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Message-ID: <52045asstr$1127200205@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "Jim C" <jimc_author@hotmail.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Lucky Stiff by JiMC (41 of 46)--MF, FF, mc, md, magic, romance
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Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 03:10:05 -0400
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This story is copyright (c) 2003-2005.  All rights are
reserved by the author, including that of publication.
Posting on-line is only allowed when permission is explicitly
granted by the author, and then only for the complete story,
including this disclaimer.  Contact the author at
<jimc-author at excite dot com> for more information,
referring to this story ("Lucky Tickets 2: Lucky Stiff").

I explicitly grant permission to post this story to
StoriesOnline.net and asstr-mirror.org.

The following is a work of fiction and is just a fantasy.
Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely
coincidental and entirely unintentional.  There may be
references to people in a historical context, but they are
not really characters in this story.

This is a story that describes sexually explicit situations
in a fictional universe that only vaguely seems similar to
the one we live in.  Most of the characters in this story are
under aged.  However, the target audience is adults (people
over the age of eighteen) with broad minds.

* * *

This is a sequel to the story "Lucky Tickets," and as such,
you may want to read that story first to get a better
introduction to the characters present in both stories.  Like
a lot of sequels, it's not really meant to be read out of
order.

* * *

Chapter 41--Wild Weekend III

        When the jazzman's signifyin',
        And the band is windin' low,
        It's the late night side of morning,
        In the darkness of his soul.
        He can fill a room with sadness,
        As he fills his horn with tears.
        He can cry like a fallen angel,
        When risin' time is near.
                -- Jazzman (Carole King)


    After Kristen and I finished in the shower, I went
upstairs to get dressed.  When I came back downstairs, I
heard music playing in the billiard room.  I went to that
room and saw Kristen was sitting on one of the chairs,
strumming quietly along to _Going to California_ on the album
Led Zeppelin IV.

    "I like side one better," I commented, smiling at Kristen.

    "Everybody likes _Stairway_," Kristen said, nodding.  "I
just didn't feel like strumming my acoustic guitar to _Black
Dog_."

    I figured that _Black Dog_ with an acoustic accompaniment
would be something weird and smiled in response.

    Since we were waiting for the cheerleaders to return, I
parked myself at Kristen's feet with my eyes half closed,
letting the music flow gently through my head.  I was
thinking about what Kristen told me a little over a half hour
earlier.  Somehow, despite the fact that Kristen admitted she
once wanted to kill me, I felt much closer to her than before.

    I decided that I would need to have a long talk with
Patty to completely understand things.

    The sound of the outside door opening broke me out of my
reverie, and Lynette arrived in the billiard room with June,
Sherry, and my sister in tow.

    I was about to greet the girls when Lynette said, "What
are you guys doing lounging around?  Why don't you guys come
outside and get some fresh air?"

    I blinked at Lynette.  Unlike her demeanor when she was
cheerleader captain, Lynette hardly ever suggested any
activity around the apartment, but here she was doing just
that.

    "Outside?" I asked, confused.

    Sherry joined Lynette.  "It's a wonderful day, Jim!"

    Merry added, "You didn't even say 'Hi!' to me!"

    "Hi, Shortcake!" I said, automatically, a bit
apologetically.

    "Come on, you two," Lynette said, pulling me up by my
arm.  "Get outside!"

    After pulling me up, Lynette surprised me by taking
Kristen by the arm, delaying only slightly while Kristen put
her guitar against the wall.  My Goddess was pulled up by
Lynette.

    I shrugged at Kristen, not knowing what got into Lynette.
Did the two girls have a fight before?  I thought they were
all lovey-dovey in the shower this morning...

    June asked, "Were the two of you in here all the time we
were gone?"

    My response was a shrug.  "Here, the studio..."

    "The shower," Kristen added with a smirk.

    June shook her head.  "You need to get outside more."

    Before I knew it, Merry and June had me by the arms and
led me down the hall toward the door that led outside.

    "What's going on?" I asked, completely perplexed.

    None of the girls answered me.  I could now tell that
Kristen seemed to know what was going on, which made me a bit
more curious.

    When I got to the door...

    "SURPRISE!"

    There were people everywhere!  Cheerleaders--some still
in their outfits--and members of the band from school.  Mr.
Proilet and a couple of other teachers were there as well.  I
turned to look at Kristen, who simply kissed me.

    "That's for the surprise party you threw me for my
eighteenth birthday!" Kristen said, smiling.  "Daddy and
Mommy set this up for us."

