Two young men from very different backgrounds end up roommates at a state college in west Texas in the latter part of the turbulent sixties. Riki is the black sheep of a wealthy family, on his third and final chance to avoid the draft or disinheritance. His big dream is to be a hot guitarist with a rock band, and he has a weakness for recreational drugs that make him feel better about himself. Jerry is a true son of Bible Belt America, happy to be able to go to college and perhaps rise above the lower middle class level of his family. The two form an unlikely friendship that develops into a deeper bond as they experience drugs, sex, and rock n' roll in their heyday.

Midnight Cowboys

Riki had fetched his Strat for the second set he played with the Fireflies. It still felt more comfortable to him than their less-familiar Telecaster. Playing through one of the group’s huge amps, it sounded outta sight, too.


Now as the sun sank toward the western horizon, the Crockett group hung out together, sprawled in the shade of the VW as they drank the last of the beer they’d brought along. People wandered around, many still drinking or smoking, trading names and phone numbers and stories.


Riki had given up on running into Julian Diamond. The event was probably too homegrown for the rising musician and entrepreneur. It didn’t matter so much now anyway. He felt sure he’d been accepted by the Fireflies. He even began to hope that after Lem, the member he’d replaced, was back up to speed, he’d still have a spot with them. Josh, who seemed to be as much of a leader as they had, told him more than once that he really liked Riki’s sound. No one else disputed that.


Chapter 19