We drive past the city limits sign located on the outskirts of Macon. Traffic is moderate but no traffic jams. We look at the different stores as we pass. We finally get to the auditorium and it is packed. Nadene suggest that we park in front of a music store a few blocks away. We could both use the exercise. She looks at me and smirks "pregnant women need exercise".
I get out and walk around to the passenger side of the car. I open the door for Nadene and then make sure the car is locked. We put are arms around each other and stroll down the sidewalk toward the concert. The night air is fresh except for stinky smell of a distant papermill.
We walk a few blocks and take our place in the never ending line of people waiting to enter the concert. Looking at the different people in line is a show in itself. One dude has had too much to drink and runs behind a trash dumpster and pukes. Another couple share a joint together. Between tokes they look around to make sure security is not looking. We don't care. We are together and we are happy.
We finally get to the entrance and give our tickets to a kid working the gate. He tears it in half and gives us back part of it. We wander down the entrance and find a crowded place about fifty feet from the stage. An hour passes and we hear guitars being tuned up from behind the curtain. Another five minutes goes by and the concert starts. The music is loud and the stage lights zig zag over the stage with wild colors. Gregg Allman sits behind the hammond organ. Duane holding his Gibson Les Paul guitar nods at the band as his fingers glide up and down the fret board.
An hour goes by. We are enjoying the moment. The band pauses between songs. A security guard walks out on stage and takes the microphone. He blows into the mic to make sure it's working. He calls out my name to come to the information booth. Nadene looks at me with a disgust look on her face. She shakes her head "I hope the hell someone has not broken in our car, ....damn!"
I take her hand and we make our way thru the crowd. The band continues playing and the crowd is screaming and yelling. We finally make it to the information desk. I tell the security guard who I am. He points toward a police officer. We walk a few feet over to the officer. Again, ... I explain who I am. He shakes my hand and tells us to follow him to a storage room where we can talk. We follow him down a hall and into a room filled with boxes and folding chairs and tables.
Nadene is nervous. I ask the officer "So whats going on? Someone broke into our car?"
He takes off his cap. "Do you have a brother named Sam?"
I roll my eyes and shake my head. "What did he do this time??" I think about how I'm going to kick his ass for ruining the concert for us.
The officer puts his hand on my shoulder "no, no, .... nothing like that son. Sam has had heart attack."
Nadene grabs my arm and looks at the officer "which hospital did they take him to?"
The officer cleared his throat " I'm afraid he did not make to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at your house. I'm very sorry".
My mind is numb. Everything is silent. Nadene lays her head on my shoulder. I can feel her body shake as she sobs. This can't be happening to us. He's my older brother ... he can't die. We just saw him a few hours ago.
The officer leads us back to the entrance of the concert. "If there is anything we can do ... please let us know. Again, .... we are so sorry this happened."
We both start running toward the car. We have to get home. Hand in hand we run a few blocks until we are in front of the music store where we parked. We pause. We look at each other. Nadene screams "WHERE IS OUR F**KING CAR??"
I feel tears running down my face. I am angry and confused. I grab Nadenes hand and we run up a block to a 7-11 fast food store. I see a car parked out front running with the keys in it. I yell at Nadene "JUST GET IN THE CAR!!!"
We get in the car and haul ass out of the parking lot. Nadene is sitting on the passenger side with her head buried in her hands. I drive like hell. Around each curve the tires scream and squeel. Thirty minutes goes by like a minute! I keep thinking that I have to get to Sam! We turn on the dirt road that goes by our house. I floor it and the car fish tails as we go around each curve. I can see our house on the hill. There are red lights flashing in the driveway. We are hauling ass! Our driveway is in sight. The mail box is in the headlight beam. Then like in slow motion Ceaser darts out in front of the car ......................
I yank the steering wheel sharply. I hear a thump and a yelp. The car begins to slide. Nadene screams. Trees fly by the windows. Nadenes head hits the windshield. The car rolls. All is silent. All is black. I hear steam coming from the engine.
I crawl over to Nadene and she is looking at me with a blank dark stare. Her head is wedged underneath her weight and the ceiling of the car. I scream at her to move. Her brown eyes gaze at nothing. A trickle of blood drips from her mouth.
I am totally numb and hope to God this is a dream .........
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