    I tried to pick out Kristen's parents in the crowd and
saw them sitting on some chairs with my step-father and
mother.  I went to go over to them to thank them, but people
kept interrupting me to wish me a happy birthday.

    When I got to the place where our parents were, I was
further surprised to see Will and Camille were there as well.

    "Cammy!" I said, reaching out to give her a big hug.

    "Will told me that he'd spank me if I didn't show up for
this soireÈ that Kristen planned!"

    I gave Camille a big kiss on the cheek and then shook
Will's hand.

    Daniel Swift got up from his chair and shook my hand
next.  "Happy birthday, son!"

    "Thanks, Mr. Swift!"

    I received a kiss from Charlie Swift as well as my
mother, and I got a firm handshake from my step-father.

    I turned around to look at everybody who was at the
party.  I couldn't believe so many people were there... it
had to be even more than the number of people who had been to
Kristen's birthday party earlier that year.

    I saw Roy Fennel, who was chatting with Sherry and Merry,
and not only was most of my jazz band around, but so was most
of the concert band as well.  I saw a stage was set up but
had large sheets around it.  It was obvious that Kristen had
planned some entertainment as well.  I wondered how many of
the jazz band would be performing today.

    Kristen came over with two cans of soda and handed me
one.  "I envy you.  My birthday is in January, and it's too
cold then for an outdoor birthday.  You get to have wonderful
weather for your birthday!  Were you surprised?"

    "You bet!" I said, still in awe at all the people who
were over at the house.

    "Mom and Dad suspended house rules and opened the porch
to the outside so people can have easy access to the pool.
People were told to bring their bathing suits if they want to
swim.  We have burgers and hot dogs for the afternoon, and
the caterer will bring us some barbecued chicken and ribs
later tonight."

    "When did you plan this?" I asked, stunned by the turnout.

    "I planned it in January, but didn't tell anybody about
it until a couple of months ago.  Everybody promised to help
me keep it a secret from you."

    "I love you, Goddess!"

    "Oh, Jim!"

    The two of us kissed for a long time.

* * *

    There was a tent set up with picnic tables underneath,
and there were people I didn't know--the caterers--serving
food to all takers.

    I kept looking at the stage, which was still shrouded in
white sheets.  Kristen managed to get my curiosity piqued
over that.  Who was going to perform?  Did she make any
arrangements with Mr. Proilet to get the Jazz Band to
perform?  If so, when did they have time to rehearse?

    I was startled when I heard a deep voice boom out.  "Hey,
Oogie!" This was accompanied by a large hand on my right
shoulder.

    "Archy?" I asked, recognizing the voice.  I turned around
and saw Archy and June were there.  "You're here from
college!"

    "Do you think I'd miss out on your birthday?" Archy
laughed as we shook hands.  "Besides, Kristen arranged for a
Piper Cub to pick me up in Indiana.  I'll be going back later
tomorrow.  Thank goodness we don't have classes yet."

    "Don't you have a game this week?"

    "We have a bye this week.  June told Kristen and next
thing I know, she calls me and tells me to get my black butt
over here for your party!"

    June smiled, and I could see that she was happy to see
her big old Teddy Bear with her, even for just a while.

    I nodded toward the stage.  "Do you have any idea what
Kristen has planned over there?"

    Archy laughed a deep booming laugh.  "Oogie, my friend.
That little lady of yours next to you would rip my heart out
along with some other organs if I were to spoil her surprise."

    I turned to where Archy indicated, and saw Kristen had
come back to be with me.  I smiled sheepishly.

    "You have Archy trained very well, June," Kristen said,
smiling at the couple.

    "I have no complaints," June said.

    As I left, I saw Archy and June start a warm kiss
together.  I was happy that June and Archy were able to get
together again.  As much as June and I loved one another, it
was nothing compared to the deep bond shared between the
linebacker and the cheerleader.

    As Kristen led me toward the picnic tent, Mr. Proilet
stopped us and shook my hand.  "Happy Birthday, Jim!"

    "Thanks!" I said, looking back as Kristen continued to
drag me away.  I wasn't able to ask my teacher if the band
was going to be performing.

    I looked in the direction that Kristen was dragging me,
and saw Kristen's brother Will and Camille at a picnic table
eating lunch.

    "Hey, guys!" Kristen said.  "I'm glad you were able to
make it, Will!"

