NINETEEN EIGHTY SEVEN

THE LAST THIRTY FIVE MINUTES

Big George Collier and his band are blasting nostalgic tunes, smoke fills the room.
We are all crowded in to a miniature avenue. Finally the dance floor clears a little as a variation in the music style provides a queue for some dancers to retreat. One or two
other unremarkable songs in this final set of 1987 pass by.

       "Only thirty five minutes left", someone yells, then the band begins its version of "That Lovin' Feeling". I ask Robbie to spend the rest of the year dancing with me. She skeptically agrees and we move to the crowded dance floor... the miniature avenue.

      A giant mirror along one wall reflects reality but provides the illusion of greater size.

        It's a good dance Robbie is so pretty, wonder what she sees in me, I must be okay or she wouldn't.... "Bump.. Bang.." darn!... some fool's trying to get the whole dance floor by knocking everyone else off with their big buns.

      The colored lights around the bandstand are blinking in perfect sequence; wonder if they are just Christmas lights or part of the band's engineered lighting? Big George sure is tall..., what is it an earring in a man's right ear means? I'm sure not gonna ask him. He's a little crosseyed or something, sure has a good voice.

       "Under The Board Walk" sounds good.... I think we were in Memphis then, Frazier that is. I don't think I've ever been under a board walk. Robbie sure does this good, wish we had more room we'd really show'em how. The woman in white is looking at herself in the mirror! I can't believe this, she don't even know anyone else is here. She's in love with herself in the mirror. Some twit in a red tie is looking at her, he's not with her is he? Dang!... that's me. I feel so silly but.. I don't think anyone seen me. Hmmm.. I see what she means. I don't look so bad. Maybe if I could lose a little of that paunch... well someday. What someday? I'm a full grown man! My Someday Isle is gone, I've got to stop living there.

       "Up On The Roof", how do they do that? The song is different without stopping or starting. I've heard Bands do that before with these songs. "Beach Music" that's what they call it. Wonder who ever thought of eating a raw oyster for the first time? Had to be someone who spent a lot of time at the beach. It was probably just a joke. I think some things that are suppose to be good are not really good at all. It's just that someone sophisticated said "that's good" so we think we have to like it. I bet a lot of things started out as jokes. We're back to "Under The Board Walk", didn't even hear it change. What ever happened to Loretta Bowman? ... Song's over, about Twelve minutes to go in this year.

      I don't know this song. Robbie don't either, I can tell by the way she is looking at me. It's got a nice beat, maybe a little fast and jerky. If it wasn't New Years I'd sit down. Bet most of the other people here would too. I probably look so silly,... can't see the mirror. Hope I don't have a heart attack or some kind of medical fit, everyone would just think I was dancing. "Are you alright?", Robbie asks. "I'm fine". Robbie would know if I was having a fit. Or... she would have before I told her I was fine. Shouldn't have answered her. Sure is a long song. Why did she ask me if I was alright?

       "My Girl", that's better. I think this was Memphis too. Seems like a lot of songs from Memphis here tonight. I don't remember a New Year's Eve in Memphis. We have had some kind of celebration every year since we've been here. This year is a lot better than last year. This is a good song to leave the old year with. Hope it last that long and they don't play another silly song.

     Song ends. "Fifty seconds to go", the band yells over the speakers.

      They can't play another song, can they? There's not enough time. Just stand here and hold Robbie close. Dang! don't have my hat or the horns and things. I'll get them from the table, how about that it was a clear shot. Count down's starting, did they say fifty seconds of fifteen seconds? Can't tell. Just watch everyone else. This hat don't fit. "Five... Four..", the group shouts. Must have been fifteen seconds. Hope I don't cry when they play "Auld Lang Syne" ... Three ...Two ...One .. Sheeesh!..Sniff Sniff...

Happy New Year!

Copyright © 1988 Charles Prier

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