Body and Soul (short story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox Story | {{Infobox Story SMW | ||
|main character = | |main character = | ||
|featuring = | |featuring = | ||
|enemy = | |enemy = | ||
|setting = | |setting = | ||
|writer = | |publisher = Obverse Books | ||
|anthology = | |writer = Paul Hiscock | ||
|release date = | |anthology = The Boulevard: Volume One (anthology) | ||
|release date = 1 June 2022 | |||
|series = ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' | |series = ''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]'' | ||
|prev = A Reasonable Man (short story) | |prev = A Reasonable Man (short story) | ||
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== Summary == | == Summary == | ||
=== February 1955 === | |||
=== | |||
[[Joe Barker]] stumbles down the street, drunk and depressed, frustrated with how his music had been ignored this past night in the club, how his last record had been a flop. A truck rushes in front of him as he's yanked back, but the trumpet in his hand ends up mangled. Standing over him is a [[Mephistopheles (Body and Soul)|man]] in a green [[zoot suit]], [[pork-pie hat]] and a skull mask who introduces himself as [[Godparent (rank)|Godparent]] Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles says that Joe should have died here tonight, but he's being offered a second chance, a gift from the [[loa]], a chance to replace that timeline with a new trumpet that he offers to him. | [[Joe Barker]] stumbles down the street, drunk and depressed, frustrated with how his music had been ignored this past night in the club, how his last record had been a flop. A truck rushes in front of him as he's yanked back, but the trumpet in his hand ends up mangled. Standing over him is a [[Mephistopheles (Body and Soul)|man]] in a green [[zoot suit]], [[pork-pie hat]] and a skull mask who introduces himself as [[Godparent (rank)|Godparent]] Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles says that Joe should have died here tonight, but he's being offered a second chance, a gift from the [[loa]], a chance to replace that timeline with a new trumpet that he offers to him. | ||
The next day, Joe discusses the events with his bandmates before going onstage to perform. This time, when he plays, the entire room turns to watch him and ends with rapturous applause. | The next day, Joe discusses the events with his bandmates before going onstage to perform. This time, when he plays, the entire room turns to watch him and ends with rapturous applause. | ||
===October 1955=== | === October 1955 === | ||
A friend of Joe's, a pianist who was travelling to record with [[Miles Davis]] has had a car accident and died. Joe takes some time alone in a bar while the rest of his bandmates go to pay respects to the family. Mephistopheles appears and Joe vents about how he feels betrayed for the pianist leaving him for Miles. Mephistopheles suggests he could stop now, but Joe insists that he's going to make it to the top one way or another. | |||
A friend of Joe's, a pianist who was | |||
=== August 1957 === | |||
A fight is started in a bar over Joe leaving his trumpet case on the floor. In the aftermath, since his band members are black they were thrown in jail where his drummer ends up dying. | A fight is started in a bar over Joe leaving his trumpet case on the floor. In the aftermath, since his band members are black they were thrown in jail where his drummer ends up dying. | ||
===September 1962=== | === September 1962 === | ||
Mephistopheles asks Joe again if he wishes to stop, but Joe insists that he's happy with the situation, that the next album is going to catapult him to the annals of history. | Mephistopheles asks Joe again if he wishes to stop, but Joe insists that he's happy with the situation, that the next album is going to catapult him to the annals of history. | ||
===December 1963=== | === December 1963 === | ||
Joe and the one original remaining band member leave the funeral of the bass player from their band. As the snow falls around them they play a song to send him off in style before the sax player says he wants to get out of the music scene. He says that Joe should leave too, it's not healthy. | Joe and the one original remaining band member leave the funeral of the bass player from their band. As the snow falls around them they play a song to send him off in style before the sax player says he wants to get out of the music scene. He says that Joe should leave too, it's not healthy. | ||
===April 1965=== | === April 1965 === | ||
Joe sets himself up with a new quintet and tries his best to get back into a rhythm. He ends up buying a drink for a fan of his, a woman named May. | Joe sets himself up with a new quintet and tries his best to get back into a rhythm. He ends up buying a drink for a fan of his, a woman named May. | ||
