Solo

Storm congratulates him on being the commencement speaker and, Blade admits that he’s stuck on what to write. Storm suggests that he write a love song to their late mother and play it on the guitar, a “custom-built / Eddie Van Halen / Frankenstrat” (41) that Rutherford gave Blade for his 13th birthday. Blade loves the guitar—it reminds him of his mother’s laughter when he strums. He named it Sunny, his mother’s name, and he plays it every day, “knowing it’s / the bridge / that connects / heaven / and earth” (42). At 3 o’clock in the morning, Blade is still stuck, so when he hears “Uncle” Stevie, the drummer in Rutherford’s old band The Great Whatever, hanging out with his father, he asks for their help. Together, they write a song for commencement and Rutherford promises to attend graduation. After a few hours of sleep, Blade wakes up to Rutherford leaving and sees a note: “The song’s a hit! Went for a coffee. Break a leg, / killer!” (54).

Blade thinks about his father, and the fact that his dad hasn’t been able to move past October 10, 2007, the day his wife, Sunny, died. On that day, Sunny and nine-year-old Blade were in Las Vegas enjoying the strip together while The Great Whatever played a sold-out concert. Sunny stopped to smell some flowers and a bee stung her neck. Sunny joked, guessing that EZ might stand for, “Evil Zapper” (51), but minutes later, she died from a brain aneurysm triggered by an allergic reaction to the sting. Rutherford promised Sunny that it was his last tour.

On graduation day, Chapel blows Blade a kiss as he stands on the stage and the principal introduces him. Blade starts strumming to loud applause, but he realizes that the applause is not for him. A woman wearing a bikini and helmet rides a Harley to the stage with Rutherford sitting behind her, holding a guitar above his head and screaming “I LOVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL” (57). Rutherford staggers onto the stage with breath that “smells like / the devil’s mouthwash” (58). Humiliated, Blade walks off the stage as Rutherford vomits and the audience takes pictures. Chapel texts Blade that she is sorry she couldn’t comfort him after graduation, as she had family commitments. Blade doesn’t reply. The Hollywood Report publishes an article about drunk Rutherford crashing Blade’s ceremony, adding “Thankfully, no one was / injured, // except the already damaged ego and reputation / of his only son” (61).

After hours of lying in the dark listening to music, Blade falls asleep to another nightmare. His mother and Rutherford are in a dining room full of cookies and roses with BU tattooed on them. His mother cuts the cookies and the crumbs turn into spiders. A big red spider chases Blade and his mother whispers “run,” so he does.

Storm wakes Blade out of his nightmare. She tells him to “get over” the graduation embarrassment before helping him try and make sense of his dream. Storm jokes that the spider is Rutherford, trying to destroy Blade—but really Storm thinks dreams are “just / stupid” (69). Texts from Chapel interrupt Blade and Storm’s conversation, which irritates Storm, who cautions, “It’s unhealthy the way you’re all up under / her. Be careful, Blade” (69). Storm also points out that Chapel is getting in the way of Blade’s old friends.

Two days later, Rutherford knocks on Blade’s door. He apologizes and says he’s going to rehab and asks Blade to watch out for Storm while he’s away. Storm released an album that tanked, so Rutherford said she could have a party to cheer herself up and he wants Blade to be there. Blade pushes back so Rutherford reminds Blade about his “five-star living” (73), referencing Blade’s Range Rover and private school. When Rutherford leaves for rehab, Blade feels nothing.

Chapel texts Blade to see how he is, but when he suggests meeting, she awkwardly says she can’t, because her parents are throwing her another dinner party for her and her friends—including her ex-boyfriend, Van. Hurt, Blade goes to see his friend Robert in Santa Monica. Robert is a songwriter and musician who plays the trumpet on Santa Monica boardwalk. Despite being poor, Robert gives the money he collects to people who are unhoused. He won’t accept any help from Blade, who sneaks cash into his trumpet case anyway. Blade tells Robert everything about graduation. When Robert tells Blade he needs to be thankful, Blade says that it’s difficult. Robert’s response gives Blade perspective when he tells him that Blade has problems that come with his privilege. They play music on the boardwalk and Blade’s mood begins to lift.

The following morning Blade gets a series of texts from Chapel letting him know that her college dorm assignment is right next to his. She suggests that they go shopping to celebrate. Blade is still hurt and suggests she’s using him for money. Chapel takes offense, so Blade leaves a voicemail asking for forgiveness and promising to take her out for on Rodeo Drive. Chapel forgives him.

As Blade leaves to pick up Chapel, a large marble statue of the Goddess Lakshmi is delivered for Storm’s party. Excited, Storm dances around the statue with the Morrison’s dogs, causing the dogs to panic and bump the statue, sending it crashing to the floor. Blade is delayed when he helps Storm clean up.

At an ice cream parlor, Blade and Chapel are swarmed by paparazzi, taking pictures and questioning Blade about Rutherford. Chapel holds Blade back as he loses his temper. Instead of going to Rodeo Drive, Blade drives to Santa Monica to introduce Chapel to Robert, who is playing with a large group of musicians. Chapel is annoyed, complaining that her shopping trip is delayed, but Blade is insistent. Robert’s music calms Chapel, bringing her and Blade momentarily closer together. As they leave, Blade’s car runs out of gas. They pull into the gas station at the same time as Chapel’s mother. She is furious when she sees Chapel with Blade, demanding that Chapel get in her car.