Chapter 1: The Curtain Rises
2 years before the Gung-Ho-Guns
The sounds of a sax and a piano duo played in the background at a local saloon. No one seemed to notice much less care. Waitresses served the endless babbling drunks and occasionally looked up to hear a famous note, by the talented and invisible sax player. How his gorgeous playing didn't attracted more critics was beyond them.
" Why don't we call it a night, their drunks and womanizers," The piano player said
" Nah, I'll keep playing," the young handsome sax player said, " It's all about the music."
" You're right, but when drunks come in and no fancy ladies, it kind of kills," the piano player said
" Let's give them a number," the young sax said
" You got a soft spot for these people Midvalley. How you do it I never know," the piano player said
" On my count," Midvalley said
" You got it," the piano player said
Midvalley gave a count and tapped the beat with his foot. It happened to pick up the attention of some, but not many. After a few melodies, Midvalley and the piano player packed up for the night. It wasn't a night for them though they did pick up a few tips, mainly by the young waitresses they attracted. No one understands the melodies they played, but perhaps one of the reasons was they were half drunk. Midvalley took a bow and headed his own way carrying his precious sax. Midvalley walked to where he stayed, a very small place, but the rent was good and it provided shelter for him. He gave a little nodded to the landlord and his daughter as they walked by. He entered and sat his sax down and then looked out.
" Gee wiz, people are hard to please these days," Midvalley thought
He looked at the sheets of music sprawled out on the ground, things he'd written along with other great musicians' work. Midvalley sighed a depressing sigh and walked down the hall and took a shower, washing daily life away. Once he was done he dressed and headed down the hall. As he did he bumped into the landlord's daughter, she dropped the towels and quickly gathered. Midvalley joined her in gathering the towels and was quick to apologize to her.
" No, it's not your fault, I'm the clumsy one," she said
" I should have been more careful," he said, " Sorry about that miss."
She looked at him and smiled a soft smile.
" My name is Aemilia," she said, " You don't have to call me miss."
Midvalley looked at her and said, " I'm Midvalley."
" You're the one who plays the sax at the saloon at the corner," she said
" That's me, guilty as charged," Midvalley said
Aemilia giggled and said, " Your really good, you and your friend. I've heard you play from outside."
" Thank you, I almost thought we weren't heard over the loud babbling of the drunks," Midvalley said
" No, I have good hearing," Aemilia said
" Aemilia, get those towels done," her father called
" I got to go, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," Aemilia said, " Don't give up playing your sax, your good at it."
" Pleasure is all mine," Midvalley said
Aemilia smiled and walked off and Midvalley watched her walk off to place the fresh towels in bathroom. Midvalley smiled and headed to his room, there he looked at his sax and smiled.
" You are a charmer," he said
He went to sleep and breathed in the refreshing thoughts.
" Aemilia, huh?" he thought
The next morning Midvalley began his day by walking down to the saloon to set up once more before the saloon opened for the daily crowd.
" On my count we'll take it from the top," Midvalley said
The waitresses walked in listening to the delicate sounds of the amazing duo.
" They're something else aren't they," one waitress to another
" It's a shame that no one actually sits down and listens to them, they play for very little," a second waitress said
They took their trays and the bartender set up listening to the music. He tapped his foot to the smooth beat, not letting a note miss a tap of his foot. Midvalley looked at the waitresses as they sat on the bar, while they waited for the owner to open the saloon.
" I wonder if the sax player is single?" one waitress said
The other's giggled and slightly pushed her for her silly comment.
" Maybe you should ask," another waitress said, " He's pretty cute, and young…we don't get many young studs in this poor town."
" You got me ladies," the bar tender said
" You're a lonely bartender, can you sing or dance, or even play an instrument?" the first asked
" I can dance," the bartender said, " I can't say I've ever played an instrument of any type."
" One out of three not good enough," the first waitress said
" Come Kitty," he said
" Sorry doll this gal's off limits," the young waitress said
" Come on girls get off the bar and get to work," the owner said, " Come on Gates, get those drinks ready…I have a feeling it's going to be a busy day."
