Page 64 - The Jazzsipper Novel

63

THE JAZZ SIPPER

he would have stood up on the charge from the beginning. Especially knowing
it was his gun and murder charge.

Vance told Babu to watch his back. And Babu told him to do the same
because he heard that Regina had him whipped, they both started laughing
and joking with each other. Before they dapped and went their separate ways
Babu said and yeah man, I want you to be the godfather of my kid because if
something happens to me, I know you would have my back and take care of
him or her, and help raise him or her like it was your own. Definitely, Vance
replied and they looked at each other like true blood brothers. They were silent
only for a moment but it seemed like a life time.

Babu asked Vance what was the name of that Jazz cut by Thelonious Monk
that he use to play in the hospital, the one that the old guy he was sharing the
room with liked him to play all the time. Vance thought for minute, you’re
talking about the cut “Round Midnight”. Yeah, that’s it Babu said, and he just
smiled, like that was the most peaceful thing he had heard in a long time. As
Vance began leaving, he started thinking about how God really did work in
mysterious ways; he had heard Aunt Jessie talk about that a lot. Vance figured
if he would not have been shot, he would have been in the car with Babu, Lou
and Tee. But instead he had been in the hospital, which gave him time to
meet his Love Supreme and it gave him time to reaffirm his aspirations for his
life. Also he was able to reconnect back to Uncle Frank and Aunt Jessie. But
most of all he was able to get back to his love of Jazz, a pivot turning point
that helped him get his life back on track. As Vance continued walking from
uptown in the Business District to home in the 7th ward, he felt like every step
he was taking was leaving the old Vance behind and the new Vance was
emerging. He became nervous for some strange reason but, he heard that