Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Song inspiration for this chapter: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Written by British singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl, it became a major international hit for Roberta Flack in 1972.
Surprise! A double-posting day!
GIFTS
Chapter 5: The First Time Ever He Heard Her Voice
Entering from their left, she made her way to the center of the sawdust dance floor. She reached out and placed a lone barstool under a spotlight and sat down, her bottom perched on the edge of the seat. A microphone was in her hand. She looked over at the bartender and nodded to him, his signal to begin her pre-recorded backing track. There was no introduction to the crowd, just her music as it began to play.
The guys took slow sips of their beers and waited. This should be good. A singing waitress in a redneck dive. Couldn't get much cheesier than this. Billy sure knew how to pick ' eyes closed and the room so quiet you could hear a pin drop, she began:
The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies. The first time ever I kissed your mouth
And felt your heart beat close to mine
Like the trembling heart of a captive bird
That was there at my command, my love
That was there at my command.
And the first time ever I lay with you
I felt your heart so close to mine
And I knew our joy would fill the earth
And last till the end of time my love
It would last till the end of time my love The first time ever I saw your face, your face,
your face, your face...
She no sooner finished when cheering and whooping from the bar area began. Several guys she had never seen before were on their feet enthusiastically clapping and grinning in her direction. The one with the five o'clock shadow and the knit beanie on his head clapped the hardest and whistled loudly with calls for more.
She smiled and mouthed thank you to them. By now, the whole crowd was on their feet clapping and cheering. In moments, the lights were back on and so was the jukebox and things had returned to normal.
Authors Note: I love that song and it inspired me to imagine a guy and a girl seeing each other for the first time and recognizing an instant connection. It happened to me 23 years ago when I met my husband, but that's another story. I have no clue if including song lyrics in the body of the story is common...I'm doing it in this story because they're singers and I want the reader to envision them singing those songs.
Next chapter: Edward contemplates possibilities...
