Javi startled awake, propping himself up on his elbows, shifting his eyes wildly around the semi-darkness. Patting the softness of the cobija under his hand, he finally realized that he’d awakened in the safety of his own bedroom. It was still the middle of the night; he had an innate sense of time just like some people had an innate sense of direction. He knew it was around 2 a.m. Still many hours before he had to get up.
Turning over onto his left side and settling into the warmth of his blankets and fluffy pillows he couldn’t actually see the stars covering the velvet-black sky through his bedroom window but he knew they were there and could imagine their distant sparkle in the heavens. Just like his dreams that no one but him and his closest friend, Emilio, were able to see as reality. Most people, friends and family alike, just seemed to tolerate his words when he tried to talk about his dreams seriously. But that didn’t mean they didn’t exist somewhere in an as yet unknown future…or that they couldn’t or wouldn’t come true.
Turning his thoughts to the present, he could feel his lips turn up in a satisfied smile. It was the Christmas season and he loved Christmas like he loved no other holiday on the calendar. It was a time when the city by the sea came to life with vivid colors, spectacular pageantry and music, sometimes reverent, sometimes raucous, but always joyful! The streets filled with throngs of people in costume preparing for the centuries-old celebration of the arrival of the Christ Child.
And it lasted for most of December and into early January. He loved the holiness of the holiday and the way it was celebrated in the church. Sometimes it felt as if the entire world stopped and the love of God Himself could be felt most acutely, right there in that room – a sanctuary they called it – where the faithful gathered to sing hymns and carols, praising God for His goodness, rejoicing in the greatest gift ever given to mankind – Jesus, the one and only source of their lives and their salvation.
But his ambitions were what his fellow church members, and especially his mother and father, would call secular. For as long as Javi could remember he’d been puzzled by this peculiar distinction between “sacred” versus “secular.” If God created the world, the universe really! no matter how flawed it often seemed, wasn’t it sacred? Didn’t everything, even the worst things that he could imagine, have at least a tiny spark of the sacred? And he believed that where that spark existed, it could become a flame, ignited by God’s own heart, with the possibility of becoming wholly and completely sacred with time.
And above all music! They said the kind of music he longed to make had no spiritual value! In this, he knew they were beyond wrong; every single note he sang, every lyric he wrote originated in the depths of his soul. But, he had no answers for his questions. Questions that had probably been asked from time immemorial. Nevertheless, he didn’t believe even for a single minute that his dreams, his music, his desires were anything but God-given. They were absolutely not secular if such a thing even existed.
They called him a dreamer, as if there was something inherently wrong about it. They said he was wasting his time with his head in the clouds. And yes, he’d be the first to admit that he was, indeed, a dreamer, of course he was! A life without dreams was no kind of life at all! His passions were what kept him alive and what nourished his present while he waited to make the inevitable move into his future, that place where his life and his destiny converged, the God-given spark becoming a roaring fire. He would consume the world with his music!
This year his Christmas dreams took him to the US. He didn’t question why; he simply added the dreams to the box he kept hidden in his closet, nondescript, so no one would guess that anything important was inside. The box was full of handwritten notebooks and baubles he’d collected over the years. Some of his written musings might become song lyrics. Some of the box’s contents might only be there so that he could look back at where he’d been, allowing him to see how far he’d come and how far he had yet to go. And Javi didn’t know it yet, but the contents of that box would fuel his determination someday…..on those days when he was so discouraged he’d want to give up, when all of his conversations with the sea would seem like nothing more than his own imaginings, as if they’d never really happened, this plain brown box would save him.
In Mexico, or at least in his part of Mexico, Santa Claus wasn’t a part of their celebrations or their traditions….and of course the imaginary elf was certainly not sacred according to his parents. And Javi knew he was too old to actually believe that Santa Claus was a real person. But in the US, Santa seemed to be the most prominent symbol of Christmas. And the US would be a slice of his someday. A scrumptious piece of his future! He loved Mexico with all his heart, but he didn’t plan to limit his future to her borders. He was going to be a star, not just in this little corner of the world, but in every corner of the world. No matter how large or small…they would know his name!