" Right pops a busy day," the bartender said
" He always says that," Kitty said
" Guess he feels he might get busy," Gates said
" What ever," Kitty said
The day began and Midvalley took a break and got some water from the bar. He looked at the waitresses that often looked in his direction.
" They think you're a total stud," Gates said
" They have good taste," Midvalley joked
" Well, don't get to proud, their high maintenance girls, probably not your type," Gates said
Midvalley laughed and downed the glass of good water.
" And how would you know my type?" Midvalley said
" I'm a gifted man Midvalley," Gates said
Midvalley chuckled and said, " Then why are you working here in this run down town if your so gifted?"
" That's a good question, I don't know…maybe the women," Gates said
" Maybe you should depend on your gift to find yourself a woman, or in your case a girl," Midvalley joked
" Your not funny," Gates said, " Go play your sax and leave the women to me."
Midvalley shook his head and said, " Believe me I've already got my eye on a perfect woman."
Midvalley, walked to the stage and looked at the piano player.
" We have some lovely fans," Midvalley said
" Those waitresses?" the piano player said
" Yeah," Midvalley said
The piano player and said, " I guess that's the best we can do."
Midvalley sighed and lifted his sax and began to play a softer tune and the waitresses gave a sigh.
" So, romantic," they whispered
By the lunch hour the hard working men came in for a drink, by that time Midvalley and the piano player had stopped playing to get a bite to eat. Midvalley stepped outside and took a breath of some fresh air. He looked in the desert and watched the wind toss the sand around before laying it to rest on the rocks.
" Thank you," a soft voice said in the distances
Midvalley turned and saw Aemilia buying something from the town grocer. Aemilia was wearing a soft pastel green dress, with ruffled laced sleeves, the dress suited her both in style and color…it went well with her soft complexion and her rosy lips. She glided across the ground as she came to the shade.
" Hello Ms. Aemilia," towns people greeted
" Good day," she said simply
She looked to her left and saw Midvalley standing there. She smiled and nodded her head in acknowledgement before speaking.
" Hello, Mr. Midvalley," she said
" Hello, Ms. Aemilia," he replied
He walked over to her and offered to help her, since he was at the time doing nothing. She gave him a sack of groceries and had him follow her back. Once inside she set her sack down in the kitchen, Midvalley did the same and looked at her as she began to unloaded the two sacks of food.
" It's a beautiful day isn't it?" she broke the silence
" Yeah, a little hot," Midvalley said
Aemilia smiled and said, " It's always hot, but we should be happy that we have the coolness of our homes."
Midvalley nodded and Aemilia made some ice tea for them. She handed him a glass and smiled and he looked at the freshly made ice tea.
" Ms. Aemilia, are you happy here?" he asked
Aemilia paused midway of sipping her glass and then sat it down. She smiled and nodded and looked at Midvalley.
" Of course I am, there shouldn't be a reason why I'm not," Aemilia answered, " I have everything I possibly want."
" What about seeing other places?" Midvalley asked
" I'm content here," she answered
" I see," Midvalley sighed
" Are you happy here?" she asked
Midvalley paused and said, " It couldn't hurt to have something exciting happen."
Aemilia smiled and finished putting away the rest of her groceries.
" Mr. Midvalley, I'll come see you sometime, play your sax. It's my one promise that I will keep," Aemilia said
Midvalley smiled and set the glass down and nodded.
" I will look for you," he said, " If you excuse me I must return to the saloon."
" Alright, I guess I'll see you later," Aemilia said
" I hope so," he replied
He kissed her hand and walked off and Aemilia smiled as she watched him walk to the saloon. It was like a dream to see such a fine young man acknowledge her existence, and a dream come true when he kissed her on the hand.
Midvalley returned and the piano player just played some melodies on the piano.
" Sorry, I'm late," Midvalley said, " I was doing my good deed of the day."
" With a smile like that, it had to be one hell of a good deed Midvalley," the piano player
" A dream maybe," Midvalley said picking up his sax
He warmed the sax up and played some tunes on it, while drunks left and soon came back. He put his all in playing his sax and took great pride in his talent.