Riiiiinnnggg Riiiiiinnnggg
Elwood's eyes shot open as he heard his phone go off. Maria stirred & got up slowly as Elwood walked across his room to answer.
"Hello?"
"Hey Mr. Loverboy, where's you & your wife?"
Elwood rolled his eyes at his brother's comment
"Maria, who is not my wife," he added "and I are at my old apartment. Traffic was bad last night so I brought her here…don't judge me!" he quickly added, knowing Jakes humor.
"Uh huh" Jake replied uninterested "Well the rest of the band & I are gonna meet Matt's restaurant for a band meeting. So…Can you pick me up?"
"Yeah sure. We're on our way."
Elwood hung up & turned to Maria "We gotta go back to the hotel to pick up Jake. Then we gotta go to our band meeting at Matt's."
"Ok."
After Jake was picked up (and after Maria took a shower & changed clothes), the three musicians drove off to Matt Murphy's neighborhood. The streets were jam packed & it seemed the Bluesmobile was the only vehicle on the road. The sidewalks were filled with sales vendors on each corner & the sound of the street musicians' blues music was echoing across the neighborhood & over the sound of the crowds. Elwood parked his car in front of The Soul Food Café & the 3 musicians got of the car slowly, enjoying the music. They walked inside of the Soul Food café & sat down on some stools in front of the counter, anxiously waiting for their other bandmates to show up.
"May I help you three?"
The trio turned in their seats to face who was talking to them. There stood Mrs. Murphy, who was the waitress and owner of the restaurant.
"Yes uh.." Elwood began "I'll have some toasted white bread please"
"Do you want butter or jam on that toast?" she asked
"No Ma'am. Dry please"
Maria covered her mouth with her wrist to refrain herself from laughing out loud at her boyfriends odd request. Mrs. Murphy gave Elwood a weird look until Jake spoke up
"Got any fried chicken?"
"Best chicken in the state!" Mrs. Murphy replied with some pride
"I'll have four fried chickens & a coke"
"Wait, Chickens?" Maria asked him, making sure she heard right. " Do you mean chicken Wings or legs?"
"Neither" replied Jake as he explained again "Four fried chickens and a coke"
"and dry toast" Elwood said.
Maria chuckled & soon began laughing aloud a bit.
"What?" Jake asked her innocently as he faced her
"Interesting food choices that's all Mrs. Murphy bit her bottom lip to refrain from laughing along with her 'I hope she orders something normal'"
"I'll have a cheeseburger, some chips & a coke" Maria told Mrs. Murphy as she faced her.
"We don't have coke, but we have Pepsi" Mrs. Murphy offered
"Alright, I'll have a Pepsi then."
"I'll be back with your orders" Mrs. Murphy told them. She then walked to the back & yelled "CHEESEBURGER, ONE PEPSI, ONE CHIPS!"
As they waited for their food, Jake twiddled his thumbs, Maria chewed on her toothpick, but Elwood found a pen & a napkin & began doodling on it. Maria noticed his drawing out of the corner of her eye. It was a surprisingly detailed drawing of the Bluesmobile drving on the road.
"Nice drawing Elwood" she complimented kindly "I ahd no idea you could draw"
He smiled humbly at her "Its nothing really. Its just something I like to do."
"I wish I could draw" she told him "You've got yourself another talent,man"
"Thank you" he replied shyly
Jake knew of his talent but Maria was the first one he's actually shown his art to.
"here you go guys"
Their orders appeared in front of them & as they looked up, they saw Matt was the one who delivered their food.
"Hey" Maria greeted with a hint of surprise "I didn't know you worked here; I thought it was only at the Chez Paul"
Matt looked alarmed & looked around as if looking out for eavesdroppers. He leaned toward the three musicians & said quietly "The Mrs. & I are trying to save up for a vacation. We didn't have enough dough for a honeymoon, so this Vegas gig will definitely help us out"
Maria felt some sympathy for poor matt
'Wow, working two jobs for their honeymoon? He must really love her'
"I bet it will. Don't worry" she comforted.
Mrs Murphy then dropped off Jake's coke & turned to Matt "Hey honey, did you check the inventory like I asked you to?"
