Syncopated Rhythm

by Erik Schubach

  I squinted at her... “Are you emotionally attached to the black tank?”

  She looked at the shirt then me. Then slowly shook her head and squinted comically, trying to figure out what I was up to. I grinned as I grabbed a letter opener stamped with the hotel logo from the desk near the door, and went to work shredding the tank. Her eyes were bulging. I giggled. “Off with your blouse. Put on the t-shirt then the white tank.”

  I turned to give her privacy, gawd I wanted to watch. I just might be a perv. Then she stepped next to me and I grinned and handed her the black tank top. She held it up with a silly look on her face and I said, “On with it. Chop chop, fun awaits!”

  She put it on and it completed the chic look. Then I pointed at the bathroom like a mother to her child. She dropped her head playfully and stomped into the room. She looked terrified as I attacked her face with dark makeup. Black lipstick and heavy black eyeliner. Then I pulled her hair back into a ponytail with a black scrunchie. I nodded and turned her to the mirror. She gasped and looked closer at herself. Then she looked at me and smiled. “I don't even look like me.”

  She did some air guitar and started giggling. She went quiet after a second as she looked at me then at the ground. It took a second for me to catch up... oh... I was staring at her. I shouldn't freak her out like this. “Sorry Ky, you just look hawt. Let's hit the streets! I hear there is a great karaoke club just a block east.”

  The newly minted rocker chick paled. “Karaoke?”

  I rolled my eyes and grabbed her hand. “Yes, karaoke. Come now, you are my keeper after all.”

  I dragged my reluctant redhead out the hotel and down the street and looked at the Silver Chords Karaoke Club. Not bad, almost as big as some of the ones in New York.

  We stood in the short line to get in and before you could say, “Super platypus swimming in the stream,” we were in. She kept trying to give me ten bucks since I paid our cover charge. I stuck my tongue out at her. “No, I'm the one dragging you around. Now lets get a table a row or two back from the stage.”

  I grinned at the guy on stage now, he couldn't carry a tune but he was having fun trying. That's what music is for, to inspire people to have fun! The crowd was cheering his attempt on as we made our way to a table close to the front. The service there was good, as a waitress appeared to clear away the empty drink glasses from the previous occupants of the table, and take our drink orders. I ordered a beer and Kylee ordered a cola.

  I grinned at her. “How is that going to loosen you up? Nanny duty stopped the moment you walked through those doors back there.”

  She grinned and said, “I'm not really much of a drinker and I like my fun to be one hundred percent clear headed.” I nodded in appreciation of her views. Maybe I'll try that tonight too.

  Chapter 2 – Fun

  After watching a couple other people go up and sing, we were having a blast just watching. We bobbed our heads and swayed in our seats to the music. I started prodding. “Come on Ky, you gotta go sing one. I'll do one if you do. Or we can go up there together.”

  She looked embarrassed as she held up her iPad toward me, recording the night. I'm not even sure she was aware she was doing it, her filmmaker instincts just poking through. She said, “No, you've heard me. I can't carry a note. This is your night. Go ahead, you seem to embody the music when you sing, making it a part of you. You seem to have so much fun.”

  I grinned. “That's what music is. The embodiment of fun and emotion. It shares a connection between people that mere words can't do. Just listening to the lyrics you can see, feel, taste the emotion of the artist who wrote the song. We can all empathize, from our own experiences, with the words and make them our own. That's the magic of music and why it will never get old for me.”

  She lowered her iPad a bit to look at me with something twinkling in her eyes, her smile was going to kill me. Did she realize just how cute she was? Then she shook her head and raised the iPad again. “Show me. Words are cheap Amber.” She crinkled her nose at me.

  Gawd, how can someone resist that? I stood with indignant playfulness as I dramatically brought the back of my hand to my forehead. “Fine. If I must...” I winked as I stood and made my way to the stage and stood waiting for the couple singing Muskrat Love to finish.

  I walked up on stage and the DJ asked on his mic, “What's your name sweet thing?”

