-Reliving The Blues

[Words to Image. Tagging a story to a random picture.]

Willie D had spent many years playing the Blues. He always quoted the phrase, "You can't play the Blues if you ain't lived the Blues." And that he did. He had spent most of his adult life fighting against the current. Countless nights without any sleep, playing the circuits. Swallowing smokestack amounts of barroom nicotine, despite having never taking up the habit. The loss of a wife. She still lives with her new boo and sometimes visits Willie's performances with him. The Blues always seem to pour out of his guitar much easier on those nights. A daughter who is distant from him and rarely visits, to the tune of maybe four times a year, if he's lucky. Willie's age is old, and his body is even older. The epitome of a man broken down, just barely surviving. Willie never smiles anymore.

He sat alone, curbside, on a discarded kitchen chair that was left for trash and waited on the 4:15. His guitar rested on the sidewalk by his feet. Willie looked tired, almost ready to throw in the towel.

"And how are you, my fine gentleman?" he heard a strange voice call out.

Willie jumped. The stranger stood directly behind him with a cheesy smile. He wore threads somewhere between a car salesman to a pimp.

"And why are you looking all sad, my brotha?"

Willie gathered his thoughts.

"I'm tired."

"Tired Man? You're just sit'n there. Now, how much energy can you be burning, just sit'n there, right on your behind?'

"Life. I'm tired of life."

"Oh, yeah. You're that Willie D guy. I recognize you now. Mr. Bluesman. Play'n the blues. Tired of life. Distraught and ready to give up. What a shame, indeed."

Willie thought he was be made fun of. He turned away.

"Mr. Bluesman, what would you say if I told you that you still have seven more years on this Earth, playing the Blues, living the Blues, before you check out?"

Willie said nothing.

"But ... lucky for you that I came along when I did. Check this out ... what would you say if I gave you the opportunity to swap the next two years of your life, trade'm out for something better, something happier, and all you gotta do is give up the last five, to me? Two for five. Two carefree happy years, a life of happiness, instead of seven more of the same ol shit you're doing right now. No worries. Not a care in this world. Just laugh'n and sing'n and have'n a grand ol time. And all you got to do is say yes and give up the last five. It'll be worth it, Bluesman. I wouldn't lie to you."

Willie turned and said, "I would say you're a damn fool. And probably drunk, at that. Just move along."

The stranger walked around to the front of him and said, "Now, where are my manners? I haven't properly introduced myself. You can call me Cool Kat. And what Cool Kat has to offer the tired Bluesman is a little bit of this."

Cool Kat put both hands together, rubbed them, as if he was warming up, and then opened them. A sphere of blue magic began to materialize between them, snapping and crackling and rotating.

Now, what I'm offering you is a one-time deal, and it has an acceptance time limit. If I walk away ... Ding Ding Ding, times up, no deal. What'cha say, Mr. Bluesman? You ready for a change?"

Willie was mesmerized by the magical sphere. He glanced up at Cool Kat's eyes.

"What's the catch?"

"It's simple. Like I said, two for one and in return you get to be happy again, no matter what. But ... and here's the rub you were asking about ... you don't get to keep your body. You get a new one. Part of the happy. Besides, that old one you're strum'n, right there, is just about as worn out as a hooker in, well, that's not important. Let's stay on track, shall we?"

"Do I get to choose my new body?"

"Oh, no no no. I don't even get to choose that. The universe decides. Whatever it gives you, you get. No guarantees, my man. But ... if you're happy again, why not do it? It'd be just a minor adjustment for a better payoff."

Cool cat stepped back and threw both hands into the air. The blue disappeared.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. I'm just the man making the deals. I don't right the rules."

Cool Kat stepped back in and returned both hands to their previous position, reclaiming the magical sphere. By now, Willie was still skeptical, but he couldn't quite shake the awesomeness of the it.

"What happens to my last five years? What's the deal?"

"What's the deal with your last seven if I walk away?" was all Cool Kat replied.

Willie thought for another moment and then placed his hand down on his bum knee. His old body was enticed by this offer.

"What's it gonna be, Mr. Bluesman?"

Sure. Why not? Let's do this. I ain't got much to lose, really."

"Cool Kat thought you might be a taker," he said with a smile larger than Texas. "Mr. Wille D, Bluesman extraordinaire, welcome to your new life.'

Cool Kat separated both hands again but this time a giant wave of energy consumed them both.

Willie D has never been happier. He's accepted the 'minor adjustment' and plays his guitar every day without a care in the world.

[Did you honestly wonder how I was going to tie this story into the image? HaHa. Play on, Bluesman]