"Yes Babe I did. I got everything under control, don't worry" he comforted as he kissed her.
"Oh so this is your wife?" Jake asked.
"yup" he told him as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Wow Maria, I guess you're not the only band member in a relationship." Jake told her.
Elwood & Maria abruptly turned their heads to him, alarmed about spilling their secret. She smacked him on the back of the end, angrily & he jolts.
"OW! What the hell was that for?" he asked as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I didn't know you had a boyfriend" Matt told her.
"Uhhhh" she replied uneasily now since Jake spilled the beans. "Yeah I do"
'Just because Jake said I did, doesn't mean I have to admit who he is'
Elwood noticed the rest of the band arrived & he didn't want to see Maria on the spot so he quickly changed the subject
"Hey look, the rest of the bands' here. Lets get down to business" he exclaimed.
Mrs Murphy left them alone as the band gathered together many tables for them to sit at. Jake brought his four chickens as the band sat around the table and ordered their lunch.
"Ok guys listen up" jake told the band as he chewed on a chicken leg "I added more songs to the setlist, but don't worry"
God he needs a napkin big time Maria thought to herself as she saw him eat.
"the songs are easy to play & I even came up with break schedules & stuff"
"Um ok." Maria replied uneasily "uhh Jake…"
"Oh & Maria that reminds me" he continued as Maria dodged a piece of chicken that flew from his mouth "You need a nickname like the rest of us since you got us this gig."
"ok" she responded "So what suits me?"
"well we can't call you 'guitar' since Matt already has that nickname" Elwood began to say
"What about 'Whammy bar'?" Murph asked
"Or 'Fender?" Mr Fabulous offered
"Maria 'Fender' Valens"? she asked him, not liking the nickname.
"I got it!" Jake exclaimed aloud as he lifted his BBQed chicken wing in triumph. Unfortunately the wing had too much BBQ sauce & a bit of it flew across the table & landed on Marias cheek.
"Hey!" she exclaimed a bit angry as she wiped her cheek with a napkin "Keep your sauces to yourself! You don't need to share it!"
"Sorry" he apologized
"So what's your idea?" she ask him, calmer
"Maria 'Six Strings' Valens"
She shrugged a bit, liking his idea "Alright. I like it. Six strings it is! Jake, just please use a damn napkin!"
"I cant believe its already almost time for us to go to Vegas! Just two more days!" Maria told elwood excitedly as she looked over the city, sitting sideways & looking outside her window.
"Yup" he replied as he was seated next to her. He continued his drawing & Maria leaned on his shoulder to see what he was drawing this time. He was drawing the El-trains that were passing by.
"do you draw only vehicles?" she asked curiously
"Well, growing up, Jake & I used to draw caricatures of the nuns at the orphanage. I just happened to be better at drawing than him. But other than that, yes I only draw vehicles."
"wow. That's amazing" she complimented "but guitar & singing are the only things I can do I guess."
"I think everyone has at least 3 talents" Elwood said "I can sing, play a blues-harp, and draw while you on the other hand can sing, play guitar and…"
"speak a different language" Maria added shyly.
Elwood turned to her with a perplexed look, a bit surprised by her answer.
"Really?" he asked her.
She nodded & looked down shyly. "I haven't spoken Spanish in 20 years, so it might not sound as good as it should…"
She got her guitar & played a small riff until she sang the lyrics to the famous Richie Valens song..
Para bailar la bamba
Para bailar la bamba
Se necesita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia para mi para ti
Y arriba y arriba
Ay arriba y arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere
Yo no soy marinero
Yo no soy marinero, soy capitan
Soy capitan, soy capitan
Bamba, bamba…
Elwood listened & watched her play in awe.
There's nothing wrong with the way she speaks it. Her voice matches the accent perfectly. It seems so smooth…
Maria finished the song & Elwood clapped
"Wow! That's amazing!"
She shrugged humbly "Im sorry I didn't tell you before. I guess I just never spoken it since my parents died & well…you helped me let go of the misery of it so..I guess I have the confidence now to speak it now" she added with a small smile.
"Glad I helped with that" Elwood responded with a smile.
She kissed him softly & the duo continued practicing drawing & speaking Spanish until the night was over…