Moonlight Dancin' Off his Hair

 

Gregg drove along the costal highway. It was a beautiful summer day, clear with exceptionally cool temperatures  for  June.  He sighed, he was still a bit tired from the weekend.  He had made a quick trip home to Seattle for a birthday celebration with his parents and older brothers family. Now he was heading back to San Francisco to meet with Neal and  the rest of the band for a week of rehearsals.

He  thought about his unexpected return to music. It had happened last year  when Herbie contacted him about wanting him and Neal in a new band.  After his tenure in Santana  had become rocky, Gregg had quit the music business to run a restaurant with his father.  But  Seattle was growing rapidly and competition was fierce in the food industry. It was hard for a new place to get a foot hold, to find and establish a client base.  So when the offer to work with Herbie and Neal again came about, Gregg thought it was a chance worth taking.  

He could have afforded to fly home to Seattle and back to San Francisco. He had managed  his money from Santana well so he was pretty comfortable financially.  But the drive back through California was beautiful and  scenic. In fact he had just spent the day before in the Redwood Forest State Park. So his leisurely  trip was bringing plenty of adventure.Plus he  had just bought this 55 Chevy and he loved driving it. It was beautiful  and in pristine condition.  It was roomy and big but powerful. And it caught people’s eye, lead to a lot of dates. Not that Gregg needed much help with that with his  big green eyes, Adonis like features, and long, thick  dark  curls. He looked  like a cross between a Greek God and a flower child. And it was that  look that  made girls and guys both crazy.   

Suddenly he spotted a person  on the road side. Small and unbelievably slender with long flowing dark hair that  shone in the sunlight.  He would have thought the tiny figure was a female. But  then  he realized  by the way they were dressed, white jeans and and open black vest without a shirt, that it was a young male. Gregg pulled over and called out the passenger window  “ Are you OK, do you need  a ride ?’ “  I would love a lift, I am hitchhiking home, been  a long day,". The man’s voice was soft and warm, with a cute lilt to it. But what Gregg noticed most was the mans’ incredible eyes, they were almost almond shaped and the most beautiful  hazel  color.   Where are you going  ?” he asked Gregg. “ San Francisco”  “Oh” the young man said “ I am heading back to Hanford.”  “God ,” You are far away from home what brings you way up here. “ Gregg laughed.  “  You are way beyond what area I am going to, but I can take you a ways if you want. “ Cool” the young man said , “ Gregg leaned over and unlocked the passenger door and the hitch hiker climbed in after tossing  his backpack in the backseat . “I ‘m Steve,” he said putting his hand out  for Gregg to shake.  He introduced himself as well and said “ You never told me why you were so far up the coast.” Steve  smiled, a bit shyly, then said “ I was  going to an audition, believe it or not. I  am a singer. “  Oh” Gregg said. “ I am too.” Steve  laughed then said “ Well from the looks of this car, I can guess you are doing a lot better then me. Do you play anywhere local ? Gregg  sort of grinned to himself and Steve asked “ What is so funny ?” Gregg told him “ I played at Woodstock, I was the organist and lead singer for Santana.”  “Oh gosh, “ Steve suddenly felt terribly embarrassed, he thought he knew the driver from some where. “ I am sorry, I thought you looked familiar but I couldn’t place you.  God what an idiot I must sound like. “  “ it is OK, “ Gregg said, “ Anyway I quit that band a while ago. Been working at my parents business back in Seatle. Anyway we have a long drive, if you want you can take a nap. I will be stopping for some food in Mendocino  in about  three  hours, probably find a  hotel and spend the night.  Can you let you off there.  Heck I will even buy you some dinner before you go. Hopefully  you can catch a ride from someone take you a bit further down the coast. “  Steve was tired, dragging from the trip up North for a unsuccessful audition. But he liked this new friend  he had met, and he was more then happy to take a short nap. His eyes leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes, quickly  dropping off to sleep.