    "There would have been hell to pay if I didn't make it,"
Will said, laughing.  "Mom and Dad were very insistent."

    "When does school start?" I asked.

    "In a couple of weeks..." Will started.

    "Two weeks," Camille said.

    The two started laughing together, and Kristen and I
joined them.

    "How long are you in town?" I asked.

    The two looked at each other.  "We have tickets to go
back to New England on Wednesday.  We arrive in Boston for a
final weekend before I have to show up at the dorm at Brown."

    My favorite red head came over to the table where we were
sitting with a plate containing mostly potato salad and
macaroni salad.

    "Hey, Patty!"

    Patty smiled at me and gave a big hug to Camille and Will.

    "How long are you guys in Illinois?" Patty asked.

    "Our flight leaves Wednesday night," Camille answered.

    I hadn't noticed that Kristen left me alone until I saw
her come back with a couple of paper plates full of food.
She handed one to me which had a hamburger and some cole slaw.

    "Yum!" I said, attacking the hamburger.

    As I was eating, Patty leaned close to me and whispered,
"I can see that we will need to talk later."

* * *

    I made small talk with Camille, Will, and Patty.  I
wanted to talk with each one, albeit privately, but the party
wasn't the opportune time for that.

    "Where are you guys staying?"

    Will answered.  "My old room.  Mom and Dad said that
Cammy can stay in Kristen's old room if she wants."

    I nodded and finished my hamburger.

    I watched people interact around me.

    Mr. Proilet was talking animatedly to my parents, and
both Daniel and Charlie Swift seemed to have a few comments
to make as well.  I figured that whatever they were talking
about involved me.  From the expressions of everybody
involved, however, there wasn't very much disagreement among
the five of them.

    I turned to tell Kristen about what I had seen, but found
that my Goddess had disappeared again.  A quick scan of the
party didn't reveal her location.

    "Mind if I excuse myself?" I asked my companions.

    There didn't seem to be any objections, although Camille
brushed my arm and said, very softly, "I'd like to talk with
you later on." It was the second time a friend told me that.

    I nodded at Camille and got up from the table, putting my
now empty plate into one of the trash bins that were
strategically located all over the yard.

    I saw Archy and June standing by Sherry and Lynette, and
I moved over to where they were.

    "Hey, Oogie!  Great party!" Sherry said, giggling.

    I smiled at Sherry and asked how everybody was doing.

    "Everybody seems great!"

    I looked around and saw Roy chatting with Stacy, a member
of the chorus, and my sister.

    "Hmm, Roy and Stacy.  They'd make an interesting couple."

    "Are you kidding?" Sherry asked.

    "Huh?" Was there some problem between Roy and Stacy that
I didn't know?  I thought that Roy and Stacy got along very
well--they both had wonderful singing voices and they were
both in the chorus.

    Sherry seemed surprised.  "You mean you don't know?"

    I gave Sherry an exasperated look.  "Nobody tells me
anything around here.  What's wrong between Roy and Stacy?"

    "Nothing!" Sherry said, still looking surprised that I
was missing something.

    I thought back to the conversation I had with Roy the
other day and suddenly remembered the subject.  "Roy and my
sister?"

    "It's not that serious," Sherry said, trying to assure me.

    I didn't know how to take this information.  I mean, I
had no hold over my sister.  I didn't even live with her
anymore.  However, I did know that Roy had a relationship
with a cheerleader a few months back, even though she already
graduated.  They were both at the villa during the senior
weekend, and it was obvious that their relationship wasn't
entirely platonic...

    "Really, Jim," Sherry said, patting my arm, "it's not
serious.  Merry seems amused that Roy seems interested.  I
think she still thinks of Roy as your best friend.  Of course
she's going to be curious.  That's it."

    "If you say so."

    Roy was my friend... probably the closest male friend
that I had.  Why was I getting these strange feelings?

    "Wow!" Sherry breathed, diverting my attention.

    I turned to see what Sherry was looking at, and saw
Kristen and Lynette emerge from my apartment wearing the
skimpiest bikinis I've ever seen.  The cuts of their suits as
well as the material were identical; only the color was
different between them.  The one Kristen was wearing was
black, and Lynette's was white.

    Kristen saw me looking at her and she smiled, and ran
over to me, leaving Lynette behind.  "Like my suit?"

    "Love it, Goddess!"

    "Wait until you see Lynette's after she hits the water!"

    Sherry gasped.  "That material will become nearly
transparent if it gets wet!"

