A Rainy Night On Bleecker Street

 

 

A Rainy Night On Bleecker Street

By Paul McCann

In a distant place and time somewhere in New York , in Lower Manhattan . is an enclave within Greenwich Village where something special happened that made a difference in the world . After some land was donated by the Bleecker family things became much brighter for musicians and poets . A fast-growing bohemian district moved in and brought with them their music and songs , their artwork and stories and it wasn’t long after that when nightlife exploded ,

No one has ever heard the stories of the fortunes and fame that were lost and found like that of Kristin and Christopher who were homeward bound in the midnight hour It was a Saturday night and they were walking in a New York state of mind . Thinking about Spring in the Autumn and singing in the rain as they went  . It was as cold as Christmas on the street as Christopher walked in his heavy boots through the puddles and Kristin skipped across the street in her sneakers . As the rain poured down, they both stepped into the same doorway  at the same time and suddenly as things often do find a fairytale of New York and fell into each other’s arms .

In Bleecker Street Most New Yorkers lived for the moment . They had regular five-minute friendships and shared the story of their lives knowing that they most probably would never see each other ever again .

Kristin and Christopher had only one thing on their mind , shelter from the storm .

Something happened there that night and it just clicked into place . An attraction  between them .

She looked at him and he looked at her and she said ,

“Let’s spend The Night Together :

He smiled and bent down taking the half empty bottle of whiskey from the drunk who was asleep in the doorway and he offered her the first sip . After they drained the bottle, they shared a few songs  and as the rain eased off, they decided to make their way along the street to a nightclub beside a street light in the corner . The doorman standing out the front looked at Christopher and said ,

“Looks like you have some thirsty boots there “

Christopher smiled and replied ,

“ Well, I ain’t marching anymore and I feel like I need a drink or two “

Then the doorman looked at Kristin and said ,

“Everybody’s talking about something or another on Bleecker Street and you look to me as if you have something more to say “

Kristin laughed and said ,

“.Sometimes it’s good to just to let it all hang out you know “

They all had a good laugh and then went inside where a folk music session was happening .  

They found a table for two near the corner and Christopher said ,

“L;ooks like they have a list for people’s name if they want to sing ?”

“Well, you better put my name on that thing  “

Christopher looked at her and asked
“And what would that be ?

“Since you asked it’s Marianne . Thats my stage name  “

She replied ,

He went and put both their names on the blackboard list of performers.

Chrisopher stood at the bar and asked the barman who looked a million miles away for some wine and whiskey . He never responded and suddenly collapsed in the corner so Chris went and helped himself to whatever he could find , It was one of those nights and the joint was jumping , a piano man in the corner was playing for anyone who asked and there was a lonely guitar , gently weeping on a stand that was up for grabs for anybody who wanted to play it .

A sketch artist was at work making outlines of the faces in the crowd .

The were some young a runaway from some prison trying to find a room for the night and now and then a couple would stumble out the door not knowing which way to go .

Kristine and Christopher sipped on the drinks and told their life stories .

“I write songs and play the piano  “

She said.

Christopher said ,

“That’s like so amazing Kristin  . Well, me , see I was in the army for a while before ,. And now I’m just drifting . I like it that way . Playing some guitar and stuff “

She seemed impressed and replied.

“Wow so cool , so are you writing anything Chris.

“Yeah , I just finished a song last night “

She seemed interested and said .

“What is it called Chris  ? :

He replied .

“Call me “

“Nice , Sounds very catchy”.

At that moment they called out for Marianne to come to the microphone and Kristine got on her feet and went over to do her song .

Immediately she went over and asked the guy sitting at the piano if she could take the seat to do her song and he obliged . She leaned over to the mic and said softly.

‘This is a new of mine called The Bitter End”.

She played and sang the song and the crowd showed their appreciation .

Then they called out for Chris to come to the stage , .

“He made his way to the microphone that smelt like some beers and then he spoke to the crowd .

‘This is a new song of mine . It’s called “Call me “

Then he lifted the lonely guitar from its stand and began to play . There were an immediate reaction and some people joined in singing the chorus .

The song had a great response and Christophe made his way back to Kristine at the table .

“Great song there “

She said .

“Thanks well who knows I might become famous or something like that “

He said .  .

When it was time to shut the doors, they both were ok to spend the night together and left the club along with the other poets , songwriters , musicians and artists.

After that night they stayed together and were found love . Every week they went to Bleecker Street to sing their songs to the same crowd . Life was going ok and there they were in love in a place beyond where most people never go , On that golden stair , at the entrance to stardom . Waiting to be heard , waiting for that break , waiting as most people never will where time is on their side but waits for no one except those on Bleecker Street in the company of the famous few who speak easy and sing just the same . Those kinds of people are real stars who make it seem so easy . It’s where the music of what was happening and made for all who live in their mansions or in their tents because it blew in from the sky for people like you and I who live on the streets with no name or walk through the rain along Bleecker Street

In the days when many people came to enjoy the Grace of a place hard to find .

One day out of the blue , Chris couldn’t believe his ears . His song Call Me was being played on the radio by another person who had recorded it and it was a big hit and he couldn’t really prove to anyone he wrote the song .

He formed a band called Thin Ice who performed every week . Kristin played the keyboards and he played lead guitar . They had a drummer and a sax player . They had a good following and often played Call Me at the live gigs where he would announce ,

“”Here’s a song of mine you might know . I first performed it in front of large crowd and my girl , who is now my wife and now I’m the luckiest guy in the world . Ladies and gentlemen , for your please is Call Me

 

The End