Alice Sings the Blues…Happily

Photo by Joey Nicotra 

It was going to be two years since Pete died, her husband of nearly forty years. Thirty-nine years, seven months, and twenty-two days, Alice kept reminding herself when she felt downright depressed from the loss and the loneliness, which was often. Too often, her friends would tell her when she’d call to sob out her misery over the phone.

Alice’s friends, librarians like her, were a close-knit clan who would get together behind Alice’s back to plot out possibilities for getting Alice out from under her doldrums. But they wanted her to think their suggestions were spontaneous instead of planned for her well-being. Alice would not like the fact that she might be the cause of her friends scheming just for her, not wanting to put them out and not wanting to depend on them. Yet, she depended on them to have a listening ear when her grieving emotions became too great to handle alone.

But her friends were growing weary of the late-night calls and the “boo-hoos” over the phone after this length of time. Alice wasn’t easing out of her sorrow like Janey had, one of the friends who had lost her husband five years previous. Janey understood what Alice was going through but also knew that Alice wasn’t allowing the help of time to ease her pain. In fact, Alice seemed to be embracing the pain with the passage of time.

Being the most commiserating, Janey was also the one who knew it was past time for Alice to see her grieving as a chain that needed to be cut to keep from dragging her down further. Alice needed to realize she needed to seek out solace in other forms and places that would help her heal and help her start living life again and not be so stubborn about wanting to stay home so much while feeling sorry for herself.

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So, the clan of friends decided to take Alice on a trip, and they’d go during one of the long holidays when the library was closed. Since most of the females were either without mates for one reason or another, or had husbands who had their own outdoor activities to keep them happy, there were no problems for them to be away from home for a few days on an extended weekend.

They lived in Arkansas and had many choices for a weekend trip where there was some action, like New Orleans or Memphis, and after much consideration, they decided on Memphis.

Memphis was the home of the blues and would be more to Alice’s liking, they thought. And since that was where Elvis died, it had special symbolism — they all loved Elvis, and Alice loved the blues. So, plans and reservations were made. The hard part was convincing Alice it was the thing to do. She rarely left home and wouldn’t know what to pack.

The ladies decided the best plot was to allow Alice to decide for herself that going with her friends on a road trip would be fun, each mentioning the idea of going with “just us girls!” Memphis was suggested for its music, plus other fun things.

As each tried to pique Alice’s curiosity without much response, Janey finally announced, “I’m going to book a room. How many want to go along?”

Of course, all said, “Count me in,” except Alice.

“This might be really good for you, Alice,” Janey cooed. “Come and go with us. You love the blues and just being out from under your depression for a while might do wonders for your frame of mind. You’ve got the money, so you shouldn’t worry about that part,” Janey told her, knowing how hard it was for Alice to part with cash. That had been her husband’s department. “What do you say? Please come with us,” Janey cajoled.

A few silent minutes went by as all the women seemed to hold their breath. Alice finally said, “Okay, I’ll go with you, but I’ll need some help with what to wear.”

Janey, knowing Alice’s uncertainty about attire when it came to special occasions told her that she’d be over to help go through her closet. All was good. The following weekend was the big trip.

Photo by Joshua J. Cotten 

The library closed at noon on Friday to start the long holiday, which included Monday, and Margo, who was driving them in their van, was to pick everyone up at 3:00.

On their way, all talked excitedly about what they’d be doing, except Alice, who was uncertain about the trip and remained silent.

Lois, the reservation maker, told them the plan. “I made reservations for a nice hotel close to one of the famous barbeque restaurants where I also made reservations tonight at 8:00. It’ll be a short walk. We’ll go on a sightseeing tour on Saturday after breakfast and then, after a rest, we’ll wander down Beale Street, the home of the blues,” she said excitedly. “Our hotel is only a few blocks from Beale Street, also, so we can walk almost anywhere we want to go.”

