Definations:
Rail up: scream, hollar, fire gun shots at an excellent dancehall concert.
Bruck out: Another form of "rail up".
Bashment/Bash/Bashy: Something that is good that will end up getting better.
Gweh: Move or get out of my way.
Bus: Bust out. Come out.
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Story Title: Rhythmic
Chapter Number: Four
Chapter Title: Selector, We Jammin'
Author Name: Dev-Ra Alyn
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Dancehall Theatre - Downtown Kingston, Jamaica
Time - 9:15PM
It was loud. The crowd was screaming and the music was thumping. The place reaked with the smell of ganja, thanks to the rastafarians, and those who were not rasta's would drink down their alcohol. The theatre was a big turn out and opening act on stage was really getting the crowd going. Dee Jay stood backstage looking out at the massive crowd.
This is my time to shine.
He impatiently looked for Kalib hoping to see him standing in the audience, but found no such luck.
Is he mad about today? He can't just diss me like this on my big night... My night that I shine.... The night that I finally get my piece at the Dancehall Theatre mic...
The band from Spanish Town that was on stage began to exit and the directors of the event began signally for Dee Jay and his crew to get up there. He did so, stepping out to the energetic crowd. He looked back at his selector who was readying himself behind his turntables. His eyes scanned the ocean of people. He was about to show them what he was made of and blow them away. And that he did. His rap style, singing and ability to play various musical instruments really impressed the audience of "hard to please-ers". Not only that, he busted out an unexpected freestyle that really hyped up the crowd and himself. He's pumping with so much energy now and he felt like he could go on for nights. Sadly, it had to come to an end at some time. With sweat dripping from his grin plastered face he introduced the main act, Bounty Killer. The crowd roared and Dee Jay ran the mic over to the man himself.
Dee Jay grabbed a towel draped over a foldout chair. He wiped his drenched face and slung the now damp towel over his sturdy shoulder. Instead of sitting in that chair, he felt it more comfortable to sit down on the cool floor. The cieling fan above him was not going nearly fast enough to cool him down and he still felt the rush from being on that stage. It had always been his dream to perform at Dancehall Theatre and he finally got it. Along with a receptive audience.
A few of the other openning acts strolled by him. They were the more well known acts and Dee Jay found it quite surprising that it was he that got to do the introduction for the main performer. Two slowed their pace by Dee Jay and called out to get his attention. Dee Jay looked back at the two.
"That was a mighty ill performance you put on tonight, mi Brotha." The smaller one complimented in his somewhat hoarse voice.
"Yea, yeah. Really got 'dat crowd bruckin'." The more taller one added.
"Thank you, Brotha." Dee Jay grinned.
"Man, when you bus you gon' be the new bashment of Kingston! You had me railed up and the crowd brucked out!" The tall one continued to compliment.
Dee Jay nodded at the two as they continued to walk on to the catering room. He looked down at his watch. It was going on 10:30. He needed to be leaving now. His flight leaves at 11 and it's gonna take him a while to weave through the traffic that this Bounty Killer performance has caused. Dee Jay gathered some of his things and went out the backstage door. He still couldn't shake from his mind that Kalib didn't show up.
Or may be he did and I just couldn't see him... cause the crowd was to bruck.
He walked to his car, unlocked the door and sat inside. He made sure to look in the back seat... Yep. I remembered. Sitting in the back seat was a bulging dark green duffle bag. Inside was of course a mess of clothes along with his portable CD player and his choice CD's that included many of Jamaica's greats, past and present. He then shut the door to his car and started driving off toward Norman Manley Airport as Shaba Ranks blared in his speakers.
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2:08AM - Dominican Republic Airport
Dee Jay looked down at his watch.
Damn... 2 A.M... gettin' tired... been such a long day...
He looked over to his duffle bag sitting in the seat next to him.
Yep. Still there.
He sunk down in his chair a little more and exhaled with his lips slightly sealed, causing his cheeks to kind of inflate. His eyes were getting heavy. He found it quite hard to keep them open. He leaned his head back on the chair staring at the ceiling. It's smooth white surface and bright lights shining in his eyes.
