"you know your gonna kill me..."
"well maybe you should get yourself fit..." she chuckled to herself, as I poked her ribs playfully...
"I think I need a better trainer for sure..."
"she rested her head on my chest and murmured "mmm"
I laid with her, and stroked her hair, I checked the clock on the side table... six thirty.
"babe, I've gotta start making a move, I need to head to the gig, I've got things to run through and check..."
she lifted her head, "really? is it that time already?"
I nodded my head.. " you wanna join me?" Madison nodded, "yeah, I'd love to, can I see the show too?"
I shook my head, "sure" Madison got up and headed to the bathroom, I swung my legs over the bed and lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply, too much as it caused me to cough; and my eye's stung as I continued to cough. Madison came to the bathroom door, "seems I aint gonna be the only one to kill you, those things definitely will..."
I shook my head in between gasping and still coughing... "I know right, but they are a hard habit to break."
"well try ok?"
I stubbed out the end, having had only one pull, and the rest of the time coughing, "think I'm gonna, I've not coughed like that for a long time. Still coughing I made my way to the bathroom and freshened up, back in the bed room and dressed the call came to the room, the car was waiting ready to take me to the gig, instinctively I picked up my wallet, cell and cigarettes, Madison eyed me,
"what?"
"after near coughing your lungs up, your still taking them with you..."
"look, I cant stop just like that, ok, I will try I promise, but baby steps ok... I'll cut down first, and take it from there..."
she cocked her head to one side and gave me that look, that said, yeah right... throwing her a stink eye back, she conceded, and stood next to me, "if you say so... but I am begging please try it's a disgusting habit, and..." she stopped, "What don't stop there? tell me..."
"promise you wont get pissy first?"
I laughed, "pissy about what?"
"What I'm gonna say?"
still laughing I answered, "ok, I promise to not get pissy, now tell me already..."
"well, when we kiss and you have been smoking real hard..."
"yeah" she was dragging it out, still fearful to tell me...
"erm, thing is, its like kissing an ashtray, the stale taste of cigarettes is so strong..."
I looked at her, no one had ever said that too me before, I was conscious of not wanting to be that person that stunk of stale smoke and definitely not tasted of it, lamely I protested.....
"but I chew gum after?"
"umm maybe you do, but that just takes away the immediate taste, I'm sorry really but I've gotta be honest, more so after your coughing fit today..."
I kissed her cheek, "i really will try, honest, now can we go?"
she smiled at me and shook her head.
In the SUV on route to the venue, my cell rang, "yo, what's up Rich?"
"What how that happen?, ok, i'm on my way, I'll sort it...I said I'll sort it..."
I hung up the call as Madison looked at me, "everything ok?"
"yeah everything fine, just a minor hiccup, it happens..."
I didn't want to discuss band business with Maddi, so sat silently looking out of the window and running through the set list for the evening ahead.
When we arrived we got out and made our way through the doors and down to the stage. rich and the guys were playing and listening to the sound that played back through the speakers, Maddi went and sat in the pit seats as I joined my band on stage, "show me the damage Rich?" he took my arm and led me left of the stage, sitting looking at me was my tackamine guitar, the lacquer all blistered and bubbled.... I went to touch it as rich pulled my hand back, "yo are you crazy?, that could be acid on there, you wanna another cancelled gig?"
"well how the stage hands bring it out?"
rich raised his eyebrows, "I dunno.. ill check, just don't touch anything already ok?"
I shook my head and agreed, I was gutted, that was my original guitar that I bought after graduating with honours with my teacher Al Perinello, now it was blistered and broken, a heavy sigh left my body as rich returned with the stage hand.
"Josh, any idea how this happen?" Josh was a new kid, taken on by my brother Tony, one of the sons of my regular roadies, he stood looking scared to death before he answered me.
"It wasn't me Mr Bongiovi, honest, I just brought out the case and unhinged the lid, I spoke to Matt and he said to leave it here and he would sort it later..?
"was there any fluid on the case or anything, you know something that told you it had been tampered with?"
"no sir?"
just then Matty came over, "Jon, sorry bout the guitar man,"
"What you did it?"
"no, well kinda, look not like that, the driver of the truck, he needed a new battery as his old one was dead, we were changing them over when the old one tipped and battery fluid leaked out onto the case. we hosed it down but some must of leaked through to the guitar.... I'm sorry..."
Still looking at my prized possession, I looked to Matt, well I tell ya bro, your gonna pay for it... you got my spare? "
"Yeah, its on its way now, it will be here for the show..."
grabbing the electric I walked out to join the rest of the guys, with Rich too and we fired up and played through a few songs ready for the nights show. the damage to my guitar had real upset me, but I hoped I could put it behind me and still give a good gig....
