Chapter 65

Both Dallas performances were sellouts, netting us, $279,000 in total revenue. These kids are real troupers. Handling being on the road much better than I ever expected. We have a lot of people traveling together, if you count all the adults involved.

There are three vehicles, if you count the mobile stage. Stuart and our biggest guys, sans me, set it up ready to go in under twenty minutes. We have had to use the on-board generator a few times, but it is quiet and really easy to deal with. I bought four 50foot long cords for the possibility of hooking in to a facility if need be.

Ally and Jeff became our driver and navigator for this leg of the Tour. The girls and I missed Clarice, but everything was going so well. I wondered if Mom was grilling her about ‘her little boy,’ in the lead vehicle?

The drive from Dallas to Little Rock was one of the longest, requiring a stop for gas and a pit stop for the boys and girls, so we stopped in Texarkana for an hour at a truck stop. The kids practically emptied the vending machines while the adults arrived and they all clattered to get to a bathroom and some coffee. I got myself a couple of Kit Kat bars and a large bottle of diet soda. Isabel asked if she could sit by me, and Jenn settled next to James, giving me a wink.

“Do you need a pill Michael?” my redhead asked.

“Thank you sweetie,” I said having it put in my hand. I took it, swallowing a drink of soda behind it. She had a Wonka Bar in her hand. We traded a bit to each other enjoying the moment.

She leaned into me smelling really nice. I put my arms around her and said, “I love you, Princess.” She was asleep.

Our biggest venue to date would be in Little Rock, at the Verizon Arena, which holds up to 18,000 for concerts. No word on if it may be a sell-out or not. There had been some American Idol Tour concerts a few years back. Our standard 40% of the gross could be a new record for us, at least for a single night. It all depends on what people are paying to see us. I could have found out, but that was part of the experience, to me/

No one had asked, so I was going to wait and tell them about how big the place was after we get there and get settled in. If the GSS had any word of mouth going, I would think we had a chance of putting at least 10,000 butts in the seats!

What a payday that would be!

But, it’s not about the money.

We’re staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites Little-Rock Downtown where there were parking spaces labeled and set-aside for the Gold Standard Society.

Whoever had been driving the other vehicle, they backed in perfectly leaving us plenty of space beside them. I assume it had been Ally.

As we came to a stop, I stood up, “Guys and gals, the stadium we’re playing at while here holds up to 18,000 ... however, there is no telling how close to full or empty it will be for us tomorrow night. There will be no time for any practice. Let’s go and get to our rooms.”

I got out of the way as the thundering hoard escaped the bus with their backpacks and go bags. Isabel protected me from the cattle as they went by. Many were talking about the pool, while I was thinking about getting a rest. After they all were allocated their rooms, Jennifer took my arm and our regular foursome headed up to our room on the fifth floor. I put my things at the foot of the bed, and dropped fully dressed hoping to get to sleep.

“It looks like someone is tired,” Clarice said slapping me on the butt. “Ladies, I think we need to let him sleep. Maybe we can play later?”

“Later,” I said muffled due to the pillow.

I did feel my shoes and socks being pulled off. I am pretty sure that was Jennifer.

“Sweetie, send a gang text reminding them to use sunscreen. We’re not in Indiana anymore.” I laughed at my pithy remark and rolled back over and fell asleep.

What a nice dream Cece, the two Jennifer’s, Clarice and Isabel were all sharing me over and over again. They were swapping out being on top of me, until I came inside Cece. Then they started again, and I would cum inside a different one.

I woke up to a hand jerking me off ... it was Clarice. When I was ready to cum, it went all over her face. The girls licked it off her and I watched. Three girls fighting over my cum. Now, there’s a perfect dream!

A shower did the job to completely wake me up and clean up, feeling very rested.

“Did my mother talk to you at all during this last driving leg, Clarice?”

“Yes, she was very nice and seemed dutifully concerned for both you and me. I must have said the right words because she seemed assured that everything was all right. It was kind of bizarre the way she pulled me over to her and told me, ‘Don’t fall in love with my son ... he already has a befuddlement in his life with Jennifer and Isabel.’ It was very heartfelt. We even hugged for a moment.”

I was dressed and ready for whatever the ladies wanted.

They found, practically next door to the hotel, the Andina Café & Coffee Roastery. We walked there, this time with my fiancée on my arm.

We were recognized and told our food would be on the house. Jenn looked around and saw the Mitchells and the Newman’s sitting down. They waved ... we waved back. We ordered and sat nearby. Jeff Newman got up to help Clarice to her chair. I saw Nancy holding back a look. When Jeff sat back down, she gave him a borderline naughty kiss causing their sisters to giggle. Clarice had been told of their predicament.

Stuart was smart and had been avoiding Isabel all during this time. I really wanted to slap him, but ‘let it work out’ kept going through my head.

