Asturias Read Online Free Page B

me.
    â€œWell, Max. You’d better fill the boy in on what you’re planning for him. Maybe he’s not interested in fame and fortune.” Then he turned back to Alex. “Goodbye, son. I have the feeling we might be seeing a lot more of you.”
    When he was gone, the tension in the booth eased, and I saw Terry, the engineer, physically slump. Claire moved across and began massaging the boy’s shoulders, and he reached up, covering her hand with his own.
    I reached out a hand.
    â€œCongratulations, Alex. You’re in.”
    He shook my hand, but his gaze was steady and penetrating.
    â€œWhat exactly am I in?” he asked.
    So I told him.
    ALEX’S STORY
    My father was at work when I got home. Night shift. Claire dropped me off, but she didn’t stay. So it was just Abuelito and me.
    My grandfather was sitting in his chair looking out of the window when I told him the news. I was excited and I needed to share it with someone.
    He didn’t look at me, didn’t say a word. A silence stretched between us that I didn’t understand, and I felt the sudden need to break it.
    â€œWell?” I asked. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”
    Slowly he turned his head from the window.
    â€œI think I like to go to bed now. You want to help me?”
    Supporting his arm, I led him upstairs to the bedroom. Questions revolved in my head. I didn’t understand his reaction.
    His lack of reaction.
    As he climbed painfully into bed, I tried again.
    â€œAbuelito, what is it? What is the matter?”
    Whenever I spoke with him, I could hear my accent changing slightly. Thickening. As a kid I used to fight it, but it always slipped in, and after a while I gave up. But tonight I was suddenly aware of it again. Without ever doing anything, the old man had always had a strange power over me.
    He looked out of red-rimmed eyes, his face expressionless.
    â€œThis is what you want?”
    Maybe he didn’t understand. He hadn’t been there when Max had explained it.
    â€œOf course it is what I want! No one gets offered a chance like this. Why would I not want it?”
    â€œThis music. That you will play … Is electric?”
    I began to understand where he was leading.
    â€œYou know it is. Rock, pop … I don’t know. Whatever it takes to make it. Try to understand. I am being offered a chance that thousands would sell their souls for. I —”
    â€œAnd you?” he cut in. “You would sell yours?”
    â€œIt’s just an expression. Abuelito, it’s music, it’s not religion.” It came out more harshly than I meant it to, but I pressed on. This was my big break, and I wasn’t going to let him ruin it for me. “There is no such thing as ‘traditional’ and ‘modern’. There never has been. That’s all crap. It’s music. And it’s my life. You never minded up until now. Even when I was fourteen, I was doing sessions. What did you think I was playing? Malagueña ?”
    I hated to fight with him. Even at his most annoying, I loved the old man. But he didn’t seem to want to understand.
    He shook his head.
    â€œWhen you are little boy, I tell you no go in my room. You remember?”
    I nodded, and he continued. “And you go in. Every time. You think I no see it? You think I sleep all time?” He smiled. “Why you think I tell you no?”
    It was not a question that expected an answer. I waited. After a few seconds he went on.
    â€œI say no because … something there is in there I want you to want. Want you to want so bad, you disobey me.”
    I sat down on the bed and he placed his hand on my knee. He looked up at the wall where the two guitars had once hung, then he looked back at me.
    â€œYou so much like him … But he was wrong. And you are wrong. Electric, no electric. New, old. Is just music. Is not life. You play … sessions, you make money, was good.