In the US they decorated huge pine trees with all kinds of ornaments and strings of shining lights! He could imagine all the people in churches wearing their best clothes, singing in and out of tune. The people they called carolers going from door to door filling the cold night air serenading neighbors and strangers alike. Sometimes they were songs with names like O Holy Night and sometimes they were songs like Santa Claus is Coming to Town or I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas. Javi smiled in the dark at that. He’d never seen a white Christmas any more than he’d seen Santa Claus.
But what he really liked to look at in the books he read about American Christmases were all the gaily and sometimes gaudily wrapped presents under the decorated trees. He could only imagine what might be inside those pretty boxes and bags…and in his dreams every gift was for him and contained everything he’d ever need or want to become a star, almost as if the star that sat atop that tree represented him.
And maybe the gifts represented what he’d need to reach that place at the top. Maybe his own microphone was in one of those boxes, one he’d never have to share with anyone like he did with his brothers. Or lots of fancy outfits in red and black, his favorite colors! Or an English-Spanish dictionary because he’d have to learn to speak the language, right? And maybe a teacher to go with it! He covered his lips as he tried not to giggle too loud – what kind of teacher would be small enough to fit in a box?
And maybe all those decorations represented some of the footholds he’d have to use to climb his way to the height of fame that awaited him. Never once did he stop to think that some of the steps he’d have to take might be dull or ugly or hard or that his real life “tree” would bear anything but a smooth ascent with no holes between branches where someone had forgotten to place an ornament. Even though the sea had told him of the trials and tribulations he might have to struggle with to attain his goal, he rarely thought of that, and especially not at Christmas.
Just like in Mexico, Christmas in the US represented a time of jubilation, a respite from the ordinary and mundane lives most everyone lived. And for him, a time when he could almost forget that the older he got the harder life became and the more impatient he was to leave.
He sighed, tucking his Christmas wishes back into his heart. He could feel his eyelids growing heavy, the remnants of the nightmare that had awakened him all but gone. Glancing out the window one last time, he closed his eyes, whispering a nursery rhyme he’d learned long ago. It wasn’t something he’d learned from his mama or papa. In fact, he couldn’t really remember where he’d learned it, but he liked to recite it before he went to sleep. Most would shake their heads, as usual, and say it was the silly dreamer in him, but he didn’t care. God made the stars, right? So what could wishing on one hurt? Maybe the stars were just another Christmas gift that no one recognized.
Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight,
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
Breathing in the quiet and the familiar scents and sounds around him, he fell back to sleep, his mind filled with twirling Christmas trees entwined with memories of La Rama celebrations past and looking forward to this year’s celebration, knowing he most certainly wouldn’t be in the US this Christmas….but soon.
He could feel the wet, gritty sand between his toes and the foamy waves as they chased his feet along the shore. He paused, inhaling a deep breath of the sea air, so familiar, so comforting. He would miss this, he knew, but for now here he was hoping his friend and muse, the sea, would talk to him today. He decided to just plop down on the sand for a change, maybe build a sand castle, sort of a physical manifestation of his dreams, like he did when he was a kid. At least for today, he was free from most of the everyday chores because his mama and younger siblings were visiting his aunt for the day….or at least he thought they were. Why wasn’t he sure? His eyes quickly skimmed his surroundings as he crossed his legs and sat, absent-mindedly reaching for a handful of sand, that seemed to turn into something cold and white and then disappear. Puzzled, he picked up another pile of sand packing it firmly between his palms, only to feel it dissolve into a puddle of cold water that dripped through his fingers. Where was he?
He turned around expecting to see the familiar rise of the dunes behind him, but instead there were what looked like tall kilometer-high buildings…..and why were all these people here? This time of year he usually had the beach all to himself. A couple of kids ran in front of him and he tried to ask them where he was, but it was as if they didn’t even see or hear him. No! Was this another nightmare hoping to interrupt his sleep again?