  I replied into my mic, “Judy.” I swear I could hear Kylee snort.

  The DJ asked, “So Judy, what can I queue up for you?”

  I thought for a second. “Something fun and upbeat... how about Snowflakes by Satin Thunder?”

  He nodded and said, “OK everyone, put your hands together for Judy!” There were some polite applause and the music started. I LOVE this song! You can feel Skylar just written all over it. It is probably the most playful song that Kimi had ever written.

  I started bouncing all over the stage, having fun as I sang. This was a song about finding beauty where most people never look. The crowd was silent just watching me have a good time. The dynamic trills were built for Skylar and the sustained power notes were built for Kimi. Very few singers out there can execute them. I'm one of those few. This song demonstrates why their band name was Satin Thunder. Skylar the satin and Kimi the thunder.

  I was almost vibrating with the fun beat, feeling the love in the words, the wonder in the instrumental. I closed my eyes and jumped up and down during the transitions. I skipped from one side of the stage to the other. I watched the people dancing on the small dance floor off to the side of the tables.

  Then I singled out the red headed sprite in the crowd and sang the last verse to her as she was smiling and bobbing on her feet by our table like most of the bar was doing now. She closed her eyes and swished her head side to side to the last measure of fun rapid fire notes before the “gift” at the end. That is the only way to describe the final, suddenly restrained power note at the end of the song that goes on for over a full measure beyond the instrumental. Almost like Kimi was making a promise to Skylar with it. Gawd I loved those two women together! I am so glad that we are friends.

  It was quiet in the bar for as few seconds as I put the mic back in its stand. Then the crowd erupted in cheers. The DJ spoke over the PA system, “Let's hear it for Judy everyone!” The applause doubled as I made my way back to Kylee. She was nothing but smiles as she was recording me and the reaction of the crowd.

  I got up to her and she put her iPad down on the table then engulfed me in a hug that was almost vibrating in enthusiasm. “Oh my god Amber! That was awesome!” She seemed to realize what she was doing and quickly released me and stepped back a step, looking down in embarrassment. My body was buzzing, missing our contact as she said, “Sorry. I didn't... I mean, that was so much fun! You are amazing!” She bit her lower lip shyly. Gawd it was cute. It was warming me up in all the right places.

  I grinned at her. “Like I said, that's what music is all about.” Then I gave her a sly smile. “Your turn.”

  She was shaking her head vehemently as I grabbed her hand and tried to drag her to the stage. Holy crap she was strong! I raised her hand and kissed the back of it and tilted my head in what I hoped was a cute gesture. I blinked my eyes comically as I begged. “Please Ky? For me?”

  She seemed to have lost all of her strength as she stared at me blankly as I dragged her to the stage. Her voice was tiny. “O... Ok Amber.” Her eyes were locked on mine then she tore them away and looked around, realizing where she was. “No no no no...” She tried to run but I wouldn't let go of her hand.

  I pushed her up the steps. “Too late Ky!” She rolled her eyes then she walked up to the mic and took it like it would burst into flames at any moment.

  The DJ asked her, “And what is your name darlin'?”

  She put the mic almost on her lips and said, “Ummm... Kylee.” She pulled the mic back a bit at the feedback.

  The DJ gave her a reassuring and encouraging smile. “And what song you want me to queue up
for ya?”

  She lowered the mic and walked up to him and whispered something in his ear. He nodded and she walked back to the front of the stage. I walked down and around in front of her to encourage her.

  She stuck her tongue out at me as the music started and I began laughing almost hysterically as one of my own songs, Live the Beat, started up. I was actually floored when she duplicated all the moves from my video perfectly as she sang in her wonderfully off-key voice. After a couple lines, she realized that nobody was going to boo her off the stage. This was karaoke at its best. Everyone here was simply here to have a blast and lose their inhibitions. It was all about having a good time.

  I was belting out the words from below with her and dancing along as she finally caught the fun bug. She suddenly lit up, and gawd, was she channeling the emotion of the song. I was mesmerized watching her bouncing and skipping on the stage, hopping up and down. The crowd was singing along and dancing around. They applauded every time she mangled a power note. She was the embodiment of the music, a pixie incarnate. Only the single word I channeled into writing the song could be applied here... fun.

