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Observing Bird at the Bar (an original story of fiction....)
by Kevin Wilson on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 7:10pm

Charlie Parker and I are drinking in a bar. I ignore him even though I know who he is. I'm a big fan. Bird ignores me because he's drunk, two hours late for his gig, & desperately trying to get the bartenders attention. She's pretending to ignore him which is hard to do because it's just me, Bird, and the bartender."I need another beer" Bird loudly demands slightly slurring. He bangs the top of the bar with his hand to punctuate his request. The bartender is too busy putting matchbooks in a cognac glass. She's taking her sweet time too. She fills the glass, puts the box of matchbooks under the bar and turns to address Bird. "Don't you have a gig to do, Bird?" She's obviously accustomed to him and has probably played out this scene with him many times before. " Bird can't fly until sufficiently high". he replies reaching into his pocket for the remaining Benzedrine tablets he's saved. I'm slowly nursing my second beer staying only to watch this bittersweet scene in the life of one of my heroes, Charlie Parker. It's a reality check, an affirmation in all man's mortality. Bird is sweating profusely I notice as he washes down his remaining bennies with the fresh beer the bartender has set in front of him. She doesn't even look at him but I'm trying hard not to stare. I surmise that he couldn't score today. Charlies appetite for drugs is even bigger than his notorious appetite for food and sex. His audience is waiting unaware that Bird isn't ready to fly just yet. He drains his beer, leaves some cash on the bar, puts on his coat and walks toward the door. Before he steps outside he turns, tips his hat at me, and smiles. "your next ones on me, kid". He then disappears into the night. One month later he's dead.

Jazz will kill you..........

Did you just blush?

Of course......this never actually happenned. Bird died way before I was born.........