It didn’t feel like a nightmare though…in fact, it felt rather peaceful….and despite all the sunbathers and swimmers, he heard no one speaking at all even with the game of what looked like beach volleyball going on not far from where he was sitting. He was just getting used to this strange, but not unpleasant feeling, when he heard a loud splash and felt the waves slap his toes. He swallowed hard, not sure whether to be frightened or reassured. He unconsciously began to back away from the waves looking behind him at the buildings, just barely getting to his feet to run when he stopped himself. This was the sea, his friend….his confidante….not some monster in a bad dream. Turning away from the buildings, he turned his head again to look at the expanse of shifting waves.
Blinking to clear his vision, and planting his hands on the sand behind him to steady himself, he blinked again. He wasn’t scared….yet…he told himself, but he was certainly awestruck! Rising from the depths of the sea right in front of him was an angel, but not the kind of angel he’d seen so many times in pictures or as statues….this angel was male….the only reason he was sure it was even an angel was because of the wings….and he? it? was dressed in a red and white suit just like the kind that Santa Claus would wear, complete with a stocking hat, a black belt and boots! He hurriedly looked around him again, hoping to find someone else to share this inexplicable experience with, but, again….no one seemed to notice them…neither Javi nor the unconventionally dressed angel.
“Javi,” the Santa angel said in a deep voice, beckoning him to walk towards him, “don’t be afraid, dude, I’m here to grant your wishes…..I hope…or at least that’s what I was told. Oh, right! I forgot you can’t walk on water. Sorry there, bud.” The angel finished his apology as he walked across the water as if it didn’t exist. “Why are you dressed like that?” Javi asked before thinking, to which the angel replied, “Ho! Ho! Ho! Weren’t you hoping for Santa? Here, how about this then?! Santa doesn’t own a lot of beachwear…..” and as the angel spoke, the Santa suit melted away as if it never existed only to be replaced by a brawny, muscular angel with well-chiseled facial features wearing old blue jeans and a sleeveless black fishnet shirt. Javi couldn’t help but laugh! It looked like some of the many outfits he’d dreamed of wearing once he was a star covering the muscular frame he could only hope for…well, at least right now anyway. He vowed then and there that one day he’d replace his scrawny self with a body just like the angel had.
“Oh! So you recognize them, I see!” Javi had no clue what he’d supposedly recognized. “The clothes and the body!” the angel chuckled, twirling in a circle to show off his attire, and of course, his body. Javi still didn’t get it….he could only dream of…..oh! he was dreaming! Of course! “Come my young friend!” the angel shouted enthusiastically, “Let me show you around what just might be your first glimpse of the big time!” he grinned, grabbing Javi’s hand. Well, he certainly was a very happy angel, Javi thought, and that smile…it was like watching the sun rise..he’d seen it before…..it looked so familiar.
Javi didn’t know whether to speak or remain silent. Everyone else around them didn’t appear to see either of them, but “Where are we?” Javi blurted out. “What? You don’t recognize another city by the sea? You’ve seen it lots of times in pictures….but then maybe you’ve never dreamed of it….specifically that is. You’re in the good old USA, Miami, Florida, to be exact…..The Magic City! The Gateway to the Americas!” Javi listened to him babble like some kind of tour guide. But Javi looked confused and it didn’t escape the angel’s notice……”um, if you don’t like it I can always change the venue. After all, your wishes and dreams have taken you all over. We can even change countries….Brazil, maybe? Although your most recent wish WAS for the US…” his voice trailed off, waiting for an answer.
“No! No, Miami is fine, it’s great!” Oh my God! He was in the United States! Miami? New York? California? Who cared? “Oh, good!” the angel looked relieved, “I was hoping you didn’t want to see Indiana or North Dakota or…especially North Dakota….it’s colder than…..” he was going to say “hell,” but considering the setting it didn’t seem appropriate….and the angel realized he was babbling again just in time for Javi to ask, “So, do you have a name?” He didn’t know that much about angels, except for the ones in the Bible, and most of them were female. “Well, of course I have a name!” the angel replied, “Actually, I have lots of names but for our purposes why don’t you just call me Jack, that’s a nice all-American name,” he laughed again.
