The motorcycle band continued along I-35 South in
Texas.  When they reached Denton, Eric pulled over &
took a pic of the highway signs I-35E & I-35W together
(I-35E going to Dallas, I-35W to Fort Worth).
     "What a coincidence!  Just like Minnesota!"
exclaimed Eric.
     The band went down I-35E to Dallas.  They took
the downtown exit & headed to The Rudolphus, the red
brick hotel.  Parking was a problem though Ray had to
park in a lot & the band parked their motorcycles in
the hotel parking garage.  When they looked @ the
hotel, Jason quipped,
     "I bet they'll be holly jolly generous & give us
The Burl Ives Suite!  The room's worth it's weight in
silver & gold!"
     The band groaned over those terrible puns!
     Inside the hotel, they saw a very fussy desk
clerk , with an uppity additude,talking to his new
employee.
     "Remember," pointed the clerk who had a British
accent, "When you're here, never leave your post for
any reason!  And never ring the bell for any
assisstance whatsoever.  Use mental telephaty!"
     "Why that strange rule?" asked the new employee.
     "To get you framed & fired!" he said laughing! 
Then he saw the band.
     "Motorcycle hoodlums @ my hotel?  What nonsense! 
I don't know why a gang like you would stay @ a
sophisticated classy hotel like The Rudolphus. 
Yesterday, I had to get rid of teenage girls waiting
for Matt to arrive.  Is he the next Elvis?"
     "My record company booked us here!" explained
Ray.
     The desk clerk verified it & was embarrassed
indeed.  Then after he gave them keys to their rooms,
the desk clerk said,
     "Mr. Walters, telegram!"
     Ray read it to himself;
     "HOUSTON CONCERT POSTPONED!
      HURRICANE BEVERLY THREATENS HOUSTON AREA, STOP!
      CONCERT RE-SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 2.  
      SPEND EXTRA FEW DAYS IN DALLAS ON US!"
      PACIFIC RECORDS
     Ray told the band about the situation as the
bellboys got their luggage.  The band had rooms on the
16th floor.
     Ben & Velma were celebrating their wedding
anniversary that week.  The bellboy brought their
luggage to their room & was amazed.
     "You're Ben Sanders, The White Angels' vibist!"
he said, "My name's Eddie.  Come check me out down @
the lobby tonight."
     "I'll do that." said Ben as Eddie unloaded their
luggage.  Ben gave him a $5 tip.
     "Ben, let's have a romantic time here in Big D."
said Velma as they kissed.
     The next day, Ray let the band tour Dallas with
their families.  The Romans saw the sites of Downtown
Dallas including Reunion Tower looking @ the view of
the city.  When they left, Liz & Scott saw city trains
@ Union Station.
     "I'm hungry!" cried Scott.
     "I wanna ride a train!" whined Liz.
     "Can I help?" I asked.
     "What are you doing in the Dallas fanfic Larry?"
asked Joe.
     "Evacuating from Beverly." I explained, "May I
suggest an idea that will make both kids happy?"
     The Roman Family & I boarded the green train over
to Irving.  Then @ the end of the line, we caught a
bus to a nice restaurant called Bristol's, a family
pizza parlour.
     At Bristol's, we had a buffet of pizza, pasta &
salad.  Liz & Scott loved the games, Lou liked the
decor & Joe liked the guitar music performed who
played the same guitar Matt has, he also had a good
voice.  Liz, Scott & I had fun making our own ice
cream sundaes.  As we were about to leave, Joe met
with the guitarist & gave him an autograph.  The
guitarist then played a Joe Roman guitar solo.  
     Then we rode the same bus to green train back to
Downtown Dallas.  Joe asked me if there's a zoo, so I
told them to take the red train going south.  Joe gave
me a backstage pass for their Hurricane Harpoon
concert.
     That night, Ben & Velma had a romantic
candlelight dinner @ a fancy restaurant.  Afterwards,
they boarded a horse & carriage going back to the
hotel.
     "Remember you had the hots for me?" asked Ben,
"You wouldn't leave me alone until I started dating
you."
     "Yeah," sighed Velma, "That was a magical moment.
 But I'll never forget you surprised me @ Club Philly
when you got to sing!  You were the first member to
sing outside of Joe."
     "Velma," Ben said, "Before we leave Dallas, you &
I are going to have a baby."
     "Remember your promise." sighed Velma.
     The carriage arrived @ The Rudolphus.  Ben &
Velma got off & entered the hotel lobby.  Then they
heard vibes music going & saw Eddie playing an
expensive golden vibraphone & had another vibes set
next to him.  Eddie played a slow romantic tune with
Ben & Velma dancing.  When the song's done,
     "Cool vibes work, Eddie." said Ben.
     "Hey Ben, how about a jam session?" asked Eddie,
"I got my other vibes out."
     "I don't think so." Ben said.  But Velma urged
him to jam with Eddie.  So Ben grabbed some mallets &
got to play on the golden vibes while Eddie had the
spare vibes.  Eddie played "Tropical Breezes" & Ben
jammed along.  Ben played vibes solo #1 & Eddie played
solo #2.  After the jam, Eddie handed a pic of Ben on
his vibes for Ben to autograph.  Eddie got his own
photo out & autographed it.