    "That's the idea, Sherry!" Kristen said with a snicker.

    "Does Lynette know this?" I asked.

    Kristen shrugged as if she didn't care.  "Lynette does
what I tell her."

    I nodded, but Sherry was still staring open mouthed at
Lynette, who finally reached us.

    "Going swimming, Lynette?" I asked, amused by the
prospect.

    Lynette looked at Kristen, who nodded.  "Of course,"
Lynette replied.

    Kristen said, "You should put on a bathing suit, Jim.  I
left one out for you on the bed." She turned to Sherry and
added, "Jim can show you where my bathing suits are if you
didn't bring any, Sherry."

    "Um, thanks," Sherry said.

    Kristen took Lynette by the hand and started walking
toward the pool.

    Without a word, Sherry took my hand and led me back to my
apartment.

* * *

    When we were alone, Sherry said, quietly, "I'm not sure
what you did, but the compulsion I had a couple of days ago
isn't as bad."

    I nodded, a bit embarrassed by my behavior the other day.

    "Kristen knows about me, doesn't she?"

    "What makes you say that?" I asked guardedly.

    "Kris and I talked last night.  We were alone in your
bedroom."

    Really?  "About what?"

    "Kris confirmed that she had seen the two of us the other
day.  She also told me she understands how I feel about you.
From the way she said it, she implied that I felt different
about you than the way we were just friends a week or two
ago.  I got embarrassed and that probably confirmed any
suspicions she may have had."

    Uh oh...

    Sherry continued.  "Then Kristen said something that I am
still finding hard to believe.  She first said that she
wanted to thank me for being such a good friend to both of
you, and that she realizes that I always had a crush on you.
She told me that the future is for the two of you, but that
you were very understanding of her needs.  She admitted to me
that she sleeps with Lynette, but also that she's slept with
Camille, Archy, and Patty.  That's when she told me that if
you could let her have her freedom with those people, it
would only be fair for her to let you have that same freedom
with me."

    I was stunned.  "Kristen said that?"

    "I tried to tell her that I didn't want to... and that is
when she said whatever I do with you... even on your
birthday--and she mentioned that!  Whatever I do with you,
she said, it has her blessing, as long as I don't try to
interfere with the love between the two of you."

    I had no idea what to say to this.  I knew that Kristen
had given me permission the other day, but this conversation
with Sherry was out of the ordinary!

    Sherry added, "I promised Kristen that I wasn't out to
get you anymore."

    Suddenly, I eyed Sherry suspiciously.  "Why are you
telling me this?"

    Sherry stopped walking and looked me straight in the
eyes.  "Look, Jim.  I have this compulsion, and I'm not
really sure where it came from.  The really eerie part is
that I used to be worried about it--I was worried sick!  Now,
it's like... it's like, it's not a problem.  That should
worry me, but it... it doesn't.  I'm starting to think that
I'm losing my mind... only, it's like... well... so what else
is new?  This isn't like me at all!"

    Sherry's face revealed none of the worry that her words
would indicate.  I remembered again how my friend Jack
Williams seemed confused and confounded when I told him not
to remember things under the influence of the tickets.  I was
careful not to play with people's minds like that since, but
it appears I really fucked Sherry's mind over now.

    "I'm..."

    "I know what you are going to say, Jim," Sherry said, her
voice much softer.  "I think you don't want me to worry about
things, and for some reason, I'm not.  It's that it just
doesn't make any sense."

    Letting out a sigh, I said, "I know.  Things don't always
make sense to me, either."

    The two of us looked at each other for a long moment.
Neither of us seemed to know what to do.

    Finally, I moved closer to Sherry, bringing my face close
to hers.  Sherry's eyes closed and her lips pursed; she
obviously knew my intention.

    I kissed the girl.  I felt her lips part, but I didn't
follow her lead.  Instead, I moved my arms around her waist
and pulled her closer to me.

    After a few seconds, I felt Sherry breathe out through
her nose.  It was almost a sigh.

    I'm not sure how long we kissed.

    When we finally broke it off, I pulled Sherry into the
master bedroom.  I sat her down on the foot of the bed, and
then walked into the large walk-in closet.  I turned the
light on within and then opened a large drawer inside,
verifying the contents within.

    I left the closet, and I could see that Sherry had a look
of quiet expectation in her eyes.  I intentionally ignored
her, and grabbed the bathing suit that was on the bed.  It
was one that Kristen and Lynette purchased a few weeks before
that I hadn't worn yet.