It didn’t take long for our food and drinks to come to us. I handed the young lady a nice tip, and a big smile. I had gotten a Down Towner Sandwich, Izzy a Chef Salad, and the ladies each ordered BLT’s. We all got a glass of milk to drink.

I heard the Mitchells beginning to sing ‘The Best Things,’ just as Jeff and Nancy stood up. Larry was playing a clarinet sound with his lips.

Jeff and Nancy couldn’t keep from embracing and dancing, which is what I presume Mary, and John wanted them to. There wasn’t much room, but they still showed off. Our table joined in the singing as they spun a few times. They did a nice layback to finish as the crowd all applauded.

The Newman’s left to applause. I saw Isabel looking at me with those eyes.

“What do you suggest, my dear?” I said.

“I don’t know ... isn’t that your job?”

I turned to Jenn, then Clarice whispering an idea.

“Stand up Princess ... ladies... ?”

I directed them ... acapella...

JENN/CLARICE
I have heard there
was a secret chord
That David played,
and it pleased the Lord
ISABEL (JOINED IN)
But you don’t really
care for music, do you?
It goes like this
The fourth, the fifth
The minor fall,
the major lift
The baffled king
composing Hallelujah
JENN/CLARICE
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

ISABEL
Your faith was strong
but you needed proof
You saw her
bathing on the roof
Her beauty in the
moonlight overthrew you
She tied you to
a kitchen chair
She broke your throne,
and she cut your hair
And from your lips
she drew the Hallelujah
JENN/CLARICE
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
ISABEL
Baby I have
been here before
I know this room;
I have walked this floor
I used to live alone
before I knew you.
I have seen your flag
on the marble arch
Love is not a
victory march
It’s a cold and
it’s a broken Hallelujah

ALL OF THEM
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
There was a time
when you let me know
What’s really
going on below
But now you never
show it to me, do you?
And remember when
I moved in you
The holy dove
was moving too
And every breath
we drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I cut them off, turned and said, “If you want to hear the whole song by our whole group, tomorrow night, for one night, we are at the Verizon Center.”

There was a very nice applause for my ladies. Isabel and I walked out with the others behind us.

“That was fabulous, we don’t have that song in this set. Do you want to share it with the rest, or have it just be you three in front of 18,000 screaming fans?”

I must have said the right thing because they all wanted to do it by themselves. I got a kiss from each of them and we headed back to the hotel. I stopped and went into the Brown Sugar Bakeshop and got us each two cupcakes in a bag.

They all were grabbing at it wondering what I got. I held it tightly as I took Clarice’s hand and led the short walk to the hotel.

We encountered the Prefontayne gang, and told them of the Café and the Bakeshop. I hadn’t dropped my hand from Clarice and Joan noticed it.

So, “Yes Joan, I am holding her hand as any gentleman would do in a city that is new to the both of us.”

That took the smirk off her face as Anna said, “Thanks for the directions, Boss.”

All the way to the room, Jenn and Izzy were clawing, wondering what was in the bag. When we got to the room, I threw the bag on the bed. Princess got there and said, “Hmmm, cupcakes ... two each. Which two are mine Michael?”

Izzy’s phone buzzed. She checked the text, and broke into tears. I picked up her phone, it was from Stuart, and all it said was, “You sounded great in the Café, love you!”

That even got me misty-eyed. He’s apparently trying the romantic approach, good boy!

Clarice pushed me on my back, giving me a very soft and sensuous kiss. I heard a silent moan from her, as I started to undo her blouse.

“Do you want us to leave, Michael?” Jenn asked.

“Would you mind? A little one on one time would be great,” I said never taking my eyes off of Ms. Hornicek’s beautiful face.

The door locked behind them, and took her and pulled her slacks and panties off. I came back up slowly, spreading her legs apart. I had done this before to her, but this time I was hoping would be memorable.

I lowered my lips to her lower lips and began a very slow and unhurried licking between her vaginal opening. She made a lyrical giggle, but put her pillow in her mouth before it turned into a louder sound we couldn’t explain.

I kept going until I felt her orgasm in my face, giving me some of her juice. I immediately moved up to her mouth and gave it to her a drop at a time. After I was done doing that, I got off and stripped myself naked.

She saw how big I was and whispered, “Fuck me Michael ... fuck me hard.”

I spread her legs again, this time further apart and I gripped my ‘hard as an iron bar dick’ and sloowwwly went inside. “Ohhh, Geez Michael. You are not the only man I have made love with, but you certainly know what you are doing.”

I began by playing and suckling her bosoms. Again, her giggles were quite lyrical as I chewed on her nipples for a while. I was going slowly as I did this, but I saw her eyes. Oh dear ... I think she is falling in love.