  I swear to you, the applause she got was double what I got. She was blushing profusely as she put the mic back in the stand. She was giggling nervously as I met her with a huge smile on my face at the stairs as the DJ announced, “Kylee everyone!” More applause erupted in response.

  I dragged her giggling self back to our table. Her iPad was instantly up. I grinned. I knew now that it really was instinctual, she really didn't know she was doing it. She grinned at me. “Oh my god, Amber! That was so much fun! I was scared to death at first, but then I saw you having fun down there and everybody seemed to not care that I can't sing.”

  I winked at her. “I told you, it is all about the fun. And Ky... you were so much goddamn fun up there! That had to have been the best cover of any of my songs... ever!” Then I bit my lower lip. “And girl, you got moves!”

  She blushed and looked down. Then the next person got on stage and started a Max McDonald number. I grabbed Kylee's iPad and put it on the table and grabbed her hand. “I love this song! Dance with me!”

  She let me drag her to the small dance floor and she nervously danced with me until she caught the beat. Then there was no turning this imp off. We had a blast dancing and belting out the words to the song along with the girl on stage.

  Then she giggled again and grabbed my hand. The warmth was spreading up my arm as she dragged me back to the table. We sat and started talking about things. The topics were fluid. I was finding everything about her so fascinating. She had loved film making since she was a young girl. She pried out of me that music was an escape for me. I don't like talking about it but she was so easy to confide in.

  I got her to go up and sing a Thompson Twins title with me. That was the highlight of the night for me. We played off of each other so well on stage. Her moves were just as good as mine, and I found myself craving her cracking voice on those power notes. The imperfection was so welcome to me that it was perfection in itself. We were there simply to have a good time.

  Before I knew it they were calling last call and everyone started streaming out the doors like rats abandoning a sinking ship. I was kind of proud of myself that except for that first beer I hadn't drank. I'd usually be staggering for a cab at the end of a night. Ky inspired me though. I had fun without the extra “help” of alcohol.

  I grabbed her arm and tucked it under mine as we walked back to the hotel. “Thanks Kylee, I really needed to decompress a bit, I'm glad I tried to ditch you like this tonight.”

  She blushed a little. “No, thank you. I know I'm a drag to have around. Like a glorified babysitter, but you made me not feel like a third wheel tonight.”

  I grinned at her and said, “Nonsense, I brought you along because I wanted to get to know you a little better. You aren’t like other people, trying to hang out with me just for my fame.”

  She shrugged. “I like this version of you better than the famous Amber LaLanie. You're more like a real person than a rock icon.”

  I snorted. “Well that's just it, Amber LaLanie is just a made up person I use to share my music with the world. Sometimes I forget I am just Amber Lee. I miss her sometimes you know. Most alter egos are constructs of the record labels. But Harmony Trax is not like that. I created mine myself, because 'she' can share the fun, without people knowing who is behind the curtain.”

  She shook her head sadly. “Well I think you are fooling yourself. You ARE the fun you project. Amber LaLanie just gives you the confidence to share it with others.” Then she blushed and looked away.

  I thought about what she had said. Was she right? No, Amber Lee LaLanie is just a girl from Iowa that nobody would listen to. I shrugged. “Don't say sweet things like that. If it were true then I wouldn't be alone.” Whoa, why am I suddenly on the defensive here? She was just being nice.

  She shook her head. “People are breaking down the doors just to be with you. Anyone would be stupid not to. I'm sure your boyfriend or umm... girlfriend knows just how lucky they are.” Hmmm... she isn't putting much stock into the paparazzi reports of my sexual preferences, it is none of their damn business.

  I shook my head. “I have nobody, maybe I'm just too scared or stupid to let anyone in.”