    Gathering up all my will power, I finally spoke.
"Kristen's bathing suits are in the open drawer in the
closet, Sherry.  I'll give you some privacy in here as you
get dressed."

    I picked up my bathing suit and quietly left the bedroom
to go into the spare bedroom to change.

* * *

    I was sitting in the living room when Sherry finally
emerged from the bedroom.  She was wearing a pale blue bikini
that seemed to fit her properly.

    "Jim, did I ever tell you why I've loved you for so long?"

    The question startled me.  "I don't think so.  Why?"

    Sherry gave me a slight smile.  "Ever since I saw you the
first time, I noticed that you seem to have a self-assured
determination to achieve whatever it is that you seem to want
to do.  I heard that you learned to play the clarinet in
seventh grade in a matter of a couple of weeks, and when you
played it, you played it better than anybody else in the
junior high."

    I remembered that incident.  One of the older students
told me that anybody could play the brass instruments, but it
took a real musician to play the clarinet.  I asked my
teacher, Mr. Thurd, if I could borrow a clarinet for a couple
of weeks, and begged my mother to purchase a box of reeds for
it.  I went to the library to find a book with the
fingerings, and it took me about three weeks to get to the
point that I was confident enough of my ability to actually
play it in front of people.  Sherry's version was
exaggerated, of course.  I doubt anybody could pick up an
instrument and be as proficient as she said so quickly.

    "Sherry, you know that most of that story is just
exaggeration."

    "I know that.  Answer this question, then.  How long did
it take you to learn the oboe, Jim?"

    Sherry's question made me very uncomfortable, so I
avoided it.

    "OK.  When I set my mind to doing something, I tend to do
it.  What's so special about that?"

    I got a warm smile from Sherry.  "I always dreamed that
one day, you'd get it in your mind that you were in love with
me, and that you'd go after me in that same way.  I figured
that you would be like Cyrano or Romeo, or perhaps Tony in
West Side Story."

    That drew a chuckle from me.  "That's not me, Sherry!"

    "That *is* you, Jim.  Everybody knows why they call you
Oogie."

    I sighed.  This was the second mention today about the
_Hooked on a Feeling_ set I performed for Kristen on the
first day of school last year.

    "You are that person, Jim," Sherry said.  "Only, it isn't
for me, but for Kristen.  My cousin saw how this tied me up
in knots, and she was pissed at Kristen because Kristen just
walked away from Dale and all those other snobs.  Dale knew
how I felt and she told me things that I was secretly
believing myself, trying to make me feel even worse.  She
said you were just another gold-digger out for Kristen's
money.  She said you were a rock and roller and Kristen was
just a convenient but rich groupie.  'Kristen's opening her
purse and her legs for your lover boy, Sherry!' she'd say..."

    "Sherry..."

    "Please!  Let me speak!  I went from loving you to hating
you!  It wasn't just Dale, because she was saying what I was
really thinking.  If you were just looking for a groupie,
then I could prove it by trapping you, and Dale dared me to
try.  She offered me money!"

    Sherry paused.  I waited, since Sherry asked me not to
talk.  Finally, she said, "I failed, but something else
happened.  You noticed me, but treated me nicely... like a
friend.  You introduced me to Kristen and to Patty, and they
treated me like a friend as well.  I wasn't sure what to make
of this, and... it took some time... but I found that I liked
you even more this way.  It wasn't just me, either.  You were
now talking to everybody.  Suddenly, people noticed you.  At
first, I was jealous.  I mean, where were they when I was the
only person who loved you, right?  People would call you
'Oogie,' and you pretended to hate it, but every time they
did, you'd glance at Kristen when she was around.  And she
did the same with you."

    There was another pause, and I was about to speak, when
Sherry said, "I finally realized that while I may have
dreamed about you being my lover, what I really wanted was
for you to see me as a friend.  And you did that!"

    "You are a friend, Sherry," I softly replied.

    Sherry nodded.  "That's why it hurt me so much to tell
you about how I felt the other day.  After being friends with
both of you for a year, it was as if I was going back and
trying to trap you once again... and that's not the case!"

    "I know, Sherry."

    Sherry looked me in the eyes, and said, "You do know,
don't you?"

    I simply nodded in return.

    "And Kristen knows, too." This was not a question, but a
statement.

    I nodded again.

    "And Kristen is serious... she's not jealous of me, is
she?"

