Date Posted:12:47:59 08/18/10 Wed Author: Debi Subject: Thank you Esther! and an intro to Cyrus inside. In reply to:
Myxtress
's message, "Very nice Debi! Very sweet and in character and >>>" on 11:19:59 08/18/10 Wed
I don't recollect Cyrus. But my first impression of him
>was that he's a fun-lovin' kind of guy and that is
>reinforced when he's so serious that it makes Valerie
>lose her nervous tendency to giggle.
He's an old friend and always hangs out with them on their Thanksgiving gathering and music jam. Here's my intro from near the end of Old Dogs.
excerpt from Old Dogs., copyright Debi Matlack 2009-2010, all rights reserved. Posted for sharing purposes only; does not constitute publication.
***
An impromptu amphitheatre had sprouted on the sandy clearing at the shoreline, and people began to drift that way. Most of them carried instruments and lawn chairs which began to ring the bed of wood, people settling in to listen and participate. A few stragglers were coming down the driveway, Valerie greeting most of them with a hug. A big black man stopped when he saw her and grinned, putting down the plastic five-gallon bucket he carried.
“Val, I’m glad to see you home.”
“Cyrus!” She had to stand on tiptoe to reach him but he scooped her into a bear hug, lifting her feet off the ground. “I’d have thought you’d have enough sense to stay away from my brother after all these years.”
Cyrus chuckled, a deep soft sound. “Nah, he’s the only white boy I know can play the blues like it’s supposed to sound, outside of Eric Clapton, and him I don’t know personally.”
“How’s Cheryl and the boys?”
Cyrus nodded back toward the driveway. “You can ask them yourself, they’ll be here in a couple of minutes.”
“Still playing the bucket?”
“You know it. It sounds like a whole drum kit now, except for the cymbals, and it’s a helluva lot more portable.”
She gestured toward the crowd gathering. “Go make yourself at home. Let me finish up a couple of chores and we’ll get started.”
