Belltown Messenger

The day never quite brightened. When Smiley picked up Bene from the Riley, the rain pounded a fierce tattoo on the pavement. They went directly to the Argentine, where a small party of fans and friends had gathered to launch the band onto the road to fame and fortune. Old tango music was playing on the stereo, creating a steamy, romantic atmosphere in the artificial light of the club.

"Hey Sarah, looks like you've got everything under control here," Bene said, shaking the rain off her coat. "You are so sweet to set this up for us."

"No problem girl, it's the least I can do for you and Verity." Sarah hugged Bene. "You girls are like sisters to me."

"The sandwiches look delicious. I hope your new restaurant will be a success. G'town is hot right now. Oh look, Nigel and Mimi are here."

"What's all this?" Nigel shouted over.

"It's a party." Bene laughed and grabbed a sandwich from the table. Mimi waved to an old friend from yoga class and went over to chat.

"Hey man, I'm glad to see you here," Nigel said to the dapper older gentleman with the oversized white-framed sunglasses.

"I had to be here for your last Seattle downbeat. I'll miss you, man. We sure had a great gig the last time we played up at the Lo-Fi."

" I can't believe that was almost a year ago. I learned a whole lot from you man. You sure know a hell of a lot about blowing a horn." Nigel hugged the slight man, dislodging the sunglasses from his nose. Mimi slipped her arm around Nigel.

"Mimi, let me give you a kiss goodbye and good luck. You've got some great chops; the only thing you have to worry about is keeping this boy in line."

"Don't worry Donnie, I know just what he needs and that is simply the music. It's all about the music; it ain't about the money." Donnie took off his sunglasses his pale blue eyes misting as she kissed him gently on both cheeks. "What's all this?" Hermes said as he burst into the room his dreads wet, his arm protectively around Verity's shoulders.

"We're having a little going-away party," Smiley said. "Here, have a sandwich. Want some coffee?"

"Where's Bene?" Verity said, spotting her sister across the room. "I have something important to tell her."

"Is everything OK?" Smiley said, handing her a tray of sandwiches. Her face paled as she looked at the food and pushed the tray away. "Boo!" Rebecca put her hands over Smiley's eyes and laughed. "Guess who?"

He turned around and gave her a hug. "And who is this?" he said, nodding to the tall boy who tightly gripped Rebecca's hand.

"Oh TJ, I want you to meet Smiley. Smiley's my best friend in the whole world" "I've heard so much about you, Smiley."

Smiley looked again at TJ in mild disbelief. "My God," he said to himself, "that's no dude. I'll be damned no wonder he is so pretty."

"TJ is the special friend I told you about. I hope you guys get along cause you are both the most important people to me, besides the band I mean. TJ's going to follow us down to Cali.

"I have a place you can all stay in LA if you want. My parents are out of the country for a while."

TJ's voice betrayed her sex. Low and soft didn't quite match with her tall skinny boyish frame. Smiley liked this "girl." "We'll have to pass this info on to Bene. She makes all of the decisions about the band. Come on, I'll introduce you."

Just then, the back door swung open and in trooped J'Rome, Simplicity Truth, Celes-té and Celene. "Whoa! What's all this? A party, I didn't expect all of this what a surprise. Bene, where are you? Oh there you are." J'Rome grabbed Bene and hugged her tightly. "What a great idea."

"It was really Smiley's idea he thought we should all gather together before the big adventure, you know, share the love."

"Speaking of the love," J'Rome said, motioning to Smiley to turn down the music. He went over to the stage and everyone quieted down.

"I have something to share with all of you. As most of you know. I used to be a street hustler and I did a lot of things I am not particularly proud of. But after my prison years, I think I have changed for the better, and have started something here the past few months that is a positive addition to the world. First, the band has a real chance of success; and even if it turns out not to be the conventional trappings of success, they have all come together to create a monster sound." The audience whoo-whooed and clapped.

"I know I may sound presumptuous but I think I helped get this really groovy thing happening. But the best thing that has come of this is the reuniting of our family. What I mean to say is, I am happy to announce that I am the father of Celes-té and I am, saying this publicly, going to try to make up some of the love that has been lost between us. I am going to help Celene get well and also help around the Simple Truth Farms, to the best of my ability. Bene come on up here."

Bene came up and hugged J'Rome. "Bene is my soul mate she has stood by me through good times and especially through all those years in prison. Thank you, Bene." "Wait, wait, I have something important to say." Hermes rushed forward to the stage. "I, I mean me and Verity, have good news too. We're pregnant. We're going to have a baby." "Congratulations, what wonderful news," Bene said. She hugged her sister tightly to her chest. "I knew you were looking funny these past few weeks."

"Good work mate," Nigel said, giving Hermes a big hug.

"I am so happy for you, Verity, and a little jealous," Mimi said as she hugged Hermes and Verity in a big group hug.

"I would like to take this opportunity, since you are all here, to ask Verity a very important question," Hermes said, getting down on his knee. He took out a small box from his pants. "Verity, even before I knew for sure you were pregnant I had decided that I wanted us to be together forever; so without any more drama, honey will you marry me?" The love was palatable in the room. Girls and boys alike cried in happiness. Everyone felt this sense of well being. A spiritual high overtook the room and, for the last time, these friends felt the big love that permeated everyone at that exact lovely moment in time.

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Epilogue

"Hi Bene, happy Easter." J'Rome sat in the center of the circle in his room at the Riley. "Oh yeah, the day of resurrection and re-birth. The rock doth roll." Bene sat on the veranda of TJ's pad in LA.

"How are things going? Have you made any further progress with the CD?"

"I thought we were getting some good response; but that short window in time seems to be closing. It's so cutthroat here. I told you that this one record company creep wanted Rebecca to do a screen test for a B-grade porno, singing in some cheesy fetish outfit." "I knew LA was bad. What are you going to do now?"

"Well, I think we should come home. Verity is really pregnant and grumpy, and Hermes is pissed off by the quality of weed here. Nigel seems to be drinking more and more, making Mimi depressed. TJ has introduced Rebecca to all kinds of trendy Hollywood types. I think we should come home and produce our own CDs so we can control our own business. I've learned a lot here, but the most important is never go to LA in the first place unless you really just want to sell out completely."

"I, for one, will be very happy to have you all back. The band has a great fan base and with all the Internet stuff, my space and you tube, I think you are right and we can do everything we need to do from good old Belltown."

"Good, I'm glad you agree. I'm thinking of pulling out of here in the next two weeks. I've already sent out some feelers about getting some gigs back up the road."

"That's great news, Bene. I will be really happy to have you all home."

"Great, baby I'll see you soon. Big Love."

The end

About the author

Lara Elaine Bonow has a BA in English Literature from The University of Washington 2005. She has operated the Belltown Ballet and Conditioning Studio since 1985. It's now located at 2306 4th Ave. at Bell Street, where she teaches daily ballet and conditioning classes. She also plays rhythm guitar and sings in the local band Stupid Boy. You can get more info on publication of her novelette Superfluities by emailing her at elaine@belltownballet.com.

You can read the 11th installment of Superfluities on line here.