Mike had just landed himself a bargain: he’d bought a second-hand boombox from an electronics store on 42nd street, New York. The guy behind the counter had even thrown in the latest Kool and the Gang single on tape to seal the deal. On the tape box, the group was posing proudly in front of a car, all wearing bell bottoms and their hair in Afros, just like Mike. All that for a steal at 20 bucks. Mike’s boom box even came with a sticker for the New York Knicks, Mike’s favourite team. “The Knicks’ll be back this season!” the sales clerk in the electronics store had assured him. You had to hope so, though they hadn’t won many of their games lately. Still, they had just signed a new star player, Magic Johnson, and the guy was unstoppable, like he had wings on his feet. Mike was eager to get home and check the calendar for the next Knicks game, since now he’d be able to follow it over the radio. He’d order himself a large pepperoni from the best pizza joint in the Bronx; the owner was half Italian, and didn’t skimp on the cheese or the hot sauce. How do you tell if it’s a good pizza? By the halo of grease it leaves on the box. The dough should be blistered, and the cheese should melt between your fingers. He’d enjoy it with a Pepsi, or a can of beer. And Nataly, of course, who could follow a Knicks game better than anyone. That reminded him, she was coming over tonight after work. She worked in a hair salon in Queens, and she always smelled of Monoï oil and almond lotion. Mike quickened his pace along 5th avenue; he’d switched on the radio on his boombox and the passers-by all turned their heads as a song by the Pretenders blasted from the speakers. Mike’s new toy was impressive; everyone wanted to get their hands on a boombox like that. Others looked at him with reproach; how uncouth to draw attention to oneself like that. But Mike didn’t care. Music was good for the soul, and all those killjoys should just stay home if they didn’t like it. The streets were a public place, so you had to be ready for a little music, a little joy, a little life! The streets were Mike’s favourite place. Any street in New York, as long as it was long and full of people.
Mike checked his watch as he walked through his door; only half an hour until Nataly arrived. He was planning to surprise her. He grabbed a bunch of the newspapers piled up in the corner of his apartment, tore them into strips and wrapped up the stereo. That would do it. Nataly knocked on the door. Mike had freshened up, and was wearing a neatly ironed pink shirt with his cap off. Nataly wrapped herself around him.
“What’s going on, honey? What’s that goofy smile for?” she asked.
“I got a surprise for you, sweetie,” Mike answered.
“A surprise!” she gasped. “I love surprises!”
“Careful! It’s fragile, just like you!”
Mike led her over the couch to sit down. “Close your eyes now,” he told her, before returning with the boom box wrapped up in newspaper, and setting it down gently on the Formica table. “OK, open.” Nataly tore open the package with glee. A boom box! “Push the button!” Mike encouraged her.
“Mmm, oh yeah
Oh, what a night
Oh, yes, it's Ladies' Night
And the feeling's right
Oh, yes, it's Ladies' NightOh,
what a night (oh, what a night)’
Like the song said, the feeling was right: the pair exchanged long, passionate kisses and let the music of Kool and the Gang carry them through till morning.
Alan Alfredo Geday
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