Dee Jay wait a while. It was a small lay over, only 30 minutes then he'd be on his way again in an airplane where he could sleep without fear of missing the flight. Oh, how the word sleep sounded so good to him right about now. He only hoped that the time would fly by fast.
His ears grew alert to a voice over a speaker announcing a delay on his flight. He snatched his bag and threw it over his shoulder while slowly walking over to the terminal where an unusually perky, happy lady stood. He narrowed his eyes at her as he searched for the words he wanted.
"Um... the flight... it's delayed?" Dee Jay finally spat out, drooping his bottom lip.
"Yes, sir. Your flight won't leave in 3 days." She said in a high, cheery voice.
"But mi... got some place to be..." The lady stared at him with eyes saying there was nothing she could do about it, but she still managed to maintain that perky smile. Dee Jay wrinkled his nose. "How can you be so damn perky... at this time of the night? You caffeine addicted ain't 'chu?" The lady began to give him her answer, but Dee Jay waved his hand around and turned away. He was too tired to start something.
It was time to find a vacant hotel. Dee Jay walked out of the airport to see a few taxi drivers sitting on a bench looking just as tired as he. Dee Jay approached one of them and nudged him on the shoulder. The dark skinned man looked up at another just as dark and smiled, revealing a semi-large gap between his two front teeth.
"Where can I take you, Brotha?"
"A hotel... a nice hotel... and fast."
"Alright, alright. I can take you to Dominica's Grand Hotel. I've never been there, but I've takin' a many people with the...," He did the money motioning with his fingers, "there and I hear it be real nice. Expensive, but nice."
"That's alright. I like to travel with style. Take me there."
The taxi man smiled again and that gap between those two front teeth was so hard to ignore. He nodded and take Dee Jay to his vehicle. They both sat inside and the driver pulled his seat belt across. He casually waited for Dee Jay to pull his, but he never did. He looked back at Dee Jay and flashed that gap once more.
"I like my customers safe." He said.
Dee Jay looked at him with a look of confusion then it dawned on him... seat belt. He reached over and pulled the seat belt to strap himself in. The taxi man nodded. Now content, he started the car and started drving through the empty streets of the Dominican Rep. Dee Jay found himself looking out the window, watching the street lights zoom by. The taxi came to a stop. He looked up at the building they stopped infront of with a sign on the building saying "Grand Hotel".
This must be it.
Dee Jay stepped out of the car and walked up to the drivers window. The taxi man rolled his window down and announced the price. Dee Jay paid it and quickly ran inside lobby. It was well light, classical music was faintly heard, the interior was remarkable and of course, the check in desk was straight ahead. He hi-tailed it over there to a man standing straight and motionless behind the counter. Dee Jay approached, set his bag on the counter and leaned on the top.
"I'm staying fo' 3 nights, man. I need a room."
"Yes, sir. We have a room, I hope that the 9th floor is sufficient for you."
"It can be on the 50th floor for all I care, I jus' wanna get to bed." Dee Jay said with his eyes drooping.
The man behind the counter told him the price and Dee Jay paid it, in cash and he was given his room key. He walked over to an obvious elevator and pressed a button with an arrow pointing up. The doors to the elevator opened and Dee Jay walked inside pressing his floor number as the doors closed. When he reached his floor he quickly got off. He looked at his key. A credit card looking thing with the hotels logo printed on the front and printed small on the left bottom corner was the room number, 428. He looked over at the door to his right. In gold, it read "400". He started walking down the quiet hall. His footsteps echoed with each step he took. He kept an eye out on the numbers and finally came across his room. Swiping the card in a small slot on the door, it blinked green and he swung it open.
Yes!
He shut the door behind him. He didn't bother observing anything else, but the bed in his suite-like room. At this time, he had a one track mind. Sleep. He plopped his body on the bed.
Oh, beautiful bed. Feels so nice.
Dee Jay crawled under the covers, not even bothering to change out of his clothes and into his boxers. He closed his eyes and found himself asleep in no time.