Page 9 of Rocking the Trucker

He had three identical outfits he wore onstage and rotated which one he wore because it usually took a day or more for the clothes to dry. After several rotations, he would ask to stop at a laundromat where he would wash the onstage, and offstage, clothes before starting the process all over again.

“Good concert,” Sam said softly when it appeared that Gabriel was off in a world of his own.

“What? Oh, fuck, you scared me,” Gabriel jumped and spun to face him while dropping his head down so quickly Sam thought he heard joints crack.

“Sorry. I thought you heard me approach.”

“My mind was floating out there,” Gabriel waved at the sky. “Flying among the stars and trying to figure out how to settle down enough to get some sleep.”

“Yeah, I remember you always had a hard time sleeping after concerts,” Sam said, trying not to bring up bad memories.

“Yeah, I did.”

Silence settled around them like a rough wool blanket, scratchy and uncomfortable. Sam wanted to start a conversation but could not find the words. For a man who could normally talk to anyone about anything, starting the hard discussion with Gabriel seemed beyond him.

Finally, he gave up trying. “I’m headed to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. Unless you want me to stay?”

Gabriel shook his head slowly. “That’s okay. I’ll be going in soon. What time do you want to leave tomorrow?”

Tomorrow was a travel day, but they were only going a hundred miles to the next church where Gabriel was scheduled to sing the next night. “How about 10:00 since it’s only a couple hour drive. We can get lunch before we get to the church.”

Gabriel nodded. “I’ll see you then,” he said before turning his attention back to the sky and stars overhead.

Feeling dismissed, Sam took two steps backward. “Well, good night.”

“Good night,” Gabriel said softly.

With a sigh, Sam turned and headed to the truck cab. It was going to be a long night sleeping only a dozen yards from the man he wished would choose him over the stars.

Chapter Six

Gabriel waited untilhe heard the door softly click closed on the truck cab. Looking in that direction, he confirmed that Sam had indeed retired for the night and he was alone once more.

Knowing he would not be able to sleep for a while and not wanting to lock himself into the trailer yet, he pulled out one of the folding chairs. Settling in the chair, he tilted his head back and watched the stars slowly move across the night sky.

It wasn’t until the eastern sky began to lighten as dawn approached that he finally felt the adrenaline of being onstage for the first time in years drain away. Finally, he could sleep.

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