    "Can I tell you something, Sherry?"

    Sherry looked a bit apprehensive.  "What?"

    "I never knew how you felt about me in junior high... at
least, not at the time.  My life wasn't a very happy one..."

    "You were always mad at your father."

    "Please, don't interrupt," I said, softly.  "I let you
say what you had to say.  It's my turn."

    Sherry nodded and I continued.  "Anyway, my life wasn't
happy, but I found that when I played music, a part of my
brain that felt so frustrated and angry would go someplace
else... a place that I find difficult to describe.  It was
like, I found a place where I could be happy and not have to
worry about anything.  A place where everything followed the
rules.  If a note goes up on the paper, its pitch goes up.
It's like mathematics.  Once you learn the rules, you can
predict where everything will go."

    I looked at Sherry, and she seemed fascinated by what I
was saying.  I didn't go on and explain how the rest of my
life didn't follow the rules... husbands shouldn't hit their
wives or children; I stayed away from that tender subject.

    "Anyway, after Kristen and I started going together, I
found that the rules had changed, slightly.  Instead of
pursuing music just to satisfy myself, I found myself doing
it to make Kristen happy.  I didn't know the whole story at
the time, but Kristen was very lonely.  I once played the
_Moonlight Sonata_ in the parlor of her parents' house, and
she'd later tell me that she used to play that song when she
was alone.  I could see in her eyes that she really felt that
loneliness, and that she saw music as a way to escape.  When
she told me that, the song meant more to both of us... it was
no longer a lonely song, but a song of love.  I found a
purpose to my life, and it wasn't really music after all...
but with Kristen, the music became even better!  I'm no
longer alone when I'm making music.  We are there together!
Does that make sense?"

    Sherry nodded, her mouth open a bit with a surprised
expression.

    "It's not Kristen, either.  In junior high, I would play
the piano or some other instrument, but I was mostly showing
off.  'Play this, Jim!' somebody would say, and I usually
knew the song.  'Can you play _Uncle Albert_?' That sort of
thing.  I don't do that anymore.  When I play for people, I'm
really playing *for* the people that are listening.  It
started with Kristen, but I found that it's more fun this
way.  I record my own music in private, but I did it better
when you were watching me do Dion... I was doing it for you!
You are a very important part of my life, Sherry, and I'm
sorry that I ignored you for so long.  I just think we're
better suited as friends than as lovers."

    "Do you still think of me as your friend?" Sherry asked.

    I nodded.  "You bet!"

    Suddenly, Sherry threw herself at me and we kissed.
Again, it was not a romantic kiss, but it was enthusiastic,
nevertheless.

* * *

    Kristen's surprise performers on the stage was a six
member combo from Chicago named "Aureus." There was a lead
guitar, a bass player who also doubled on the trombone, a
female who sang and played the tambourine, a drummer, a
keyboardist, and a guy who played different instruments,
depending on the song.  In all, they were five guys and a
girl.

    The group also had a sound man, who sat way behind
everybody who was listening to the band, and he spent the
time they played wearing headphones and making adjustments on
his console.

    The group were all in their early twenties, and as such,
they played a lot of rock and roll covers.  However, they
augmented that with some older numbers, and they even did
some comic numbers that I recalled hearing on late night
radio played by a disc jockey named Doctor Demento.  There
were a few numbers they played that I did not recognize which
may have been their own creations.

    The group was thoroughly entertaining--even the adults
seemed to enjoy them--and Kristen told me they would do two
sets, ninety minutes each.

    Near the end of the first set, I heard the song
_Birthday_ from the Beatles' white album.  It didn't take a
genius to know that the band was going to do something
special for me.  Kristen, Lynette, Sherry, June, and Archy
were all with me, and they all sang along to the Beatles'
melody.

    Then the lead guitarist made an announcement.  He
indicated to my girlfriend and said, "Kristen, over here,
requested us to do a special song for the birthday boy, and
we asked her what we could play, and she said, 'Could you let
my boyfriend play a song?  He likes playing!' So, if you guys
think you can applaud to give the boy some courage...!"

    People clapped, but a lot of people were smiling and even
laughing.  Most of my guests, with the obvious exception of
the band, had already heard me play!

    I looked at Kristen.  "You really want me to play?"

    "Do you think you can play something nice with them
backing you?"

    "I'll see."

    I walked toward the stage, and saw my music teacher.  I
stopped for a moment and asked him for a favor.  He smiled at
me, and nodded, and headed off to the house as I continued on
my way.

