I waited until the month before the reunion before I officially agreed to bring the band to the reunion. Evidently Alexis had told the group she had failed and their letters were getting a bit more desperate. The last letter I got from Jennifer hinted that there might be some additional benefits if I brought the band.
Laura was the only one who didn't write any more letters.
We arrived in town on a Friday morning and there was a policeman there to meet us. The policeman was a heavyset man with a somewhat familiar face and a wrinkled uniform that was stained with a part of his breakfast. He stood by the door of the town's only hotel as I parked our rental van.
"It's the local fuzz," Kyle said.
"I wonder if he's got one bullet like that Gomer Pyle guy," Willie said.
"It wasn't Gomer who had the bullet, dipstick," Elmo said. "That was Barney."
The policeman walked up to me and gave me his most intimidating look. "So you came back, Bobby. I thought you'd never come back here again."
I recognized him them. He had been a senior when I was a junior and a big time halfback who had a chance at the NFL until he blew out his knee.
"Hello Matt," I said. "How's Alex?"
"Her name is Alexis," he said, "and my wife is fine."
Willie started to say something that sounded like "she sure is" and Kyle kicked him. Matt looked suspicious for a moment and then hooked his heavy hands in his belt. "I know what you people are like," he said.
"We people," I said. "You mean musicians?"
"Yes. I know about the drugs and the fast women and the parties. I just want you to know there'll be none of that while you're here. I catch you stepping out line and I'll lock you up. I don't care if you are rich and famous."
He stood there glaring at me for a few moments while I tried to think of some response but then a dark red Ford convertible turned into the parking lot and came to a sliding stop just inches away from us. A slender, long legged blonde got out slowly, and tossed her head like she was a model posing for a photographer.
Jennifer hadn't changed. If anything, she had gotten more willowy and beautiful with the years. She wore just a trace of makeup but she didn't need it. She wore a pair of stylish looking jeans, black boots, and a black t-shirt that emphasized the perky thrust of nicely shaped breasts.
"Oh, it's so good to see you, Bobby," she gushed, and gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. She was as immaculate and sugary looking as a department store Barbie doll but I remembered this was the woman who had gotten Alexis drunk and left her at the mercy of a bunch of horny men.
I introduced her to the band and she got into her take charge mode, showing us all where we would be staying and apologizing for the smallness of the rooms. "I know you Hollywood types are used to more luxurious places but we're just a small town."
"Ahhh shucks, Mam, "Kyle said, grinning broadly, "we're all just small town boys."
It was a lie, except for me. Kyle was the son of an actor and the grandson of one of the richest movie producers in Hollywood. He had grown up rich. Jennifer tried to smile but she wasn't sure how to take him. I had been with him for a couple of years and sometimes I didn't know when he was kidding.
Jennifer got us all settled and then asked me if I wanted to take a tour around town, just to see how things had changed. I didn't expect anything had changed and I wondered what Jennifer really wanted. I saw Kyle roll his eyes as I got into the car with the spectacular looking blond.
She gave me the ten cent tour and I was right. Nothing had changed. I was a little surprised when she turned the car onto a gravel road and ended up beneath some trees by the lake. It was the favourite parking spot of the teenagers.
"What are we doing at passion point?" I asked her.
She looked a little uncomfortable at my words but she forced a smile. She reached into the back seat and brought up a shiny black briefcase. When she opened it, I inwardly groaned because it was filled with music sheets.
"I wanted to get you alone so I could talk to you about my music," Jennifer gushed. "You know I've always been a singer and song writer. I thought you could look at my music and maybe....I don't know...audition me for your band."
There was a note of desperation in her voice. I remembered how it had been to grow up in a small town, especially one like Dawson, which had only existed, because of the textile mills and now the mills were closing. It was a dying town and that only added to the feeling of desperation.
"Your husband works in the mills, doesn't he?" I asked. "What would he think about you travelling on the road with a bunch of rowdy musicians?"
"He doesn't matter," Jennifer said, shaking her blond head.
I might have felt sorry for her up until then. I knew her husband. He had been one of the nicer jocks, a big, cheery offensive lineman who probably still worshiped the ground Jennifer walked on, and she was dismissing him as if he didn't matter. The same way she had dismissed Alexis.
"Maybe we could use a female vocalist," I said, teasing her. "I was thinking of asking Alexis."
Jennifer looked shocked. "Her? Why on earth would you ask her? She's nothing but a....but a...."
"A what...?" I asked innocently.
Jennifer shook her head. "It doesn't matter. But I can sing. I honestly can. You'd like my voice."
I pretended to be thinking about it. After a moment, I shook my head. "Nah. I can't see you in the role of female vocalist. Not in our band. I'm thinking somebody who doesn't mind flaunting a little. You're too much the ice queen."
"What do you mean?"
"If the band had a female vocalist," I explained, "she'd have to wear sexy clothes. She'd have to look younger. And she'd have to be travelling on a bus with a group of guys so she'd have to be willing to compromise at times."
"Compromise?" Jennifer asked in a little girl voice.
