The Sound Of Love

“Really?” asked Chantal. “No way! I can’t believe it. I’ve been trying to find someone that enjoys Robert Johnson’s music as much as I do for so long, I can’t believe you actually like him. For so many years I have been unable to find anyone that had even heard of him let alone actually liked the music that he had created.”

“Same here,” said Michael with a laugh. “The first time I heard him I was amazed. How could anyone play the guitar like that? It took me a while to realize that it was all one guitar! All of the elements being played on a single instrument. My mind was utterly blown.”

“And to top it all off,” said Chantal, “that voice!”

“Yes!” said Michael. “His voice is incredible. Such an expressive voice, laden with vibrato, such a brilliant tone. I’ve never heard a voice like that in my life. I can’t believe that he could play such utterly incredible guitar and be able to sing like that at the same time. What was the first song by Robert Johnson that you ever heard?”

“Crossroads,” said Chantal. “Do you know the story of that song?”

“Yes,” said Michael excitedly. He sounded positively hungry, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time indeed. He sounded like he couldn’t get enough of this conversation, as if he could not talk enough about this musician that he loved. Chantal found it very endearing that he was so excited because he was just as excited as she was. She had not thought that she would ever connect so well with a client, especially over something that she had not connected with anyone over for the past few years.

“The story of Crossroads has a lot to do with the legend of Robert Johnson,” said Michael. “People say that he sold his soul to the devil in order to become so amazingly talented. I honestly can’t blame people for thinking that way. The man’s talent was formidable to say the least, anyone would just assume that he had been granted it through supernatural or otherworldly means. So the story goes that he met the Devil at a crossroad and that he struck the deal there. The devil told him which road to take and that road took him to a gig where he got his first record contract because he started playing so well.”

“I can’t believe you know that!” said Chantal. “I honestly never thought that I would ever meet anyone that knew that story, yet here we are. Do you believe it?”

“Do I believe that he sold his soul to the devil?” asked Michael. “No, I don’t think so. It just seems like people trying to rationalize something that they don’t understand. Whenever something like this happens, whenever someone comes about who is able to do things that people are unable to understand, people just assume that it’s the supernatural at work. No, I think that humanity’s capacity for brilliance is boundless. I think he was just the product of evolution, a leap forward as it were. I think his talent was God gifted. Do you believe in it?”

“Not really,” said Chantal. “I mean, it sounds like overly superstitious hogwash if I’m being very honest. It just sounds like the kind of thing that other musicians probably told each other to feel better about themselves, you know? I don’t think that he was a supernatural being, or that his talent was in any way a product of the supernatural. I too think that his talent was just the product of natural evolution. I think I like the story better that way. He was just meant to come to this world and change the way we listen to music. He inspired so many people. Did you know that he died utterly penniless? His talent was barely recognized during his life. There were a few people that commended him and told him that he had a great future ahead of him but most people just thought that he was just another delta blues musician, that he was not someone worth noting. Isn’t that so sad?”

“I did know that,” said Michael. “I can’t believe that you know all of this trivia about him. I had honestly given up. I know that we’ve only just started talking but I really like you. I hope that doesn’t sound creepy, it comes from a good place I promise.”

Chantal laughed a throaty laugh and said, “No, oddly enough it doesn’t creep me out. Even though if anybody else had said this I would have assumed that they were trying to get something from me but for some reason I trust you. Even though this is the first time I have ever spoken to you and I’ve never even met you and I know next to nothing about you, I trust you. Isn’t that odd?”

“It is rather odd,” said Michael. “Maybe we just connected at a spiritual level. I don’t mind feeling this way. I have to go now and sleep, but I would really like to talk to you again.”

“Isn’t it rather early?” said Chantal. “It’s only six in the evening.”

“It’s eight where I am right now,” said Michael, “and I have to get up at two in the morning. Have an important meeting with a client in Japan.”

“I see,” said Chantal. “Well, I’m a little disappointed. I wanted to talk some more.”

“Me too,” said Michael. “I would like to call you again.”

“I would love that,” said Chantal. “Call me after six at any time tomorrow. I will be online. If I’m on a call just try again after ten minutes. Once you call the phone s*x line enter ‘6766’, this is my personal extension. It will connect you straight to me.”

“Alright,” said Michael. “I’m really looking forward to talking to you tomorrow.”

“Me too,” said Chantal. “Sleep well.”

And with that, Michael bade her goodbye and cut the call.

Chantal sat back in her chair and smiled. That had been such a lovely conversation, Charles had been such a lovely person. He was so ready to listen to her, so ready to have a conversation. He hadn’t even wanted phone s*x. She wondered what his story was. She couldn’t wait to find out.

All in all, Chantal was very excited for work tomorrow. She couldn’t wait to hear Charles’s voice again and continue their discussion about music. She couldn’t wait to talk to him some more about other things as well, and to see how many things they connected with. Charles was a good person, she could feel it, and she couldn’t wait to get to know him.