Ride On by Stephen J. Martin Read Free Book Online

s’pose, yeah.’
    â€˜But it doesn’t matter, Jimmy. I heard it. He hadn’t even taken off his jacket. He just pulls out the sticks and goes straight into it. He didn’t even know I was in here. Thirty seconds of the intro. Then he stands up, sees me and goes, “Hey Sparky, is the kettle boiled? I’d a skinful of pints and two French slappers last night. Hairy yokes they were too, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy meself. Is there bikkies?”.’
    Jimmy laughed.
    â€˜Sounds like the Holy Spirit working through him all right.’
    â€˜I know. But you can’t question God, Jimmy.’
    â€˜I don’t, Sparky. I don’t. But … I wouldn’t have figured you for …’
    â€˜Ah, I’m not going to stick a bible in your face Jimmy, but when I hit the bottom of the shitter twenty years ago and I couldn’t climb out, it was God who reached down for me.’
    â€˜Fuck. I never knew that.’
    â€˜Yeah. Well that’s between me and him. The point is, most people don’t give a fuck about anything they can’t show off to their greedy bastard mates, and you can’t show off your soul. This isn’t about heaven and hell or any of that manmade shite, Jimmy. It’s not even about music. My job isn’t really about music. It’s about getting into someone’s head and showing them the way out. Fuck knows, I’ve had a lot of practice flying in and out of me own head. For a while there I used to be gone for days. Sometimes me head wouldn’t let me back in and we’d have a big row. Confusing as fuck that was.’
    â€˜Jesus. What were you on? LSD, coke …?’
    â€˜LSD and coke? Christ, you don’t want to take LSD and coke together Jimmy. The fuckin’ last thing you need when you’re hallucinating is a confidence booster, I’m telling you. Anyway, I don’t do that shit any more, but when an artist – like you for instance – wants something, I can usually get a feel for it and help them bring it out. And I thank God for giving me that gift. You’ve got your gifts too, as does that little delinquent in there. But the music industry doesn’t give a fuck about any of that. No more than any other industry. It’s about money, Jimmy.’
    â€˜You’re fucking bumming me out here Sparky. Jesus …’
    â€˜Ah, I don’t mean to Jimmy. The important thing is how you feel about the album. Where it came from, what it means … are you cool with it? Your name is on it. Can you stand next to it?’
    â€˜Yeah. Yeah I can.’
    â€˜Then fuck them all.’
    Aesop came back into them. He had the knuckle of one index finger in his mouth and was frowning.
    â€˜What’s up?’ said Jimmy. ‘You in the shit over some bird?’
    â€˜What? Oh. No. No, it’s not that.’
    â€˜Who was it then?’
    â€˜Remember Mena?’
    â€˜Probably not, Aesop. Around when was she having the pleasure?’
    â€˜No Jimmy. Mena. Remember them two little young fellas were outside here a while back? Wanted me to go to their sister’s birthday party. She was sick, right?’
    â€˜Oh yeah. Eh … Liam, wasn’t it? And the little fella.’
    â€˜Yeah. Well, that was their Da on the phone. Turns out that the poor young one is out in Crumlin in the hospital out there. She’s not fucking doing well either.’
    â€˜Jesus. That’s fucking terrible. Is it bad?’
    â€˜Yeah. They’re only letting her home for her birthday cos they aren’t sure she’ll be having another one.’
    Sparky blessed himself and shook his head.
    â€˜Poor child.’
    â€˜Her birthday is Friday night. I said we’d drop in.’
    â€˜Okay. But … eh … we’re playing Vicar Street on Friday, Aesop.’
    â€˜We’ll just say hello on the way to the gig. I know it’ll be tight but,