The Showman

The painting

Edge and Guggi wanted to cheer Bono up. They called Adam and Larry to come to Bono's house to hung out

Edge opened the door and let them in. They talked for some time about music, the tour, and fun anecdotes of the past to take a smile out of his friend.

At some time Edge, Larry and Adam took Bono to the studio he has in his house, to show him some sounds they have been working on this past weeks.

"You were working on these days?" Bono surprisingly asked

"Yes. Adam had a sound in his mind and brought it to me and I got this" said Edge while showing Bono a fragment of a potential song

"Then Larry comes in. We did it in about 2 hours. It was amazing" Adam said with pride in his voice

"I can hear it is. Sorry guys. But I did nothing this weeks. I feel like I failed you" Bono said

"Bono, we know you are having a bad time. We really do! And you took your heart out on last album. You poured all that shit you were going through on those songs. So don't apologize. We own you more than you think" Larry said looking right at Bono's eyes

"That's right. And we will always be there for you" Edge said

"Whenever you need mate" Adam said

Bono's eyes were almost in tears. But not tears of sadness. Those were tears of joy. He knew he had the best friends he could ever have and he was proud of having them around.

"Thank you guys. Really. I am proud of being called friend by you" Bono said almost cracking his voice

They were all emotional until Guggi came in shouting

"Bono. Come right here you bastard!" The four of them looked at each other in amusement

They all went to the living room were Guggi was standing facing something leaning on the table

"What is going on?" Bono asked

Guggi turned around with a grin all over his face

"You tell me what is going on!" Guggi said as he turned holding the painting with a proud face

"Oh, that" Said Bono while he slightly blushed

"Yeah, This" Guggi said mocking Bono "Seems you learned from the master"

"Can someone tell us what the hell is going on?" Adam asked looking at Edge and Larry and the three of them looking at Bono and Guggi

"Thing is, the master – Guggi pointed himself full of pride – taught the student – he pointed Bono – a while ago when he was looking for some inspiration other than music. So last year I gave him for his birthday this canvas and tools so he could try the painter he has inside. And I just found out he has a hell of a painter inside" Guggi said while Bono fully blushed

"What the hell Bono! Did you paint that?" Edge asked totally amazed

"Guggi, put that again on the table please" Bono said avoiding Edge's question

"Yes Edge, he did. And I think this painting has the girl he talked us about that saved his ass" Guggi said while giving another proud look to his friend's paint.

"What the hell! Is that right Bono?" Edge asked

"Can someone tell us what girl are you talking about?" Adam asked in confusion looking at Larry

"Ok! That's it. Yes, I painted it. Yes, that's the girl we talked about. And no, I don't want to see her again" Bono said a little bit annoyed

"Ok. Definitely there's something Adam and myself don't know." Larry said looking at Adam "Can someone at least think of us?" Larry said annoyed

"I'm going to take a shower and then I'm heading to the studio to work on that part" said Bono "You girls – pointing Edge and Guggi - tell them about it. I won't talk about this anymore. It's past, it's done. Ok?" Bono said and then went up stairs

Edge and Guggi told the story about Bono's trip to Buenos Aires, his fist week, his drinking night and about the girl. This mysterious girl they didn't know, but felt the need to find her.

When they finished telling the story, the four of them went back to the painting and stare at it for some time.

"Sun, is her name. He said she looked like Ali, that her smile could fix all his problems" Guggi said while looking at her smile

"He must have looked at her for a long time to paint her that way. I didn't know he had that talent" Edge said astonished

"Me neither" Guggi said

"Do you really think this girl changed him? They've seen each other only twice" Adam said

"Love is mysterious Adam. You should know that" Edge said "And he is in a shitty moment now. Everything is dark, and trust me, in those times when you see even a little ray of sunshine you can totally recognize it" Edge ended

"Wow, so we not only have a guitarist, but a poet now" Larry said mocking him

"Shut up Larry" Edge said smiling

"Look guys. Mind is tricky sometimes, but this painting has a meaning to him. Maybe he is not ready to tell us or even to understand himself that he needs someone in his life again. Your mind can be tricky, but your heart wont. Did you saw how he asked me to put it back gently to the table? He didn't want me to break it or whatever. You only do that if you care. And he does" Guggi said

The 3 bandmates nodded their heads

"You're right Guggi" Edge said

"So what do you propose?" Adam asked

"We wait until he realizes this girl matters. And then we come in. He can't be on denial forever. Music is the only thing he has. And when tour is over and there is no album scheduled he losses himself again" Guggi said

"And how the hell are we going to find her?" Edge said

"That's the thing..." Guggi said while scratching his head thinking "We only have her name"

"So no number, no address and she lives in Buenos Aires. That's a great one" Larry said

They all went silent as Bono was going down the stairs

"Let's go ladies" he said