Inspired by the lyrics of “Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry

Read Part I here

Sleep didn’t find Robert until 5 AM. He woke up feeling as if he never slept.

Turning on his side, Robert checked to see if the card he received last night was on the table. There was a chance he could have imagined everything. But there it sat, as real as the man who had produced it.

“Now what?” Robert thought. Monday’s were his rest days, but the day already seemed wasted. It was 3 in the afternoon. He wasn’t even hungry. But staying inside sounded dull and depressing, so Robert forced himself to leave the apartment. He drifted towards downtown, sleepwalking with no particular destination.

And then he saw it.

Displayed in a window of one of the more expensive shops in town was a black tuxedo jacket. Robert hated formal wear, but something about this jacket appealed to him. It had a sheen to it, and upon closer inspection, he could see that it was velvet. It had a one-button closure and a breast pocket on the right side. The simplicity of it felt elegant, even sexy.

Robert hesitated. There was no reason why he needed a jacket like that. He kept walking. “I’m sleep deprived,” he thought. “I’m tired, and I’m hungry, that’s all.” But after another ten minutes, Robert found himself walking back to look at the jacket.

He bought it.

That evening Robert put the jacket on. He paired it with a white collared shirt and black slacks. He felt more energized than he had been all day. Not wanting to waste the feeling, Robert went out again. This time he knew where he was going. He grabbed the card from his bedside table and walked out the door.

“Robert?” A voice called from down the hall. It was Robert’s neighbor Sam. Sam was a few years older and always seemed to be going somewhere. If Robert ever did catch Sam coming into the building, it was on the arm of a pretty girl.

“Hi, Sam. How are you?” Robert said.

“I’m running out to grab some food. Is everything okay? You look like you’re going to a funeral.”

Robert glanced down at his outfit, embarrassed. “Oh. I’m, um, I’m fine. I’m going to this… new place.” Robert said, stumbling on his words.

“Must be a pretty cool place,” Sam said. “You look good.”

Sam had never said more than two sentences to Robert, let alone complimented him. To avoid risking any more awkwardness, Robert nodded.

“Thanks. I’ll see you.”

“See you,” said Sam. Robert walked downstairs towards the door. “Let me know how that place is!” Sam yelled. Robert couldn’t help but smile.

By the time Robert found the entrance to “Electrical Fire,” the sun had set. The street name was unfamiliar. After what seemed like an hour of wrong turns, Robert had found the correct location. It was the noise that brought him there. From the moment Robert turned the corner nearest the club, he could hear a low thumping. The closer he walked toward the building, the louder the pounding became. It took Robert awhile to realize that the thumping was music.

The sign was neon; it had bright red letters complete with a neon picture of fire. The fire changed positions to look like it was flickering. Robert noticed that despite the noise coming from inside, there was no line of people waiting to get in. No cars were in the lot. If it hadn’t been for the music, Robert would have thought the club closed.

He walked up the door and pressed his face against the window. Black. He checked the door to see if it would open. It did. Robert stepped inside where there was nothing but a red curtain. He slipped his hand in, and another hand jerked him through the other side. He was once again facing the man in red.

“Rob-o! You came!” The man said. He was wearing a red silk shirt this time. The top two buttons were undone, and around his neck, there was a chunky gold chain. His red pants were accented with large gold paisley designs that sparkled when he moved.

“Get in here, brother. You looking so sharp!” The man in red started to lead Robert toward a door marked “Stage.” He had one arm draped around Robert’s shoulder.

“Wait a second,” Robert said. “What are you doing?” He pulled the man’s arm off of him and backed away.

“Robodopolis. Dude. I’m letting you play for me. You don’t think I didn’t see that fire in your soul when you sang last night?”

Robert took another step back. “What are you saying? I’m not ready for this. I don’t have my band with me. And it’s Monday night! Who comes to a club on a Monday?”

“Listen, boy. Nobody is ever ready for fate. It just comes to you. I can take care of everything.” The man in red grinned and closed the distance between them. “Play that funk,” he said.

“I can’t do this,” Robert said.

At that moment, the stage door bumped open and a wave of noise spilled into the hallway. Robert forgot what he was thinking as the music engulfed him, music he had never heard before. Robert looked up and saw the man in red, still smiling. He crossed his arms and looked Robert dead in the eyes.

“Tonight is your night.”