Javi shook his head as if to clear it. “Now, where do we begin, Javi?” the angel rubbed his hands together as if anticipating a wonderful surprise. “How about here,” he said as he snapped his fingers. And suddenly they were standing in the dingy hallway of an old apartment building that needed painting, lots of painting. Hmmmm……this wasn’t exactly a wonderful surprise as far as Jack was concerned…but it was Javi’s dream, not Jack’s…..Jack rattled a set of keys opening the squeaky door and the next thing Javi knew they were standing in what appeared to be the inside of one of the apartments. It was drab and shabby and it appeared as if a bunch of guys might live there together. It smelled a little musty…..but there was a small Christmas tree in a corner looking as if someone had really tried, but really failed to make the place look festive. And the poor tree looked like it hadn’t seen a drop of water….ever. In some ways it reminded him of where he came from except his mama made it feel like a home and she would never treat a house plant like that. This didn’t feel like anything but someplace to sleep between working….or whatever you did in Miami.
“You look a little disappointed, I mean, yeah it doesn’t look like much I know, but dreams don’t always come true right away. You should know that better than anyone! You’ve been dreaming of this place for years….well, maybe not this place specifically,” he admitted, noticing the cobwebs in the corners of the room, “but….the US, si?” Javi didn’t know what to say, so he simply nodded, and asked if he could walk around, take a look….”Of course! Your bedroom is”….he pointed to a room without a door about two steps away, and Javi peeked around the wall only to find a mattress on the floor that had obviously seen better days and a couple of pillows. He sighed, at least the rooms were clean….he guessed.
The angel felt a little sad for Javi and was trying hard not to show it, but it wasn’t Jack’s job to grant wishes necessarily. That was usually Randy’s job, but he’d been called out at the last second on an emergency wish mission, and they’d asked Jack to step in because he needed the experience….at wish-granting presentation, that is. Maybe he’d been a little misleading about that part. Jack’s job was to show Javi where his dreams might start….and maybe where they might end. None of that was his decision. In that respect, Destiny had its own ideas and plans to which he was not made privy.
“Moving right along,” Jack said, clearing his throat, hoping that maybe the next stop would be a little more to Javi’s liking. Fluttering his wings, he took Javi’s hand in his own again. Javi had barely blinked….and they were on the sidewalk again. The building didn’t look as bad as he remembered it from the outside, but maybe that was because of the return of some much-needed fresh air and sunshine. He fervently hoped that if this was part of his destiny that it would only be for a short while….actually, a very short while. He tried to remember what he’d been reading about everything in life being a learning experience for the good….he was trying, but not succeeding very well at the moment.
Javi’s musings were interrupted when he realized that now they were on another sidewalk. Apparently, this adventure wasn’t about spending lots of time on the beach! he thought to himself, trying to make light of the situation.
But, this sidewalk appeared to be in even worse shape than the one they’d just left, cracked and broken, with dirt and busted bottles and empty beer cans scattered everywhere. Raising his eyes from the ground, he hoped that this building looked better than its surroundings.
The establishment appeared to be a large, but unappealing cantina, and from what they could hear from the outside, a very noisy one, and it suddenly occurred to Javi that dusk had turned to dark….but he couldn’t see the stars, too many city lights.
“Ready?” Jack asked, hoping he really was. However, this didn’t look very promising either and to make matters worse, it was named Jack’s Place! He hoped Javi hadn’t noticed. Maybe he needed to see if there were any jobs available that weren’t so disappointing sometimes. No one ever liked to see this side of their dreams, but it was necessary…..because if they couldn’t handle this side of their dreams, then they’d never make it to the pinnacle of their dreams….but no one ever wanted to listen to that part. Even those who thought they were prepared, like Javi. Yes, Javi listened to the sea, but internalizing and embracing what the sea was telling him was another thing altogether.
Well, at least the place was cheerfully decorated on the inside! It looked a lot like so much of Mexico, the walls painted in bright, vivid, primary colors, absolutely nothing like the apartment they’d just left. Javi didn’t know what to think. He’d never, ever been in a cantina. He was years away from 18, although he often wished those years away just so he could be…..here? Hmmm….here…..is this what he was really waiting for? He took a deep breath, inhaling the secondhand tobacco smoke and what he guessed was the scent of stale beer. It certainly wasn’t very inspiring!
