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Message-ID: <52039asstr$1127196602@assm.asstr-mirror.org>
From: "Jim C" <jimc_author@hotmail.com>
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Subject: {ASSM} Lucky Stiff by JiMC (35 of 46)--MF, FF, mc, md, magic, romance
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Date: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 02:10:02 -0400
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This story is copyright (c) 2003-2005.  All rights are
reserved by the author, including that of publication.
Posting on-line is only allowed when permission is explicitly
granted by the author, and then only for the complete story,
including this disclaimer.  Contact the author at
<jimc-author at excite dot com> for more information,
referring to this story ("Lucky Tickets 2: Lucky Stiff").

I explicitly grant permission to post this story to
StoriesOnline.net and asstr-mirror.org.

The following is a work of fiction and is just a fantasy.
Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely
coincidental and entirely unintentional.  There may be
references to people in a historical context, but they are
not really characters in this story.

This is a story that describes sexually explicit situations
in a fictional universe that only vaguely seems similar to
the one we live in.  Most of the characters in this story are
under aged.  However, the target audience is adults (people
over the age of eighteen) with broad minds.

* * *

This is a sequel to the story "Lucky Tickets," and as such,
you may want to read that story first to get a better
introduction to the characters present in both stories.  Like
a lot of sequels, it's not really meant to be read out of
order.

* * *

Chapter 35--Unexpected Trip

        Oh, we're big rock singers.
        We got golden fingers.
        And we're loved everywhere we go.
        We sing about beauty,
        And we sing about truth
        At ten thousand dollars a show.
                -- The Cover of the Rolling Stone (Dr. Hook and the Medicine 
Show)


    The next day, June called and told me that she wasn't
going to be visiting for a few days.

    "What's up, Baby?" I asked, knowing that June had no
obligations to come over, and realizing that June didn't just
call to say she wasn't coming over.

    "Oh... nothing," June said unconvincingly.

    "Tell Doctor Oogie about it," I coaxed.

    Despite June's low spirits, I heard a bit of a chuckle
from June.  However, her voice almost immediately turned
serious again.  "I got a letter from Tiny."

    Oh, shit.  June NEVER called Archy by the nickname that
she claimed to hate.  "What's up with Archy?" I asked.

    "Oh... nothing."

    I didn't answer, but decided to allow June to take her
time.  After a minute or two, June finally continued.  "He
says that his coach is being hard on him."

    "That's what coaches are supposed to do," I pointed out.

    "I'm talking about his curriculum," June said.  "Archy
wants to use football as a way to get a good education and
maybe a good job.  He loves animals and was thinking of
becoming a veterinarian.  His coach, however, is forcing him
to take the jock classes... the ones that don't teach
anything and are there just for scholarship students to
easily ace so they can continue playing."

    I could see where June was heading with this.  From my
short friendship with Archy, I knew him to be a very
attentive student, even though we shared no classes together.

    June continued.  "If Archy goes along, the diploma he
eventually gets will be essentially worthless.  If he doesn't
go along, the coach has threatened his scholarship."

    This wasn't fair!  "That sucks!" I protested.

    "Tell me about it!" June agreed.

    "What sucks?" Kristen asked, walking out of the bedroom.

    I put my hand over the transmitter and gave Kristen a
quick summary of my discussion with June.

    Immediately, Kristen took the phone out of my hand.
"June, this is Kris... I'll be picking you up at your house
in..." She looked at her watch.  "Forty-five minutes.  I need
to make some phone calls."

    Kristen didn't wait for an answer, and hung up the phone.

    "Jim, pack an overnight bag for us.  Go downstairs and
get a change of clothes for June.  Ask Lynette if she wants
to come with us.  We'll use her car."

    "What's happening?" I asked.

    "I told you what I want, Jim," Kristen said, almost
snapping at me.  She was surprised that I didn't just follow
her directions blindly.  "Now, get!"

    Dismissed, I went to the bedroom to follow Kristen's
directions.  I looked in Kristen's closet, and didn't know
what kind of outfit that she'd want.

