The Crossroad: Where the Devil met I

Cross Road Blues
©(1978) 1990, 1991 Lehsem II, LLC/Claud L. Johnson

Administered by Music & Media International, Inc.

I went down to the crossroad
fell down on my knees
I went down to the crossroad
fell down on my knees
asked the lord above "Have mercy now
save poor Bob if you please"

Yeeooo, standin at the crossroad
tried to flag a ride
ooo ooo eee

I tried to flag a ride
Didn't nobody seem to know me babe
everybody pass me by
Standin at the crossroad babe
risin sun goin down
Standin at the crossroad babe
eee eee eee, risin sun goin down
I believe to my soul now,
Poor Bob is sinkin down
You can run, you can run
tell my friend Willie Brown
You can run, you can run
tell my friend Willie Brown
(th)'at I got the crossroad blues this mornin Lord
babe, I'm sinkin down
And I went to the crossroad momma
I looked east and west
I went to the crossroad baby
I looked east and west
Lord, I didn't have no sweet woman
ooh-well babe, in my distress

--Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson

I went to the Crossroad the other night... That's the name of a liquor dispensing establishment on the wrong end of main street.... where but a month ago I'd finally found myself.

There, after a long period of soul searching, I'd finally caught a glimpse of who I really was... and though I didn't like the reflection, I was glad to see, finally, what a lifetime of following the rules (speeding doesn't count), celibacy, and moderation had made of me.

So on this past Sunday night.... after a long and (hard on a simple man's mind) weekend, I went back to the Crossroad. I was hoping to catch, if only, but a glimpse of myself.

To my utter dismay, everything had changed.... 'twas all upside down... inside out.... different. Gone were the white ppl. Gone were the Chinese glasses - plastic cups were strewn all over the place..... and the music was different... definitely black but different... Islandy black.

I tried to find the Men's room, but that too was gone.... The sign was anyway..... Instead, scrawled in white chalk, on a black wooden door with no pretense of flourish, 'Restroom'.... with no gender designation. It was only one door, and it came with a line.

I waited my turn.... I needed to look into that mirror... note my use of need as opposed to want... I had to find myself.

My turn finally came.... later rather than sooner. I lurched inside, not bothering to find the light, or close the door. With a little dificulty I found the faucet... it too had been moved... and set real low.... to accommodate the handicapped I'd assume.......

I had to stoop real low to find the mirror.... but that too was gone.... so was the crack... in its place was a metal plate.......wtf...huh?

So....I'm still stooped over... intently staring at the metal plate..... when the devil appears.

I am muttering to myself, not clear on what to do now that my purpose for coming in here has been nullified....

And I know am really lost coz realizations are slow in hitting me.... There's a time delay effect... The lights seem to have grown brighter and the noise - music n chit chat have almost been cut off....very muted.

And then there is this guy, very intently, staring at me..... and he's talking.... but I can't make out what he is saying.... like me he's just muttering to himself.... I look even closer, he does bear a striking resemblance.....

" Now that's vanity right there"

Huh? The voice came from behind me... and its low and husky, unmistakably female..... and a shadowy figure appears behind him......

Holy Shit.... that is me.... and am staring at the mirror.... well, polished metal to be exact but its doing the job with the lights on.....

Wait, the lights are on..... and am not alone.

I quickly spin around (as fast as I can in my inebriated state).... and.....

Lo n Behold.....

Ladies and Gents....

The Devil......

He's a She....

No..... she's not wearing no Prada...

She wears a designer smile.... designed to make even the strongest man weak in the knees.... but am not that man..... and my knees are already weak anyhow.....

And a hot (like hell)...... red Dedan Kimathi T-Shirt....