===July 1969=== | === July 1969 === | ||
Three years since he's put the trumpet down and Mephistopheles hasn't shown up to reclaim his gift. May insists that the whole thing was a product of drugs and alcohol, and that there's no need to go back to that life, his biggest fans are her and their unborn child. But even still, he can't help but miss it. | Three years since he's put the trumpet down and Mephistopheles hasn't shown up to reclaim his gift. May insists that the whole thing was a product of drugs and alcohol, and that there's no need to go back to that life, his biggest fans are her and their unborn child. But even still, he can't help but miss it. | ||
===January 1970=== | === January 1970 === | ||
Joe tells May that his old record company wants him to go on a concert in order to promote his songs to a new generation. He insists that he'd rather be with her, waiting for the baby to come, but it's easy money. The two part on strained terms. | Joe tells May that his old record company wants him to go on a concert in order to promote his songs to a new generation. He insists that he'd rather be with her, waiting for the baby to come, but it's easy money. The two part on strained terms. | ||
===February 1970=== | === February 1970 === | ||
The tour's going great. So well, in fact, that the record company has added another stop. Joe's frustrated, since he knows May won't be happy about this, and she's due to give birth in two weeks, but the young, gregarious, saxophone player in the band insists that it's nothing to worry about, it's just an extra four days. | The tour's going great. So well, in fact, that the record company has added another stop. Joe's frustrated, since he knows May won't be happy about this, and she's due to give birth in two weeks, but the young, gregarious, saxophone player in the band insists that it's nothing to worry about, it's just an extra four days. | ||
Joe shows up two weeks later to May's parents' house to be told he's not welcome. He insists that he's sorry, he knows that she's mad, but there was nothing he could do. May's father breaks down and recounts how May went into | Joe shows up two weeks later to May's parents' house to be told he's not welcome. He insists that he's sorry, he knows that she's mad, but there was nothing he could do. May's father breaks down and recounts how May went into labour three days ago and bled out screaming Joe's name, how Joe's son never took a breath. | ||
He travels back to the club where he first played that night all those years ago. And he plays again. | He travels back to the club where he first played that night all those years ago. And he plays again. | ||
Mephistopheles emerges from the audience, delighted, but insists that it's probably time to return the trumpet. Joe refuses, insisting that if he did it would just be passed off onto someone else. He dashes outside and throws it under and oncoming car. Mephistopheles is irritated - the trumpet was meaningless, just a normal instrument, but all of the energy it accumulated is gone now, and it will take some time to repair his relationship with the loa. | Mephistopheles emerges from the audience, delighted, but insists that it's probably time to return the trumpet. Joe refuses, insisting that if he did it would just be passed off onto someone else. He dashes outside and throws it under and oncoming car. Mephistopheles is irritated - the trumpet was meaningless, just a normal instrument, but all of the energy it accumulated is gone now, and it will take some time to repair his relationship with the loa. | ||
As a punishment, Mephistopheles ensures that Joe becomes a footnote in jazz history and occasionally in the [[Boulevard of Alternate Brutalities|boulevard]] you can hear the echoing notes of a trumpet flit out, never acknowledged, never celebrated. | As a punishment, Mephistopheles ensures that Joe becomes a footnote in jazz history and occasionally in the [[Boulevard of Alternate Brutalities|boulevard]] you can hear the echoing notes of a trumpet flit out, never acknowledged, never celebrated. | ||
== Characters == | == Characters == | ||
*[[Joe Barker]] | * [[Joe Barker]] | ||
* [[Mephistopheles (Body and Soul)|Mephistopheles]] | |||
*[[Mephistopheles (Body and Soul)|Mephistopheles]] | * [[May Barker]] | ||
*[[May Barker]] | |||
== | == Worldbuilding == | ||
* Mephistopheles is the name of the demon in Faust. | * Mephistopheles is the name of the demon in Faust. | ||
Latest revision as of 21:32, 17 January 2024
Body and Soul was the second story in The Boulevard: Volume One.
