Johnny Vanderlip “Lydia”

Posted on February 4, 2008
Filed Under Old Posts |

The accordion lay in the middle of the living room floor for days. The strap broken now. The words Jesus Saves in sparkly letters across the front.

He’d pick it up and play daily. A thin brown belt looped over his shoulder replacing the accordion’s strap. “I don’t play accordion,” he’d say. And I’d wonder how he makes something he doesn’t play sound good. I’ve tried to play the accordion and it’s never sounded good.

I stand in the kitchen watching the water flow from the tap into my glass. The fluorescent light bleaching my thoughts, I find myself singing. I nod my head quickly as I sing to get the right warble in my voice. “Let me give you a kiss goodnight.” The sound of late night news seeps under the bedroom door. “Before slipping into our dreams.”

The house is dark. “Let me awaken to find you there.” I go to sleep. “Your arms around me as you sleep.” I go to sleep hoping he’ll be home before morning.

Lydia is on Johnny Vanderlip’s Johnny’s Phresh Produce.