    As if Kristen were reading my mind, she called out, "Jim,
I need the grey button down shirt and the matching pants.
They're on the right side of the closet near the front.
Don't forget underwear!"

    I found the outfit that Kristen wanted and then packed a
pair of slacks and one of the collared shirts of mine that
the girls seemed to like.

    As I left the bedroom, Lynette was already in the living
room with a small overnight bag.  "I've got an outfit for
June, Jim," she said.  "What's going on?"

    Kristen was talking on the phone.  "How soon can you get
to Lafayette?  Really?  What's his name?"

    I shrugged at Lynette.

    Kristen turned her attention from the phone to the two of
us.  "I'll be downstairs in a few minutes, Lynette."

    Lynette shrugged back at me as we were summarily
dismissed by Kristen.

    On the way downstairs, I told Lynette what little I knew
about the conversation I had with June and Kristen's taking
charge immediately afterward.

    "Lafayette?  Kristen's going to Purdue!" Lynette said.

    I was a bit surprised, and hadn't made that connection.

    Almost as soon as we got to Lynette's car, Kristen
stormed out of the building.  "Why aren't you two in the car
already?  Come on, you guys!"

    "What's going on?" I demanded.

    "Just get in the car!  Lynette, we need to stop at June's
first."

    The three of us got into Lynette's vehicle, and I sat in
the back.  "I'm driving you guys to Purdue?" Lynette asked
once we were out the security gate.

    "No," Kristen said.  "From June's, we stop at the air
field outside town."

    "Your uncle Jerry?" I asked.

    "Yeah, he was already at the hangar and was just going to
go for a joy ride.  He said he'd be happy to take us to
Indiana."

    "What are we going to do at Purdue?" I asked.

    "Set some things straight," Kristen said, her eyes
flashing her anger.

* * *

    I had never been to Purdue University before.  I knew
they had a nationally ranked football team, and I had been
proud when Archy had been accepted on their team.  He wasn't
a starter, but June said that his coach told him that he had
great potential.

    The only person in our entourage that seemed to know what
she was doing was Kristen.  From the air field in West
Lafayette, she arranged for a cab to take us to the campus.
When told how long it would take for a cab to arrive, Kristen
hung up and called a limo company that had an advertisement
at the hangar.  The limo arrived about five minutes later.

    "Are you familiar with Purdue?" Kristen asked the driver.

    "Yeah," the driver said.

    "Take me to the administration building."

    "Yes, ma'am."

    Kristen didn't explain what she was about to do.  I've
seen her headstrong before, but there was a determination in
her right now that was unusual.  June, Lynette, and I looked
at each other, not totally understanding what was happening.

    Once at the administration building, Kristen told Lynette
to stay with the limo and check us into the University Inn,
which was nearby.  Kristen already had reservations for a
suite of rooms and a friend of Kristen's would pick Lynette
up from there and bring her to us.

    I was surprised, but we all followed Kristen's lead, and
June and I followed Kristen as she started walking toward a
red brick building.

    A man that was standing nearby noticed Kristen and said,
"Excuse me, are you Miss Kristen Swift?"

    "I am," Kristen said, looking at the man warily.

    "Mike Shapiro sent me to find you," the man replied.  "My
name is Willard Keesan, and his law offices contacted me.
I'm with the financial aid department."

    Kristen smiled and offered her hand.  "These are my
companions, Jim Crittenhouse and June Rodgers."

    "Kris, Mike told you that you didn't need to make this
trip.  We've already been contacted and your demands are
already being worked on."

    Kristen seemed surprised.  "Really?"

    "Your father has influence, Miss Swift."

    "What demands?" I asked.

    "We've arranged for the cancellation of Archy Jonas'
scholarship," Willard said.

    "Canceled?" June cried.  She looked at the three of us,
horrified.

    "I'm covering his tuition, housing, and living expenses
by underwriting a guaranteed student loan," Kristen explained.

    "He'll have to forgo some things," Willard said.  He
looked around nervously.

    "His perks," Kristen said, matter-of-factly.