  She squeezed my arm as we went into the hotel. She was silent on the ride up to our floor but she never let go of my arm. Then at my door she released me and whispered, “You should lower your armor. You deserve to let people in.” She just started toward her room and added in a normal tone. “We need to be at the first group shoot at nine AM. I'll get you at eight so we can snag some breakfast on the way.”

  I nodded at her back. “OK. Goodnight Ky.” I watched her open her door.

  Then she looked over with a shy smile before she disappeared into her room. “G'night Amber Lee.”

  Gawd I could feel the burn of a blush as I entered my room. I stood there for a minute in the deafening silence... alone. I panicked and ran to the radio and turned it on so the music could keep me company. I set my alarm for seven AM. Less than five hours sleep, yuck, then stripped myself of my “disguise”, took a shower and put on my pajamas and slipped under the covers. I was asleep before I knew it with a red headed sprite on my mind.

  Chapter 3 – Group Shoot

  I woke to my alarm chiming over the music playing in the background. The room was so empty, I let the music wrap around me and forced myself up. I had to be ready before Kylee came to collect me. I showered then put on my Amber LaLanie look. I finished fastening my wig and looked at the time. Ten minutes to go... cool.

  I opened my journal and kept working on Deep Red. After a few minutes I glanced at the time. She was almost five minutes late. I could hear some sounds coming from the connecting door between the rooms. I heard her making odd sounds and I knocked lightly. After a few seconds I knocked a little louder and still no response so I opened the door and my jaw dropped.

  There by the desk by her bed with her ear buds in, rocking out with her back to me to some music piping in from her iPod clipped to her waistband of her skirt, was Kylee. Whatever it was, it had to be fun. She had one hand above her head fist pumping then she swung her hips side to side with her head swinging in counterpoint, making her hair into a red swishing wave around her shoulders. She was uttering some stuff like, “Uhh huh. Oh yeah!”

  I was mesmerized. Then she started rapidly jumping on her toes around in a circle with her eyes closed and a huge smile plastered on her face. Her hands rose to the sides of her head almost like she was trying to keep the music streaming into her ears from escaping as she swung her head side to side.

  Now this is how music is supposed to be enjoyed! She slowly turned and her nose and eyes were scrunched up with joy as she sang the last three words, fist pumping the air. “Spread the cheer!”

  About ninety things happened all at once. I was shocked that I knew those words, since they were mine, from the upcoming charity albu
m. It was my contribution to it. Some sort of warmth hit me knowing that she enjoyed it so much. I always have the hope that I can help people experience the music like I can feel it as I sing.

  Kylee's eyes had snapped wide, and she backpedaled and tripped over the chair and fell on her butt as she was clawing the ear buds out of her ears while she turned about three deep shades of red. She stood up quickly and reached over to hit something on her iPad that cleared her screen.

  She grabbed her glasses off the desk using both hands and shoved them on her face then looked at me. “Ummm... oh God... I'm so embarrassed. How long... I'm so sorry.”

  I was just grinning at the pixie standing there in her professional suit. “No, no no... never apologize for having fun. You were just late in collecting me and you weren't answering the door. That was amazing Ky. Where did you get a copy of my Holiday Cheer?”

  She looked shyly at the floor. “Off the corporate server. Along with the rest, so I could get a feel for production ideas and do some storyboards. Though they'd never listen to me anyway. I was just about to get you when I thought I'd listen to your track one last time. I ummm... sorry?” She glanced nervously at her iPad.

  I seriously did try to stop grinning, my cheeks were hurting a bit since I had been smiling for so long, but I couldn't stop. “Stop apologizing Ky.”

  She was a ball of nervous energy and the sheer terror on her face lessened a bit as she grabbed a bowl off her desk and thrust it toward me. I tilted my head in question as I accepted it. I stared in confusion, it looked like a bowl of chocolate drops. Then I noticed the huge empty bag of M&Ms on her desk with candy shell fragments all around the waste can and I started laughing hysterically at my peeled M&Ms.

  My knees almost gave out and I had to sit on the edge of the bed as I laughed. She took the bowl from me with a silly grin before I could drop it. She said innocently, “Just doing my keeper duty.”