Jack exclaimed, “Great, it’s a Friday night! It looks like a big crowd! You know, Javi….” Jack leaned in as if to confide a secret to Javi, but then he stopped. Telling him that most week nights were nothing like this, but were dead as a doornail instead, wouldn’t encourage him any, “um, maybe we should take a seat?”
Javi glanced around again. It was obvious that a band was playing tonight. Everything was set up on the tiny stage…the very tiny stage. And Javi wanted to be near the band. So far, that was the only thing that really interested him in this room full of raucousness. Jack ordered him a drink and no one seemed to care that he might not be 18, but whatever Jack ordered tasted awful! He asked, “Aren’t you going to drink something?” Jack chuckled, “Oh, angel’s don’t drink, we don’t need to! How’s that beer?” he asked as if it was perfectly normal for Javi to be drinking alcohol. “Fine, I guess,” he murmured, not wanting to insult him…and besides it was a dream! Hopefully, he’d never have to drink it in the real world.
The band arrived right on time, 10:00 sharp, took a few minutes to tune up and started the set with some rabble-rousing rock. At first, Javi was thrilled! He didn’t get to listen to live bands like this at home. He watched them on TV whenever he had the chance, but most of the live music he was exposed to was in church. This was a great example of the kind of music that he longed to create! But then after about 45 minutes, he looked around and realized hardly anyone was even paying attention. And applause was rare if not nonexistent. The boys in the band didn’t seem half as upset as Javi was! Actually, they didn’t look upset at all. After a short break, taking the time to replenish whatever they were drinking, they picked up right where they’d left off, sometimes taking requests….but even then hardly anyone seemed to notice!
These guys were singing and playing their hearts out and no one seemed to care! Okay, a couple of people would get up and dance to songs they’d requested, but otherwise it was like the band was almost invisible….maybe they were? It was a dream….wasn’t it? He turned to Jack as if he could read Javi’s mind and had the answer to the crowd’s inattentiveness. Jack was tapping his fingers to the music, but when he saw the look on Javi’s perplexed face, he simply shrugged. After all, he didn’t really get it either! These guys were good! Another downside to his job…but he couldn’t explain what he didn’t understand…and they couldn’t leave. His assignment specifically said they had to stay until the bar closed.
Javi didn’t appear to be enjoying his beer very much and Jack asked him if he’d like something else. The beer was obviously lukewarm by now. “Yes, a glass of water,” he replied rather dejectedly. Returning with Javi’s water, Jack realized that this disaster was almost over! Thank God in heaven, it was the last set! Taking a gulp of water to wash away the taste of warm beer, Javi continued to watch feeling madder and sadder with each song they played. And now? Now that half the crowd was obviously drunk? Now they were getting up to dance with a smattering of applause!
When Jack heard, “last call,” he glanced at Javi, “Ready to go, kiddo?” he asked. Javi appeared almost grateful, like he’d been ready to go about 2-1/2 sets ago. He asked Jack if he had any cash on him. He was obviously paying for Javi’s drinks with something. Jack didn’t have to ask what Javi wanted it for. He handed him $5, more money than Javi had ever seen. Javi walked up to the band’s tip jar and dropped the $5 in. He wanted to ask them questions like, “is it always like this?” or “how long have you been doing this?” but he didn’t. The tired-appearing guitarist caught his eye and smiled, giving him a thumbs up, as if Javi needed the encouragement more than he did.
“What’s the next stop?” Javi asked, not sure he wanted there to be one. So far, the US, even at Christmas didn’t seem to be anything like he imagined. Sure, there were decorated buildings, inside and out. But, he reminded himself, all he’d seen so far was an apartment building where he supposedly lived, a rather nondescript and depressing cantina and the Atlantic Ocean. “You know, Javi, good things come in threes, right?” Javi nodded, hoping that the saying was really true. If good things came in threes, then this….whatever it was…..could only get better? And the last two scenarios weren’t exactly what he’d call good, but…..
Jack hoped that the next stop would maybe be more encouraging. If it got any worse he’d definitely have to look at finding work on a different cloud! One thing was for sure though – he’d never take over Randy’s spot again! If this was really what was expected of him, it wasn’t much better than Jack’s usual gig!
