Jada had achieved her dream of opening a record shop. Would her famous friend make good on his promise?
BY JULIA DOUGLAS
Flip the sign on the door will you, Troy?” said Jada. Resplendent in his red Royal Mail jacket and black shorts, Troy went to the door of the record shop and turned the sign to “Closed”.
Jada built a stack of box sets on the counter. She put her tripod on the top and attached her smartphone.
“Where’s Cozy’s record?” she asked.
“Right here.” Sophie sighed at the handsome rapper on the cover and handed over the disc.
Jada slipped the pink vinyl from its sleeve and put it on the turntable.
“Come on you two, behind the counter with me.”
With Sophie and Troy grooving at her side, Jada pressed “Record”.
“Hey, music lovers,” she grinned into her phone’s camera. “It’s your girl, Jada, coming to you from Tracks by the Tracks.
“It’s just three days to go until Record Store Day and we are so excited because the King of BritHop, Cozy Warm, will be in this very store to meet you all on Saturday.
“We’ll be live streaming on social media, so stay tuned to the channel and if you’re in town, come on down!”
“Do you really think he’ll come?” asked Sophie when the video was done.
“Naw, he’ll let you down like he lets everyone down,” said Troy.
“You’re just jealous because he’s delivering hits and you’re delivering letters!” Jada retorted.
“Of course he’ll come,” she told Sophie. “He’s doing it for his old neighbourhood. He grew up with me and Troy on the estate.”
“You really grew up with Cozy Warm?” Sophie’s eyes widened.
“And don’t I remember it?” Troy rolled his eyes.
“It was me that called him Cozy Warm,” Jada boasted. “He used to wear this big padded jacket and I said, ‘You look cosy warm in there!’”
“Shall I go and put the shutters up?” Troy offered.
“Thanks,” Jada said fondly. “And, by the way, there’s nothing wrong with delivering letters.” Troy smiled shyly as he turned away. Watching the lanky postman padlocking the big metal grilles over her shop window, Jada felt a familiar wave of warmth towards him.
She couldn’t remember a time when Troy hadn’t been around, always helpful, always supporting her, never wanting anything in return.
Sometimes she wished he did want something in return. But he’d never been more than a friend, just one of t
