs. I didn't think much and just bought it for her. I hoped she would come by so I could give it to her.
On the way back I did grocery shopping. For the rest of the day I had been unpacking and cleaning up. I also called Lilly. She let me take Johnny for the weekend.
The next morning I got up, took a shower, shaved and got dressed into my favorite tracksuit. I was in a great mood, I had no idea why. I ate cereal with milk and suddenly felt inspired to pick up guitar. I plugged in my Strat to a small amp. I sat on the floor and began playing.
Then I heard a doorbell. I opened the door and I saw Maggie.
- Hi Josh, can I come in?
She asked.
- Of course.
I answered and let her in.
- Shouldn't you be at school, Maggie?
I asked.
- Yeah, I ran away.
She answered and wiped a tear that ran down her cheek away.
- Why are you crying? Tell me what happened.
- One girl called me a piece of shit and pushed me against the lockers. My arm hurts like hell. I couldn't stand it any longer.
She said and began to sob. I wrapped my arm around her skinny body and she leaned her head on my chest.
- I wish I could beat those bitches who do it to you. Show me your arm.
I told her. She rolled up the left sleeve of her black jumper and I saw a big bruise on her arm.
- I hope it's just a bruise. Does it hurt when I'm touching?
I asked.
- Just a little bit. Thank you for caring.
- Oh, don't thank me. You're an awesome girl and I'm really glad you came here. Hey, I nearly forgot, I have something for you.
I said and went to my bedroom.
- I hope this is gonna cheer you up. There you go.
I said and handed the record to her. Her eyes started to shine.
- Oh my gosh, thank you! You're awesome, Josh!
- I'm glad you like it.
- I love it! My dad was a huge fan of Led Zeppelin. Things like these remind me how cool he was.
- Was? Where is he now?
I asked.
- He's dead. He died of cancer when I was 10. He showed me all of this great music I'm listening to today. He was the best dad ever.
She said and smiled through tears.
- I lost my mom to cancer when I was 18.
I told her.
- Oh, one more thing that we have in common.
Maggie said and grabbed my hand. I looked her in the eyes. They were so deep and shiny.
- You've got beautiful eyes.
I said.
- I'd never imagine someone could say this to me.
- Don't think too much about it. Just accept the fact that you're beautiful.
She gulped and took her hand away.
- I should be going.
Maggie said as she stood up.
- Wait, I'm sorry, I didn't want to intimidate you. I know you're still young. But I want you to know that you're not just a teenage girl to me. You're a beautiful young woman. Don't be afraid to see her in yourself.
She turned around and faced me.
- Whoa, you're saying the nicest things I've ever heard. Why are you so nice to me? Why did you give me this present? Do you want something from me?
Maggie asked.
- No. I'm not trying to hit on you or anything. I'm working in a music store where we also sell records, so when I saw that one, I thought that you'd like it. It's not a big deal. And I can really relate to what you're going through. I didn't have anyone who would listen to me, give me advice or comfort me. All I'm saying is true. I just wanna be your friend. Of course I'll understand if you don't want to...
- Do you really like me? Like actually like me?
- Yes, of course.
Maggie began smiling and she hugged me again.
- I'd love to be your friend. Isn't the age difference a problem for you?
- Maggie, one of my friends has got a girlfriend who is 30 years younger than him. Actually most of my friends are around 50 so I'm the kid. As I said before, age is just a number.
- 30 years? That's crazy!
- I know. They're both pretty crazy, I need to be honest.
Then she noticed my electric guitar laying on the floor in the corner of the room.
- Do you play the guitar?
- Yeah, I do. I started when I was 10.
- Me too. I picked it up right after my dad died.
- No way! You need to play me something!
I exclaimed. She was the first girl I knew who could play the guitar.
- I'm no pro. And I can only play the acoustic so...
- No problem, I'm gonna get you one.
I told her and ran upstairs. I came back with my Martin.
- There you go. I'll not judge.
I said and gave her an assuring smile.
She grabbed it, sat on the floor and started playing. It was "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You".
"Babe, baby, baby, I'm gonna leave you.
I said baby, you know I'm gonna leave you.
I'll leave you when the summertime
Leave you when the summer comes a rollin'
Leave you when the summer comes along.
Babe, babe, babe, babe, babe, babe, baby, baby
I don't want to leave you
I ain't jokin' woman, I got to ramble.
Oh yeah
Baby, baby, babe, I believin'
We really got to ramble.
I can hear it callin' me the way it used to do
I can hear it callin' me back home!"
Maggie played and sang. I joined her in the second verse. She had such a sweet voice. She nailed all of the cords. I was impressed.
