Being Fed - Melody Cryns

“As usual, you’re full of shit!”
She was sick and tired of always hearing how great he was, what a great dad he was to his kids, how he always put everyone else before him, blah blah, and blah blah blah some more…

She thought she’d heard it all – a not bad looking 50-something chick she was.

She chuckled when she thought of that guy Harold who said he’d graduated from law school – but that he also had been a dog groomer for famous actors and actresses, and of course he new all the rock n’ roll stars – as the whiskey flowed, the BS became more obvious, louder and thicker – Harold would sashay out to the car to take swigs of whiskey from a bottle in the trunk because the shots in the bar became too expensive. When Melody first encountered Harold in the bar, she thought he was charming – he swept her off her feet with his dancing, swinging her around the dance floor with ease…making it so easy even though Melody only knew how to get out on the dance floor and boogie.

At first, Harold was interesting, then Melody began to realize that he was feeding her a line of BS.

Then there was Scotty, ohhhh Hottie Scotty, the drummer, so cute and charming…he really seemed to like Melody and he sat on a couch next to her in the back of JJ’s Blues Clubs while Harold was doing something out front – and he’d looked right into Melody’s eyes with those big brown eyes, touched her hand softly and said, “Oh, if I could, I’d be all over you right now…”

Melody melted over Hottie Scotty – and one Saturday night, he came over when her daughter was gone for the weekend and they went for it in a big way. But it was only a physical encounter, nothing more and nothing less…Scotty, the tall, dark and handsome cuitie would forever be the “one night stand” guy, or make that “several nights” if he could get away with it.

Then there was Tim, who started coming on to her almost right away – he didn’t even give Melody a chance to decide if that’s what she wanted. His line was, “Why have you been single for so long? I don’t get it.” And onward it went with wanting to buy her drinks and then get her up in his hotel room. But she didn’t quite fall for that one.

But the biggie, the one who stole Melody’s heart, was the tall, 6 foot 5 inches Irish guy with the inviting blue eyes, graying hair and incredible smile – Mike H. It didn’t matter that he’d had a stroke a year and a half ago prior…

Melody had a soft spot for Mike H. and could never say no to him…never. Even though in her heart she knew she should…

Mike H. gave Melody a ukulele and he also gave Melody hope – that it is possible t have feelings for someone, but then even Mike H. is full of shit sometimes…like when he told Melody that he and his wife had been separated for many years, that they’d lived in different houses until he had the stroke and almost died – and now he had to live with her because she’d stepped up to the plate when he needed her most. Mike doesn’t say things twice, but he did say that twice, “She stepped up to the plate.”

But on those occasions when Melody and Mike H. get together, it’s like magic – and they have ways of making each other feel good that are difficult to explain yet warm and pleasant.

Melody invited Mike H. to the big ukulele jam in downtown Mountain View on Monday night – to help lead the large group of people playing ukes and singing – after all, Mike had given me the uke and he had a beautiful, booming baritone singing voice and way more musical talent and background than anyone else I knew – but who knew she’d be sitting at a table with Mike H., and his wife and daughter who also decided to come to the uke jam on a Monday night?

She’d never met Mike’s family before – they always seemed so distant and far away. The sounds of ukulele chords playing and people singing filled the air of the coffee shop and spilled outside, while Melody sat there enveloped by the music…she new Mike sometimes was filled with B.S., and sometimes she wanted to yell it, but she wouldn’t…