HUDSON
Over the weekend I met the other band members of my neighbor's band, Noman Island. Lars the flautist and Danny the Drummer were their instruments. Danny, exaggerated in all ways, and Lars, timid with big sad eyes. Noman then introduced me to a fourth band member, Hudson, who I had never seen around before. Hudson was the guitar player and a looker. He exuded the confidence of the popular kid in high school. He smiled and shook my hand with firm manliness. I immediately didn't trust him.
I was surprised to hear him play guitar. He did know his way around the frets. Compared to the others he was practically a maestro. The band was immediately richer and fuller with a broader tone pallet. Lars' flute was getting pretty lost though.
Hudson also smoked pot. I'm no stickler about such things, but a barn is not a good place to smoke anything. I suggested we step outside.
I mentioned that I had not seen him at the other rehearsals, and that the band needed the added musical range of a guitar. He explained that he had a tricky family life. His girlfriend was pregnant and they were living with his grandparents. He had been arrested for pot when he was 16 and his parents kicked him out of the house. He did six months in juvie then moved in with his mother's parents. "But you are still smoking pot," I noted. He said he had started again recently because he was feeling stressed.
Later I mentioned to Noman that I had talked with Hudson. He said, "I hope he didn't tell you that bullshit story about his girlfriend being pregnant."
I didn't know what to say.
Over the weekend I met the other band members of my neighbor's band, Noman Island. Lars the flautist and Danny the Drummer were their instruments. Danny, exaggerated in all ways, and Lars, timid with big sad eyes. Noman then introduced me to a fourth band member, Hudson, who I had never seen around before. Hudson was the guitar player and a looker. He exuded the confidence of the popular kid in high school. He smiled and shook my hand with firm manliness. I immediately didn't trust him.
I was surprised to hear him play guitar. He did know his way around the frets. Compared to the others he was practically a maestro. The band was immediately richer and fuller with a broader tone pallet. Lars' flute was getting pretty lost though.
Hudson also smoked pot. I'm no stickler about such things, but a barn is not a good place to smoke anything. I suggested we step outside.
I mentioned that I had not seen him at the other rehearsals, and that the band needed the added musical range of a guitar. He explained that he had a tricky family life. His girlfriend was pregnant and they were living with his grandparents. He had been arrested for pot when he was 16 and his parents kicked him out of the house. He did six months in juvie then moved in with his mother's parents. "But you are still smoking pot," I noted. He said he had started again recently because he was feeling stressed.
Later I mentioned to Noman that I had talked with Hudson. He said, "I hope he didn't tell you that bullshit story about his girlfriend being pregnant."
I didn't know what to say.