“You know what?It is more than nice.I don’t know why I'm acting like it isn’t.James put his soul into this house for us.He mowed the lawn, raked the leaves in the fall, helped repair anything that needed to be repaired, and still wanted more for us.”It was difficult to talk about James, but it was something I needed to start doing.Writing about him was easier.
“More isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, as you have learned,” Jesse said, pulling his boots off the table as Momma brought us our dinner plates.
“I agree to that.You are starting to sound like me, Jesse,” Mason said.
Momma brought out a gigantic bowl of salad, warm buns, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and some chicken.She balanced the plates and bowls between her arms as she set them down.“Dinner is served.”
The band dug into the food like starving animals, pulling apart the chicken with their teeth like they hadn’t had a fresh meal in years.After eating a bite, they would murmur how good it was and how thankful they were for it.
“Oh, you are too generous.It’s just something I whipped together,” my momma gushed.
Mason looked starstruck.He barely talked as he thoroughly tested his food.By the time everyone had finished their plates, their guts were bloated, and everyone became sleepy.
“Mrs.Hartley, I have to know your recipes.That dinner was spectacular,” Mason said to Momma.The two of them went into our house.When they returned, Mason carried a tray of homemade muffins and a piece of paper with some of Momma’s best recipes.They looked like two friends having a normal conversation.
“Are those muffins?Thanks, April.I will eat these later,” Jesse said, taking the plate away from Mason’s grasp.
They called it a night once the band could stand up without having their jeans rip open.Jesse rented a motel room for Darren and the rest of the band.
“We should leave for the night.We appreciated the dinner, Mrs.Hartley,” Tonya said.
“Yeah, thanks.It’s been a while since I've had a real meal.I do love road food, though,” Keith admitted.
My momma gave them proper goodbyes as they piled into the bus.We waved at them until we couldn’t see the glow of their taillights anymore.
Chapter Thirty-One
My First Concert
Song: Love Reign O’erMe—The Who
November 5th, 1973
Penny: Don’t worry, Harold.I’m going to tell you about this memory too.I got the hang of this now.
Harold Hayes: Yes, you do.
