“Drop It and Go” — a short story by Chris Simpson

April 26th, 2021

.

.

“Drop It and Go,” a story by Chris Simpson, was a short-listed entry in our recently concluded 56th Short Fiction Contest. It is published with the permission of the author.

.

.

Image by djedj from Pixabay

photo by djedj via Pixabay

.

Drop It and Go

by Chris Simpson

.

Mike finished washing his face just as he knew Tomas, his son, would start the journey over to visit him. He wasn’t home yet, that place he called “home.” East to his son’s West.

…..Walking in the sun, Mike went to his car. Placing Ruben Wilson into the player, Mike started the car and drove out of IKEA’s staff car park. If there was no traffic, there would be just enough time to change when he got home. There was traffic.

…..While waiting, Mike could feel the sweat under his arms from a ten-hour shift. As the R rate went up, the rate of people dying went up, but folks needed furniture more than ever.

…..From the centre console, he took his pouch of tobacco and rolled a fag. Taking in the smoke, Mike kept his committal to quit from roll-up -to- roll-up using a mantra which was full of temptation: I have quit. Simply because he woke in the morning and smoked, never went to sleep before another, and the ubiquitous several throughout the day, it didn’t mean his commitment wasn’t strong in those moments in between.

…..The pace out of the slip road to the motorway was glacial. Tortoises in congress moved faster. Anxious, Mike took out the Ruben Wilson CD and placed in Dexter Gordon. Being the afternoon, it was early-Dexter. Another roll-up in his mouth and the wish for a proper cigarette hit him. When Tomas was born, Mike smoked proper cigarettes. He also drank proper scotch, ate steaks whenever he felt like it and wore suits. He was a man to be reckoned with in the way a good piece of art stands out: on its own terms, drawing you in.

…..Today, alongside the inferior roll-ups, his clothes were either his uniform or baggy jeans and a check shirt. Steaks, if eaten at all, were purchased when reduced. As for the drink – long given up.  Those late nights with late-Dexter would be to the accompaniment of herbal tea. Regular tea kept him awake. When he gave things up, when he gave that old life up, the things he took on had to be impartial.

…..One roll-up finished, another one rolled, his third before he’d even made it to his turning. The pace was a bit better, but you could still make out your fellow driver clearly. Early-Dexter was too much for him then, so Mike changed again and slipped in Alice Coltrane. With the music sounding like a dream just woken up from, Mike wished Tomas wouldn’t come over on Wednesdays. It was one day a week and often it felt like one day a week too much. At the ache, his phone rang.

…..Mike turned the music off, coughed, then flipped his phone open. “Hey, Tom-Tom. You’re not at mine already are you?”

…..“Hey, dad. Traffic is terrible. Why’s everyone out?”

…..“Can’t say I’m surprised. The world continues to flow.”

…..“You still want me to come over?”

…..“Sure,” Mike said, remembering how easy it is to lie. “You don’t want to?”

…..“I’ve got a virtual gig at eight, so I won’t stay long.”

…..“Any time at all is good.”

…..When the music came back on, Mike shook his head.

.

He pulled up to see Tomas by the wall, good shoes, black trousers, a royal blue paisley shirt and a matching bandana covering his throat. The boy was as sharp as a box cutter. Mike got out of the car, feeling old at the sight of his child. He ground out a roll-up.

…..“They’ll kill you, dad.”

…..“Don’t you vape?” Mike shut the driver’s door and walked forward.

…..“A bit of water and chemicals ain’t going to hurt.”

…..“You above that, huh?”

…..“I’m above most.”

.

Up in Mike’s room, Mike made a cup of coffee for Tomas. He kept the good coffee, bought from an Ethiopian wholesaler, in a small fridge. His son’s cup, emblazoned with a Keith Haring artwork for the ’83 Montreux Jazz Festival, sat above it. To the side of the cup, the ceramic coffee press. It was neat and ordered, a gift from father to son to show that orderliness and neatness, were now prized.