Summary[[edit] | [edit source]]
February 1955[[edit] | [edit source]]
Joe Barker stumbles down the street, drunk and depressed, frustrated with how his music had been ignored this past night in the club, how his last record had been a flop. A truck rushes in front of him as he's yanked back, but the trumpet in his hand ends up mangled. Standing over him is a man in a green zoot suit, pork-pie hat and a skull mask who introduces himself as Godparent Mephistopheles. Mephistopheles says that Joe should have died here tonight, but he's being offered a second chance, a gift from the loa, a chance to replace that timeline with a new trumpet that he offers to him.
The next day, Joe discusses the events with his bandmates before going onstage to perform. This time, when he plays, the entire room turns to watch him and ends with rapturous applause.
October 1955[[edit] | [edit source]]
A friend of Joe's, a pianist who was travelling to record with Miles Davis has had a car accident and died. Joe takes some time alone in a bar while the rest of his bandmates go to pay respects to the family. Mephistopheles appears and Joe vents about how he feels betrayed for the pianist leaving him for Miles. Mephistopheles suggests he could stop now, but Joe insists that he's going to make it to the top one way or another.
August 1957[[edit] | [edit source]]
A fight is started in a bar over Joe leaving his trumpet case on the floor. In the aftermath, since his band members are black they were thrown in jail where his drummer ends up dying.
September 1962[[edit] | [edit source]]
Mephistopheles asks Joe again if he wishes to stop, but Joe insists that he's happy with the situation, that the next album is going to catapult him to the annals of history.
December 1963[[edit] | [edit source]]
Joe and the one original remaining band member leave the funeral of the bass player from their band. As the snow falls around them they play a song to send him off in style before the sax player says he wants to get out of the music scene. He says that Joe should leave too, it's not healthy.
April 1965[[edit] | [edit source]]
Joe sets himself up with a new quintet and tries his best to get back into a rhythm. He ends up buying a drink for a fan of his, a woman named May.
July 1969[[edit] | [edit source]]
Three years since he's put the trumpet down and Mephistopheles hasn't shown up to reclaim his gift. May insists that the whole thing was a product of drugs and alcohol, and that there's no need to go back to that life, his biggest fans are her and their unborn child. But even still, he can't help but miss it.
January 1970[[edit] | [edit source]]
Joe tells May that his old record company wants him to go on a concert in order to promote his songs to a new generation. He insists that he'd rather be with her, waiting for the baby to come, but it's easy money. The two part on strained terms.
February 1970[[edit] | [edit source]]
The tour's going great. So well, in fact, that the record company has added another stop. Joe's frustrated, since he knows May won't be happy about this, and she's due to give birth in two weeks, but the young, gregarious, saxophone player in the band insists that it's nothing to worry about, it's just an extra four days.
Joe shows up two weeks later to May's parents' house to be told he's not welcome. He insists that he's sorry, he knows that she's mad, but there was nothing he could do. May's father breaks down and recounts how May went into labour three days ago and bled out screaming Joe's name, how Joe's son never took a breath.
He travels back to the club where he first played that night all those years ago. And he plays again.
Mephistopheles emerges from the audience, delighted, but insists that it's probably time to return the trumpet. Joe refuses, insisting that if he did it would just be passed off onto someone else. He dashes outside and throws it under and oncoming car. Mephistopheles is irritated - the trumpet was meaningless, just a normal instrument, but all of the energy it accumulated is gone now, and it will take some time to repair his relationship with the loa.
As a punishment, Mephistopheles ensures that Joe becomes a footnote in jazz history and occasionally in the boulevard you can hear the echoing notes of a trumpet flit out, never acknowledged, never celebrated.
Characters[[edit] | [edit source]]
Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Mephistopheles is the name of the demon in Faust.
Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]
- Joe states that the trumpet was a "Conn" brand, but that the second 'n' had worn away.
Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]
to be added
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