    "May I take the three of you to my office?  I think we
should not be having this discussion out here."

    "How far?" Kristen said, a bit suspicious and eying the
building she had been ready to enter.

    "A few blocks from here," Willard promised.  "It's really
taken care of."

    Kristen looked at June and me.  June was still a bit
shocked at what was happening so quickly in front of her.  I
looked at Willard and nodded slightly to Kristen.

    "Thank you, Mr. Keesan," Kristen said.  "Your office."

    Willard Keesan's office was close enough to walk,
actually.

    Once inside the office, we were led into a conference
room.

    "Miss Swift, as Mike told you, you didn't really need to
come.  We work these sort of things every day."

    "Do your every day things include charges of fraud,
malfeasance, and offering enticements outside the bounds of
the NCAA rules?" Kristen asked.

    Willard blanched.  "There is no fraud or malfeasance
involved, Ms. Swift."

    Kristen had fire in her eyes.  "A freshman's coach has
told him that he could lose his scholarship if he doesn't
sign up for make-work classes.  He came to this respected
university to get an education.  In return, he will offer his
athletic skill to your Boilermakers.  You are now denying him
the education that you promised him."

    "I think the student misinterpreted his coach."

    "Shall we get Archy Jonas and the coach in question right
here?"

    Willard decided to change the subject.  He reached into
his briefcase and pulled out some papers.  "On his
application, Mr. Jonas has indicated a desire to eventually
enter our School of Veterinary Medicine."

    Kristen looked at June, who simply nodded.

    "That's correct," Kristen said.

    "I'm sure our counselors will be able to help Mr. Jonas
to arrange a schedule that is appropriate for the discipline
that he has expressed an interest in.  He doesn't have to
declare a major..."

    "What perks was he offered?" Kristen asked, interrupting
the man.

    "The university officially has a policy that forbids the
offering of gifts to members of our sports program."

    I was confused.  I thought that Willard had said that
Archy would have to forgo his perks.

    "Mike told me how the game is played.  If it's not the
university, it's the alumni committee or somebody else.  I
don't fucking care who offered something to Archy.  I'm more
interested in what he was offered."

    Mr. Keesan looked ashen.

    We were interrupted by a secretary.  "Mr. Keesan, Daniel
Swift is on the phone asking if his daughter has arrived."

    Before Willard could answer, Kristen took charge.
"Forward Daddy's call to this room.  I'll talk to him."

    The secretary was surprised, and looked at Mr. Keesan,
who simply shrugged.

    As I said, this was the side of Kristen that I didn't get
to witness very often: "take charge and ambush" or "overwhelm
and conquer." There was a side of her that was ruthless when
confronting a situation that she didn't like.

    The phone buzzed a few moments later and Kristen casually
picked up the phone.  "Daddy?  Thank you... yes.  I'm talking
about that right now.  I'll call you if I need you.  I love
you, too.  You're sweet!"

    Kristen turned to the lawyer that had lost charge of the
situation.  "Mr. Keesan, I'm not interested in trying to
trick you into admitting knowledge of any offers that were
made unofficially to Archy Jonas.  I'm here basically for his
benefit.  I will talk with Archy later on, and if he wants to
continue playing football despite the fact that he is no
longer bound to a scholarship, he will.  June has told me
that he had always wanted to play for the Boilermakers."

    Kristen looked at June and smiled.

    "My company, KISS Holdings, is underwriting all financial
aid to Archy Jonas to an amount equal to his old scholarship.
This will include housing and living expenses, and any and
all perks that would normally be offered to him as a
scholarship recipient.  KISS will also pay Purdue University
the standard service fee for managing the student loan.
Standard loan terms apply in that no payments need to be paid
until one year after Archy leaves Purdue, and will terminate
ten years afterward.  The interest rate for the life of the
loan is one percent.  Do you have any questions?"

    "One percent?" Mr. Keesan sputtered.  "The prime interest
rate is..."

