Am I Blue? Part 2 (Conclusion)

Dimensional link to Part 1

Am I Blue? conclusion

by Taylor Campbell

the conclusion to the story of Chase and Claire. remember that if you liked the story to share it with friends. stories were always meant to be shared :)

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Big Papa’s players performed regularly at Maccabee’s. Chase sang every day, and without fail Claire was always there to hear him and take a drink with him after words. Days turned to weeks turned to months. Everyday their bond growing stronger.

It was about 8 months later. The stock market crashed and businesses unexpectedly closed their doors. Chase walked into Maccabee’s not to the usual sight of dancing and merry men and women, but to dark, empty, cold silence. Big Papa on the stage, not in his usual white performance blazer, but a trench coat and a scarf that’s WAY too long for anyone, even a man his size.

“BP, what’s happening?”

“Shows over Chase. Were out of a job. Restaurant had to close down after the crash last month.”

“But, where is everyone?”

“Don’t know. As they’ve been coming in I’ve been breaking the news. I’ll tell you what Chase, you’ve got the chops. You can continue singing if you want”. Big Papa pulls a pencil and a piece of sheet music from a folder. His cheery disposition now replaced with indifference, Big Papa rips a piece of paper off of his beloved sheet music and writes an address. “This guy here got me my first job. He runs a casino up town. Tell him I sent you”.

Chase tenderly grabs the scrap of paper. “Where will you be going?”

“No one wants a black man that can play the keys. Not up here anyways. I’m headed back home to New Orleans. Maybe I can get some work down there.”

Tears welled in Chases eyes. He embraced his friend. “Good luck to you.”

“If you’re ever in Louisiana, look me up” and with that Big Papa exits stage left for the last time.

Claire walks in the door way. Her hair and makeup are now plain. Her usual white flapper dress now replaced with a cheap, second hand skirt and blouse. She held her purse in front of her as she slowly walked in. Claire looked around at the once lively hall, now empty and unkempt from the nights before. The bar empty, devoid of drinks and lacking the luster that prideful bartenders kept.

Chase glanced at her. “Hello doll, come her often?”

A fleeting smirk graced her face. She continued to glance at the dismal scene as she slowly walked to the center of the stage. Chase held Claire in his arms, kissing her as he always had. She accepts it.

“What’s wrong?” asked Chase

“Some things have come up. Times aren’t the same, I’m not the same.” Chase looked at her puzzled. What did she mean by this? What was she saying? “Chase… I….”

“Shh, don’t say anything.” Interrupted Chase. “Claire, there has been something I’ve been hoping to ask you someday ever since I first met you…” Chase reached into his coat pocket pulling out a small black jewelry box. “Claire, will you….”

Claire looked at Chase, tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry, I …. I …. Don’t think I could marry a traveling musician..” Claire quickly turns to leave the stage. Chase grabs her arm.

“Then I’ll find other work. Please Claire, I can’t live life without you there.”

A tear breaks through Claire’s defenses. “I can’t”. Claire runs, leaving Chase a solo act.

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Lightning clashed and the rain began to pour as Chase sat in his taxi. The old restaurant finally passed the window after a millennium. Chase wiped at his eyes as he turned his eyes forward.

“Hey buddy, you alright?” inquired the cab driver.

“You ever lost something you worked all your life to get. Something more precious than all the money in the world?”

“well, I once left a custumur out on de’ streets in da rane. Accordin’ to my bos that was the end of de world. Well, his world anyways” joked the cabbie.

Exasperated, Chase looked through the front window at the top of the empire casino…

___________

Am I blue?

You’d be too.

If your plans and your schemes done fell through.

The song finished and applause erupted once more through a full house. The sailors, flappers and swingers now replaced with tuxedos, elegant dresses and money. The hard oak stage under Chase’s feet only served as a reminder that he wasn’t where he wanted to be.

The host of the casino walks up on the stage. His Big smile nearly pushed the rest of his features off his face and his big motions over compensating for the lack of enthusiasm from the singer.

“Ladies and gentlemen give it up for Chase Hunting! That’s our show tonight thank you for coming by. See ya tomorrow!”

Back stage the band was cleaning up. “Yo, Chase. We’re gonna grab a couple drinks at the bar. We get free refills. You in?”