- I'm out of words. You're so talented, girl!
I told her.
- You're only saying that to make me feel better.
- Not true. I told you I'm not lying.
- Sure, sure. Now it's your turn.
She said and passed me the guitar. I was wondering what should I play. There was one particular song that I had in my mind for weeks.
"Looking out the door
I see the rain fall upon the funeral mourners
Parading in a wake of sad relations
As their shoes fill up with water
Maybe I'm too young
To keep good love from going wrong
But tonight you're on my mind so
You'll never know
Broken down and hungry for your love
With no way to feed it
Where are you tonight?
Child, you know how much I need it.
Too young to hold on
And too old to just break free and run
Sometimes a man gets carried away,
When he feels like he should be having his fun
Much too blind to see the damage he's done
Sometimes a man must awake to find that, really,
He has no one..."
I sang. Maggie was listening with her eyes closed, rocking back and forth.
- It's such a beautiful song.
She said.
- Yeah. Why are the love songs the most beautiful ones? I've never actually thought about it.
I wondered.
- Because love is a beautiful thing. At least from what I've heard.
She told me.
- Yes it is. I wish you find real love and see it yourself.
- That's not gonna happen.
- You can never be sure.
I told her. We sat in silence for a few minutes. I had been strumming my guitar the whole time.
- Do you have a girlfriend, Josh?
Maggie asked.
- No, I don't.
- So how can you know what real love feels like?
- Yeah, I probably don't know. I thought I did but it ended up being a fucking lie.
I said. I started to think about Lilly. How happy we used to be. I felt like I was going to cry.
- Don't be sad. I'm sure you'll find another girl. She was just not the right one.
Maggie tried to comfort me.
- I wish I could tell you the truth, but it would ruin everything. I'm sure you wouldn't want to know me anymore.
- I told you everything about me. Don't worry, I'll not change my mind. I want to be your friend regardless what your past is.
- You don't understand. It's not just the past. It's also the present. It's always gonna hunt me.
- Did you kill someone?
- No.
- Then tell me what's going on.
- That girl, I met her when I was 20. I thought that we were soulmates. We starting living together and everything was going great. I bought us a house and then... She got pregnant. -I said and saw Maggie's jaw dropping.- We didn't plan that. I proposed to her the same night. Soon after my son was born we got married. We were one happy family. Until the beginning of this year. She told me she didn't love me anymore. We got divorced 2 months ago. Now you know why I'm living alone and why I was so anxious to tell you my story. No girl would want to date a divorced guy who has a kid. I'm only 23 and I feel like my life is over. I thought that work would help me, but it didn't. I feel so empty. I'm... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you.
I finished and wiped away a tear from my left eye.
- That's fine, at least you're being honest.
She told me.
-Yeah... I know it's a lot to process. You can go, I don't want to hold you back anymore.
- Why would I go? You're an adult, adults have wives and children. It's nothing unusual. And it doesn't make you any worse than anyone else. I can guarantee you that me knowing all of that is not gonna destroy our friendship. You're just a great guy.
- And you're a really wise girl.
I grabbed the acoustic once again and played another cover.
"Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you want to start something new
And it's breaking my heart you're leaving
Baby I'm greaving
But if you want to leave take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of things turn bad out there
Oh baby baby it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Oh baby baby it's a wild world
I'll always remember you like a child girl"
I sang.
- How do you always find a song that fits?
Maggie asked me.
- Years of practice.
I told her.
- So what do you do in that music store?
- I sell stuff, help customers. Nothing fancy.
- No way, Josh, you must be lying. It doesn't fit you.
- Why do you say so? It had always been my dream. I love working there. I'm just having some days off now.
- It doesn't add up to the story. You bought a house for yourself and your wife. And I guess you were around 21 back then. How could you afford that by being a shop assistant? No, wait, the last time you told me your dad bought you this particular house. Okay, I give up, nothing makes sense.
Maggie said. I sighed. I didn't know if i wanted to tell her the truth. But I already told her a lot...
- Yeah, I'm hiding something. You're really smart.
- I knew it. Now you need to tell me.
- Um...
I said when her phone began ringing. She picked it up.
"Yeah mom?"
"I'm at a friends house."
"Yeah, you heard it right. I've got a friend. He's actually our neighbor."
"Okay, I'll ask him. Bye."
I heard her talking to her mom.
- Hey, Josh, my mom wants to meet you. She told me to ask you if you would like to have dinner with us.
- Your mom? Maggie, I...
- You need to agree!
- I look like shit. I haven't straightened my hair, I have two different socks on...
- Who cares? You're going with me. Now.
Maggie told me and grabbed my hand.