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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