Selected stories inspired from the recorded gems of the Delta blues, Chicago blues, Memphis blues and Texas blues. Called "the Devil's music," the stories of the blues goes beyond jump turns, slow drag ditties, reel, jigs, minstrel songs, ragtime, or the buzzard lope. These lyrics connected to these stories celebrate heartache, separation, distrust, betrayal, lust, but they promise a healing love of revival and renewal. It's a celebration of the present, of the now, and it's totally mad at the past and suspicious of the future. But who are kidding? Let us tell the truth. Really, the themes of this raucous collection often wallow in carnal pain, in the weakness of the flesh, and the temptation of sin. Taboo love, forbidden love. Sometimes it's just plain nasty. All of the good stuff.In Too Much Boogie, the spirit of the blues afflicts everybody. Within the emotional pull of the lyrics and its stirring music, there is a common language of the heart and the soul. Although the blues were born and bred in the land of Jim Crow by black people, it has nothing to do with class, color, or category. Even the rich get the blues and do dumb things. The book shows there is a pulse beating within each of us and that pulse is the blues.
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Stories include:
1. The Things I Used to Do by Alegra Verde
2. For Love or Money by Alice Sturdivant
3. Rocking Chair Blues by Jayme Whitfield
4. What's in the Box by Kalamu ya Salaam
5. Mother's Milk by Kevin James Breaux
6. Ask the Heart by Akua Lezli Hope
7. She Had to Go and Lose It at the Astor by D. L. King
8. The Summer of Bobby by Jolene Hui
9. Can't Be Satisfied by Gary Phillips
10. Midnight Special by Victor J. Banis
11. Tricked by Zander Vyne
12. Come for Me, Dark Man by Anne Tourney
13. Heaven is a Blues Café by Hzal
14. Red Eye by Lisabet Sarai
15. The Backup Singer by Rebecca Kyle
16. Hole by Remittance Girl
17. Once You Go Black by Amanda Fox
18. Goodbye Blues by Thomas S. Roche
19. Effects of Moonshine by Dorla Moorehouse
20. It's Tight Like That by Cole Riley
21. The Principal of the Thing by Savannah Stephens Smith
22. P.K. by Art Nixon
23. Warming Up by Maxmilian Lagos
24. My Strongest Weakness by C. Dennis Moore
25. Head Games by Robert Buckley
26. Sunday Morning by Dean Jean-Pierre
27. The Room by Nick Nicholson
28. Hurricane Love by Alicia Night Orchid
ROCKING CHAIR BLUES
Jayme Whitfield
“Kick up my furnace and turn up my heat
Brown my biscuits and chop my meat
That’s why I want him around
’Cause I’m the hottest gal in the town.”
Hottest Gal in Town — Lil Johnson (1940)
I.
IN AN ATTEMPT to escape the sweltering heat, Abraham ducked into the first shop he came across. The sign on the door read “Second Chances,” and he rolled his eyes at the cliché name of the used furniture store. He hesitated in the doorway, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the dim light. The room he found himself in wasn’t much cooler than the sidewalk had been, but a small fan in the back attracted his attention. Weaving his way past occasional tables and frayed settees, he finally reached the rear of the store. He looked around furtively, hoping the sales clerk hadn’t heard his entrance. He wanted a few minutes alone with the tepid air the fan was spreading around.
With a sigh of contentment, he unbuttoned the top of his shirt, hoping to allow some of the heat to escape. Sweat beaded on his forehead and pooled in the small of his back. He couldn’t remember a time when he’d been so uncomfortable.
“Makin’ yourself at home, I see.”
Startled by the woman’s voice, Abraham jumped. She laughed, a rich, throaty laugh that drew his eyes to her. She stood at the base of a stairwell about four feet from him. The lack of light made her features hard to discern, but what he could see of her form invited more inspection. Long legs led to broad hips and a small waist. Her breasts were large, barely contained by the thin green cotton dress she wore.
“Just tryin’ to escape the heat,” he replied.
“See something you like?”
Abraham was taken aback by the forward question, and then realized she must have been talking about the collection of used furnishings that surrounded him. Realizing that if he didn’t at least feign an interest, he’d be ejected from the shop, he pointed to the item closest to him—a wooden rocking chair with cane-webbed back and padded seat. Nodding her approval, the woman moved in his direction, coming to a stop only inches from him. He could feel the heat of her, smell her scent, a curious mixture of lavender, sweat, and Bourbon.
His gaze traveled over her face. She had wide hazel eyes that were fringed by dark lashes, high cheekbones, and full lips. Her skin was almost luminescent, like melted caramel dipped in honey. Thick black curls tumbled down her shoulders and he resisted the urge to touch the silky strands.
She laughed again, and then turned and sat in the chair he’d pointed to. She began to rock, her breasts rising and falling with the motion.
“This is the nicest piece in this backwater town,” she grinned up at him, the mischief in her eyes enchanting.
“Is that so?” He crouched down on his haunches, bringing them face-to-face again. She smiled, flashing him a glimpse of even, white teeth.
“Sure it is. I wouldn’t lie. She hasn’t gotten much use, only by a man or two. I’ll make you a deal—you give me $10 and she’s yours.” Her spiel over, she grinned at him. He laughed and ran his fingers up her bare arm.
“I don’t know, looks a lot more worn than you say. I’m not a wealthy man, and $10 is a lot of money for something that I might get one use out of, don’t ya’ think?”
Raising an eyebrow, she slid her tongue out and licked her bottom lip, as if she were considering his words carefully. Abraham was entranced.
Without warning, she jumped up from the chair. Her sudden movement startled him, causing him to lose his balance and fall onto his ass. She laughed, and then extended a hand to help him up. He caught it, clamping it tight in his own. Once he was back on his feet, he pulled her close to him, his arms circling around her back, her breasts tight against his chest. To his surprise, she didn’t fight him. Instead, she pulled his arms down until his hands were on her ass.
“Now listen here, cheapskate. That chair is the best around, ready to accommodate. The weaving is nice and tight, just right for a man your size.” She spun around and rubbed her ass against his obvious arousal. “Look at the curves, and those legs—long and sleek. And the color—no, you won’t find another one like it, especially at that price.”
“Not much use, eh?” he asked, his voice thick. “A man or two, you said. How do I know you’re telling the truth? I prefer the things that I pay for to be new. And I’m not cheap, just wary of being takin’ for a ride. How do I know the previous owner won’t come lookin’ for it—or that it has some fault that isn’t apparent to the naked eye?”
She pulled away, sitting in the chair, sliding her back down and her knees up. Her dress pooled around her knees, which she casually spread wide, giving him a view he wouldn’t soon forget.
“Well, sir—” she began, but he cut her off.
“Abraham.”
“Abraham, all I have left to say is that if you’re not buyin’ it, I’ll have to just keep sittin’ on it. I’m not in business to be giving things away. My rent has to be paid, same as the rest, and we both know this chair is the best around. So if you’re not interested, then I’ll just keep sittin’ on it—someone else’ll be along soon enough.” As she finished talking, she slid her thighs shut.
“Ten dollars, right?”
“That’s right, Abraham. Ten dollars and it’s yours. You can take it home, put it in your room, use it how you like.”
“I’ll take it.”
She laughed again, and then jumped up.
“Let me just take it in the back room and clean it up a bit, then I’ll have my boy bring it ’round to your address...”
“I’ll come with you and take it now, if you don’t mind.”
She stopped then, her green eyes flashing.
“I don’t think that would be such a good idea, Abraham...”
“But I do, and since I’m the paying customer, you know I’m right.”
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