Once more, all one hundred of my new friends, including the little children, stood up and cheered, as if they truly were my family. I’d never felt the kind of love and acceptance they offered. It made me long for more.
After handing the guitar back to Ian for good this time, I stepped off the platform like I was Joan Baez. Like a crocus blooming in the springtime, I had awoken from a long dark winter. Never had I felt more alive.
It got even better when I spotted Leon. He had moved to the side of the stage, with his arms open wide. I headed toward him and folded inside.
“You did it, Suzie. You were so, so great,” he said, stroking the back of my head.
Hugh Romney made another announcement. “Wow! Isn’t it great when life surprises ya? Let’s give Suzie Q another big round of applause.”
The Hog Farmers continued to cheer and clap—at least I think they did—but I had left my body and levitated to the top of the commune, the same way I had when I’d first heard Crosby, Stills & Nash. Two of my favorite Beatles songs had flown out of my mouth without a hitch,in front of a hundred people. All the drugs at the festival couldn’t have given me that kind of high.
“Who wants to follow Suzie?” Hugh asked. “Just kidding. Quill’s starting down in the bowl anyway. We’ll pick back up later.”
“Great job,” a hippie dude with a ponytail said while walking past. His hair was as long as mine.
“Hope you’ll come back,” a girl told me. “I’d rather hear you than Quill any day.”
“Your lady sure has a nice set of pipes,” another hippie said to Leon while walking past. “Come back tonight, Suzie. Sing us all a lullaby.”
I smiled in appreciation but found it hard to look at Leon. Someone had called me hislady.
The time had come. I had to find out if he had a lady back home. But how? Phrasing the question just right was critical. I couldn’t say,Hey, Leon. Do you have a girlfriend back home?That seemed abrupt at this point—weird, even. What aboutAm I your lady?Lord no, that sounded even worse. I was just about to muster the courage to sayDo you have a lady back home?but we were interrupted.
A topless girl with giant boobs painted as if her nipples were daisies stopped in front of Leon. “Come back later, why don’t you?” she said. “We could take a trip together.” She brushed a long, seductive finger all the way down his arm. Then followed it with a slow wink.
A slight smile crossed his lips, but he didn’t say a word.
When Daisy Tits left, Leon looked at his feet, scrubbing a finger across his brow. “Not sure what to say to that.”
I didn’t know what to say either. Because I wanted toslapher. She had ruined my chance to ask him about a girlfriend. “Did you have any idea people would be walking around here without their clothes on?” was all I said, with a slight hint of irritation in my voice.
“It’s all part of free love, baby. Ready for some chow?”
He seemed eager to change the subject. So I just dropped it. For now. Until I could muster the courage to ask him if a lady was indeed waiting for him back home.
Woodstock
Day Two
Saturday, August 16, 1969
Noon
After standing in line at the Hog Farm kitchen, which was a piece of cake compared to the madhouse at Food for Love, we inhaled our brown rice, vegetables, and cantaloupe in minutes. It wasn’t all that great, but when you’re starving, quality doesn’t matter much. It was far better than cold hot dogs, that’s for sure. What’s more, the food was free, piping hot, and made with love.
We lingered in the soft grass before throwing away our plates.
“Who taught you to play guitar?” Leon asked. “You’re really good at that too.”
“Thank you. Ron taught me. He’s the one who’s good.”
“That’s right. You told me he’s a musician. Is he a Beatles fan?”
“Big Beatles fan. He taught me to play those songs before he left for Vietnam.”
I’d been doodlingPaul, Paul, I love Paulin my school planner when the sound of Ron’s guitar wafted down the hall. I jumped from my bed, paced over to his bedroom door. “Will you teach me to play something?”
He lifted his eyes but kept strumming. “What do you wanna learn?”
