Tilting my head back, I struggled for the right words. “Livy and I have been friends a very long time. And yes, we’reverydifferent.”
That man-giggle of his preceded his next question. “Are you glad you came?”
“So glad. At first, I said no, mainly because of the long drive, but the lineup changed my mind.” The Crosby, Stills & Nash record had helped me to relax. The comfort I’d felt earlier with Leon had returned.
He leaned back on his hands. “What other bands are you looking forward to? Besides Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.”
“Young?”
“Didn’t you know? Neil Young joined the band.”
I shook my head. I didn’t even know who Neil Young was.
“Those cats are playing together for the first time tomorrow night in Chicago. Woodstock’s their second live show.”
“That’s so hard to believe.”
“All true.” Leon smiled. “What other bands are you excited about, Suzie?”
Did he just nickname me?I’d never wanted to be called Suzie—too common—but it sounded like the soft notes of a Mozart sonata coming from him. “I’m excited about Joan Baez and Jimi Hendrix.” I tried remembering what other bands I’d heard—Livy had played so many in the car—but between my butterflies and my long hiatus from music, I was stumped. “And Bob Dylan.”
“Dylan’s not officially on the bill, but there’s a rumor running around he may decide to show up. He lives nearby.”
Embarrassment bled through me. The last thing I wanted was to look like an amateur. “I hope so. He’s incredible.”
“Better than incredible. What about the Who? You dig those guys?”
“For sure.”
Releasing an appreciative sigh, Leon tucked a lock of loose hair behind his ear. “They’re the reason I’m here. Them and the Airplane. Dig them?”
“Oh, definitely. I haveSurrealistic Pillow.” A slight lie. It was one of the records Livy had given me that I never got to hear. And now it was in pieces in a garbage dump. “I’d give anything if the Beatles could be here.”
“You and me both,” Leon said. “I heard Lennon couldn’t get in the country.”
I gasped. “Why not?”
“That arrest he had in London for marijuana possession. Nixon won’t let him in.”
Another fact I was unaware of. Music magazines were no longer allowed in my home. Or my dorm. “That kills me,” I said. “I might be their biggest fan.”
One of the Connecticut brothers passed Leon another joint. This time he smoked it. But he bypassed me when he was done, handing it over to tie-dyed-skirt girl, Anne Marie. Looking around at all the people smoking dope out in the open blew my mind. The stuff was illegal. And for some weird reason, no one was getting arrested. I glanced around for cops but saw none.
When I turned back to Leon, he was sipping on another passed libation, a jug of red wine. He offered it to me. I took a big slug, then sent it down the row. Gertie’s words about not sharing drinks came to my mind. Funny, despite the threat of the Hong Kong flu, no one at Woodstock cared. People shared everything they had.
I had planned to buy food and drinks when I arrived, so I had nothing to offer in return but the Snickers bar I’d bought at the 7-Eleven. I took it from my purse and passed it to Leon, who took a bite, then passed it to the next person. As soon as Livy got back with Nick, I’d head over to the concessions area.
While the Crosby, Stills & Nash record continued over the PA, I couldn’t help noticing the couple in front of us. They lay next to one another on a faded quilt. The girl looked deep into the boy’s eyes while he tenderly ran his fingers through her long dark hair. He caressed her face. Soon enough he rolled on top of her, moving his hand down to her breast. If I was her, I wouldn’t want the whole world watching a boy touch my breast.
Seconds later,Iwas watching. Without meaning to, I tilted my head to the side, eyeballing the boy’s hand as he rubbed his thumb across her nipple, so firm anyone could tell she wasn’t wearing a bra.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Leon watching me. Embarrassed, I twisted around backward, pretending to search for Livy. “Wonder what’s taking them so long?” I asked when our eyes met again.
A tantalizing grin spread across his face. “They’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried, just curious.”
Leon plucked a blade of grass between the blankets. “I’m curious about something.”