…..In the mornings, Mike was good with instant.

…..Tomas took his first sip. “This is damn good.”

…..“Enjoy it while you’re young,” Mike said, and opened a window to smoke his roll-up.

…..“It must hurt to not need this fuel no more?”

…..“Only hurts if I think about it.”

…..“But you get to live through me,” Tomas said, taking another sip.

…..Mike laughed. “Son, I ain’t that old. I’ve got some living yet to do.”

…..“Yeah?”

…..“Absolutely.”  Mike flicked ash out of the window.

…..“You can’t smoke in these rooms, can you?”

…..“I pay my rent on time. That’s all Anthony cares about. All the signs that this room came with, all the signs obscured by posters, they’re for the tourists. I’m here for an age and a bit.”

…..Mike wanted it to sound easy, to sound as if he didn’t care about living in a house share with four other men. The signs he saw when he first moved in, full of typos, full of demands that whoever rents the room must not bring in pets, or guests for more than one night a week, or use paraffin heaters in winter, nor fans in summer and, under no circumstances, must tenants smoke. But here he was, five years in, and with no plans to leave and no plans to look at those signs either. Miles Davis from Tutu, Billie Holiday from Lady in Satin, Chet Baker from No Problem covered up those signs. Yep, Davis with his swan song, Holiday with a full liver, Baker toothless and back on junk – this was what Mike saw when he furnished his room in an illusion to make himself permanent in a rented room.

…..“How’re things going with Hayley?”

…..“Good. You know, for two people stuck in a flat.”

…..“I was wondering why you were still coming here. Need to get away from the setup?”

…..“Nah. I enjoy the setup. It makes up for being out so much last year. Who knew I needed a pandemic to slow down?”

…..Mike reached a foot forward to touch Tomas’ trumpet case. “Bet the neighbours love you too?”

…..“I’ve got the world’s smallest studio, insulated cheaply, kitted out for one. No complaints so far.”

…..Tomas drank again. As Mike sat in his small armchair, he didn’t know what else to talk about. Looking away from his son, his eyes went to the postcard above the small mirror on the back of the room’s door. From Mia, Tomas’ mother, a picture of a small coastal town in Germany – her motherland which she had moved back to. The postcard wished him well from her and her husband, her second husband, Karl.

…..Tomas followed his dad’s eyes. “Mum’s doing well.”

…..“Yeah, she said.”

…..“Well, that postcard’s been there a while.”

…..“Two months isn’t long.”

…..Tomas shrugged.

…..Mike touched his foot to the case again. “You’ve got to stop bringing that.”

…..“Betsy always needs a walk.”

…..“Nah, that’s not why you bring her.”

…..“No?”

…..“No,” Mike said, already making himself another roll-up. “I won’t be playing anytime soon.”

…..Tomas nodded. “Okay. But, that’s not why I bring her.”

…..Mike licked his paper.

.

Soon, Tomas had finished his coffee. The two men remained sitting in Mike’s room not saying anything but listening to the sounds from outside; the lucky furloughed few out for a walk, the unlucky lot who went to work returning home, and nature herself busy away in a world which hadn’t, bar the clean rivers in faraway Venice, changed much.

…..At eight o’clock, Mike gingerly tapped away at the tablet Tomas had bought him for Christmas. He entered the passcode and waited for the virtual gig to begin. In the top right-hand corner of the screen was Tomas, trumpet in front of him like a brass shield. The band leader was in the top left-hand, saxophone by his hip, a smile on his face which wouldn’t have looked out of place on one of the managers Mike worked for. He could see this leader giving orders, passing the scanner Mike’s way, using his face mask to warm his chin, thinking Mike was out of place, out of time, out of another era which had to be wiped clean. Mike noticed that he was still wearing his work’s yellow polo shirt; a gutted life vest, resting on a seemingly calm sea. The music started.

