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Stars of Alabama
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Stars of Alabama | Sean Dietrich

Murray Balkcom

Stars of Alabama

Stars of Alabama is the title of Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, is scheduled to be released on July 9, 2019. Sean crafts interesting stories out of otherwise seemingly normal events and encounters with regular people. In Sean’s mind, other people are the “stars,” but what I’ve come to learn is that Sean is that star, whom many may think is just an ordinary guy, until they read or listen to him weave a beautiful story with his words. There is usually some laughter along with tears tugging at your heartstrings when you dig into his writings.  Support our local writer, Sean Dietrich. Pre-order a copy of Stars of Alabama, Click Here.

Find and Like Sean of the South on Facebook. If you don’t already own a copy of Sean’s other books, search for them while you are buying his latest.

 

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Pensacola, Florida—this is an era when the town is cobblestones, iron balconies, and men in straw skimmer hats. A trolley rolls down Palafox. Ships in the bay have smokestacks. It’s hot outside. Young Albert is a trumpet player. He has talent. His father, the attorney, calls him lazy. He says music is a dead-end profession. He says Albert won’t amount to anything in this world if he plays music. So, the boy works loading crates in the harbor. On weekends, he plays with the Salvation Army Band to keep his lips in shape. They’re a good band, they play hymns in front of the bank on Government and Palafox to raise money for the poor. The other side of Government Street: A couple shuffles the sidewalk. Man and woman, middle-age, dressed in ratty clothes. They have accordions strapped to their chests, and tin cups with rattling with coins. They wear darkened glasses. They are blind. They don’t often play on Government Street. Today, they’re hoping to earn enough to buy supper. The woman sings tunes she’s learned from the radio. She has a good ear. She can hear a melody once and play it. Albert and the band take a break to rest their mouths and replace fluids. The fellas remove jackets and fan themselves. This is Northwest Florida. The sun can melt a man like candle wax. “Ssshhh,” says Albert. “You hear that?” Everyone listens. “I hear it,” says Trombone. “Sounds like an accordion,” adds Bass Drum. The band is a curious lot. They go investigate. Albert stops walking. He listens to the music, then presses the mouthpiece against his lips to play along. French Horn finds a part to play, too. Snare Drum, Fluglehorn, and Tuba do the same. Soon, the boys have joined the blind woman’s song. Together, they play a secular melody—which has been strictly prohibited by the Official Salvation Army Rulebook, section 207-A, paragraph 3. It’s beautiful music. A big crowd gathers. Men in linen suits reach into pockets, tossing money. Women empty coin-purses. The blind couple smiles so hard, they almost crack teeth. So does Albert. They play until sunset. And I imagine Panhandle sunsets in the ’20’s were just as magnificent as today’s. When they finish, Albert gathers cash from the pavement. He collects piles of fifty-cent pieces, dollar bills, pennies. Six hats full. The blind woman thanks him. She cries. Albert cries. The band cries. Everyone cries. It’s more money than the couple has ever earned before. It was only one afternoon, a few hours in history. But it was more than that. Those who saw what happened would talk about it. Their kids would retell the story. And their grandkids—which is how I heard it. It’s a story that’s even outlasted Albert himself. A kid whose father said he wouldn’t be worth a damn in this world if he kept playing his god-forsaken trumpet. Well. Fathers don’t know everything.

Featured Local Writer – Sean Dietrich – Sean of the South

Murray Balkcom