James Kelman - Dirt Road

She did not smile with the other musicians unless called for in the track. So ye were just like totally in the music all the time, ye didnt see anything else except them in their music while you were in yours and all what it was doing: making sure of the next thing along, where it came and how it came, including the bits inbetween like the “silences”, except measured. So if it is like silence how can it be measured? Ha ha, the Zadiks bass and drummer knew, so did Murdo.

Each track played had been on the CDs. No surprises. Queen Monzee-ay introduced the first of her own, “L’air frais fait du bien”, going back to when Murdo first played it on her back porch, and again that morning in the wee grass square. Yeah, she said, glancing back to the drummer: fresh air does you good. Serve it with weed soup man, c’est potage. Passez-moi le poivre!

The drummer responded: Le dîner est servi, where is the croutons!

The title was the line ending the chorus. The dancers paused in the dancing to yell: L’air frais fait du bien.

And the drummer called: Where is the croutons! It was just daft but total fun.

Two more of her own followed: on the first Murdo did something a little different and for part of it Queen Monzee-ay stepped aside to shift focus onto him. Next along was “Gens comme vous et moi”, and this was different again. She raised her hand for quiet, and introduced it by telling about where she came from, to do with an island closeby the town of Natchitoches. She spoke in English and in French. The Creole people were her people, a French-speaking people from way before the Cajuns came. She directed this to the audience and for some it was special. If it was yer own family history how come people didnt know? People who were sitting stood to hear her and among them were Aunt Edna and Carrie at the family table.

Also Diego Narciso. Diego had arrived and was standing between the wall and the family table, obscured by people milling around the dancing area. His band were there too, watching from the side of the dancing area. How long they had been there who knows.

On the CD version Queen Monzee-ay sang part English, part French. Now she sang entirely in French and it brought the weary sadness even closer.

Maybe not sad, only weary; ye were picking yerself up and carrying on. This was the song; we pick ourselves up and we carry on, you and me and people like me: “Gens comme vous et moi”.

Sarah stayed close to Queen Monzee-ay, moving step to step in total concentration. Somebody so close to you, so so close, so close you would have to be crying, just such a hero, such a fighter, ye couldnt do anything else. She was glowing! Love and pride, ha ha. She didnt cry. Murdo would have cried. Murdo was a crier. Sarah wasnt. Maybe it was men, women just whatever.

Towards the end of the song Queen Monzee-ay faded on vocal, not like she had lost her voice, but that there was no voice left in the song, and she took it through an extra verse on accordeon alone, and she finished alone, the other musicians just watching her.

The audience applauded and Queen Monzee-ay bowed a little. This was the fifth song in. Queen Monzee-ay twirled a step and grinned. Hey! she was pointing offstage: Y’all know this cowboy?

People turned to see, and some recognised Diego.

Hey hombre! called Queen Monzee-ay.

He doffed the black studded cowboy hat in the same sweeping move he had used earlier in the day. The difference here was in Queen Monzee-ay. She had her hands on her hips in a swaggering stance, and she stepped from foot to foot. It looked like a dance step but it might have been an aid to her back, if she was experiencing any slight pain because her next move was to rub at the side of her hip. But she laughed, wagging her right forefinger at the floor space next to her and the mic. Hey Señor, Señor Narciso: you do one for us!

Diego was shaking his head, dismissing the idea.

Diego! I am ordering you, tout de suite, je suis pressé. Si hombre you come: now!

Laughter from the audience and band members. It was play-acting and it was funny and obvious how well they knew each other. Diego gave a tired gesture and looked to his band, then shrugged and got to his feet. Loud cheers and whistles from the audience. He lifted his accordeon from beneath the family table, and strolled forwards. His band stepped onstage without instruments. Vicenté and Esteban came to where Murdo stood. Vicenté shook hands with him and Esteban patted his shoulder. Hey Moordo, he whispered, we sing here eh.

They needed in to the mic. Murdo stepped away. Diego was in discussion with the Zadiks bass and drummer, and Queen Monzee-ay too. The bass nodded, passed his guitar to Santiago and the drummer vacated his place to Roberto. Diego moved to the centre mic, adjusting his accordeon. Murdo followed the two Zadiks musicians to the side of the stage, and caught sight of Dad way back at the bar, staring right at him. Declan Pike stood alongside drinking beer. Murdo hoped Dad was drinking one too but acted as though he hadnt seen him, like he didnt know he was there.

Onstage Diego had given a nod of the head and went straight into a song called “Margarita” which he sang entirely in Spanish, vocal backing from Vicenté and Esteban into the same mic with much whooping and on-the-spot stamping feet. Behind them Queen Monzee-ay marched across stage and back in short marching steps to the beat. She knew the song well. He was turning to play to her and calling to her in Spanish and she replied in Spanish, in French and in English. The life the fun the excitement. No time for anything else. Murdo punched the air. The Zadiks drummer glanced at him. Sorry, said Murdo. The guy was smiling. Murdo shrugged, smiled back at him.

Although things had changed with Dad being there it was like so what so what, things hadnt really changed at all. Him being there didnt have to make things awkward. It didnt have to do anything at all. Unless like if Dad wanted it to. Murdo was part of it and that was that. Santiago on bass was signaling to him, and the signal was clear in the raised eyebrows and changing facial expressions, What do you think what do you think?

And Murdo signaled a reply — a big grin and wee punching movement with his right fist — I think it is great I think it is great.

Jees and it was great. And real strong applause for Diego and the guys. They only stayed for the one. That was manners.

Queen Monzee-ay stepped to reclaim the mic. She and Diego kissed cheeks. She clapped him from the stage. Her own musicians returned. Murdo followed the Zadiks musicians back onstage where they retrieved the bass guitar and drums.

Murdo winked to Santiago and Roberto. Solid, he said.

Soleed…! Santiago grinned and slapped him on the shoulder.

Queen Monzee-ay waited by the mic until they had gone and the audience quietened while the musicians prepared: Forget the Conjunto cowboy, she said, this here is my band. And I am one lucky lady. J’ai des bons amis, très bons amis, très très bons. Queen Monzee-ay looked behind to Sarah, Gene and Murdo, then at the bass and drums. Two of these Zadiks here, wonderful musicians, all the way from Opelousas, I taught them everything they know. Yeah — showed them the fast road outa there!

The bass, the drummer and the other Zadiks jeered. Queen Monzee-ay glared at them. Okay boys okay.

She continued: Ça me fait beaucoup de plaisir. Some young friends here with me this evening, young Gene there, geetar maestro; come all the way from Vicksburg Mississippi.

Gene stepped forward to acknowledge this. She gestured at Murdo who just grinned, watching her. Mister Murdo there, she said, and paused. What you laughing at! This boy laughs at nothing! Come all the way from someplace. Where?

There was a silence