“But I thought everything was on the computer,” Carter said.
“We buy blocks of on-air material,” Gideon told him. He walked over to the computer and showed him the information on the monitor. It showed where they were in the program, what was playing now and what was in queue.
“We can insert our own commercials into what we’ve bought. We can do local news, too. The whole system uses the atomic clock so the timing is perfect. No one can tell what’s done by us and what’s bought.”
Carter frowned. “Is that good or not?”
“Some days I’m not sure. There’s no way for a small station like this one to survive with live broadcasts. They’re expensive to produce.”
“At night, is it you or a recording?”
Jess grinned. “It’s Gideon. The boss does his own shows the old-fashioned way. You should show Carter what’s what.”
“Sure.”
They walked to the booth in the back, the one that no one else used because the equipment was so old. Carter slipped inside and sat at Gideon’s chair. “Look at all this,” he said.
The this was a stack of CDs. Some were compilations, others complete albums. Everything was numbered and neatly organized.
Gideon pulled a second chair. “I have a database I use to keep track of everything. I plan some playlists in advance, but not always. Sometimes it’s a mood thing. People call in with requests.”
Carter picked up the headphones, then put them down. “What’s this?” he asked, pointing.
Gideon grinned. “A record player.”
“You have records?”
“You don’t have to sound so shocked. Yes, I have records.” He pointed to the wall behind them.
Carter spun in the chair. “Whoa. Look at them.”
Gideon followed his gaze. The record collection filled a specially built case that nearly covered the wall. He would guess he had close to a thousand records, some collected when he was a kid, some bought in the past couple of years at estate sales and auctions.
“I’ve never seen a record before,” Carter said as he stood and crossed to the wall. “On TV and stuff, but never in person.” He glanced back. “Can I touch one?”
“Sure. But hold it by the edges or the middle.”
“Like a DVD.” Carter pulled out a sleeve, then carefully slid out the record. He held it reverently. “So, these are like, what? A hundred years old?”
Gideon sighed. “It’s from the ’60s.” At Carter’s blank look, he added, “The 1960s. Barely fifty years ago.”
“Fifty is pretty close to a hundred.”
“I’m ignoring that.” He held out his hand. “I’ll play it for you.”
Carter looked at the title. “The Beatles Second Album? That’s the name?”
“It’s actually the third album they released in this country. They’re a British band.”
Carter handed him the record. He put it on the turntable and carefully placed the needle so they would hear his favorite track, the classic “She Loves You.”
“Why do you like this music?” he asked as the first strains began to play.
“I can understand the words,” Gideon said with a laugh. “I like the message of songs from the ’60s. Life was simpler.”
Carter shook his head. “Yeah, yeah, yeah? That’s a message?”
“It was at the time.”
Carter settled back in his chair and listened. When the song was over, he asked to have it played again.
Gideon studied the teenager who was his son. For the first time since Carter’s arrival, he saw him as a person rather than a problem. A kid with hopes and dreams.
The song ended and he turned off the turntable. “You’re going to have to tell me what I’m supposed to be doing,” he said, putting the record back in the sleeve.
Carter’s dark eyes flashed with emotion. “You mean about me?”
Gideon nodded. “I’m not exactly father material.”
“You’re doing good,” the teen said quickly. “I’m not that much trouble.”
“Nice to know. Should we talk about anything? You making friends okay? Anything with girls?”
Carter grinned. “I know about sex, if that’s what you’re asking. Besides, it’s a little early for that. Get back to me in a couple of years.”
Longer would be better, Gideon thought. “If you need anything or want to ask me any questions, you can. I won’t lie to you.”
“I’m glad. I’ll try not to lie, either.”
“I notice you didn’t promise.”
Carter smiled. “What can I say? I’m a kid. Things happen.” His brows went up. “You know, we could talk about me driving.”
“You’re thirteen.”
“It’s never too early to start.”
“It’s highly illegal.”
“Okay, but just so you know, you’ll need to get me a car when I turn sixteen. So you might want to start saving now.”
With any luck, he would start getting the hang of this “dad” thing before then, Gideon thought.
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