You are a big boy now Wracks says, Father.   Your mother and I are going out tonight to an official dinner party.  We will be back before twelve o’clock.  We have acquired a babysitter for you and your brother.  By the way where is your brother Fonz?  He is in his room playing with his toys says Wracks and he doesn’t want to be disturbed.   The doorbell rings and Father opens the large hardwood door meant to stop pistol rounds from entering. 

Hello Jimi says dad how are you doing.  

Just fine says Jimi, I am between gigs and I need the money.  When will you be getting back, he asks.

Around twelve o’clock midnight no later says, Father.   This is Wracks my youngest son.   Be sure the Fonz is safe in bed because he likes to escape through the bedroom window.  Wracks can watch television in the family room until nine o’clock then he must go to bed. 

I will watch over him says Jimi.   Can I bring my ax into the house and practice?    Yes, you can says Father, just don’t play to loud the neighbors are very sensitive.  See you soon.

Father and mother exit the house through the back and drive away in a red Ford Granada his employer bought to bring Father Wracker to work.  The Wracks waves goodbye.

What do you watch on television asks Jimi?

Cartoons and kid stuff says Wracks.   I just sit in my grandfather’s green chair, watch and fall asleep.

Do you have any food says Jimi. I am famished.  You don’t get much chance to eat on the road. 

We have bologna and American cheese on white bread says Wracks.  That is what my mother makes me when I go to school.  You can have some too.   It is in the refrigerator in the meat drawer.  Jimi goes and makes himself a sandwich and sits down on the sofa in front of the refrigerator and watches television with Wracks as he eats his meal and has a glass of milk.

Jimi is African American and slightly less than six feet tall and on the slender side.   He wears a tie-died shirt and jeans and leather shoes.   His hair is straight unlike what he has in public.   He either perms it or wears a wig. 

Jimi says, do you have an old belt I could have, my guitar strap broke in the war and I need a new one because I have a gig at the whiskey tomorrow night with my band.

I will get one says Wracks, my father has a lot.   What size do you need?   The bigger the better says Jimi, it has to go around my neck.   Wracks scurries to his father’s room and selects one from the rack in the closet next to the dresser.   It is a tan belt about one inch in width and about forty inches long.

Is this good asks Wracks?

Let me see if it will fit says Jimi.    Let me get my guitar.    He then widens the holes on the belt with a key and slips it over the peg in front and uses the buckle in back to attach to the stud on the back of the guitar.  It works he says.   Thank you very much.

How come you play the guitar upside down asks Wracks

When I was starting out, I couldn’t afford a left-handed guitar so I got used to playing with a right-handed guitar.  He begins to play and the Wracks watches TV

I can hardly hear you play says Wracks.   How can you hear

Most people don’t like the sounds I make so I practice unamplified, says Jimi.   When I am at work, I plug in.  

Will you teach me how to play guitar asks the Wracks?

Its easy, says Jimi.  Just stay on the bars because flat notes sound funny when played loud.   On two strings play a riff, then move five up.   Use distortion to enhance your vibes.   Everyone has their own sound.  Develop you own style.  

I can hardly hear a thing says Wracks. 

When I am at work, I turn it up loud.    That’s enough of a lesson for you, it is time you go to bed.  By the way where is your brother?

He must be hiding, says the Wracks.

“I got to go check on him,” says Jimi.   You wait right here.   He is asleep says Jimi, now it is your turn.

Good night, Jimi, it was nice meeting you.

Thanks for the belt says Jimi.  I have to practice for tomorrow.

Father Wracks head pokes into the bedroom where the Wracks sleeps with the big window and the walls done white on white with a single bed set on a hardwood frame.  

How did you like Jimi?   He is a friend of the family.

He is a nice man and he taught me how to play guitar.

Can we go to the Whiskey and hear him play?

No, you have to be twenty-one years of age to get into the Whiskey.

Don’t get out of hand, says father Wracks.  You have a lot of growing up to do.

Will you have Jimi over again asks Wracks.    He seems very nice.

I don’t know.   He took the job on short notice.  He is a very busy man.

Tell him thank you very much for babysitting says Wracks and good night.

Now today, Wracks is at the end of things and sits in his room with nothing to do.   His child is grown up and another has died of cancer.    With a red Epiphone and a cheap second-hand amp, he replaced the speaker with,  he practices and makes noise and thinks no one will hear.  At the end of things, this is how it happens.  Play a riff on the bars and go up five.     Goodwill to those who endeavor and to all good men.