…..Tomas looked settled when he played and relaxed when he wasn’t. Playing music, listening to his fellow musicians play, this was when he was at his best while in front of an audience, even an audience he couldn’t see. Mike remembered he’d never been like that when he played. Even if he were in a small virtual box, in the top corner of a screen, an audience invisible, far away and unknown in the internet air, it wouldn’t have helped. Only one thing helped until it didn’t, and then there was no more of that.

.

By ten, the gig had finished. Mike texted Tomas: You made Betsy rejoice. Good work x. He then made another roll-up and listened to some late-Dexter.

…..Out on the street, an occasional boy racer drove past, screeching off into the night, their car levitating for a moment before coming back to earth. The sound cracked through Mike’s head. He thought of the young families in the street, their children waking. Or maybe their children got used to it. Maybe their parents stayed around for many reasons, not only to feed and clothe but to do something as fundamental as soothe their child back to sleep, back to the world which cannot touch them, cannot touch them as they lay at their most vulnerable.

…..After he heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door slam, Mike got up, took his wash bag with him, washed and brushed his teeth, and then returned to his room. He’d never thought he’d get used to waking up early, but he did. He’d never thought he’d get used to sleeping less and less as the years went by, but he did. He’d never thought he’d get over being the man who walked out of his family, but he did. No, it’s not that, he thought. I’ve had to change.

…..In bed, Mike listened to the near silence, to the sounds of a house that wasn’t his, to the street which held possibilities he no longer had, to the refrain of Tomas’ last notes before the gig ended. The taste in his mouth was back again: the taste of a good suit picked, the taste of a fine steak, the peat of an old whisky.

…..Yes, he’d had to change.

.

___

.

Chris Simpson grew up in Bracknell and Slough. He has worked as a waiter, a cinema projectionist, a shoe salesman, an attendant in an amusement arcade, hiring out construction and  demolition tools, a pasty seller, a caretaker for a primary school, a teaching assistant and a tutor. He was a collaborator on a sketch show and has performed as a stand-up comedian.

This year he will be published alongside Kit De Waal, Kerry Hudson, Paul McVeigh, Philip Ridley and other established and emerging writers in MainStream from Inkandescent Publishers.  He has received a special mention for the  Spread The Word 2020 Life Writing Prize, and in 2019 he was nominated for the inaugural  Agora and PFD Lost The Plot Prize. He has also been an awardee of the inaugural  Spread The Word’s London Writers Award, as well as receiving a First in Creative Writing at BA level from  Birkbeck University.

He lives in London and is seeking publication for his first novel,  The Infinite Ache, and his short story collection,  Part-Time Happiness.

Click here to visit his website

.

.

Listen to the 1947 recording of Dexter Gordon playing “I Can’t Escape From You”

.

.

.

Share this:

Comment on this article:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Site Archive

In This Issue

painting of Clifford Brown by Paul Lovering
A Collection of Jazz Poetry — Spring/Summer, 2024 Edition...In this, the 17th major collection of jazz poetry published on Jerry Jazz Musician, 50 poets from all over the world again demonstrate the ongoing influence the music and its associated culture has on their creative lives.

(featuring the art of Paul Lovering)

Feature

photo of Rudy Van Gelder via Blue Note Records
“Rudy Van Gelder: Jazz Music’s Recording Angel” – an essay by Joel Lewis...For over 60 years, the legendary recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder devoted himself to the language of sound. And although he recorded everything from glee clubs to classical music, he was best known for recording jazz – specifically the musicians associated with Blue Note and Prestige records. Joel Lewis writes about his impact on the sound of jazz, and what has become of his Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey studio.

Interview

Interview with James Kaplan, author of 3 Shades of Blue: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Bill Evans and the Lost Empire of Cool...The esteemed writer tells a vibrant story about the jazz world before, during, and after the 1959 recording of Kind of Blue, and how the album’s three genius musicians came together, played together, and grew together (and often apart) throughout the experience.

Publisher’s Notes

photo by Rhonda Dorsett
On turning 70, and contemplating the future of Jerry Jazz Musician...

