Red Hot Chili Peppers – Gigography
Live in Indjija
-Let’s shake – he said – You won’t feel cold, I developed my own small dance that helps me warm up. It really works, you should try it.
We told him about the couple from the bus, and that weird girl that couldn’t stop complaining, and then he told us about his bus that one guy occupied, and we figured that we have been in the same bus, but he was lucky enough to fall asleep and wake up right outside the train station, while we were living through every single minute of our strange trip.
-Pneumonia! – he said laughing – I’ll get inflammation of all the organs inside me, I haven’t known some of those even exist yet! But, oh, my, I’ll feel them all tomorrow you can bet on that!
The rain was still pouring, but we had the shelter and a very pleasant company – both were crucial. A few trains arrived but none was going toward Belgrade, which was our desirous destination. The crowd went crazy, yelling, hoping someone from the train station would hear them, but people didn’t seem to care about some 80 000 visitors in Indjija that desperately wanted to go home. And then, a voice over the microphone announced three or more trains to go toward Belgrade. Those were some great news and they lured the applause from everyone. We knew the ending was near, and all of a sudden I didn’t feel like going. Now that we met that guy and had fun with him, the fact that this weird adventure was about to end didn’t sound all that amusing. We were still wet, it was still cold, but it didn’t feel all that bad, because of him, as he managed to call our attention to something else, something nice, and no matter how strange it sounds, after all, it is all in your head. If you convince yourself it’s alright, that’s the way it’s going to be. The first train has arrived, and we got closer to the rails as there were people all over the place, and it’s been obvious that all of us won’t be able to get into this one.
-Please, make the room for the train, move away from the rails – said the voice over the microphone.
It’s been funny; everyone acted almost as if he said: step forward please: all of a sudden people started running toward the rails, hoping they will be the first ones to get in. Yeah, they said there will be more trains, but that wouldn’t be the first and probably not the last promise they didn’t keep, so no wonder people were all suspicious and rushed forward in panic. We approached too, never losing sight of that guy, who, in the meantime, introduced us to two of his friends, who were as crazy as him, if not even more. Under the circumstances we were more than satisfied with this company. He looked back a few times, just to make sure we were still behind him, as walking single file was the only way to pass through.
-There is no way to make it into this one – he said as the train slowly came to a stop – Maybe we should just get back under our shelter and wait for the next one. I mean we have waited for 5 hours, another ten minutes won’t hurt?
We agreed, moving away from the train, which was a good thing to do, because as soon as the doors opened, people were literally running over each other, stopping at nothing, some of them even trying to get in through the windows – a complete chaos and panic. Seeing that picture was weird even though that was something you constantly see in the movies, seeing real people act like that in real world, in a not so life threatening situation, makes you wonder what would have happened if the end of the world was near. There is certainly nothing worse and nothing more dangerous than an unrestrained crowd.
After a couple of minutes they said that there was no more room and that the rest of us will have to wait for another train. I could hear people begging, saying how there was still enough room in between the railroad cars, how they can be on their feet the entire trip, but the conductors were merciless. We, on the other hand, looked at the bright side of things, not feeling such a rush to go home, still making jokes and getting to know our new friends better. And like they said, another train arrived shortly after, which came as a big surprise as we all though they were laying just to calm us down, and no one expected they would actually keep their promise this time. It was still raining, not as heavy, but that didn’t really matter as I could still squeeze a gallon of water just from my tiny t-shirt.
We entered inside, still holding together. It was one old fashioned train and it reminded me for how long I haven’t been traveling by train. We looked for a place to sit, there were only two and there were five of us.
-You girls sit down – said one of his friends – We can sit on the floor or stand here…
While we were still hesitating what to do a voice over the microphone announced that there was one more train coming. Without thinking too much we got out, waited for another five minutes and got in an almost empty train – probably the last one to Belgrade they were sending. We occupied the whole compartment, and one of his friends, the one that didn’t say a word during the whole adventure, separated and fell asleep right after he sat down.
-Is he ok? – I asked, pointing my head in his direction.
-Oh, yeah, don’t worry about him… He’s just…high? But he’ll be alright!
