A Tough Night

Back in the professor’s show biz days, some gigs were harder than others. The performance date was to be a benefit, held in a church basement in St. Paul, for a six-year-old with cancer. It was well organized, with activities for kids, a silent auction and lots of door prizes. Our combo was the entertainment.

About a week before the gig, the child died. It was strange, playing a wake. The parents were there, his medical team, relatives, neighbors and schoolmates. His father gave a heart-rending speech, thanking those who helped, but he was really inconsolable. We played the best we could, I think people appreciated it. Afterwards, there was a ton of leftover beer that had been donated by a local brewery. They told us to take as much home as we wanted.

It was really good beer, but drinking it didn’t make me feel any better.