     "Nice jammin with you." said Ben as he & Velma
headed to the elevator to their hotel room.
     The next morning, the band drove their
motorcycles south down I-35E to take U.S. 67 South to
I-20 West going to Hurricane Harpoon, a waterpark
between Dallas/Fort Worth.  They arrived early around
9:30 am because Ray had another surprise for the band.
 Copper Hunk Suntan Lotion honored the band (except
Victoria) as Summer Hunks of 2000!  The PR wanted the
band to have a photo shoot before opening the place to
the public.  Then he had brought out the Copper Hunk
Bikini Babes as the guys howled!
     "No!" Frank said firmly, "We don't want strange
babes, I want Victoria & the band's spouses or
fiances!"
     The band took off their muscle shirts as the
girls howled!  The girls spread some Copper Hunk
Suntan Oil on their hunk bodies & the photos started
flying.
     Other pics included Victoria lying on a beach
towel watching Frank serenading her playing his
trumpet.  Ralph in an outdoor shower washing off
chlorine, Jason boogieboarding, Ben & Fred going down
water slides, Joe & Bart pumpin iron with dumbbells &
Eric playing a tympani solo with the Bikini Babes
watching him.
     "Eric!  Do you always have to play the tympani?"
asked Frank.
     "Hey, it's Eric's trademark." said Ray, "Since
that ROCK-TV appearance, the band's been skyrocketed
to stardom.  Eric's personality is what the girls
like.  After all, he did arrange for your ROCK-TV gig
& made you popular in Guts."
     Frank went over to Eric to shake his hand.
     "This must be a trick." Eric quipped.
     "Relax Eric," said Frank, "I'm sorry for dissin
you about the swimwear.  You really had guts to make
us wear Guts & our music's hot, thanks to you."
     After the group pic, the band left because the
park opened for the public.  Why wasn't Matt involved?
     Matt, Phoebe & I were @ the famous PBL Lanes in
Grand Prairie.  Matt always liked to go bowling & had
his own bowling shoes.  We had a good match with
strikes, spares, even a 7-10 split converted.
     It came down to the 10th frame & I needed 15 pins
to beat Matt.  But then I choked when I threw a
gutterball, the same way Del Ballard Jr. lost a
bowling  tournament.
     That afternoon @ Hurricane Harpoon, I got a
backstage pass to TWA concert.  I even got to do
soundcheck messing on Ben's vibes.  Then Joe & Bart
played guitar soloes, Eric a drum & tympani solo & the
other band members having mike check.  Ben told me I
was a very gifted vibist for someone who plays by ear.
     I got to see the show backstage watching Matt &
Phoebe performing.  Then Joe would join Matt doing
"Motorcycle Brothers".  Then TWA rocked DFW with their
music as girls screamed over them wearing their Guts.
     That night in Ben Sanders' hotel room, Velma was
in a bikini waiting for her husband.  Ben came out of
the bathroom wearing his Vibes Man super hero outfit
he last wore on "Will You Be My Daddy?".
     "You look handsome as Hanson!" sighed Velma.
     "I'm only doing this for you, Velma." complained
Ben asking, "Can I @ least take off the boots?"
     Velma nodded & Ben took off his boots.  Then he
played a vcr tape of him (as Vibes Man) playing a slow
romantic tune on the vibes as they danced.  After the
song, Ben & Velma jumped into bed.  They started
making out to a fast upbeat vibes solo Vibes Man
played on the vcr.
     The next day, the gang checked out of The
Rudolphus & saw that new desk clerk who was there.
     "What happened to Mr. Fussy?" asked Joe.
     "The old guy got arrested for parading around in
a clown costume!  I took the pic & showed it to the
police."
     Eric lead the way on his motorcycle & took the
wrong road down I-45 South.  The motorcycle band & van
followed Eric, then suddenly, thunder & lightning
happened along the road.
     "Do not travel down this road!" said a mysterious
voice.
     "Oh no!" cried Joe & Matt, "The Interstate 45
Curse!"
     "You got that right!" yelled the voice as the
band saw me, "Pay no attention to that man behind the
box on the display floor!"
     The box went away revealing 10 chickens in
Monty's Hen House.  Then a duck call was heard,
followed by wah, wah, wah, WAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!
     "A Let's Make A Deal gag." sighed Ray.
     Then it started raining!  Eric finally came to
his senses as he took the green signed Business Loop
45 exit to Corsicana.  When they did, the clouds & bad
weather turned into sunshine!
     Eric had to visit the famous fruitcake
factory/bakery.
     The employees were thrilled to see Matt, Phoebe &
the band as they bought various pastries.
     Joe & Matt saw me with a chocolate meringue pie I
just bought.  I told them it's a very cool place to
visit & as Hurley (3 Scrooges) would say,
     "Being from Corsicana, I'm sort of a fruitcake
myself!"
     Joe slammed a pie on my face & Matt put a pie
over my head!
     "The I-45 gag's not funny!" they said!