Page 50 of Punk Rock Reflection
“We’re in the south,” Derek, a notorious foodie, agreed. “They do comfort food right. I could eat another plate of this entire meal all over again right now.”
Just as servers cleared away the dinner dishes, the lights went down indicating that the awards ceremony was about to start. The emcee, an eighties rocker still cashing in on the fame of his youth, made his way to the microphone at the center of the stage. He delivered a hilarious opening monologue, which guaranteed that the awards ceremony would be both lively and engaging, without the lackluster dry humor that some award shows were known for.
As Tommy watched the first two awards presented, he mentally picked the winners in his head. He was a little surprised that he’d been right each time, not missing either one. The next award was for Best Pop Song. All the noms were deserving, but Lyrical Odyssey’s “Soul Song” was the standout for Tommy, and he voiced his prediction out loud.
Jimmy leaned forward on his elbows and let out a small laugh. “You sound like you got inside intel, man.”
“It’s obvious.”
“Not necessarily. Any one of—” Jimmy’s words were quieted by a round of applause as “Soul Song” was announced as the winner.
“I told you.” Tommy clapped for the well-deserved win.
The next award was for Best Album by a Solo Artist and, again, Tommy listened to the nominees. “Reid Mackenzie is gonna take it,” he announced. “That guy is tops.”
Jimmy gave him a skeptical look, until the artist’s name was called out by the presenter. “Man, you did it again! I’m bringing you to Atlantic City!”
The guys from Bulletproof all exchanged excited glances. “I think we should grab a flight after the awards,” Brandon said. “We could have the jet on standby and be there in no time. What do you say?”
At first, Tommy thought Brandon was joking, but quickly realized that the guy was completely serious. The idea of jetting off with the guys from Bulletproof sounded like a blast and the perfect opportunity to take advantage of his new outlook of living for the moment, but he was tired. The alcohol he had consumed at the cocktail reception knocked him on his ass, and he suddenly felt old. He knew it sounded ridiculous, since he only had a few years on Brandon, but he had a family to deal with in the morning. “I’d love to, but I have two kids waiting for me at the hotel. Maybe another time.”
Jessi placed her hand on Tommy’s thigh under the table. “You can go. You too, Angel. I’ll take care of the kids. Go and enjoy yourselves.”
Everyone was looking at Tommy and waiting for his answer. He didn’t want to sound like a killjoy who forgot how to have fun. The truth was that the kids were so excited to go on this little trip with the Immortal Angel family, especially Lucas, that he didn’t want to be away from them. “I’m really not much of a gambler.”
“Are you sure?” Angel asked. “It sounds like a good time.”
Tommy nodded. “Thanks,” he told Brandon. “But I want to spend the day with my kids tomorrow, and that’s not gonna happen if I’m out all night.”
“I respect that. You’re a dad, and your kids come first.” Brandon wrapped his arm around his husband, Cam, and the two exchanged an intimate gaze. “I hope that’s us one day, going home early to be with our baby.”
“One day,” Cam replied, with a wistful smile.
When the emcee announced the next award, Derek threw a fifty-dollar bill in the middle of the table, right next to the breadbasket. “Fuck Atlantic City. Let’s have a go at it right here. I bet Tommy can pick the next winner.”
“Impossible,” Jeremy Kagan, Bulletproof’s bassist, countered. “My Ulysses S. Grant thinks there’s no way Tommy can call another winner.”
The table was flooded with cash as mostly everyone added their bet as to whether or not Tommy could predict who would take home the next award.
“Hurry. Pick the winner,” Brandon urged.
Tommy barely had time to scan the nominees before calling out, “The Flying Monkeys.” Everyone waited, listening intently, as the presenter announced, “And the winner is . . . The Flying Monkeys!”
Angel slung his arm over Tommy’s shoulder in a side hug and Jessi clapped. The guys from Bulletproof were cheering and high-fiving each other, even those that lost.
Everyone quieted to listen to The Flying Monkeys give their acceptance speech, and then the next set of presenters approached the microphone. Tommy didn’t have to wait for the list of noms to be announced before he gave his pick for the win. “It’s a no-brainer. Sixth Sense.”
The table became a melee of bets and cross-conversations. Tommy was speechless as he watched the dinner table turn into a high-stakes gaming event. “You guys are nuts!” When Sixth Sense was announced as the recipient of the award for Best Rock Song, Tommy watched the winners divvy the money between themselves. “I don’t know why you bet I’d be wrong,” he told Jimmy. “You knew Sixth Sense was going to win.”
Jimmy gave Tommy one of his killer smiles. “It’s all in fun, man. I ain’t gonna go broke because I lost a fifty-dollar bill. I’ll make it up on the next round.”
Damien leaned forward, interrupting their conversation. “Don’t bother betting because we’re winning the next award. It’s for Collaboration of the Year.”
A hush fell over the table as they watched the presenters move onto the stage, and Tommy took hold of Jessi and Angel’s hands. He knew the collaboration between Immortal Angel and members of Bulletproof was an unprecedented fusion of genres and executed to perfection, but the competition held an array of talent, and he didn’t want to seem cocky by assuming they would win. As the camera flashed on the other bands nominated and their images appeared on the video screen, Tommy began to realize that any one of them could take the award.
When “Sex & Greed” was announced as a nominee, Jessi jumped to her feet and clapped furiously. The look in her eyes projected so much pride that it humbled Tommy. It reminded him of their younger days, before they were married. She had stood behind him from the beginning. Her encouragement is what kept him going. His family thought he was wasting his time and his education and never failed to tell him so. Not Jessi. She didn’t care that she was footing the bills and working her butt off as an assistant designer to pay the mortgage when they first got married. They had barely enough to get by, but she supported his choices.
She had kept his dream alive and would never let him quit reaching for the stars. She had been the driving force in his life since the day he met her. She had always been his biggest cheerleader, and fame didn’t waver her loyalty one bit. His heart ballooned with love for his wife, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.
