The bass player

Every Friday there was a teen canteen. A local band would play, and she always went. Sometimes with her friends, sometimes with her brother. Most girls would have crushes on the lead singer, or the drummer. She was a bass guitar girl. They always looked so cool. Unlike the lead guitar player who usually jumped all around, the bass player stood still. Once in a while one would even keep his sunglasses on. She loved the low sound, like a heartbeat.

That night she was alone. She stood to the side and watched him the entire set. When they took a break, he headed for her. She knew he would. They talked about music. He was surprised she played guitar. He asked her to wait until the end of the night. She did.

They sat on the stage for two hours. They played songs. She sang, he sang, they sang together. The other band members came and went. The cleaning crew finished, but stuck around to listen. It was the closest to being in the limelight that she ever came. Less than a year later she put down her guitar and never played again.

But she had that night.