Chapter 56

I called Bobby.

“You and Tommy can come out to the Avocado this afternoon or tonight. She’s progressing nicely. Bobby?” I was asking a question.

“Do you know the Abba song Does your mother know?”

“You do? Bobby ... you should be prepared to be amazed.”

So ... when the brothers showed up at the garage, the first song we practiced featured Bobby backed up by Sally and me. This is a guy singing about a girl who is just too young.

Bobby:You’re so hot, teasing me
So you’re blue
but I can’t take a chance on a chick like you
That’s something I couldn’t do
There’s that look in your eyes
I can read in your face
that your feelings are driving you wild
Ah, but girl you’re only a child
Bobby, Sally&Karen:Well I can dance with you honey If you think it’s funny
Does your mother know that you’re out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you’re out
Sally&Karen:Take it easy (Bobby:take it easy)
Better slow down girl
That’s no way to go
Does your mother know?
Take it easy (Bobby:take it easy)
Try to cool it girl
Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know?{br}

And on through to the end, There were several musical breaks, A bar of drums, a simple bass solo, lead, and synthesizer. Enough to get ‘em thirsty before we hit ‘em up with a couple of oldies.

Come on Baby, lets do the twist and Let’s twist again.

Along about 8 o’clock we were invaded. Sally had called a bunch of friends from Tongue River high school and invited them out to be a test dance. Maybe twenty kids, (if you knew anything at all about TRHS 20 is the whole graduating class.) it was successful. The phone in the Avocado was constantly in use. By midnight there were three hundred dancers.

I don’t know how many times I asked if our sound was danceable.

Thank heavens the sheriff came out and closed us down at 2am.

Since we hadn’t charged admission it was a neighborhood party ... juniors and seniors are mostly old enough to drink but we weren’t supplying. We went through a ton of water, though.

Those who brought their own were smart. The Avocado has plenty of floor space ... it’s heated ... and, since it’s still winter, for all it’s Early Spring ... everybody had bedrolls of some kind.

I’m not saying that everybody got home intact ... there might have been a few pieces of skin torn ... but we didn’t know ... since we were asleep.

The next Friday, we were well received at the Mountain Inn. Saturday we played at Wyarno in the Legion Hall. We were off and running. Weekends we were playing for money ... not a lot, but enough to put coin in our pockets.

About May, the Holiday Inn called Bobby.

“Not less than two hundred fifty a night, each.” he told them.

“I don’t care what you’ve been paying the easy listening combo,” he said. “If you want us ... it’s a grand.”

“No!” Bobby said, “I don’t care if you can hook us up with all the hotels in the world ... we don’t sign contracts.”