I moved to her mouth and speeded up my thrusting harder and deeper. Her hands moved to my butt as she was trying to get me even deeper inside her. I was winding up for my big finish as I heard the door open. Not caring who it was, I began to unload my big load inside this fabulous woman.

When I was able to get my breath and open my eyes, I saw Ally and Mom in the room. I was still spurting inside Clarice as the door quickly closed behind them. Clarice was really enjoying this and said, “I love how you make me feel Michael, I may never leave you after I move in.”

Mom was about to say something, but I said, “You can live with us for as long as you would like. My mother likes you and Jenn & Izzy think of you as a big sister.”

They left quietly, as I pulled out to get her a towel. She got up and waddled to the toilet. I walked by her and started the shower.

“Was someone at the door, Michael?

“It must have been somebody who realized they were at the wrong place. Ready for a shower, gorgeous?”

“Sure,” she said getting up and flushing. “It’s been a while since I had a shower with a man.”

“Come on in sweetheart, I can wash whatever you want me to,” I said with a smile.

It was a marvelous shower as we washed and kissed some more. She soaped me up and washed me off. I rinsed off her hair after she washed it. “You have such soft hands Michael honey. I guess the girls say that to you all the time.”

“While they do, to hear it from you makes me feel even better. I find my feelings for you are growing and that is troubling me. No doubt, the girls and my mother will give us grief. Around others we really need to not be too overt.”

“I understand that, but my feelings are growing ... and I can’t stop them.”

I put my arms around her, and saw her tears streaming down her face. Wow, this is real.

I got out taking her by the hand and gave her a towel. We walked in to find the girls had returned. They waved, as we both got dressed.

“So, what’s next tonight?” Jennifer asked.

“Why does anything have to be next?” Clarice asked.

“That’s how we do stuff,” Isabel said. “Something is always next.”

“Is there a problem Michael, something Isabel and I should know about?”

“No.” I said deciding to keep things to myself. “Thank you for leaving us by ourselves ... it made it more intimate.”

“Yes, thank you ladies,” Clarice said. “I appreciate you sharing him with me.”

“As long as we all get our turns, isn’t that right Mikey?” Isabel said.

I attacked her and tickled her until she said ‘Stop!’

“Can we find a place to eat and maybe sing some more? That was fun,” Clarice said.

I got out my laptop and looked around for someplace close by. Willy D’s was the place that popped up. It was Sunday, so I had a plan.

“Dress up ladies, I need all my girls to all look hot.”

We got a taxi and told him Willy D’s, and he said, “Yes Suh.”

We got dropped off. There was a line to get in. “It’s Michael Thomas and the Gold Standard,” was being screamed very loudly. We were let in and a server saw our necklaces and put us near the stage. Nobody was performing at the moment, so I asked Jenn to order me a Pepsi and I went to the piano.

“Hello, my name is Michael Thomas, and I have some of the prettiest members of the Gold Standard Society here with me. Would you like to hear a song or two?”

As a group, they held up whatever they were drinking and said, “Hell Yeah.”

“Let’s start with something soft and pretty, and I am not talking about the girls in this place ... I am underage.”

I began to play...

When I was young
I never needed anyone
And making love
was just for fun
Those days are gone
Living alone
I think of all the
friends I have known
But when I
dial the telephone
Nobody’s home
All by myself
Don’t want to be
all by myself anymore
All by myself
Don’t want to live
all by myself anymore
Hard to be sure
Sometimes I
feel so insecure
And love so
distant and obscure
Remains the cure.

“If you know this, sing with me.”

The sound of the crowd going from singing to applause woke me up and I stood up to a big whoop and Isabel bringing me my drink.

She got all kinds of whistles. “That’s my little sister, she’s only fourteen gentlemen.”

“Stay up here Princess.”

I heard the sound system being turned on. Good!

She looked nervous, but confident. She said she knew everything, so I began the intro to a Patsy Cline favorite...

Crazy
I am crazy for
feeling so lonely
I am crazy
Crazy for feeling so blue
I knew you’d love me
as long as you wanted
And then some day
You’d leave me
for somebody new
Worry
Why do I let myself worry?
Wondering
What in the world did I do?
Oh, crazy
For thinking that my
love could hold you
I am crazy for trying
And crazy for crying
And I am crazy for loving you
Crazy for thinking that
my love could hold you
I am crazy for trying
And crazy for crying
And I am crazy for loving
You

Oh, boy ... Did they ever love her? The cheers just went on and on, she was amped.

The girls all stayed as I introduced all three of them, “You just heard Isabel, my little sister. The brunette is my fiancée Jennifer, and the hot redhead ... her name is Clarice. Do you want to hear some more?”

“HELL YES.”

“Clarice, come sit by me please?”

She walked over very slowly and landed to my left.

“Could you give me a drink darlin’?”

