It's Kind of Like This...

The DJ steps up to the turntable. With one flick of his right wrist, and a quick slide with his left thumb and forefinger, he sends the familiar scratch through the room, gaining the attention of the crowd. He has a feeling about what this crowd wants, what it needs. He has done this many times before. Like a scientist he has observed and taken notes. Like an artist, he has developed a feel, an instinct. He follows that feeling and the music begins to play. His instincts seem to have been correct. The crowd is moving, almost in sync with one another. They are losing themselves, finding themselves. The DJ is losing himself and finding himself right along with them. As he does this, he adapts to them. Flow. The playlist he had written out in advance is now pushed aside and he begins to pull songs from the playlist in his soul. It is as if the crowd is requesting the next song without ever saying anything. What seems like only minutes has really been hours. The faces on the dance floor change, but the rhythm of the moment remains the same, and everyone is caught up in it. The pace quickens, then it slows, and quickens again. The crowd, which at first seemed insecure and self aware, has grown confident and sure, filling the room with good vibes. As the lights flicker on an off, signaling the end has come, the DJ spins his last tune. The crowd begins to file out the door, filled with laughter, full of energy. The DJ smiles. He’s done it again. He walks around the now empty room putting some things away, and pulling some things out of cupboards for tomorrow. He jots down a few notes in his journal. He makes a quick phone call, and answers an email. He grabs his backpack, turns off the lights, and closes the classroom door. He must go rest, for tomorrow at 8am, he’ll be back to do it again.