Gradually, Lucy steered the two musicians on to talking about the memorial show.
“It’s sold out,” revealed Grey. “I was talking to Paul this morning.”
“Guessed it would,” said Jake quietly.
“Any idea what you’ll play?” asked Lucy, fishing for insights to share on the band’s social media fan page.
“No idea,” confessed Jake, running his hand through his tangled hair. “A lot of the older stuff. Songs Rich liked to play. We’ll play what the fans request. Jethro and Maddy have a list they are pulling together.”
“Going to be tough stepping out there without him,” commented Grey, staring into his beer.
“Yeah,” sighed Jake. “But we’ve done it before. Remember the Impossible Depths tour? Todd stood in then for the first time for a few shows.”
“And he’s kind of been there ever since,” laughed Grey. “Maybe we should just promote him to guitarist.”
“Not such a crazy idea,” observed Lori.
“Have you given any serious thought to plugging the gap?” asked Lucy curiously.
“No,” said both members of Silver Lake at once. “Too soon.”
“Way too soon,” stated Jake. “Let’s get this show under our belts first. We can record the album with just the three of us. We can worry about adding a new member after that.”
“Works for me,” agreed Grey with a yawn. “What time do you need me out at JJL on Wednesday?”
“Lunchtime should be early enough,” replied Jake. “By the time they do the tour and get set up it’ll be after eleven.”
“You bringing that other music teacher out with you?”
“Nicole? Yeah, she’ll be out at some point. I want to introduce her to Paul. She plays drums and is looking for tuition,” Jake explained. “Let’s her see the inside of the studio too. That’ll help with the lesson planning for next semester.”
“You sound like you’re enjoying being back in the classroom,” mused Kola as she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“I am. I’d forgotten what a buzz I get from it. And, these kids have been great to work with. You going to come out and give Jim a hand in the control room?”
“That’s the plan,” replied Kola. “I’ll be there Thursday and Friday unless I go into labour before then.”
“Don’t joke,” scolded Grey, his eyes widening. “I remember you going into labour with Linzi.”
With a deep husky laugh, Kola said, “That was interesting. Right, I’m going to round up the girls. Time we headed home.”
“Time I threw our two into the tub,” said Lori, getting to her feet. “Those stinky beach babies need a bath.”
“Want a hand?” offered Lucy.
“Please.”
Alone out on the deck Jake sat playing his guitar, trying to pull a few of the ideas from Rich’s laptop together. He had the computer open on the table beside him for inspiration. After a while, he became aware of Josh sitting on the swing set in the dark watching and listening. His mind meandered over everything his sister and her sons had been through over the past year. It hadn’t been easy for any of them.
Gradually, the lyrics began to filter through along with a slow dark melody line. Reaching for his journal and a pen, Jake scribbled them down furiously then played over the piece of music a few times, singing softly under his breath to ensure the words fitted with the music.
His nephew had edged closer while he’d been writing.
“Like it?” asked Jake without looking up.
“It’s great,” replied Josh enthusiastically. “Kind of creepy. Scary creepy.”
“You think?”
“Yes. It’s like there’s fear in it.”
“Well done,” nodded Jake with a smile. “That’s the emotion I was after. A sense of dread. Fear. Fear of the unknown.” He paused, “That’s not a bad title.”
Quickly, he scrawled “Fear of the Unknown” at the top of the page in his journal.
“Are lyrics like poems?” quizzed Josh watching him.
“Sometimes,” replied Jake. “They don’t necessarily rhyme in the same way as poetry. They need to fit into the rhythm of the music and you need a chorus too.”
“Do you always have the music first?”
“Sometimes,” replied Jake. “I tend to go with the flow of my train of thought. Sometimes you write the melody or the hook or you have a piece that would make a great chorus. Other times you have words that are crying out for music to go with them. It’s not an exact science. I try to write from the heart and I trust my gut. If it feels right, it usually is right.”
“Sounds like you make it all up as you go along,” muttered Josh, looking a little disheartened.
“I guess I do but don’t tell anyone,” said Jake warmly. “You looking forward to our trip tomorrow?”
“Yeah but Mom won’t tell me where we’re going.”
“You and I are going to see a friend of mine over in Lewes after I finish school.”
“Just you and me?”
“Yes. Is that ok with you?”
“Sweet,” sighed Josh, obviously pleased to be getting his famous uncle all to himself for a while.
“I’ll get your mom to bring you out to the school and we can leave straight from there. Gives us more time.”
By the end of the school day on Tuesday, Jake was almost at the end of his tether. Nerves were setting in amongst his students and he’d spent all afternoon trying to reassure them that their songs sounded great and they were more than capable of performing them out at JJL. He almost let out an audible sigh of relief when the bell sounded at the end of class.
“OK, guys,” he called out. “I’ll meet you all out at JJL at nine tomorrow. Be here no later than eight-thirty. Miss Tonriverdi has arranged transport for you all. Remember to bring your instruments, lyrics and any other lucky charms you think you’ll need.”
Grabbing his own guitar case and book bag, Jake