And then, we got to hear the whole story about their trip to Indjija, we also found out that they weren’t big fans of the Red Hots at all. They just happened to have the tickets and decided to come. They then told us that they are students, apparently, not diligent ones, as most of the times they’ve been spending in the cafés, or libraries as they called them. It turned out that the one that spoke to us first was some 28 years old (he made us guess his age, which was kind of embarrassing). And the other guy was our age; they met at the ‘library’ while ‘reading books’ (drinking beer in their case) and they shared the apartment. The older one said that he feels young at heart and loves to hang out with our generation. Everything he said was funny, even when he didn’t intend to sound that way and tried to be all serious, we couldn’t help laughing. We talked about what we’re going to do when we get back home, and they, indirectly, kept asking us to visit them sometime, explaining how they need help rearranging their house, or inviting us to lunch, also stating how they would love to see our dorm as they had never lived in one.
-Whoa – said the younger guy – I don’t feel very well, I need to go to the bathroom.
-What happened with him?
-He is alright, he just doesn’t have the ticket – said his friend leaning forward, with that secret smile on his face
-We don’t have the tickets either – I said as the conductor approached us – But we’re going to buy them now.
-Oh, I see – he said, almost as if that surprised him – Well, he doesn’t like buying…
We had a great trip as time was flying once again. We got to Belgrade before we even knew it, agreed to get out on the main train station even though it was closer for them to get out earlier. It seemed like we couldn’t separate as we knew that it would be the end and we certainly didn’t want this to end. Getting out of the train and into the city was weird, embarrassing, but most of everything, it was fun. Embarrassing, because we were muddy, wet, we looked like the flood threw us out, and I had mud all over my shoes, and my legs – up to my knees. It was some 6 hours in the morning, and people were looking at us like at five weirdos, and in some strange way, it felt great. I don’t remember when the last time I felt that alive was!
-Look at us! – my roommate exclaimed – We are all dirty from toes to head! How are we going to travel through Belgrade like this!
-Well if you’re asking me, you girls look really cute – said the younger guy.
The weather cleared, the sun has come up, we were in the familiar city again and everything that has happened felt like a dream. But it wasn’t, and those three guys were right there, with us, to prove that. But now, everyone had to go their own ways, leaving this day behind, once and for all. We headed toward different directions – they needed to take one city bus; we needed to take a different one. We stood at the crossroads like that, not knowing what to say and what would be a perfect way to end this, when my roommate saw our bus approaching our station across the street.
-Oh , we better go! Who knows when the next one is going to arrive, and we sure don’t want to attract too much attention.
We laughed, shook hands and exchanged looks for one last time with that ‘It was nice meeting you’ line. And then we run off, leaving them wait for their city bus that would drove them home, or to the ‘library’ near their place.
There were businessmen in the bus, probably going to work; everyone looked sleepy, locked in their little worlds of everyday events and habits, not caring to know what’s outside. Damn! That’s probably the way I look when traveling in those buses to university or to finish whatever little business I have in the city. Well, life can be more fun, apparently! They raised their heads and looked at us, despising our wet clothes, our muddy legs and smiles on our faces, just for a few seconds and then they sank back into their own worlds, not changing the dull expression on their faces. People can’t be surprised anymore. Even better, I thought to myself, we don’t need the attention. We arrived in dorm at 6am, luckily there was no one outside, so we just took the elevator and some 17 floors later we were in our room. I felt tired again, but we knew we had to change our clothes, take a quick shower and make ourselves a cup of tea before we fall asleep.
Yeah, sure, it didn’t seem all that hard, after being up two nights in a row you don’t feel a need to sleep anymore. We talked about our silly friends, feeling really sorry for letting it end that way, for not asking them for their cell phone numbers or anything. We knew we would never see them again, but right now, it felt sadder than I thought it would be.
-Heh, you know, we can never prove they really existed – I joked – People can say those guys were a figment of our imagination! It’s almost like angels sent them to help us make through. Everything about them was too good to be true, a perfect combination of everything we needed back there!
At the end, this adventure was leaving a bitter sweet taste in my mouth. Both, the gig and the day were certainly nothing I have expected them to be. Was it better or worse than my imagination? I don’t know. Do I regret it? No, now that it’s over I don’t regret a second of it. Would I go back in time and live it all over again? Definitely, after this, I’d take every chance to get off the everyday tracks just to feel alive again.
My thinking interrupts my roommate, handing me a cup of tea, telling me how we should brash our teeth before going to sleep.
-Yeah, you just go – I replied – I’ll do it after I’m done with my tea.
She left the room and I lied down, closing my eyes, thinking how I didn’t feel all that sleepy after all. I looked at that funny cup with broken handle, taking one more sip, and… That half drunken cup of tea was the last thing I remember…
