Never Never Stories by Jason Sanford

Author:Jason Sanford [Sanford, Jason]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780983521716
Published: 2011-05-02T00:00:00+00:00

Millisent Ka Plays in Realtime

This isn't the way the future should be. But still, here it is. And here's Millisent Ka, born to a doting mother and father in a neo-feudal musical fiefdom, their cement-dusted house perfectly balanced between the cracked asphalt plains of L.A. la la land and the rich-fool castles on the Pacific Palisades. Never mind that those castles rise so far above everything else – hopes, dreams, reality – it's hard to remember only dirt and rock exist beneath their gilded skies, same as anywhere else.

The first thing Milli hears as she leaves the womb is music. Her dad, a musical vassal with dreams of itinerant musicianhood, plays the saxophone as Milli screams newborn outrage. Her mom, who has grudgingly streamed gospel day and night since it blew revival, mutters for her husband to stop his foolishness. But he merely smiles and fingers his sax as the midwife injects the artificial chromosomes into Milli's wrinkly body. For good measure, the midwife also slaps a pain patch on Milli's mom, figuring the poor woman needs a little help putting up with her husband's antics.

By the time Milli latches onto her mother's breast, her mom's all sighs and happiness – maybe from the music, more likely from the meds. “You're an idiot,” she whispers to her husband. “But damn, you're a lovable one.”

Milli's dad laughs and opens the window to the hot Santa Ana winds. As Milli suckles contentedly, her dad blows the notes of an improvised ‘California Dreaming' while his wife's haunting mezzo voice hums the words of that ancient folk melody.

Sometimes dreams are all people have left.

* * *

To celebrate Milli's birth, the next day His Lordship's wife – the grand and amazing Lady Amanza Collins – grants a free performance. Her edict is simple: His Lordship, ruler of the world's biggest musical fiefdom, waives all rights to his vassals' performances for one hour. People may play what they like. Debt as they wish.

The vassals are stunned. Who is this Millisent Ka to elicit such unprecedented generosity from their Lord? But the musicians know better than to question an official decree, so they sweep out their dusty performance hall and break into celebration. Pianists, guitar players, drummers, flutists, sax players, and acapella toners – all performing for no one but themselves.

Downloads fly off the charts. Instacritics praise the sublimely joyful music. Realtime views surge beyond comprehension. And if a few vassals mutter when the performances go past the designated hour – netting His Lordship a tidy sum in exchanged debt – well, those naysayers are rightly ignored.

But on that joyful night, Milli's parents don't take part in the celebrations. Instead, they lay across their double bed and debate their child's future.

“Maybe we should leave,” Milli's mom says, still hurt and tired a full day after giving birth. “The music scene in New York isn't totally dead, even though they're still monetized.”

“Lots of musicians starving out there,” Milli's dad says, his dainty hands cradling Milli. “I mean, here we have food, a home, good friends.

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