Okay, enough of this! On to…..he glanced down at the instructions he’d been given. Hmmmm….now this might be a little bit more like where Javi hoped his career would begin…sort of. According to Javi’s Destiny Resume he was a singer and songwriter. He didn’t play any instruments. His voice was his only instrument. But……Jack smiled as he read further….it appeared that Javi’s personality traits were off the seismic charts! Javi didn’t know it yet, but he was capable of turning negatives into positives better than almost all of the people on this crazy planet! So much ahead of him! Why, his charisma and looks…..Jack marveled…but he’d have to grow into those and so much more. I guess I should have read this earlier, Jack thought, but Randy had come and gone before he’d even had a chance…..
“Open your eyes, Javi!” Javi hadn’t even been aware he’d closed them! But he opened his left eye, half afraid of what he might see.
Wow! Just wow! Javi thought as he opened both eyes, where were they? He’d seen pictures like this…..the western United States? (he guessed). He was still dreaming though! Maybe Jack had decided to take him to an entirely different country! Jack laughed as if he knew exactly what Javi was thinking. “Still the US, Javi….just a couple thousand kilometers away from Miami…..and look!” He said pointing to a sign that read Red Rocks Amphitheater. Of course! He’d seen lots of pictures and read about the bands who performed here….and then he realized he was able to read English!
This looked much more promising than anything he’d seen in Miami, even the Atlantic Ocean….although it was a little cold here. Trying to ignore the goosebumps on his arms, he noticed that they were looking at the amphitheater seats from the stage. He felt the warmth of an arm around his shoulder……”Emilio!” he yelped, but Emilio seemed oblivious, as if Javi and Jack didn’t exist. He was beginning to wonder if they did exist! “What’s he doing here?” Javi whispered to Jack. Jack pointed to a tag dangling from Emilio’s shirt pocket. Over Emilio’s name and photo was a single word, “Manager.”
What? All the times they’d talked about Emilio being Javi’s manager….and Javi wasn’t sure he’d ever taken it seriously. He wanted everyone to believe in his dreams, but he’d never really believed in Emilio’s dreams? But before he could say anything, Emilio had disappeared.
What was next? he wondered. Javi turned his attention back to Jack’s spiel in his tour-guide voice, wondering what he’d missed.
“Yep! Almost 10,000 seats, Javi….and they’re just waiting to be filled with fans!” Jack gestured grandly towards the still empty seats” “I have 10,000 fans???” Javi squeaked. “Well, not YOU exactly….” Jack tried to back pedal, “I mean, you’re not the star…..not yet…you’re just the opening act,” wishing he hadn’t emphasized the word “just.” “You’re opening for Magneto…well, actually your one of the openers….”
Javi interrupted him, “Magneto? I’m opening for Magneto?” For Javi that was almost as exciting as being the opening act! Or one of them anyway. Jack had stopped speaking and was watching the sky uneasily. It had started to turn gray…..please, no! Not a thunderstorm. This was one of the worst dreams he’d ever been tasked with being a part of! But Javi seemed totally unaware of it….and maybe it would just blow over. It didn’t look that threatening….not yet anyway. Maybe he could get Javi off the stage before he noticed. He reached for Javi’s quivering hand and quietly snapped the fingers of his right hand.
The scene shifted again as Javi found himself in what he guessed was the coolest dressing room he’d ever seen, built right into the dusty red rocks! Of course, the only dressing rooms he’d ever seen were in the church back home, but still….and then he saw himself in the full-length mirror attached to the back of the door. “Jack….” he gasped, “Where did this…these…” “Oh! The clothes?” “And the hat!, ” Javi whispered. He’d never worn a hat like this in his entire life! “Well, you couldn’t go out there in your pajamas now could you?” And then Javi realized that Jack’s clothes had changed, too. The black fishnet was gone along with the faded jeans, but he was dressed nothing like Javi! Javi laughed at himself as he turned back and forth examining his outfit. He felt like a peacock! And he loved it! A red leather jacket with sparkly zippers over a coal black shirt and a pair of tight leather pants with ankle high boots to match. But the hat was his favorite part. Who knew he could look this good in a hat? He could certainly never dress like this back home!
