JR & TWA In Black Switch

by Larry J. Hall

          In the cellar of Bart Smith's house, we find Bart & Shaun having a sax jam with Bart's son, Homer, playing guitar. Shaun liked having private jams with Bart. When taking a break, Shaun told Bart,

          "Can't wait when Danny Brown joins the band. Then we'll have two black members of TWA."

          "That be cool." said Bart asking, "Guess you hung around black musicians in your high school days."

          "Yup." said Shaun, "They taught me a lot about jazz. Bart, do you think Joe will be jealous since Danny's a much better guitarist than he is?"

          "I don't think so."

          Around the neighborhood, we find Scott & Matty going to a convenient store. Matty wanted to be more like a kid than a kid dog.

          Scott went over to find his favorite candy bar while Matty stood where the ice cream section.

          "Scott, will you get me a snow cone?" asked Matty, "I got $1.00 in my collar."

          As Scott was about to get in the container to get the snow cone, the owner saw them & yelled,

          "What's the idea of bringing a dog into my store? I'll have the health inspectors on my back! Who does he think he is, a miniature Brian?"

          Matty got pretty nervous when the owner came out & as he was about to grab his green collar, Matty started whizzing on the floor! The owner called his brother to get a mop & then he kicked Matty & Scott out of his little store.

          "That's certainly a fine mess you've gotten me into, Matty!" scolded Scott, then Matty started crying high pitch ala Stan Laurel.

          "This isn't Laurel & Hardy!" snapped Scott.    

Back home @ the Romans, when they heard about what happened, they were surprised that Buttercup got after Matty.

          "So you look up to your Uncle Brian!" scolded Buttercup, "Brian did that same stunt @ a supermarket on a Family Guy episode. I don't want you to associate with your Uncle Brian. In fact, I want you to be a regular normal dog. From now on, no more snow cones, walking on two legs & especially no TALKING! Now go to your dog bed!"

          Matty started whimpering like a normal dog, walking on four legs as he went to his dog bed. Scott tried to reason with Buttercup, but she snapped,

          "I feel like Jake Richardson's my master, in a REALLY BAD MOOD!"

          A few days later, Bart was working on his motorcycle until a telegram person arrived. He handed Bart the telegram & after he left, Bart read it. Then he went into the house & told his family what's going on.

          "Check this out." Bart said, "Got a telegram from Showtime; Motown in Detroit."

          "YOU ARE HERE OFFERED A JOB AS THE MOTOWN 7'S NEW GUITARIST. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM SOLO MONTHLY. PLEASE REPLY.   SHOWTIME; MOTOWN."

          Bart went to the computer & after logging on, he e-mailed the television show to send his reply.

          At the studio that night, Danny Brown came in wearing his official white tuxedo with his guitar case in hand.

          "Are you sure you want to join TWA?" asked Ray Walters, "I thought you got your own band from that tv show."

          "Those guys were my house band that I hired for the tv show." explained Danny, "Once I left the Eagles, I also lost the tv show as well as the band. That's why I want to join TWA. Joe Roman & I are awesome super guitarists."

          Bart came in late & he told the guys,

          "Band, I decided to quit TWA to become the new guitarist for The Motown 7. We can't have three guitarists in the band."

          "You're lying!" Shaun cried, "The only reason you're quitting is because Ray won't allow two black members in the band. Danny joins, Bart leaves, I get the picture!"

          Shaun stormed out of the studio & the band was shocked. But Bart showed the band the telegram he received.

          Back @ the Roman house, we find a depressed Matty in the dog house feeling very sorry for himself. But then, Buttercup enters the dog house. She goes over to lick her son.

          "Are you all right, Matty?"

     "Arf." he barked.

          "Matty, I may have been a little hard on you about what happened @ the store. But I want to know why you look up to your Uncle Brian. You may speak."

          "Momma," he cried, "Uncle Brian gets to go places & do everything while I can't. I didn't mean to wet his store, but I was very nervous! I don't intend to smoke or drink martinis like he does, I'm just a tamed kid sized Brian."

          "Well," Buttercup sighed, "I guess you could be a kid dog again. Liz & Scott misses the old Matty."

          Matty hugs his mother dog with delight. Then they go back in the house where Matty gets himself his favorite treat, a spearmint flavored snow cone.

          Outside the studio, Shaun's sitting on Bart's bike.

          "What's the meaning of this?" asked Bart, "You're acting like a jerk because of my good news. It's only a coincidence that Danny joined once I left. The band's not prejudice nor sexist because Vicki's the only female in the band."

          "But you raised me up, made me feel like a soul brother." said Shaun, "You taught me a lot of sax riffs. Now that you're leaving, who's going to take me into their home since the private street only has 8 homes? Frank & Vicki live in a house, Ranny & Danny, Ben, Fred, Jason, David, Joe & Danny will move in your house. That's 8 homes."

          "Good question." said Bart, "But first, I think you owe the band an apology. And if you want a 2nd black member, discover one yourself."

          So Shaun went back inside & apologized to the band. Bart explained how Shaun felt & Frank straightened him out. Fred raised his hand,

          "Shaun," putting his hand down, "I want you to live with me. You're like an old best friend I once had in junior high & high school."

          "You really mean it?"

     Fred shook Shaun's hand.

          "If we have a private jam, play the vibes, not the marimba."

          "Band," Frank said, "Let's have one last jazz jam with Bart. Start it off, Danny."

          "Which Danny?" said both Dannys.

          "When I mean Danny, I mean the drummer. When I say Danny B, I mean our new guitarist, Danny Brown. Hit it Danny, 1-2-3-4!"

          Danny plays a soft jazz riff playing the drums with brushes. Then Jason joins in on bass & the others follow. Bart & Shaun play a sax duet, then Danny Brown plays guitar solo #1, Bart does guitar solo #2 & Joe does guitar solo #3. After that, Shaun & Fred trade solo riffs, Shaun on sax & Fred on the vibes. The band finishes with Ranny playing tympani.