    The band made a big fuss of me coming onstage.  The girl
asked me off-mike if I played any instrument.  I indicated
toward the stack of keyboards, and she told me to go over to
where they were.

    When I got there, I was staring at a bunch of keyboards.
What looked like three keyboards when I was standing in the
crowd was, in reality, five of them.  One of them had keys
like an acoustic piano.

    "What's this one?" I asked.

    "Rhodes piano," the keyboardist said.  "Have you ever
played one?"

    "I have a Yamaha back at the house..."

    "That one feels like a real piano... Try it."

    I did, hitting a middle-C.  Surprisingly, no note came
out.  Apparently, the sound man had anticipated that I would
be taking a few practice notes and didn't want to embarrass
me.

    The keyboard felt surprisingly like a real piano.

    "Do you guys know _Love_, by John Lennon?"

    The keyboardist said, "Never heard of it, man.  Which
album?"

    "Primal Scream," I answered.  I realized that the song
was simple but the chord changes might not be something that
having a backup band would be able to pull off.  "No big
deal.  How about Elton John?"

    The keyboardist smiled.  "I play a lot of his songs.
Which one?"

    I told him the one I had in mind.

    "What key?"

    I thought for a second.  "G."

    The keyboardist nodded and then went quickly to all the
other members.  They looked at me strangely.

    The keyboard had a pedal underneath it, which I guessed
was a sustain pedal.  I pressed it, and looked at the sound
man, who nodded back at me and he fiddled with his controls.

    I started the first notes of the intro, my confidence
increasing with each note that I played.  The keyboardist was
sitting behind another keyboard, which I would later find out
was a synthesizer.

    I looked at my blonde Goddess, and started singing:

        It's a little bit funny, this feeling inside.
        I'm not one of those who can easily hide.
        I don't have much money, but if I did,
        I'd buy a big house where we both could live...

        If I was a sculptor, but then again, no...
        Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show.
        I know it's not much but it's the best I can do,
        My gift is my song and... this one's for you!


    As I sang the chorus, I could hear the synthesizer
backing me like the strings in an orchestra.  I decided right
then and there that there would be a Rhodes piano and at
least one synthesizer in my studio pretty soon!

    The band was great doing backup for me.  I could hear
them "Oo-ing" behind my vocals.

    I wished that I had my tapes recording this performance!

    The song got a big round of applause.

    Members of the group seemed impressed by my performance.
One of them asked me, "Do you have another song you'd like to
play?"

    "Can you play Jim Croce?" I asked.

    "Which song?"

    "_You Don't Mess Around With Jim_."

    This got a big laugh from the performers, and luckily,
they knew the song.

    I turned to the mike and invited Kristen and Archy on
stage.  Archy looked stunned, but June started pushing him
toward the stage.

    As he passed Mr. Proilet, the teacher handed Archy my
trumpet.  I could see a big smile appear on the linebacker's
face.

    "I'm doing this with a couple of friends as well."

    I told Tiny the tune, and he shook his head.  I told him
that I'd signal his solo, and he nodded.  I had every bit of
faith in Archy's ability to pick up a song by ear.

    I signaled the lead guitarist, who had Kristen standing
next to him.  The two held acoustic guitars and, at the same
time, the two of them strummed the intro.

    I didn't use a keyboard for this song, but simply stood
next to Archy, who was phantom-fingering his trumpet to get
the notes right.  I grabbed the mike stand toward me and sang:

        Uptown got it's hustlers,
        Bowery got it's bums.
        And forty-second street
        Got big Jim Crittenhouse
        He's a pool shootin' son of a gun!


    A lot of people laughed at my renaming of the hero in the
song.  It was actually unintentional on my part... every time
I sang that song to myself, I had put myself into the song.
The big, mean, S-O-B that would one day turn the tables on my
father.  That never happened, but the name still came out.  I
just barely realized in time and sang the correct words in
the next line, instead of "mother fuckin' son of a gun!"
which was another of my modifications.

    I continued through to the chorus.  The members of the
group sang along with me at the refrain:

        You don't tug on Superman's cape!
        You don't spit into the wind.
        You don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger,
        And you don't mess around with Jim!


    I sang the second verse, and everybody sang along with
the refrain again.  It was a pretty rousing song.  During the
repeat, I gave the cue to Kristen and Archy for Archy to take
his solo, and Kristen passed that cue on, and Archy played
his solo.

