Godin

Chapter 1 - the audition

Editor's note: Since I can't speak Dutch, any conversations that are supposed to be will be in English with parenthesis.

It was a hot summer day in Zaanstad, Holland. The band Godverdomme was looking for a new bass player. The previous one quit over "creative differences"

The lead guitarist was Kracht, a long blond haired man who stood 6 foot 1 with piercings and tattoos. The rhythm guitar player was Pjin, a long black haired man who stood 5'9 who wore black leather with piercings and tattoos. The drummer was Verwoesting, a bald man with tattoos and piercings. The lead singer was Godin, a chubby, brown haired girl with bangs. She sat with the others at a table as one musician after another played notes, discussed their likes and said why they wanted to join.

Then someone walked in different from the others. He walked in wearing a black leather jacket, white sneakers, blue jeans and a white t-shirt. He was holding a black bass and amp, had short blonde hair and no tattoos or piercings. Pjin, Verwoesting and Kracht looked at each other as Godin looked him up and down. Unlike the others, he had discernable build to him, like an ex-athlete.

Kracht: (What's your name?)

*The man didn't answer*

Pjin: (Did you hear him? He asked your name.)

*Still no answer*

Kracht: (Well fuck this guy)

*Godin stuck her hand out*

Godin: Wacht.....doe je spreek Deutsche?

*The man shook his head. Verwoesting laughed as Kracht threw his hands up*

Kracht: (This guy can't speak Dutch, what is he, Swedish?)

Godin: Gor du prata svenska?

*The man shook his head*

Verwoesting: (Then where the hell is he from?)

Godin: Tu parle francais?

The Man: Oui, mais, je ne parle bien.

Godin: De quoi tu parles?

The Man: Anglais.

*Kracht and Verwoesting rolled their eyes*

Godin: Ah, you are English.

The Man: American.

Kracht: (An American? For real?)

Pjin: How did you end up in Holland?

The Man: A Hostel trip gone wrong.

*Kracht looked at Pjin*

Kracht: (Is he joking?)

Godin: We're in Zaanstad, you don't speak Dutch. How do you expect to join this band?

The Man: Like this.

*The Man plugged in his bass*

The Man: Ready?

Kracht: Yes.

*The Man went into a bass solo that had everyone leaning forward in shock. He could play very well*

Pjin: Not bad for an American.

Godin: You're hired.

Kracht: (What? You can't be serious. We can get anyone to play bass that can speak proper Dutch)

Godin: (There's something about him that's different. I can feel it)

Kracht: (Fine, have it your way. He'll last about two weeks)

Godin: What's your name?

*Before The Man could answer*

Kracht: (No no no, forget his real name. Give him one of ours)

*Godin admired his muscles, his look and his build*

Godin: You shall now be known as....Strijder.

The Man: What's that mean?

Godin: Warrior.

*The Man smiled*

Strijder: Sounds good to me.

*Godin and Strijder locked eyes and they smiled at each other*