Erik

This is a drunk story of a different sort. I need to set up the story a bit:

Some years ago, when I was about 22 or so, I went to Tobago for several days to visit the island and to see my great uncle play piano. He was in his 70s and retired at the time. In his heyday, he was a piano player in a big band that toured all over the Caribbean Islands, a sort of Buena Vista Social club of its time. He had been asked by a couple of friends to join in a band that played for one of the resorts on the island. He and the other men were having the time of their lives reliving their youth.

I stayed in a guestroom in his villa, relaxing during the day, dressing up in casual flouncy dresses at night to hear him and his friends play. They were really very good, everyone got up and danced, me being in the center of the fray.

The lead singer was a Carib mix (someone of Caucasian and Carib Indian descent) in his mid 60’s who looked as good as a man at least 10 years his junior. He was in excellent shape and had full head of bright silver hair, and the most amazing blue eyes set against dark, island tanned skin.

He had been arguing with my uncle because I had not seen the nightlife on the island, which was legendary. So somehow, he convinced my uncle to let me out with him…

Well, I was already well on my way down the tipsy path at the Resort and took him up on his offer. At first we went to the other resorts, then we went to some swanky little night clubs where we imbibed the islands best concoctions. Next, we went out to this large, outdoor party, hosted by DJ’s where the dancing was wild. My host was quite the dancer, a champion in his day. I was the one having trouble keeping up.

Needless to say by that time of the night I was hanging all over this man; me a young, little thing being inappropriate no doubt. But he treated me like the gentleman he was. He was strutting around like the proudest man alive with me on his arm, and I was completely playing the part of his girl. I made him absolutely glow when I refused the advances of some good looking younger men to sit on his lap with my arms around his neck as they gazed on…

After the late night places closed, we sneaked back into the resort and “borrowed” a bottle of liquor, don’t ask me what, and strolled onto the beach. It was a warm night, I will never forget it- bright full moon, stars all around, endless lights flickering on the sea.
Just perfect…

We walked out, laughing hysterically about some nonsense, along a natural jetty on the edge of a cove, tiptoeing on exposed rocks and coral in our tipsy states. I still don’t know how we did not break our necks. We stood, arms entwined and looked for shooting stars talking about the things that really mattered. I soaked up his advice like a sponge.

Eventually, we had to leave the jetty as the tide came in, and we lay down together on the beach, surrounded by a light beach blanket. He told me about his life as a sailor, how he was a scoundrel in his time, and what he had wanted to be his life.

I fell asleep with my head on his chest, but I don’t think he slept a wink. I woke up just as dawn was approaching, and together we watched the sunrise. He held me close and told me with great honesty that he had a wonderful time and that I made an old man very happy. I replied with “I don’t see any old man, just a handsome gentleman”. He gave me an innocent little kiss right there that morning, and took me back to my uncles’ place to face his friend’s wrath…

I never saw him again. I found out later that he had died from some form of cancer several months after our night. He knew he was dying when he was with me, but never said anything about it. I was devastated.

So, on moonlit nights, on the beaches overlooking sparkling seas, I walk along a jetty if I can find one. I close my eyes and find myself back with him, listening to him sing, and dancing in the ballroom of the hotel….

His name was Erik