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Alice was in a fog about it all. She and her husband had traveled in their RV a lot but had never thought to enjoy what the cities they’d park near had to offer. It was that lack of adventure that made this whole trip intimidating for her and she was sorry she came. But she was there, she’d told herself, and had no choice but to go along with the group and their plans. She didn’t think about the possibility of actually having fun and would brush aside the feasibility as unthinkable. She just went through the motions during their meals and on the tour. The experience was foreign to her and unlike anything she had done before. But when they reached Beale Street something inside her clicked ever so slightly at the sight of people’s enthusiasm as they walked down the closed-to-traffic streets having fun.

As the group stopped to look into the many open doors of the bars and eateries with blasting music coming from within, nothing suited them until they came to a place called the Rum Boogie Café. They could hear a man’s soothing voice singing a Bill Wither’s song from the inside.

“Let’s check it out,” Margo suggested, entering the building without waiting for others to concur or decline. They all followed to a table in front of the singer that Margo had commandeered while she added extra chairs.

The place was fascinating in its darkish ambiance with neon lights and the windows giving enough light to make it seem cozy rather than like a dark cavern. Guitars with placards of famous names hung from the ceiling everywhere. Those old guitars alone had to be worth a fortune, Alice thought, but briefly, as she was suddenly drawn to the voice on the stage.

Looking at the single singer with a guitar in his hands, she realized that his sound and his talent were amazing. She didn’t know much about music, but knew what she liked, and knew that she really liked what she was hearing. She also liked the looks of the man. He had a pleasant smile and seemed to love what he was doing. Alice became mesmerized.

She was so into that pleasant sound, she didn’t hear Janey ask her what she wanted to drink and eat, nor did she realize there was a waitress standing in front of their table waiting for her order.

“Do you want a beer?” Janey asked her.

Alice wasn’t a beer drinker, so she said, “I’ll just have a glass of red wine,” not caring what it was, or even caring about drinking. She was into the music.

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Her feelings surprised her, but not enough to take the time to think about them because she was captivated by the smooth-voiced man in front of her. It was as if he was singing the songs just for her, which she knew was crazy.

The others were not lost on the effect the music was having on their friend and felt good that there was something generating a sparkle in her eyes after all this time. They were served lunch and most had more drinks while enjoying the time spent in the bar-café with its music venue. Alice ate, almost robotically, her eyes not leaving the stage, and not hearing the women talk about their tour and plans for later.

Photo by Heidi Kaden

When it came time for the man to take a break, Alice realized she had been in a stupor, mesmerized by the singer, and wanted to give him a nice tip for sounding so good. Before he stepped off the stage, Alice went to the large tip box and dropped in a twenty-dollar bill, not knowing what the usual amount was, and thanked the man for his wonderful music. She added, “You are so compelling to watch, besides to listen to, that everyone thought you were singing to each of them. That’s quite a gift. Thank you for sharing it.”

Before she could turn to walk away, he said, “I was singing to you, only you.”

Alice didn’t know how to respond to that except to blush and smile, not really believing his words, and turned to walk toward her friends when he said, “Are you alone? I sense that you live alone.”

Surprised by his sensitivities, Alice turned back, nodded, and told him that her husband had passed away nearly two years ago.

“I’m very sorry to hear that,” he told her sincerely. “I lost my wife three years ago and am still not over it. But I sense that you could help me with that if you’d have coffee with me later after I’ve finished my set.”

Alice couldn’t find it in her to say ‘No,” so she told him that she’d still be there when he finished.

When she told the others, they couldn’t have been happier, although uncertain about the situation, but told her they’d be close by if she needed them.

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After the set and the man came toward her, she was having second thoughts, but with a twinge of excitement going on inside her stomach. The man led her to another, quieter, table and ordered coffee. They talked about their lives, their spouses, and about their loneliness.

Two hours later, when the bigger band began to play, and it became too noisy to talk, the man suggested dinner at a less noisy place. Alice noticed that her friends had left but had texted where they’d be. She texted back when she knew where they’d be for dinner and told them she’d meet them at the hotel.

The diner was much more subdued, as it was almost empty, but the food was delicious and it was much easier to talk. The man knew the owner, who knew to keep the decaf coffee coming as more conversation ensued and the hours ticked by without notice until the owner was ready to close.

They kept talking as the musician walked her to her hotel. Another date was made for the following day before he kissed her tenderly goodnight and left a new Alice at her door.