She took my soda and carefully put it to my lips and I had a nice slow drink, then she put it down and licked my lips clean getting howls from the guys, plus a few girls.

I saw Tiffany and the Newman’s all coming in. She walked right to the drums. I said, “On the drums, the incomparable Tiffany. More of my singers have come in. Can we keep going, or do you want us to stop?”

“KEEP GOING!” came out loud and clear

“Could I get a refill for my Pepsi please?”

A whole new drink was handed to Clarice who gave it to me. “I have one of your pills if you need it, Michael.”

“Good idea,” I said.

I made a big deal about it. “This is a Viagra ... for teenagers. I was asked to try it out. It causes six-hour double-sized erections, but causes impotence for 48 hours after. Who knew?”

I took it, washing it down getting a big laugh from the crowd. I asked Jenn to sit down, and I called up Rose and Lily up to sing with Isabel.

“Many years ago, there were some girl groups, and the songs they sang were kind of jazzy. I give you Princess, Lilith and Rosie ... The Gold Standard ... Sisters.”

Together, the three of them sang the hell out of the Andrews Sisters minor hit called “Melancholy Moon” with some truly marvelous vocal harmonies between the three of them to the very end.

I started the applause myself for this trio, thinking ahead to all the great songs they could cover together.

As the applause lessened, the GSQ walked in. “Folks, I need a little break, then when I get back, we have a big surprise for you all.”

I found the toilet and emptied a very full bladder. On my way out twin redheads, both built like Katherine met me. “Hi, I am Faith, and this is my sister Hope. Have you ever had sisters, at the same time?”

“Sorry, ladies!”

I left them wondering what I did for love. I found where the ladies all were sitting and asked if they wanted to sing or not? Peter was a quick ‘Yes’ and the other ladies quickly agreed. I went back to the piano where Isabel was sitting waiting for me. “Thank you for letting me sing. I am good since some more people arrived.”

“I have more for you, just stay put for now.”

“Is everybody having a good time tonight?”

“HELL YES!”

“Our entire group is performing tomorrow night at the Verizon center. We have a three-hour show. Come and join us if you’d like.”

“Our baritone has arrived, Peter, come on up.”

“We pride ourselves on doing older music and a lot of Broadway, so here is a song from PAINT YOUR WAGON...”

Away out here
they got a name
For rain and
wind and fire
The rain is Tess,
the fire Joe,
And they
call the wind Maria
Maria blows
the stars around
And sends
the clouds a ‘flyin’
Maria makes
the mountains sound
Like folks were
up there dying
Maria ... Maria
They call the wind Maria
Before I knew
Maria’s name
And heard her
wail and whinin’
I had a girl and
she had me
And the sun
was always shinin’
But then one day
I left my girl
I left her far
behind me
And now I am lost,
so gone and lost
Not even God
can find me
Maria -- Maria
They call the wind Maria{br}

Maria -- Maria!
Blow my love ... to ... me...

Yeah, he hit the final note!

I let them applaud for him for a while.

“His love is here tonight, Jennifer, please come on up. See what he caught? The biggest fish in the sea.”

I had them perform one of my favorite songs from SHOWBOAT, and hallway through it, He got behind her in the classic singers pose, with his arms around her.

Their kiss was automatic as the song ended. I kept Peter up as I dismissed his wife to get her voice back. The crowd liked the kiss as much as the song. I asked Princess to get up and stand by her brother...

PRINCESS
Once I thought I’d like to be
A blossom growing on a tree
White and pink and lazy as can be.
But I’d be king just in the spring
So now I think it over
Gee! I am glad I am
no one else but me.
If you sit around and
find the world is gloomy
And it isn’t just your cup of tea
It’s easy to imagine
that’s it’s rose-is-bloomy
You can think the
things you want to be.
So when all is said and done
Imagining’s a lot of fun
But, when there are
battles to be won
Be what you are its best by far
And soon you will be in clover
Gee! I am glad I am
no one else but me!

Peter and she had a blast singing this together to the end. Zoe led the applause standing up to be seen. The crowd loves everything Isabel is singing, but it’s time.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce, Janice, Jennifer, Alice and ... Jennifer, The Gold Standard Quartet ... singing their very first song they ever performed, “Mister Sandman.”

“Hi, I’m Michael’s mother, Janice”
“Hi, I’m Michael’s fiancée, my name is Jennifer.”
“Hello, I’m her mother, Alice”
“My name is also Jennifer, Michael’s ... very special friend.”

The crowd laughed it up...

Mr. Sandman
Bring me a dream
Make him the cutest
that I have ever seen
Give him two lips
Like roses in clover
Then tell him that
his lonesome nights are over
Sandman
I am so alone
Don’t have nobody
To call my own
Please turn on your magic beam
Mr. Sandman bring me a dream