The bell above the door jingled and startled Max out of his reverie.  A kid, about nine years old, looked around at the records and the CDs.  He went over to the LPs until he gave up and approached the counter.

“Hey, Mister,” he greeted Max.

“Hey, kid.  Are you looking for something in particular?”

The kid nodded.  “I need a present for my dad.  Step-dad, actually.”

Okay.  He likes the old vinyl records?

“He says he wants to get them all back.  My mom stole them.”

Max nodded.  That happens, kid.  What kind of music does your step-dad like?

“You know.  Old guy music.”

Max grinned behind his coffee cup.  Old guy happy music?  Old guy loud music?

“He likes the old guys with guitars.  The ones that sound the same.”

Oh shit.  This was turning into a good day.  “Does he play the drums on the kitchen table to the music?  Or pretend to play guitar?”

“He used to,” the kid considered. “Since my mom left he plays bad music really loud and looks sad.”

Um-hmm.  Max nodded.  Did he mention anything about the bad music?  Weird band names?

“He was looking for something by an old guy, the one who’s an a**hole because he has slow hands.”

Max snorted and barely managed to swallow his coffee before laughing out loud for the first time that day.  Got it.

He handed the kid a bag with Derek and the Dominos’ Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.  The LP was original press.

“Tell your step-dad to come see me if this one’s the wrong a**hole.  We’ll get him the right one.  My card’s in the bag.”

“Thanks, Mister.  Is that a listening station?”

“Help yourself,” Max smiled. “Listen to whatever you want that’s already open.  There’s some Drake beside the headphones.”  The kid’s eyes lit up as he dashed over.

Still smiling, Max cued up Bell Bottom Blues.  Damn.  Still sounded so good after all these years.

Bell bottom blues, you made me cry
I don’t want to lose this feeling
If I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms

Max sat back in his chair, laced his fingers behind his head, and stared off at the ceiling tiles.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it

Max closed his eyes.  Yeahhh.

It’s all wrong, but it’s all right
The way that you treat me baby
Once I was strong but I lost the fight…

Sigh.

Do you want to see me crawl across the floor to you?
Do you want to hear me beg you to take me back?
I’d gladly do it

“Are you ok, Mister?”  Max hadn’t noticed that tears were rolling down his cheeks.

I’m ok, kid.  It’s an old guy thing.

The kid nodded sagely. “Are you crying because some ladies made you sad?”

Max looked at the kid’s clear brown eyes.  He hesitated for a heartbeat.

“No, kid.  I’m crying because no ladies did that to me.”

If I could choose a place to die
It would be in your arms…
Baby, baby….

 

___
[Lyrics in italics, from: “Bell Bottom Blues,” by Derek and the Dominos. Written by: Bobby Whitlock and Eric Calpton. Original release: Layla, 1970/71.]