    I was going to miss having that big lug around this year.

    I looked in the audience, and saw that Sherry had a big,
pleased smile on her face.  She never heard my first live
performance in public, but she got to hear this one!

    When the song ended, we got lots of cheers.  Archy,
Kristen, and I took our bows, and then thanked the band
members, who announced that they'd start their next set in
forty-five minutes.

    "You're a natural behind the microphone," Mr. Proilet
said as I came offstage.

    "I feel more comfortable behind the keyboards, though.
That guy has something called a Rhodes piano..."

    The two of us talked for a bit on the minor performance I
just gave, and I found a lot of people were coming over to me
to wish me a happy birthday and it took me a while to get
over to the picnic tent where they were serving my birthday
cake.

    "Congratulations, son!"

    I turned around at the unexpected voice.  It was my
step-father, smiling at me.  "Huh?"

    "I know for a fact that you didn't have that performance
planned.  You are really very talented!"

    "Um, thanks."

    "I wish Merry would take up an instrument.  I think she's
getting too involved with those cheerleaders."

    My mother interrupted.  "Don, don't go complaining about
Merry.  All of her friends are here, dear."

    "I know, it's just..."

    "You're proud of her, and you'll be seeing her first game
next week, won't you?"

    I wasn't sure if this was directed at me or my
step-father, but my step-father answered, "Oh, yeah.  I'm
sorry, Marge."

    I winced.  My mother preferred the name Margaret, and my
step-father knew that.

    My mother looked unperturbed.  "Maybe we can all go to
that Vaughn's place afterward." She looked at Kristen and me.
"How about you two?  Would you like to go to Vaughn's
afterward?"

    Kristen smiled and answered before I could.  "The four of
us can go.  We'll have Sherry and Lynette with us, and we
couldn't leave them."

    "Table for seven, then!" my mother said, smiling.

    Merry had heard the conversation and hadn't said anything
up until now.  "Um..."

    "What dear?" Mom asked.

    I saw Roy right behind Merry, who looked like she was
ready to blush.  I decided to come to my sister's rescue.

    "Actually, Kris," I said, interrupting.  "I was thinking
that we might be taking Roy to the game, too.  That would
make it an even eight people."

    Both Merry and Roy looked surprised.  Kristen smiled at
me and gave me a secret look that told me that she was proud
of me.  "I forgot about Roy," Kristen said.  "I'm sorry, Roy.
Think you could come to Vaughn's after the game next week?"

    "Um, yeah," Roy said, a bit in shock.

    "Eight sounds just right," my step-father said.

    My mother didn't answer me, but looked at me and then at
my sister.  I knew right then that she knew that something
was up--I found it very difficult to keep secrets from her!
I hoped she wouldn't embarrass Merry in front of her father.

    "It's a date, then," my mother said sweetly.

    That simple sentence told me everything I needed to know.
If she didn't know that Merry had a boyfriend before this
conversation started, she knew it now.

    Later on, members of the band came over to talk with
Kristen and me.  They were impressed with our performance.

    "This isn't your first time performing in public, is it?"

    Kristen answered.  "We did a lounge act out at Purdue a
couple of weeks ago to help out a friend." She looked around
and found Archy and June talking quietly by a tree.  "That
guy, over there.  He's our friend and he's with the
Boilermakers this year."

    "He looks like a linebacker!"

    "He is," I said, smiling.

    We talked a bit about music, and I discussed various
keyboards with the keyboardist.  After about ten minutes of
intense discussion, I found that the two of us were alone.  I
decided to take him into the garage to see my studio.

    "Hey, man!  This is a great setup!"

    "Yeah," I said.  "I've been doing a lot of
multi-tracking."

    "That's a great mixer!  Where did you get that?"

    "I got it today, in fact.  It's Kristen's birthday
present for me."

    "Wow!"

    We spend about fifteen minutes in the studio, and I
played him one of the _Wanderer_ tapes I made, which he
seemed to enjoy.

    When we finally came out of the garage, we noticed that
the rest of his band had already started to set up for their
second act.  Before he left, he offered me another chance to
perform, but I turned him down.  I already performed, and as
the local hero at this party, I didn't want to detract from
the group's performance.

    Instead, I listened to the group play a wonderful set,
and I talked with a lot of friends and family that had come
over and made this day so wonderful for me.

--
jimc_author@hotmail.com

JiMC is only a pseudonym.  Respect my privacy and I'll respect yours.

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