Murdo tried the door again.
You try the back? Usually they’re to the back.
Thanks. Murdo stepped back to the pavement and saw a man approach. Murdo waited. The man said: You got business there? The man looked him up and down. What you doing here?
Nothing.
Nothing!
Well like just friends. I thought they’d be in.
They aint in.
Aw. Murdo stared back at the house.
You know these people?
Yeah.
Who d’you know, Henry? You know Henry?
He’s Sarah’s Dad. It’s really Sarah and Joel I know.
Okay. Okay… The man was staring at Murdo. Henry’s up in Clarksdale, he said. He’ll be back later. The rest gone to Louisiana, gone with Queen Monzee-ay.
Aw jees.
Big music festival.
Yeah.
Is that a problem?
No. I was just hoping to go with them. I thought maybe like I would catch them before they went.
Right.
Is Lafayette far?
The man shrugged. Hit the I-55 take a right through Baton Rouge, that’s the I-10 — which way you facing? The man peered sideways. You got a car?
A car?
You aint got a car?
No.
Right. You come on the bus here?
Yeah.
Okay.
Actually I was wondering, do people ever hitch? I mean like hitch-hiking?
Hitching a ride?
Yeah.
You come on the bus here. You take one out of here. Okay? Dont you go hitching.
Okay.
The man waited while Murdo adjusted the rucksack and walked on. Murdo glanced back at him. Thanks, he said.
The man nodded, but hadnt moved. Murdo should have said to tell Henry. Probably he would. Definitely he would. He glanced back but the man wasnt there. It was all very well saying not to hitch a lift but if ye didnt have money and ye had to get someplace what else did ye do? apart from walk! A mile here and a mile back. It was the time ye spent too. This was the afternoon already! Time time time, ye just like always were having to watch the bloody time. He began striding.
Less than a minute later a small truck pulled up alongside him and it was the same man. The passenger side window rolled down and he called: Hey. Alright? Come in here, I’ll take you. The bus station?
Yeah.
I’ll take you. The man gestured Murdo inside.
Aw ye dont have to!
No. The man laughed a moment. No, he said, I dont. Come on in.
Murdo hesitated a moment. No, really, it’s okay, but thanks. I’m just going to like…thanks, I’m fine walking.
The man smiled.
I’m fine walking.
You sure about that?
Yeah I mean… Murdo shrugged. Thanks.
Okay. The window closed and the man drove off.
That was funny. Murdo was nervous. It wasnt anything. He was but, just like — nervous. Although a lift, if he had wanted one. Although it wasnt far to the bus station. Only he had to move fast. He strode on.
Outside the pawnshop he faced into the window while checking his money. The original $290 sounded a fortune but once ye spent money on bus-fares it wasnt so much. Then an accordeon, jeesoh. Money didnt last. The one displayed here had no price tag that he could remember.
Entering the shop set off the security chime. A part security grille was fixed round the counter. So people couldnt jump over and grab the stuff. Plenty interesting: rifles, knives, handguns, tools and some brilliant electronic stuff like if he had the money: phones, tablets and headsets; good stuff, plus all the musical instruments; diamonds, rings and jewelry things. Two men were at one section examining power tools and heavy-looking outside equipment. Nobody was serving. Then from the rear room came the same older woman as before, the smell of tobacco strong on her. Hi, she said. You buying today?
Eh well maybe.
We got a good sale on some fine quality goods. You interested in buying?
Yeah well the accordeon, there was an accordeon.
Oh, yeah.
I saw it in the window a few days ago.
You certainly did. That most beautiful accordeon.
It was down in price, said Murdo.
Mm. If we still got it. The woman vanished into the rear. She soon returned lugging the accordeon. I got it! she said. She hoisted it onto the counter and stood a moment to regain her breath. She smiled, admiring it, then looked to see Murdo. Selling for eighty-five dollars only now can you believe it? This most beautiful beautiful thing. That is a sale. Was a hundred and twenty-five and we’ve reduced that price to sell to you this very day.
Can I try it?
The woman smiled, but had not understood him. Murdo gestured at the accordeon. Can I try it?
Oh my dear why surely you can try it! Of course you can try it. The woman opened the wire grille. Murdo lifted it through to examine. It belonged to a proper musician, she said, a real proper musician. He was a smart man too. Yes he was.
Murdo slipped the strap on over his shoulders. The woman watched with interest. He played a little, listening and getting the feel of it. It’s not too bad, he said.
The woman smiled but uncertainly. Was a hundred and twenty-five and we’ve reduced that price to you.
It’s actually not as good as it looks, said Murdo.
Eighty-five dollars. The woman smiled.
Has it got a case?
A case? Oh now, she said. Eventually she returned with one from the rear. She laid it on the counter and made out the receipt even although he hadnt said he was buying. The case had a separate price tag. The woman glanced over at the two men checking out the tools, then took the price tag off the case, and said quietly, Eighty-five dollars and the box goes with it.
Thanks.
She smiled. You play something for me? Something nice?
Murdo adjusted the strap and began on “The Bluebell Polka”. The woman was taken aback. She maybe expected a novice. Murdo had been playing this since he was a boy. It was one of the first he learned properly and was just about the first request he ever got from old people, beginning from his granny and grandpa when they were alive.
The pawnshop woman watched and listened. Oh my dear, she said, that is God’s gift, that is just God’s gift.
The two men were looking over too. Murdo played into a quite popular slow tune, and a particular arrangement he had been trying recently. It got an emotion he liked, just something good.
He ended the playing. Okay, he said, that’s fine. He opened the box then shrugged off the accordeon, laid it in the case. The buckle fastening was strong enough although maybe a little tightening would have helped. The woman was watching. That thing is heavy, she said, passing him the receipt.
Yeah. Murdo brought the money from his pocket. Once he had the change of two $50s he crossed the street to the bus station.
That was him now. That was the trip worthwhile. It didnt matter about Sarah’s family all being away, he would just pay the full bus-fare money and that was that. Even if he changed his mind, it was too late.
Allentown bus station: he felt comfortable just walking in the door. The woman behind the ticket and information counter was the same as before. She looked at Murdo. Maybe she recognized him.
The bus to Jackson was busy but the one from there to Baton Rouge was only a third full, so a double seat to himself; it was great. He had one sandwich left. He also had an apple and a banana. The banana skin had gone black but fine inside when peeled. He ate it then brought out the book he was reading, and laid it on the pull-down tray. He settled back, closing his eyes. It was not a great accordeon but it was okay. He smoothed his hand over the box, then opened it to see inside. No point lifting it out.
He was still hungry. Maybe he would eat the sandwich. It was late now and still a while to travel.