We find our super hero trio coming from their Dallas stop going down U.S. 287 South outside Ennis (aka The Joey Lawrence Expressway).
Super Cool Matt was driving the SC 4000, Super Cool Andy holding on & Super Cool Joe in the sidecar.
"Why does Larry call this part of U.S. 287 The Joey Lawrence Expressway?" asked SC Andy.
"His lucky road." quipped SC Matt.
"I'm not looking forward to meeting Larry J. Hall in our Houston stop." groaned SC Joe, "We sent 4 invitations to our #1 fans to attend our concert @ Compact Central."
SC Matt then went down I-45 South to Houston.
But let's go back 1 month ago @ Houston, Texas. I just got my mail @ my house. Besides the zonk (or junk) mail, I got a cool postcard that read;
"You are invited to attend The Super Cool Brothers concert Saturday August 14th @ Compact Central! As their #1 fan, you'll be treated to dinner & a concert."
I jumped up & down like a game show contestant! However, the happiness didn't last when the next piece of mail turned out to be,
"JURY DUTY!"
Yes, it was a summons for jury duty two weeks later.
When I arrived @ jury assembly, I was hoping that they wouldn't select me. However, I was selected for a panel of 50. So the bailiff, the 49 others & I were escorted to Judge Procter of Criminal Court.
I was #44 of 50 thinking I had a great chance of going to see the concert.
The judge entered & we all rose. After the judge explained the case, he said,
"This will be a case that will last @ least 2 weeks. Of course, the jurors will be sequestered to a hotel. If there's any plans you had like vacations, weddings or anything, please raise your hand & tell me now."
Various jurors had vacations, a wedding, an Astros baseball game & a Boy Scout camp-out. I raised my hand & told the judge,
"Your honor, believe it or not, I got invited to see The Super Cool Brothers in concert."
"A kiddie concert? Grow up! Denied!" he said banging his gavel.
45 minutes later, the judge called for 12 jurors in numerical order. The last juror number he called was #44! I was the last juror! Let's take a recess (Andy Lawrence pun!).
Our super hero trio were in secret identity clothes as they got to tour NASA. Andy liked learning about the astronauts & all the exhibits. Then they drove around on the motorcycle seeing the Houston Ship Channel over the I-610 (East Loop) bridge, saw the Astrodome & then cruised around looking @ scenic downtown Houston going down I-45 (The Pierce Elevated). Matt then took exit 47B & went down the Famous Houston Ave. Underpass. Crew's Ship deja vu!
"Did you have to plug that again?" groaned Joey.
"Soitainly!" I quipped doing my Curly.
Recess is over, back to the fanfic!
Now we pick up the fanfic today, Friday August 13th, we begun deliberation & the judge insisted that the verdict be unanimous! Juror #3 was selected as the foreman. There were many disagreements & split votes, that we were sequestered for another weekend @ the hotel.
The next day @ the hotel, I was looking @ the view of my balcony seeing screaming fans lining up for the SC Bros. Houston concert.
I sighed, "No SC Joe, No SC Matt, No SC Andy, No concert."
Juror #3 sneaked up & whipped me with his belt as he gruffed,
"You're too old for that concert! Grow up! If people saw your face, they'll label you a pervert! I'm the hung juror!"
"Yeah!" I cried, "So what if I'm an overgrown bobby-soxer! I'm the author of the stories! What next, deny my jury duty funds?"
"Not a bad idea, we'll split it 11 ways!" said Juror #3, "You cried after a whipping, you'll get more!"
I haven't heard that since my junior high school coach threatened the same thing. Just as he was about to give me the beating of my life, someone smashed a vase over his head. Juror #3 was out cold.
Who rescued me? It was Juror #8, a grandmother named Eva Cornman. The bailiff came & I explained everything to him. Juror #3 was taken to the judge.
Later I was comforted & relaxed in Juror #8's hotel room.
"Thanks for saving me." I said asking, "Why did you do it?"
She got to her purse & showed me the same invitation I got.
"For a 64 year old woman, I'm probably their oldest fan!" she said, "I like SC Joe in that tight super hero outfit!"
At Compact Central, The SC Bros. treated two of their #1 fans to dinner, both teenaged girls.
"Too bad Larry & Eva couldn't make it." said SC Matt.
"I'm glad Larry got grounded!" said SC Joe, "He would've driven me crazy!"
"What about Eva?" asked SC Andy.
The two girls were escorted backstage to see the concert. During the concert, one of the security guards was on the telephone. He talked to his brother, the bailiff on his cell phone. When he said that Larry & Eva missed out, the bailiff couldn't believe it! He explained they both had jury duty.
The following Monday, I still felt sad. However, the bailiff entered the jury room telling us,
"Folks, it turns out that the real crook confessed & that the defendant on trial's only an innocent bystander. You're all free to go! Larry, Eva, come to the judge's chambers."
We followed the bailiff to the judge's chambers. Judge Procter asked us to sit down.
"I want to thank both of you for serving on my jury." he said,
"You did your duty as American citizens. However, I misjudged The SC Bros. My wife had me take my children to see that concert. The super hero boys really get through kids singing about what they believe in,
drug free, safety, anti-violence & be true to others."
"Too bad it costed us the concert." I said.
"You can still go, in San Antonio!" he said, "I've arranged for the two of you to see them in concert @ San Antonio!"
"Why thank you!" we said.
"You'll have plane fare & hotel accomidations."
"I fear the plane." I said.
"And I got relatives in San Antonio." she said.
We were both headed to San Antonio. The judge gave me a motel reservation & Greyhound ticket & Eva got an airline ticket & we both got tickets to the San Antonio concert! Justice was served both ways!


BACK