    "The loan is already backed by KISS," Kristen
interrupted.  "Purdue is getting a service fee for processing
the loan, and the one percent is a bonus on top of that fee.
Purdue has no exposure with this loan, and can only
gain--even if only a relatively small amount--from it."

    There was a small amount of haggling of the finer
details, but it was obvious that Kristen was on top of things.

    When the discussion was ended, Mr. Keesan seemed to have
a new respect for Kristen.  He offered each of us a handshake
as we started to file out of the conference room.

    Before Kristen left, she turned to Mr. Keesan.  "By the
way, my friends and I would appreciate it if you could secure
us a University car for the next twenty-four hours.  You can
bill KISS at your normal rates."

    "Sure thing, Ms. Swift."

    Mr. Keesan went to his secretary and whispered something
to her.  She nodded and got a pair of keys from her purse,
and Mr. Keesan handed them to Kristen.  "It's the dark blue
Buick in the parking lot."

    "We're not taking your secretary's car, are we?" I asked.

    "Well, Mr. Crit..."

    "Crittenhouse," I offered.

    "Mr. Crittenhouse, it's the University's car.  Another
will be sent to replace hers in about three hours, and she'll
get her car back when you leave."

    The secretary shrugged and didn't look too put out.

    "Thank you, Mr. Keesan."

    "Do you know where we would be able to find Archy?"
Kristen asked.

    "You could try his dormitory at the Hilltop Apartments,
or the football field," Mr. Keesan answered.  He looked
thoughtful for the moment.  "They had practice earlier this
morning.  So he may be at his apartment or having lunch."

    "Can you please meet my companion, Lynette Robbins, and
explain to her how to find Archy's apartment?  She was going
to meet us with one of the lawyers my father secured at the
other building."

    "Certainly, Ms. Swift."

    Kristen nodded and the three of us left.  We found the
Buick and Kristen drove.  Kristen seemed to know her way
around Purdue, as she drove straight to the Hilltop without
having to consult a campus map.

    "Have you been here before?" I asked.

    "Will and I spent some time here a couple of years ago,"
Kristen answered.  "He was thinking of attending here."

    "Is that how Mr. Keesan knew your father?"

    "Uh, huh," Kristen said, smiling.  She asked June, "Which
building is Archy staying at?"

    "Building five," June answered.

    "Ahh, that would be at the top of the loop," Kristen said.

    Kristen didn't park in the parking lot, but parked
illegally closer to one of the buildings.

    "Isn't this illegal?" June asked.

    "Not for University cars," Kristen answered.  "That's why
I asked for one instead of getting a rental."

    June and I giggled at that.

    The three of us, led by Kristen, entered the building.
June knew Archy's apartment number, and we knocked on his
door.

    The man that opened the door was enormous.  He was big,
black, and must have had about twenty-five pounds on Archy.
"Yeah?"

    June took the initiative.  "I'm Archy's girlfriend from
Illinois," she said softly.  "These are my friends.  Are you
Sam?"

    The large man smiled.  "You that chick June?" He turned
around.  "Hey, little guy!  Your old lady is here!" He opened
the door wider and let us in.

    The apartment that I was looking at was unlike any
dormitory that I had envisioned.  It had a separate living
room, two bedrooms, and even its own bath.  It was truly an
apartment.

    Archy came out of the bedroom wearing only his boxers.
"June!" he said, running toward his girlfriend.  He picked
her up and they spent about two minutes kissing.

    While Archy and June were getting reacquainted, I offered
my hand to Sam.

    "Let me guess," Sam said.  "You that guy they call
'Oogie,' and the other one must be Kristen.  Am I right?"

    I smiled.  I could see my reputation was getting wider
thanks to Archy.  "Yeah."

    "Archy's playing at the Marriott tonight."

    "Trumpet?" I asked, surprised.

    "Yeah.  Just him, a piano, and a drum.  They do some old
jazz stuff."

    "Cool!" I said, grinning.  I couldn't wait to see Archy
back in action.

    Archy and June had finally finished their hot kiss.
"Sam, this here's the guy I was telling you about.  He's the
virtuoso--that's French for talented dude--that taught me to
read music."

