Enjoy Things While You Can

Entering Santoro's Music Store, the atmosphere immediately felt steeped in nostalgia. Old tunes crackled softly in the background, the unmistakable warmth of vinyl filling the air. Rows of records lined the shelves, their colourful sleeves worn with history, promising stories and melodies from eras long past. For those who stepped in around 4:30 p.m., however, another sound might greet them—a faint hum from beneath the shop floor, hinting at the music brewing in the depths below.

Readers who recall why—well done. Those who don’t, let’s delve back into this story.

The front door creaked open, announcing the arrival of Kokomi and Carter. The shop’s "CLOSED" sign was already flipped, but Kokomi moved with confidence, knowing exactly where they were headed. She gently held Carter’s forearm, guiding him through the maze of racks and toward the back staircase.

“Watch your step,” Kokomi cautioned as they approached the stairs leading to the underground live house.

“I know, I know,” Carter replied with a small laugh. He’d been down these steps before, and his memory served him well. The cane he carried lightly tapped against the steps, a rhythmic echo that matched the faint beat they could hear growing louder.

At the bottom, they reached a brown door with a medium-sized glass pane. The glass was obscured by a vibrant poster that read: “LIVE HOUSE SCHEDULE.” The muffled sounds from inside grew clearer as Kokomi opened the door with ease.

The room on the other side was alive with music. A heavy, rhythmic sound filled the air—a blend of driving drums, intricate basslines, and an electric melody. The energy hit Carter like a wave, making him pause for a moment to take it all in.

Simon, the drummer, was the first to notice their arrival. He raised his drumsticks in the air, signaling the others to stop. The music trailed off, leaving an expectant silence. Beyond, the group’s leader, turned toward the newcomers, his expression a mix of amusement and mock severity.

“You’re late. Two minutes,” Beyond said, his voice tinged with mock disappointment.

“Pfft, as if you’re always on time,” Simon retorted, spinning a drumstick in his fingers.

“Thanks for the backup, Simon,” Kokomi quipped with a grin.

“Who’s the guy?” Albert, the pianist, asked, nodding toward Carter. His arms were crossed, a curious but wary look in his eyes.

“This is Carter,” Kokomi said, stepping closer to her bandmates. “He’s visually impaired, so be nice.”

“Nice to meet you all,” Carter said, waving lightly.

“So…” Simon began, leaning forward on his drum kit. “You’re the fan Kokomi’s been talking about for two weeks, huh?”

Carter opened his mouth to respond, but Beyond beat him to it. “If you mess with our pearl,” he said, his voice low and serious, “I’ll rip out your throat and take you out.”

“On a date?” Albert asked, confused.

“No!” Beyond exclaimed, his composure cracking. “I meant punch him in the face or something! I have a girlfriend, you know.”

Carter couldn’t help but chuckle at the exchange, the tension melting away.

“Carter,” Simon called, gesturing to the seat beside his drums. “You can sit here if you want. But fair warning, my beats might blow your ears off.”

Carter shook his head, smiling. “Thanks, but I’d rather sit in front of the band. I’ll be your audience tonight.”

“Alright then,” Kokomi said, grabbing a chair from the corner and setting it up. She gently pushed Carter’s shoulder, guiding him into the seat.

“Thanks,” Carter said, settling in. “Don’t mind me—I just want to take it all in. Play whatever you want.”

“You’ve got it!” Kokomi said cheerfully before joining her bandmates.

The Meerkats scattered to their instruments, each one slipping into their routine. Kokomi adjusted the strap of her bass, the instrument’s blue body adorned with stickers of bubbles and butterflies. Simon fine-tuned his drum kit, testing the tension of each drumhead. Beyond, without his usual trumpet, strapped on an electric guitar with lightning-patterned decals. Albert flexed his fingers over the keyboard, warming up with a series of smooth scales.

They arranged themselves in a circle—Kokomi on the left, followed by Albert, Simon, and Beyond. The band’s energy crackled like static in the air. Simon counted them in with a sharp tap of his drumsticks, and the room exploded with sound.

The intro was simple but powerful—a steady beat from Simon’s bass drum, accented by Beyond’s crisp guitar chords. Albert’s keyboard joined in, layering a melody that felt both nostalgic and fresh. Kokomi stepped up to the mic, her voice cutting through the instrumental like sunlight through clouds.

Long ago

I liked being alone

Time to let go

I might’ve neglected my own

Everything is white

While I’m in my head

No more colours

Always so dead

(My colours fade, my colours fade)

I thought that

I’d forever be alone

(It’ll stay that way, it’ll stay that way)

I turned around and went home

But then I looked above me, I

Could see

Under the leaves

That you were smiling right at me

Chorus:

I have a dream

My dear light

That I could lean

Against you all night

So I can feel

(Sunny, sunny, sunny, sunny)

Sunny every day

The music soared, filling every corner of the room. Carter sat still, absorbing every note. He didn’t need to see the band to feel their passion—it resonated in every beat, every lyric. Kokomi’s voice carried a raw, emotional weight that tugged at his heartstrings.

When the song ended, the room fell into a hushed stillness, the kind that only comes after something extraordinary.

“That,” Carter said finally, breaking the silence, “was incredible.”

Kokomi blushed, her cheeks warm under the dim lights. “Thanks, Carter. That means a lot.”

Beyond leaned on his guitar, grinning. “Alright, Carter. Got any feedback for us? Or do we just blow your mind too hard to think?”

“Both,” Carter admitted with a laugh.

The Meerkats erupted into laughter, the camaraderie between them as infectious as their music.

For the rest of the evening, the live house buzzed with creativity, the band playing, laughing, and perfecting their craft. And in the centre of it all was Carter, their most attentive audience, feeling like he’d found a place where he truly belonged.