The road ahead of us stretches west across Iowa
toward Nebraska. We have several hours to drive, but the sky is bright and blue
and the traffic is light. If we’re not exactly enjoying the drive (because,
really, it’s pretty flat and rather dull) then we are, at least, enjoying each
other’s company, our conversation, and some great music.
The boy and I are listening to Radiohead on the
truck’s stereo system. For a fourteen year old, he’s got pretty good taste in
music. It’s Radiohead’s third album, OK
Computer, from 1997. I was 22 when it was released; he wouldn’t be born for
another four years. I’ve caught him several times, in recent weeks, sitting at
the keyboard, plucking out the melodies to Karma
Police, and No Surprises. He’s
got a good ear.
He thumbs through the CD booklet, reading the lyrics. I sing along. It is a good day; the miles fly by.
“They have a lot of songs about leaving, and loneliness,” he says as OK Computer ends and we’re loading Kid A into the CD player.
“Yeah,” I say. “They do. Alienation and withdrawal are big themes in their music.”
“And they’re your favorite band?” he asks, lightly.
Is that compassion in his voice? Understanding?
He thumbs through the CD booklet, reading the lyrics. I sing along. It is a good day; the miles fly by.
“They have a lot of songs about leaving, and loneliness,” he says as OK Computer ends and we’re loading Kid A into the CD player.
“Yeah,” I say. “They do. Alienation and withdrawal are big themes in their music.”
“And they’re your favorite band?” he asks, lightly.
Is that compassion in his voice? Understanding?
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