The First Hang on the
Second Floor
The first floor of Miles’ home featured
stucco ceilings and walls with dark
wood beams. Two stacks of Heineken
beer cases decorated the otherwise
unfurnished space on the brownstone
floor. Empty green bottles shared slots
beside of their virgin counterparts,
exuding the perfumed evidence of a
recent beer party, possibly attended
only by the host.
“The maid is off today,” Miles said,
probably noticing me checking out all
the empty beer bottles. I shrugged off
his stealthy explanation as a spectator
with no voice, suspecting this as
being the normal state of his abode.
I’d seen much worse, and besides
many—including me—would climb
down into a manhole to hang out
with Miles Davis.
“This is where we’ll rehearse,” he said.
“You can let George Butler’s secretary
Genevieve know what kind of gear you
need. Make sure you get a Farfisa organ
for me. Anyway, we can deal with that
shit later. Come on let’s go upstairs.”
“Wow thanks! Where is it from?”
Pre-fitting for cement boots crossed
my now overly active mind. Shh, quiet!
I told it.
“From Panama, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Seven and a half for most shoes…
eight though, for some gym shoes.”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Shit, I wear size 7,” he said, “gotta get
mine custom made. Man… I could
give you some real nice shoes. Hey, why
don’t you try on a pair, just in case?”
He seemed to know my taste for black
suede. The European flare gave them sex
appeal. I forced one onto my right foot:
“Hmm… oh man,” I told him, “they’re
just a little bit too tight... real nice
kicks though. I really appreciate you
thinking about these for me.”
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