The Sunday Poem

painting by Jennylynd James
”He Jazzed His Way," by Susie Gharib

Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem

Essay

“Gone Guy: Jazz’s Unsung Dodo Marmarosa,” by Michael Zimecki...The writer remembers the late jazz musician Michael “Dodo” Marmarosa, awarded Esquire Magazine’s New Star Award in 1947, and who critics predicted would dominate the jazz scene for the next 30 years.

Short Fiction

Impulse! Records and ABC/Dunhill Records. Photographer uncredited/via Wikimedia Commons
Short Fiction Contest-winning story #66 — “Not From Around Here” by Jeff Dingler...The author’s award-winning story is about a Jewish kid coming of age in Alabama and discovering his identity through music, in particular the interstellar sound of Sun Ra..

Click here to read more short fiction published on Jerry Jazz Musician

Playlist

“‘Different’ Trios” – a playlist by Bob Hecht...A 27-song playlist that focuses on non-traditional trio recordings, featuring trios led by the likes of Carla Bley, Ron Miles, Dave Holland and Jimmy Giuffre...

Feature

Excerpts from David Rife’s Jazz Fiction: Take Two – Vol. 5: “Scott Joplin: King of Ragtime”...A substantial number of novels and stories with jazz music as a component of the story have been published over the years, and the scholar David J. Rife has written short essay/reviews of them. In this sixth edition of excerpts from his book, Rife writes about jazz novels and short stories that feature a theme of “mystery.”

Interview

Interview with Larry Tye, author of The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America...The author talks about his book, an intensely researched, spirited, and beautifully told story – and an important reminder that Armstrong, Ellington, and Basie all defied and overcame racial boundaries “by opening America’s eyes and souls to the magnificence of their music.”

Poetry

John Coltrane, by Martel Chapman
Four poets, four poems…on John Coltrane

Feature

What we discover about Kamala Harris from an armful of record albums...Like her or not, readers of this site will enjoy learning that Vice President Kamala Harris is a fan of jazz music. Witness this recent clip (via Youtube) of her emerging from a record shop…

Short Fiction

Munich University of Music and Theater/© Raimond Spekking/via Wikimedia Commons
“The Pianist (Part One)” – a short story by J. C. Michaels...The story – finalist in the recently concluded 66th Short Fiction Contest – describes the first lesson at a music conservatory of a freshman piano-performance major who is more accustomed to improvising than reading music. It is an excerpt from a novel-in-progress.

Poetry

“Revival” © Kent Ambler.
If You Want to Go to Heaven, Follow a Songbird – Mary K O’Melveny’s album of poetry and music...While consuming Mary K O’Melveny’s remarkable work in this digital album of poetry, readings and music, readers will discover that she is moved by the mastery of legendary musicians, the wings of a monarch butterfly, the climate and political crisis, the mysteries of space exploration, and by the freedom of jazz music that can lead to what she calls “the magic of the unknown.” (with art by Kent Ambler)

Book Excerpt

A book excerpt from Designed for Success: Better Living and Self-Improvement with Midcentury Instructional Records, by Janet Borgerson and Jonathan Schroeder...In this excerpt, the authors write extensively about music instruction and appreciation records dealing with the subject of jazz.

Interview

The Marvelettes/via Wikimedia Commons
Interview with Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz, authors of But Will You Love Me Tomorrow?: An Oral History of the 60’s Girl Groups...Little is known of the lives and challenges many of the young Black women who made up the Girl Groups of the ‘60’s faced while performing during an era rife with racism, sexism, and music industry corruption. The authors discuss their book’s mission to provide the artists an opportunity to voice their experiences so crucial to the evolution of popular music.

Short Fiction

photo via FreeRangeStock
“Hip Replacements” – a short story by William Torphy...The story – a short-listed entry in our recently concluded 66th Short Fiction contest – is a humorous take on a septuagenarian attempt to resurrect a revival band.