    "I figured," Sam said, his laughter booming.  "Kristen,
I'm honored to meet you."

    "Why are you guys here?" Archy asked.

    "Kristen canceled your scholarship," June said, grinning.

    Both Sam and Archy reacted identically.  "She what?" they
shouted together.

    "You are now on financial aid, backed by my holding
company."

    "But he'll lose the apartment!" Sam said.

    "I have it arranged so that Archy loses nothing.
However, your coach now has no hold over Archy.  There's a
Mr. Keesan that Archy can visit that will arrange for a
counselor to plan for your eventual veterinary degree."

    "You're shitting me!" Archy said.

    "I'd have a hard time passing you, Archy," Kristen said
sweetly.

    I smiled, having gotten Kristen's joke.  Suddenly, Sam
burst out in thunderous laughter.  "She's funny, Archy!"

    Finally, Archy and June got Kristen's little joke.
"You're serious, aren't you?  I keep the apartment, the
car..." Archy stopped, thinking he may have said too much.

    "It's our car," Sam said.  "It's a lease and Tiny Boy and
I share it.  That means he goes where I want him to go."

    "Well, we have our own wheels," Kristen said.

    "Did you bring the Camaro?" Archy asked.

    "No," I answered.  "Kristen had her Uncle Jerry fly us to
Purdue Airport, and we took a limo from there, and the
University made a University car available to us."

    "No shit!" Archy said, laughing.  "You can park that
thing anywhere!"

    "Of course," Kristen said.

    "Do you have practice this afternoon?" June asked.

    "It was this morning," Archy answered.  "Tomorrow, we
have a game.  I haven't been used yet, but if Sam here were
to get a cramp in his sleep, I might play as a substitute."

    June looked at Archy with a wicked grin.  "Did I ever
show you how to administer a Charley Horse?"

    Sam actually backed away from the diminutive June.
"Don't you fuckin' dare!  That boy is too eager for me to get
an injury, and I'm defenseless against a lovely little woman
like you!"

    June moved toward Sam, but her motion had absolutely no
threat in it.  When she backed Sam against the wall, June
gave Sam a hug and softly said, "Thanks for the compliment."

    Both Sam and Archy had an open afternoon and we sat
around, allowing Archy and June catch up on everything that
happened since Archy left for Indiana.

    When June was explaining what she had been doing, I
noticed that she carefully tiptoed around the "Oogie Stories"
out of deference to the way I felt about them.

    Still, June revealed enough that Sam finally interrupted.
"June, I don't mean to pry, and it probably ain't my
business, but are you telling your boyfriend that you have
been sleeping over this guy's house?"

    June looked at Archy, who smiled broadly.

    "Sam, it's not a problem," Archy said.  "Jim is my best
friend in the world.  I've only known him personally since
this past winter, but he's the real deal.  June has known him
longer, but I have no doubt about her love for me.  On top of
that, I have no doubt about Jim's love for that beautiful
girl that's snuggled against him right now.  You've seen them
looking at each other since they got here, haven't you?"

    Sam nodded his head.  "That's why I couldn't believe it
when your girl..."

    "June is a lady," Archy corrected.  "Over the month or so
that we've been apart, she is more of a lady than she ever
was before, and I know that it's due to their influence."

    I knew better than to open my mouth, but Kristen didn't
have anything stopping her from doing so.  "Jim is the guy
that I'm going to marry, just like Archy is the guy that June
is going to marry.  None of us is jealous of the other,
except that Archy probably misses June enough that seeing her
was probably the highlight of the month for him.  I know that
seeing Archy was the highlight of June's month, and she's had
an active one."

    "Active?" Sam asked, confused.

    Kristen filled in a lot of the missing pieces, omitting
outright mentions of sex.  She told the "Oogie Stories" that
June had the good sense to avoid, and she had everybody with
one exception laughing their asses off.

    As for me, I just glared at Kristen.  Finally, I couldn't
stand it any more and I finally put an end to her diatribe
about how I was the best thing that ever walked the earth by
pulling her close to me and kissing her.

