JR & TWA; Brother Bonded
It's a work day Monday as Joe Roman & Frank
Brandis were @ their jobs @ Super Music. During
lunch, they talked.
"Man, I'm glad that weekend's finally over." said
Frank, "After Eric's wedding, I'm bushed."
"You were fortunate to be his best man." said
Joe, "Bart & I had to play our guitars to accompany
Eric singing & playing tympani. Who would play or
have a tympani @ a wedding?"
"Eric's a character." said Frank. Then he
suddenly realize,
"Man, we got a gig @ Club Philly Friday. And
Eric's in Bermuda on his honeymoon with Tina. I
forgot to cancel."
"Don't," said Joe, "I got an idea replacement for
you."
"Joe, no one under 21's allowed."
"He'll be drumming, not drinking."
His idea, @ Roman Garage, coming down the stairs
was 16 year old Andy Roman. Andy wore a headband,
muscle shirt, sweatpants, swim briefs over his
sweatpants & some cool sneakers. Andy went to the
tire room, grabbed some mallets & played a drum roll
on a used tympani saying,
"Lock up the girls! Teen drummer Andy Roman's in
the house!"
Andy stopped, dropped the mallets, flexed his
muscles & then sat down to his set of drums. He
grabbed some sticks & played a snare drum roll,
crashed a cymbal & played a drum solo.
As he played, Joe drove his motorcycle with Frank
behind, to the garage. Frank liked Andy's drumming.
When they went to the tire room, Andy stopped.
"Man, I thought you were Mom." said Andy.
"Cool outfit." Frank complimented looking @ it
asking, "Do you wear that out?"
"No, it's my outfit when I play the drums." said
Andy asking, "What brings you here?"
"I was wondering if you'd like to come for band
practice & play @ Club Philly. You'll fill in for
Eric." explained Joe as Andy crashed his cymbals
saying,
"COOL!"
Just then, Claire came down & told Andy,
"Off the drums!" she said in a mean tone, "You
got homework & studying to do, young man."
Andy got off as he went upstairs. Then Claire
told them,
"Joe Roman, my son's not going to waste his life
in music! It's bad enough you had him in Triple
Pepperoni, now he's got a motorcycle. I want Andy to
have a solid future, the way I see it."
"Just like Dick Van Patten told Willie Aames on
Eight Is Enough?" quipped Frank.
"Shut up!" snapped Claire. Then she started
crying as Joe gave her a hanky to cry on. Then she
calmed down & told them,
"Matt ran away. He quit college after he learned
that Kristen & Jim got married. Tried to hold a job &
couldn't. So he drove his motorcycle over to Atlantic
City & hasn't been heard from sense."
"So that's why you're over protecting Andy." said
Frank, "Mrs. Roman, I only need Andy for a week since
Eric's on his honeymoon."
"Claire, I'll find Matt for you." said Joe.
The next day, Joe drove to Atlantic City on his
motorcycle. Along the hotel strip, he saw a lot of
his friends headlining. Ricky Prince was playing @
Chump Plaza, Nell Bascombe @ the Tropicalo & Phoebe
Dee was @ Palace of Plato. Joe decided to stay @
Palace of Plato, home of the QBC daytime game show,
Plato's Payout.
After resting, Joe checked out the hotel/casino.
It had a bar, restaurant & indoor swimming pool. When
Joe saw the indoor pool, he couldn't believe what he
saw. A lounge band consisting of 4 dudes wearing Guts
Swim Briefs played. And on lead vocals/guitar, Matt
Roman.
"Joe, meet my new band, Swim Hunks. Ray on bass,
Danny on vibes & Luis on drums." said Matt, "This is
my bro, Joe Roman."
"I could push you into the pool & get in trouble
with the network censor for electrocuting you." said
Joe asking, "Why are you in a band like this? Claire
would be ashamed to see what you're doing. Why?"
"I want to make it in music like you did,"
explained Matt, "Joe, Triple Pepperoni brought us
closer. Then you joined The White Angels playing jazz
guitar. Kristen & Jim left me & got married. I like
playing rock guitar & singing. Music is my thing."
"Fine!" said Joe, "You want to be irresponsible,
go ahead. So will I!"
A few hours later, Matt was fully clothed
searching for his brother. He was @ the casino
shooting craps. Joe threw the dice & it came up snake
eyes (or double 1). Joe lost about $800.
"Hey Matt." said Joe, "I'm blowing the family
budget. If you want to be irresponsible, so will I."
They left the crap table & headed to the wheel.
Joe got out a $100 chip & placed in on Joker paying
40:1.
"Joe," said Matt spazzing as the wheel spun,
"That $100 you could get groceries to feed Lou & the
kids. How can you be so neglected to your family?
You're a responsible husband, you're..."
"The Joker hits @ 40:1!" yelled the spinner,
"Congratulations!"
Joe got his $4,000 in chips.
"Two can play @ this game!" said Matt as Joe gave
him 1/2 his winnings. Then they headed toward the
roulette table. Matt placed 10 different $100 bets on
the table which were; #24/chip between 21 & 24/ chip
on row 8 (22-23-24), chip on corner (20,21,23,24),
chip on 6 numbers (19-24), column 3, dozen 2, even,
black & 19-36.
"Matt, who taught you to bet this way?" asked Joe
as croupier released ball.
"Larry."
"This is a stupid system! You just wasted $1,000
on a game of chance. I hope you choke & wind up going
home in a barrel with no clothes on & another
thing..."