Chase just puts his hand up, indicating he isn’t interested in joining in. with his head hung low Chase grabs his coat and hat then walks out of the dressing room.

Chase makes it to his humble home. His means definitely paid more than what the apartment was worth but Chase didn’t care. All he needed was a phone for his job, a bed for his body, and a record player for his sorrow. He tried so often to pass of the record player as job research but in his heart he knew that was wrong, especially with the same album he always played every night.

There was a time, I was the only one

But now I’m the sad and lonely one

I’m a fool, I’m your only one.

A ring comes from the phone. Chase stops the record for only a second. It’s the band leader.

“Hey man, gig for tomorrow has changed. A guy came tonight and booked the band for a wedding in Connecticut. Train leaves tonight. I got your ticket and called a cab for you. Be ready in 15 minutes.”

“Alright chief.” Chase slowly hung up he stares out upon the city he loves. There’s not much he has to pack. He pulls his suitcase and begins to fill it with the entirety of his meager property. There’s nothing in New York for him anymore. He’s finished. This is the last night he will spend in New York.

The taxi had to drive past a housing district. It was the fastest route. Elm Street. Claire lived there. The memories and emotions of the trip overtake Chase. The cabbie stops on the side of the road.

“Just as I figurhd. You have de worst case of broken hart I’ve eveh seen.”

“Why’d you stop, I’ve got a train waiting for me”.

“Nah. seems tah me you’ve got a Biggah fish to catch. She live neah here?”

Chase surrendered. Perhaps the toll of the trip affected him too much. Maybe he wasn’t helping it. “She lives on this street”.

“Tell ya what, I drive you to hur house. I’ll wait outside fur you to do what’chya need”

Chase was stunned silent. Bouncing the idea around in his head only to find questions ‘what will I say?’ ‘Should I even go?’ all these questions didn’t stop his lips from moving.

“Yes”.

The cabbie turns. Slowly driving through the neighborhood, the cabbie knew which house to stop at. The expression on Chases face went from sorrow to pure terror.

“Dats de one.” Commanded the cabbie. Chase stepped out

The walk up to the door was longer than the cab ride across the city. Heavy knuckles fell on the door. A kindly old woman opens the door.

“Is Claire here?”

The old woman shakes her head and begins to close the door when a faint voice from inside stops her.

“Let him in please.”

The large metal tube concealed all of Claire’s curves and features. The large machine made a low hum as oxygen was pumped into Claire’s body and then pumped out. The strain was becoming too much though and that’s why the people were gathered. Claire was dying.

 In the room were family and friends of Claire, including Big Papa and several members of the old band. The friendly greetings were quiet and solemn.

Chase heard of polio before. He didn’t know it would come this close to him. Claire looked at him with a faint smile.

“Hey doll, come here often?” she whispered.

Big Papa knew what was going on. He ushered everyone out of the room, giving Chase and Claire a moment alone. The doctor had to stay.

“You changed your number” said Claire

“Well, I didn’t think I was strong enough to talk to you. I was right”.

More tears welled in Claire’s eyes the doctor warned to be careful and asked Chase to leave. Claire denied the request.

“I wanted to tell you but I didn’t know how. That day I said good bye was the day I was diagnosed. I woke up that morning and couldn’t breathe. I was on the way to the doctor when I stopped by.”

Understanding filled Chases face. “You should have told me.”

“I didn’t know how.” She looks down at the iron lung she is in, then back to Chase. “But I know now”

Chase knelt down at the table, with each lovers eyes lost in the other their souls have been found. The kiss could not have been sweeter.

The long high pitched tone of the heart monitor went out. Claire had found herself, and was spirited away.

“I’m sorry” were the only words the doctor could mutter.

Free flowing tears rolled down Chases face. There was no use in holding back any more.

“Can I hold her?”

The doctor opened the iron lung. Claire laid lifeless inside wrapped in a hospital gown. Her body had not been bathed in some time but to Chase she was still beautiful as ever. He picked her up off the table and holding her in his arms he began to waltz with her into eternity. as they waltzed, he sang:

Was I Gay?
Until Today
Now she's gone
And We're Through
Am I Blue?
Now She's Gone
and We're Through...

Am I blue?

Thanks for Reding! Kevin Conroy, the voice actor of Batman in Justice League, sang the song in an episode and later sang the entire song in question. Enjoy this sound bite!