    The phone rang soon afterward, but I continued to kiss
Kristen before she started telling those stories again.

    Sam got the phone, but a few moments later, Archy was on
the line.  When I heard him say, "Oh, damn!  That sucks!" I
finally broke the kiss with Kristen.

    The disappointed look on Archy's face prevented any of us
from saying anything.  There wasn't much more information to
be gleaned, as Archy was most just listening on the other end.

    Archy finally said, "Please wish him luck for me, OK?"
and a few moments later, he hung up the phone.

    "What happened, Archy?" June asked.

    "It's not as bad as it may have seemed," Archy said.
"John sounds like death warmed over, though.  He tried
talking with me, and then Julie took over and told me that
John seems to have caught the cold that has been running
around the campus.  It's a terrible one.  Anyway, he's out
for tonight."

    "Out for what?" I asked, confused.

    "It will only be me and Troy tonight.  Drums and a horn."
Archy sounded quite disappointed.

    I noticed June and Kristen both staring at me.  I got the
hint quickly.  "Does John play electric or acoustic?"

    "Electric," Archy said, knowing where I was headed.

    "Amplified, right?"

    "Yeah, John has the equipment."

    Kristen gave me a smile, and simply nodded to me.

    "Archy, it's been a couple of months since we played
together.  Want to relive some happy times?"

    "Does that mean I get to hear the great Oogie Woogie?"
Sam asked, laughing.  "Archy said you sing, which may be a
good thing, since John was also the singer for the combo."

    "Was he?" I asked, surprised.  It occurred to me that a
trumpet player wouldn't normally be a singer, but tell that
to Louis Armstrong.  "What kind of songs?"

    "_Ipanema_, some Sinatra tunes, _Wave_..."

    "I didn't know _Wave_ had words," I said doubtfully.

    "It may, but we do that as an instrumental."

    "Would Dion be out of place?"

    "Well, we play mostly background music for the lounge."

    "Why not give them a show?" I asked.  "One night only.
It may increase attention for other weeks, and allow you to
play songs you might prefer.  You know, _Moon Dance_, _Green
Eyed Lady_, Elton John, Beatles..."

    Archy and Sam laughed.  Sam asked, "You could put
together a set like that in a few hours?"

    I looked at my Goddess, who had a proud smile on her face.

    "I could try.  I've been practicing most of that stuff
over the last month or so in my studio."

    "I don't doubt that Oogie could put that together," June
said quietly.

    "Dion?" Kristen asked.

    "It was going to be a surprise, actually," I said
sheepishly.

    "Which song?" Kristen asked, prodding me.

    "Let's leave that for a surprise.  I know that Archy can
play pretty well by ear, and drummers usually know the beat
when they know the song.  It's just a trio, you know."

    Sam shook his head.  "You told me that this guy was a
virtuoso, and I guess I'll see if he's for real."

    I looked at my friends and smiled.  "I owe Archy a big
debt of gratitude, and I'd be honored to help him out, even
if it's just this one night."

* * *

    Lynette arrived shortly afterward, and we introduced her
to Sam.

    After Lynette arrived, Kristen asked Archy if she could
see his phone book.  Archy and Kristen left together to
Archy's room.

    Meanwhile, June was updating Lynette on the news that I
would be performing with Archy that night.  Sam was still a
bit in awe that I would actually help Archy out like that.

    Lynette, of course, wasn't surprised.  "Oogie always
helps out his friends.  Didn't Archy tell you the stories?"

    Warning bells started ringing in my head.  "Lynette!" I
warned.

    Lynette and June both laughed at my reaction.

    Sam said, "Archy and Kristen told me about the Oogie
Stories.  I wondered how many of them were true."

    "All of them," June and Lynette said together, causing
Sam to laugh.

    Kristen and Archy came back into the living room, and
Kristen said, "Jim, Lynette, we need to get going.  I need to
get a hotel room, and I need some extra clothes if I'm going
to a lounge concert tonight."

    Archy shook his head.  "You could stay here, Kristen."

