All The Young Punks Pt. 51

He did not know how many clubs were in the Guerilla Network. He stopped adding bars when the band went to tour buses and theaters. He never stopped adding record shops. When he had time, Joe visited every record shop he could find near venues from coast to coast. He had no idea how many record shops he had, but he believed it was close to one hundred and fifty. New York City alone had thirteen in four boroughs.

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--- SPECIAL DELIVERY ---

Joe intended on staying longer but once every conversation he had at home became centered on his future, he felt the urge to hit the road. He hoped he could stick it out for a few more days. He sat in his room, writing in his journal. Jackie walked in as he was taping a scrap of paper to a page inside his notebook.

"What's that?

"A phone number."

"Who's number."

"A woman I met on the train."

"She gave you her number?"

Joe nodded, "She's not the first, but this one's a keeper."

"Are you gonna call her? Does she live nearby? Why did she give you her number?"

"Jesus Christ, Jackie. Can I answer one question before you bash me with the next one?"

"Sorry."

"I'd like to call her but then I'd be taking off and that seems like a shitty thing to do."

"Where does she live?"

"Boston."

Jackie's eyes lit up, seeing a new angle of attack. "You should call her. Boston's not far. You could manage that."

"Manage what?"

"A girlfriend in Boston. You could start over there. You love Boston. I bet there are more musicians up there. It would be..."

"Stop." He put a hand up. "I'm not calling her, not yet."

"What's her name?"

"Kim."

"What's her deal?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Just tell me about her. Is that so hard?"

"She's a singer and dancer in theater. She's from Richmond. There's not much else to say. We sat on the train for a few hours and talked. Kim was very sweet."

"And she gave you her number so Kim is clearly interested. She wants you to call."

"Stop, Jackie. I told you the pressure is not helping."

"When you first got home you said you were mulling over your options. This seems like a good one."

"If I was staying it would be, but I'm not."

"Did you think about her? Did you seriously consider her?"

"I did. She was very nice, and gorgeous, and I would like to see her again, but I don't think..."

"There's her number," Jackie pointed. "Call her."

"I changed my life once for a girl and spent five years in New York. I don't want chasing a girl to be the reason I land someplace. I want to find my place in the world, and the rest will just happen."

"So you've made up your mind? You're definitely leaving?"

"You already know that. You're in denial."

"And I think you knew it all along too. You came home to say goodbye."

Joe exhaled. "This conversation is getting tedious."

"What about that girl in London, Maya?"

"You want me to call Maya?"

"Do you think she's interested?"

"I doubt it. Maya's thirty, and I'm twenty-three. I doubt she'd see me as..."

"You'll be twenty-four soon."

"Me and Maya aren't happening."

"Are you not interested in her? Do you have her number?"

"I have her business card. I hoped to see her again in London but she was reassigned."

"You should call her."

Joe pretended to be pondering. "She's incredible, but I would have to move to London for Maya." He smiled. "She'd be worth it."

"You're right," Jackie said. "Maya won't work. London is too far. Boston is the best option."

"It's not an option."

"Ya know, you say you can't start over here. You think it would feel like a failure, but you already made a name for yourself and you have all these clubs. All you need is a band. You wouldn't have to work as hard. You have all your Guerilla people."

Joe gave her nothing. He was done with this conversation.

"Joey," Jeanie called down the cellar stairs. "There's a truck out front with a delivery for you."

"Perfect!" Joe smiled and pumped his fist. "It's about fucking time."

Joe knew he couldn't leave home until his packages arrived. He was waiting for two boxes from New York and one from London via New York. When he stepped out on the front porch the truck driver was unloading them. He placed them on the sidewalk. Joe signed his clipboard. Jackie and Jeanie helped carry them inside.

"What's all this?" Jeanie asked walking up the front steps.

"Two are my things from Tina's apartment and one is from London," He smiled at her. "Surprises for you."

"Really?"

Joe spent the next half hour unpacking souvenirs he collected across Europe; clothing, jewelry, books, maps, touristy trinkets, and candies. Mom was delighted with her framed photo of Notre Dame Cathedral. She gave Joe a peck on the cheek. As he handed specific gifts to the girls he had stories of where he bought them.

"Jules, I spent an hour in this London bookshop looking specifically for Holmes. I wandered all over before I realized Sherlock was at the front door. I walked right by a table full of Doyle."

"Why didn't you ask the clerk?"

"The store was amazing. I don't regret my time there. I found some books for myself. Open the cover," he pointed. "Check the date."

Jules' mouth fell open, "1899. That's so cool."

"Sherlock Holmes was created in 1887. That's an early edition."

Jackie was agog over clothes and jewelry he bought her. "Okay, listen to this. I bought that necklace in Romania, the farthest east we traveled. I want to go back there. We never had enough time in most places. That type of metal and stone work has roots in the Dracula legend. The gypsies told me those symbols have power."

"This is a Dracula necklace?"

Joe shrugged. "That's what the shopkeeper said. It's a cultural thing, and they sell a lot of them, so it might be a tall tale they tell tourists. I want to go back to Bucharest. Romania had a dark vibe."

"Like maybe vampire vibes?" Jackie smiled.

"It's more than that. The gypsies are looked down on, but I thought they were cool. But I kept my hands in my pockets. There's something about that country that made me feel welcome.

"Darkness," she said. "You're drawn to the dark." She shook her wrists. "I like the gypsy bangles too."

"I bought those from ten-year-old kids on the street, a brother and sister. Ten minutes later I saw the bangles in a shop for half what I paid. I got pickpocketed by the 100% markup."

Jeanie was already wearing the fury slippers he bought her in Finland and a dress he picked up in Marseilles. "I loved Paris, but Marseilles has a crazy melting pot culture. France and North Africa meet in Marseilles. The scents of the city, the spices, and the colors were fantastic. It made me want to cross the sea to Algeria. I want to go back. That dress was made in Morocco. I bought it from an ancient Moroccan lady in a bazaar.

"I love it," Jeanie twirled, her arms outstretched, and Joe had to close his eyes and gather himself.

The girls munched on sweets they'd never heard of, and boxes of Swiss and German chocolates. There were key chains, magnets, a shot glass from Poland, spoons for Mom's collection, a miniature Big Ben, a palm-sized Eifel Tower, a Dutch Windmill, and other touristy bits and bobs Joe had collected in so many cities.

He sat back and watched his sister forage and then used the pleasant mood in the room created by his goodwill to his advantage. Without saying so, he raised a subject that suggested he was leaving soon.

"I'm leaving my records here. You girls need to take care of them. My guitars and amps too. You can use them," he looked at Jeanie. "But I hope you take good care of them."

"We've been taking care of your room for years," Jules said, "munching on Swiss chocolate."

"I know, and I appreciate it. I'll definitely come back for my guitars. I don't know about the records. That's a lot of vinyl to move."

Happy with the gifts Joe had given them, the girls eased off a little on their pressure campaign. Joe figured he might stay another week if that held up. He was delaying the dreaded last day when he left Providence for good.

When Dad got home the evening of the delivery... "You bought me a fez?"

"The merchant's name was Theroux. Look inside the cap at the label."

"Well, I'll be. Theroux."

"I had to buy it."

"Do you really expect me to wear this? I'll look like an asshole."

"No, Dad. It's just a weird but cool gift. I thought you might like it."

"I do, but I'm not wearing it." Bill put the fez on and smiled. "Not outside the house."

"You need a mustache. Then you'd look a Theroux from Marseilles."

"You know that's where we're your great, great grandfather was from, right?"

Joe made a duh face. "Ya, Dad. Everyone knows about Marcel from Marseilles. That's why I bought this."