Art

photo of Leroy Jenkins by Giovanni Piesco
The Photographs of Giovanni Piesco: Leroy Jenkins...photos of the eminent free jazz violinist, taken at Amsterdam's Bimhuis on January 4, 1999.

Short Fiction

Shisma, CC BY 4.0  via Wikimedia Commons
“Nostalgia” – a short story by John-Paul Cote...Harlan has an addiction. A most illegal addiction. It drives him from morning until night. He dreams of it. How can he escape it before it brings him into the arms of the law? Down a dark alley he will find out just how far he is willing to go.

Essay

“Like a Girl Saying Yes: The Sound of Bix” – an essay by Malcolm McCollum...The first time Benny Goodman heard Bix Beiderbecke play cornet, he wondered, “My God, what planet, what galaxy, did this guy come from?” What was it about this musician that captivated and astonished so many for so long – and still does?

Trading Fours with Douglas Cole

Trading Fours, with Douglas Cole, No. 21: “The Blue Truth”...In this edition, the poet riffs on Oliver Nelson’s classic 1961 album The Blues and the Abstract Truth as if a conversation between conductor and players were caught on tape along with the inner monologue of some mystery player/speaker of the poem.

In Memoriam

Hans Bernhard (Schnobby), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
“Remembering Joe Pass: Versatile Jazz Guitar Virtuoso” – by Kenneth Parsons...On the 30th anniversary of the guitarist Joe Pass’ death, Kenneth Parsons reminds readers of his brilliant career

Book Excerpt

Book excerpt from Jazz with a Beat: Small Group Swing 1940 – 1960, by Tad Richards

Click here to read more book excerpts published on Jerry Jazz Musician

Jazz History Quiz #176

photo of Lester Young by William Gottlieb/Library of Congress
While legendary as a saxophonist, his first instrument was a violin and his second the piano — which he played well enough to work as an accompanist to silent movies. Ultimately it was Lester Young’s father who taught him the saxophone well enough that he switched instruments for good. (It was during this time that he also saved Lester from drowning in a river). Who is he?

Community

photo via Picryl.com
“Community Bookshelf” is a twice-yearly space where writers who have been published on Jerry Jazz Musician can share news about their recently authored books and/or recordings. This edition includes information about books published within the last six months or so (March – September, 2024)

Contributing Writers

Click the image to view the writers, poets and artists whose work has been published on Jerry Jazz Musician, and find links to their work

Coming Soon

An interview with Larry Tye, author of The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America; an interview with Jonathon Grasse, author of Jazz Revolutionary: The Life & Music of Eric Dolphy; A new collection of jazz poetry; a collection of jazz haiku; a new Jazz History Quiz; short fiction; poetry; photography; interviews; playlists; and lots more in the works...

Interview Archive

Ella Fitzgerald/IISG, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Click to view the complete 25-year archive of Jerry Jazz Musician interviews, including those recently published with Judith Tick on Ella Fitzgerald (pictured),; Laura Flam and Emily Sieu Liebowitz on the Girl Groups of the 60's; Tad Richards on Small Group Swing; Stephanie Stein Crease on Chick Webb; Brent Hayes Edwards on Henry Threadgill; Richard Koloda on Albert Ayler; Glenn Mott on Stanley Crouch; Richard Carlin and Ken Bloom on Eubie Blake; Richard Brent Turner on jazz and Islam; Alyn Shipton on the art of jazz; Shawn Levy on the original queens of standup comedy; Travis Atria on the expatriate trumpeter Arthur Briggs; Kitt Shapiro on her life with her mother, Eartha Kitt; Will Friedwald on Nat King Cole; Wayne Enstice on the drummer Dottie Dodgion; the drummer Joe La Barbera on Bill Evans; Philip Clark on Dave Brubeck; Nicholas Buccola on James Baldwin and William F. Buckley; Ricky Riccardi on Louis Armstrong; Dan Morgenstern and Christian Sands on Erroll Garner; Maria Golia on Ornette Coleman.