    Kristen turned to Archy and gave him a warm smile.
"Thank you, Archy, but no.  This apartment is meant for two
people, or maybe even two couples.  It is not really a good
idea for six people.  I am already booked at the University
Inn, and I think Lynette already moved our luggage there."

    Lynette nodded in agreement.

    Archy looked at June, who seemed a bit surprised and a
bit embarrassed.  "Um... if Archy doesn't mind..."

    Kristen continued to gather Lynette and me.

    Before we could leave, however, June came running to me
and gave me a kiss that was most certainly not chaste.
"Thank you for helping Archy out!"

    June then turned to Kristen and kissed her the same way.
"Both of you!" I noticed that Archy and Sam were both
surprised by that particular kiss.

* * *

    Kristen, Lynette, and I left June with Archy and Sam, and
got back into the University car.

    "Where are we really going?" Lynette asked, knowing that
Kristen had a mind of her own when it came to doing things.

    "We need to get some equipment for tonight," Kristen
answered, taking the road that took us toward Lafayette.

    "What equipment do we need?" I asked, a bit confused.  "I
thought Archy was going to get John's equipment."

    "If we are going to help out Archy, then I would like to
have a guitar so I'm not just a vocalist for you."

    If Kristen had meant to surprise me, she didn't.  I was
used to her impulsive ideas and knew better than to talk her
out of them when they were basically harmless.  Besides, I
had heard her play before, even if she didn't know it.

    Lynette, however, was surprised.  "You're volunteering to
help Archy out as well?"

    "Jim has been aching to get me to play with him," Kristen
explained.  "I know he's lining up a demo at Puppy Dawg's and
he's asked me to participate.  I also know that last year in
the jazz band isn't going to be enough for him.  I have a
feeling that he wants to play the piano, so that leaves me
with the guitar.  I don't play as many instruments as well as
Jim does."

    I nodded to Lynette.  "Just piano tonight," I corrected.
"I was thinking of saving up some money to purchase an
electric guitar for Kris for Christmas."

    Kristen was surprised by that.  "You were?  That's sweet!
I have a couple in my room in the main house, actually."

    I was quite surprised at this revelation.  "Why didn't
you bring them into the studio?"

    "That's your studio," Kristen said, softly.

    Stunned by Kristen's answer, I simply glared at her.

    "You're not mad at me, are you?" my Goddess asked, seeing
my reaction.

    "Kristen, you keep on going on as if a marriage between
us is a given," I said with a sigh.  "You've just said as
much to Sam and Archy.  Music is important to me, and you
know it.  You are important to me as well, and you know that.
Having you with me is much better than me just playing by
myself."

    Kristen nodded, and turned into a grocery story parking
lot.  "I'm sorry, Jim."

    I saw in Kristen's eyes that she truly meant it.  I
smiled.

    I decided to change the subject.  "Lynette?  Do you play
any instrument?  Do you sing?"

    Lynette shook her head.  "I only sing in the shower, and
only when I'm alone.  Definitely not before an audience,
Oogie!"

    I considered Lynette's voice.  It was a bit higher than
Kristen's when she talked, and I thought she might be a good
singer if she had some training.  For now, however, I,
decided to take her at her word.

    Turning back to my Goddess, I said, "I know you're great
on the piano.  How good are you on guitar?"

    "That's right, you've never heard me play," Kristen said,
avoiding an answer.

    "Lead guitar, right?" I asked.  Kristen was going to
finally open up to me about her playing, and I didn't want
her to be upset that I had heard her entertaining our friends.

    "Mom taught me bass first, then I learned chords, and I
can play lead if necessary.  I play acoustic and I taught
Will how to play electric.  He plays lead.  When Will
practiced lead, I played rhythm or bass with him."

    "That's right," Lynette realized.  "Your mom used to be a
performer."

    Kristen nodded, and she motioned toward the end of the
shopping center, where there was a music store.

    The three of us left the car and entered the store.

    Once inside, Kristen asked the clerk at the register if
she could see the manager, handing the clerk one of her
business cards.