Croupier announced, "Winner, 24, black, even &
high!"
Joe was shocked when the croupier handed Matt
many chips as people cheered for him.
"$8,300!" yelled Matt, "Larry's system worked!"
Matt took his winnings & placed them in a cup, "I got
to find Larry."
Joe & Matt spotted me @ a blackjack table. They
heard me go "BRIING-RING-RING!" when I got 2
blackjacks splitting aces!
"Sir, remember what happened to Tom Cruise in
Rain Man?" asked the dealer.
"I'm not hurting the casino with these silly
small bets." I said.
"Quit driving me crazy!" snapped the dealer,
"Don't act like a game show contestant! Your not on
Plato's Payout."
Matt tapped me on the shoulder & said,
"Larry, your roulette system worked. Here's $800
in chips!"
"Cool!"
So I got them & placed $287 in chips for the next
hand. I ended up having the lowest hand possible (5)
while the dealer had a 4 up. When it came my turn,
"I'll stay on 5!"
The folks & players were shocked @ that! After
everyone played, the dealer revealed a 7. Then drew
an ace, followed by a queen to go bust! The people
cheered as I got my winnings!
"Did I win? I won!" I yelled, jumping up & down
like a game show contestant.
"Not Richard Dreyfuss!" groaned the dealer
handing my winnings, "Please leave the table!"
And I did because it was time for Plato's Payout.
At the auditorium, people got to be in the
audience for Plato's Payout. Joe & Matt watched as I
competed against Henrietta Haney of Hayseed, North
Dakota & our returning champion, Nick Kringle from
North Pole, Alaska.
Hosted by Ramad Alshad, Plato's Payout had
contestants earn chips in a quiz round & then bet them
by playing various casino games. The game was over
when the announcer cried & the gong sounded,
"PLATO SAYS STOP!"
The Alaska player won & bought a trip to Hawaii
with his chips. The North Dakota gal got a new
fangled color tv. As for me, I got a waffle iron &
some cat food.
The next day @ the pool, Matt & the band were
playing. Phoebe Dee heard Matt's band while swimming
in the pool. Then she went over to Matt.
"I remember you from Triple Pepperoni." she said,
"You're playing in a lounge band? You could do
better."
"Why not have someone wave a magic wand & get
Triple Pepperoni back." said Matt doubtfully.
"Matt," explained Phoebe, "I could really use a
warm up for my act. The other act couldn't make it."
The band cheered as Matt asked,
"Did my brother put you up to this?"
Phoebe said no.
That afternoon, Joe saw Phoebe's afternoon show.
He saw Matt's new band (now fully clothed) as Matt
played guitar & sang. Then after Phoebe did her show,
Joe left.
That night, Joe went back to Philly & told Claire
what was going on. Hours later, Matt drove his
motorcycle home with Phoebe's bus behind. Claire was
proud that Matt got back into another band & that he
was touring with Phoebe.
Club Philly, Claire was in the audience watching
Andy Roman playing the drums/tympani for Eric in The
White Angels. Andy even got to sing & play a drum
solo. Claire thought Andy looked great in a white
tuxedo. When they took their first break, Claire went
backstage.
"Andy," she said, "I'm sorry I've been snapping @
you. But you need to balance your priorities & build
an education for yourself."
"Mom, you don't have to worry." explained Andy,
"I'm an A student, I plan to have a future. Would you
be happy if I stopped drumming?"
"You can drum, you got talent. But have
something to fall back on."
Andy hugged Claire.
During their next set, Frank said,
"We like to thank Andy Roman for filling in for
Eric Hunter." fans cheered, "Andy's closing our show
with Bart & Joe playing electric guitars & Ben on
vibes."
Andy played a tympani drum roll as Bart & Joe
played a fanfare. Then he sat down on his drums,
grabbed some brushes & played a swishy beat on the
snare drum. As Ben played rhythm vibes, Bart chunked
as Joe played a guitar solo. After Andy had a small
solo, Joe chunked & Bart played a guitar solo. Then
both chunked as Ben played a vibes solo. Then Andy
dropped the brushes & played a solo using sticks.
Joe, Bart & Ben played together with Andy playing a
finishing solo on the drums. Then Bart & Joe chord
rolled as Andy played a hard tympani drum roll!
In the dressing room, the band congratulated Andy
for a cool job. Andy thanked Ben & Bart for jammin
with Joe. Andy turned on the tv to catch ROCK-TV.
Uptown Sally's Beach House was on, Sally's guest were
dancing to a music video. Then he saw Eric & Tina
dancing in their swimwear.
"Guys! Eric's on TV!" exclaimed Andy.
The band watched as Sally went to Eric & Tina
after the video.
"I couldn't believe I found these two @ a Bermuda
hotel!" she said asking the viewers, "Do you remember
them? About 5 years ago @ our Spring Break in Jersey
Beach, they won our beach contest. Eric was the high
school contestant who won our Hottie Hunk & Tina was
the Coolest Babe. And now..."
"Were just married & on our honeymoon!" said
Tina, "I work as a department store model."
"What about you Eric?"
"I still play the drums & tympani for a band I
play with, The White Angels!" exclaimed Eric, "Man,
we'd like to play for ROCK-TV's upcoming Spring
Break!"
"Eric, play a drum solo as we go into
commercial."
Eric went over to the house band & played a cool
drum solo!
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