A few days ago, I won $500 @ the bingo matches just in time for my birthday. And to celebrate, I thought of visiting my relatives in Dallas as I purchased a round trip ticket @ the Greyhound station.
October 2 would be a day to remember! That morning, it started along a three hour drive from Houston along Interstate 45. When it reached Corsicana, the Greyhound took a 15 minute recess as I grabbed my gear & walked to the famous bakery to buy a chocolate meringue pie.
But it turned out to be such a long line @ the bakery. When I finally paid for the pie & walked out, the Greyhound whizzed on by.
Drat, drat & double drat, not on my birthday!
Then someone in motorcycle gear asked me in a low voice, speaking through his helmet, "Need a ride to Dallas? I'll catch up to that Greyhound in Ennis."
Being desperate & all, I accepted as he put my belongings in a tow trunk attached to his big motorcycle. He also loaded a fruitcake he bought in a tin box. So, we left the bakery & went down green signed Interstate Business Loop 45 North to I-45 North.
As we reached Ennis, the motorcyclist took Milepost Exit 247 going down U.S. 287 North, & played the lucky tape 7 1/2 long of Joey Lawrence music. I couldn't believe he got the idea from my Crew's Ship fanfic, The Joey Lawrence Expressway gag. I asked him if he read my fanfic? Wrong thing to say.
I got scared as the driver pulled over off U.S. 287 in between Ennis-Waxahachie. Got off the bike as he said in that low voice, "Stop writing Joey Lawrence fanfics! He would never drive a motorcycle or play the guitar for real! One more fanfic & I'll throw you in jail for plagairism!"
"I apologize," I cried, "I only write for fans to enjoy them. I don't do it for money, just for fun. So what, it's not a crime to have a cool imagination."
"Shut up!" he snapped, "You know what I really think of your stories?" then he took off his helmet, "COOL! You're a talented writer!"
"JOEY LAWRENCE!", I exclaimed, "WHAT A BIRTHDAY THIS IS GONNA BE! But how?"
"I'm getting away & borrowed a motorcycle from a friend as I took a drive to Corsicana just to pick up a fruitcake for my family.
Forgive me for scaring you like that, I really like the stories you wrote on the web."
"Which one did you like?" I asked.
"Super Cool Joe's very educational/informative. And I liked the watercycle race & jazz number scene in The Crew's Ship." said Joey as he asked, "Do you know a good pizza place in Dallas?"
"Sort of, it's in Irving." as I showed off my geography directional skills on him. "Let's roll!" he said as we drove. We continued down U.S. 287 till we reached Midlothian & took U.S. 67 North as Joey joked, "Maybe we'll find that bingo player Laverne here!"
30 minutes later, we arrived at the pizza parlor in Irving. But Joey had to take care of some business when he spotted a music store a couple of doors down.
"I'm doing a concert in Reunion Arena tonight & my guitarist needs a new axe." explained Joey as we went to the music store.
Strange thing was, he had me choose the guitar. So I found a red hollowed-bodied electric guitar, that was a good deal. Then he had me do a song for him, so I did "Stay Forever". Then Joey had me hooked up to a wah-wah pedal as I jammed & sang, "Baby If You Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine."
"I take it Prince For A Day's your favorite Joey movie?" he asked as Joey used his credit card to get all the guitar equipment needed. As we walked to the pizza parlor, he said, "Boy I'm hungry for pizza." as we looked @ each other & yelled in unison, "DOUBLE PEPPERONI! TRIPLE PEPPERONI!"
He got me again with that Prince For A Day line as I was laughing, "I knew you'd say that!"
An hour later after having a pizza buffet, Joey got my gear & pie out of the motorcycle trunk & then gave me an envelope.
"Don't open it until I leave." as he drove off towards Downtown Dallas. I opened the envelope to find a BACKSTAGE PASS for tonight's concert on my birthday. So I rode the city bus to my relative's house to rest & freshen up.
Five hours later, I took the city bus & train downtown to Reunion Arena to see Joey Lawrence in concert. When I showed my backstage pass to security, I got in. I found Joey huddling with his band going over the show. Joey greeted me as he got me a t-shirt, buttons & cap to wear for the concert!
It was 8:00 when the concert began as girls started screaming & cheering Joey on. He held his microphone in his hand, singing his songs from both albums + Prince For A Day. When he did "Stay Forever" & "Don't Lose Heart", Joey played the piano as well.
About an hour later, the stage went pitch dark for four minutes.
Fans were worried until Joey said in the dark, "For my next number, I'm going to extend the song a little. I also want to dedicate this to a fine & talented fanfic author. Happy birthday, Larry. This is for you!"
The band broke in to "If You Wanna Get Down". Then the lights came back on as Joey played the same electric guitar I picked out! He played rhythm, tapping his right foot on his wah-wah pedal & sang the song. Then he extended the song by playing rhythm riffs tapping on his wah-wah pedal, then played a guitar solo. Girls were screaming over this surprise while I jumped up & down like a game show contestant! When the song was done, Joey started playing another song as he played the guitar & sang "Nothin' My Love Can Fix" as his final song. My two lucky songs going along U.S. 287 in Ennis!
Fifteen minutes later, I was in Joey's dressing room as we took a couple of cool pictures.
"Had you fooled, didn't I!" said Joey as he reached for the guitar, "You may think this guitar's cool for rock, but it's mostly associated with jazz." Then Joe played a jazz guitar solo & chunked some chords.
"Cool!" I said, "That's what Joe Roman would play in Frank's jazz/rock band (Crew's Ship)!" as Joey stopped playing.
"You got talent for writing, keep up the great fanfic stories."
said Joey, "However, I'm getting a Strat for my Houston stop. I want you to have it!"
Joey then autographed the electric guitar with a marker.
Afterwards, I read what it said, "To Larry; Cool Birthday! Keep Jammin'! Joey Lawrence." then he wrote the numbers 287, as in U.S. 287!
"Thanks, you'll always be Mr. 287, Joey Lawrence." as I shook his hand. Then he handed me an envelope as I found some cool pics of Joey posing & driving that motorcycle. Days later, I got the concert pics via snail mail.
"Cool!" I said, "You really are super cool, Joe!"
Another pun. Then I took the guitar case as the limo took me back home to my relative's house & was happy as a lark!


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