    After a minute or two, the manager arrived.  "Miss Swift?"

    "Yes.  My companions are Jim Crittenhouse and Lynette
Robbins.  I need to have some music equipment for a one-night
gig.  I'd prefer to lease everything, but if you cannot
manage that, I'd be willing to purchase them as well."

    "When is the gig?"

    "Tonight at seven."

    The manager laughed.  "I'm not sure that I could arrange
a lease in that short a period of time.  What kind of
equipment?"

    Kristen turned around and looked over the equipment that
was on display.  Her eyes locked onto an Yamaha keyboard that
I had noticed the moment I entered the shop.  She looked at
me, and she knew instantly that we were on the same
wavelength.  Her attention went to a few guitars, and she
picked out two electric ones and an acoustic one.  Finally,
she picked out an amplifier.

    "These," Kristen said, "plus cables to connect
everything.  We're from out of town and didn't bring our own
stuff."

    "That's close to four and a half thousand dollars of
equipment!"

    Kristen shrugged and pulled out her American Express
card.  "Run this card through."

    The manager looked at the charge card, and then itemized
a bill for the equipment that she picked out.  The total was
a little over $4,400.

    "Could you add delivery to the Marriott by five?"

    "A hundred dollars?" the manager asked.

    "More like fifty.  You know a guy with a pickup or a van,
and it's only a couple of miles."

    I grinned.  Kristen was on her own turf, even in a music
store.

    The manager added the fifty dollar delivery charge, and
then said, "Do you mind if I call my bank and verify the
card?  It's a large purchase."

    Kristen shrugged.

    The manager left with the card, and Kristen busied
herself by strumming the acoustic guitar.  She stopped and
re-tuned it, and then started playing a few chords and smiled
at me.  Again she stopped, and then started to pick a song I
immediately recognized as _Vincent_ by Don MacLean.  She was
indeed talented.

    Kristen stopped playing when the manager returned.  "I'm
sorry, Miss Swift, your credit is perfect.  I hope I didn't
embarrass you."

    Kristen noticed the man's name on his tag.  "I'm not
insulted, Mr. Helmut.  Would you be able to have these at the
Marriott on time?"

    "Yes, Miss."

    "Thank you," Kristen said sweetly.  "We're playing at the
Marriott tonight, if you'd like to be entertained.  This
gentleman here is the great Oogie Woogie and you'll be
hearing about him in the future."

    I felt slightly embarrassed by Kristen's announcement,
but I just smiled at the manager.

    "Is your other companion in the group as well?" the
manager asked, intrigued.

    Before Kristen could answer, Lynette said, "I'm his
official groupie."

    Kristen and I both laughed at Lynette's remark.

    "Just the two of you?"

    "We have a drummer and a very talented trumpet player who
are students at Purdue," I answered.

    "What style of music?  Light jazz?"

    "That's what they normally play," I said, nodding.
"We're from out of town, replacing their sick piano player.
We can play their repertoires, and I promised them that we'd
expand their range for tonight only."

    The manager was surprised.  "You came from Illinois to
replace a sick performer?"

    "Archy's a good friend, but we didn't come here
specifically for that, but we're always willing to help out a
friend."

    The manager shook my hand.  "You sound like a fine young
man.  You seem young for college."

    Kristen laughed.  "He's not in college, although he's
already got college credits back home."

    "I'm entering eleventh grade," I added.

    The manager's eyes opened wide.  "Really?  Now I'm
impressed.  I'll be at the Marriott tonight."

    We bade our farewells.

* * *

	Dear Reader,

	    This story is intended to be fiction and the
	situation with the university possibly violating
	NCAA rules in letter or even spirit is simply a plot
	device to advance the story.

	    No disrespect to the students, faculty, or
	alumni of Purdue University is intended.

	Sincerely,

	JiMC--The Author

--
jimc_author@hotmail.com

JiMC is only a pseudonym.  Respect my privacy and I'll respect yours.

_________________________________________________________________
Don't just search. Find. Check out the new MSN Search! 
http://search.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200636ave/direct/01/

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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