And then suddenly he heard the crack of thunder….but he was outside…the dressing room had vanished..it wasn’t raining…..why were things moving so quickly?…..Jack sensed his fear and tried to slow things down. There….that was a little better.
Javi was onstage and he could sense the commotion going on around him. They were doing sound checks…..and someone was calling his name. The guitarist from the band at the cantina! It was his voice! Javi was holding a mic in his hand – where had that come from? – he was singing, but he couldn’t hear his voice. Yet he was harmonizing with someone….and he heard the faint sound of piano. And there were people in the amphitheater. Sometimes ten, sometimes a thousand and then maybe five thousand…..and then they were gone….but he could still hear the applause sometimes…and off-key voices singing lyrics that were apparently familiar to them. Did they know his songs? He kept trying to see who was onstage with him, but all he could make out was their clothing….or their voices sometimes……and then they were taking a bow……someone had an arm around his shoulder again, but it wasn’t Emilio……where was Jack? He wanted to tell him all about this….but shouldn’t Jack already know?……
“Javi!” He heard his name again. It wasn’t the guitarist…and it wasn’t whoever he’d been harmonizing with…..it had to be Jack. But the creature who appeared before him was definitely someone he would never call Jack. The angel was as wide as the sky, almost glowing, his wings glittering like solid gold. He was so stunned he didn’t know what to say or do. “Javi!” the angel boomed again, “Take these! This is your destiny and theirs!” Whose destiny? Who were “they”?
As Javi awoke, he found himself lying on his back with his arm outstretched as if reaching for…..he didn’t know! An angel named Jack had reverently placed something in his hand, but what? Nothing was in his hand. Well, of course, nothing was in his hand, it was a dream! he chastised himself. He longed to return to the oh-so vivid dream, but knew he couldn’t. So instead, he took a few moments to reorient himself, he reached for the worn notebook under his bed to record the dream before it disappeared into his psyche and was lost forever. No one was awake yet, but it wouldn’t be long.
Having finished detailing the dream, he laid the notebook beside him on the bed and closed his eyes for a few more minutes. Nothing anyone could give him for Christmas this year would be better than that dream, convoluted as it was. What did it all mean? He tried to push aside the first two scenarios, never wanting to think about that part of his destiny. He’d be living that part soon enough he always told himself so he tried to focus on the end of the dream. The clothes! The hat! The stage in front of 10,000 fans! And the band. He always knew he’d need a band of some sort, but he’d always pictured himself as a solo artist, not sharing the stage with anyone, all eyes on him. He’d shared the stage with his brothers all of his life. Hmmmm…..
He threw the covers back, reluctantly turning his attention from the dream to the homework he still had to finish before school. As always, he took the notebook to the closet moving clothes and shoes aside to find the box. He didn’t want anyone reading his thoughts and dreams while he was gone.
He lifted the cardboard lid that had seen better days and a glint of light caught his eye. He couldn’t see very well in the closet so he reached up to turn on the light that hung from the ceiling. The box filled with light and so did Javi’s eyes as he lifted one and then two and then a third gold star from the box. He laid them carefully on the floor beside him. These weren’t his! He certainly hadn’t put them here. What was going on?
He examined the front of each one closely, but didn’t see anything particularly special about them and he almost put them back in the box planning to inspect them more closely after he got home from school….but his curiosity got the better of him, so he turned them over. A delicate filigreed initial was engraved in the center of each star.
He carefully picked up the one with a J on it. He assumed that was for him? ***But who or what was A and R? J, A, R? Good things come in threes? “Jack?” he whispered nervously. He felt ridiculous, but maybe….just maybe….he’d get a answer. He waited as quietly as he could, hoping against hope, but nothing. After school he’d make a quick trip to the beach. Perhaps the sea would speak again. Perhaps.
But right now all he heard were raindrops….beating against his bedroom window……and the rumble of thunder…….he shook his head and sighed, carefully putting the golden stars away for another day….another time…..far, far away from this city by the sea.
***In other stories I’ve written, I’ve included a band with three members, Javi, Antonio and Rodrigo.
