Chapter 2
1986 Words
April 1958
The night of the concert. I actually had butterflies in my stomach jumbling about in me. I was excited to see Ricky again. Maybe hoping he would take notice in me. Silly notation but I wanted nothing more.
I was able to buy a dress from Woolworths. It was a light baby pink dress. I had my hair done up in curlers. My make up was done. I had my nails done. I was even wearing high heels.
I did not feel like myself. But I felt all dolled up. Like one of the Supremes. Ricky lived near us over in Hollywood, we lived here in Los Angeles. Where all the action was.
This place was so huge we never ran in the same crowds. So, it was not like the old days when I saw him before. Running into Ricky at the malt shop. Nothing like the old days. I glance my image in the mirror. I was ready.
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"Willow are you ready to go?" calls out Mary Ellen from the living room.
"Ready, be right there" I answer her.
"Corey is here to take us to the concert" she answers me.
Time to go! I grab my purse. And check my reflection one more time. I was ready to go now. Time to see Ricky. My one shot. I could not blow this. Well I probably would blow it. I head out of my room.
Corey claps then whistles for me. Mary Ellen giggles. Corey hands us each a fancy flower to wear on our wrist though he was clearly with Mary Ellen tonight. They made sure they were both wearing matching outfits.
They looked simply adorable to!
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"You guys both look fantastic tonight" I brag on them. Mary Ellen was blushing.
"This is our first date" admits Corey.
I gasp. Mary Ellen nods. "I am so happy for you both!" I gush. I hug Mary Ellen. "sorry I have to tag along"
"No maybe you will hook up with Ricky and we all can double date" jokes Mary Ellen.
I am blushing. "No way" I laugh.
"Let's go ladies or we will be late for the show" warns Corey.
We head out the door. Corey gets the door open in his car for Mary Ellen first then for me. He was a real gentleman. There were not many of them left out in the world these days. Then we head on out to the show.
I was super excited to see Ricky again. Mary Ellen rambled on chatter to Corey as he drove us to the concert. We were headed to Hollywood to go to the Hollywood Bowl for the show tonight. Then we would get to head to the back show and meet Ricky again.
Ricky was promoting his second album that hit the charts called "Songs By Ricky" the past record he had come out was "Ricky Sings Again" I loved all his songs.
I wondered if Avery regretted breaking things off with her ex who was now a famous Rockstar. She had to be envious somewhere. That had to hurt. She never brought up Ricky or his success in our home when she visited though.
Before long we finally arrived at the concert hall. Corey paid for parking. Two dollars to park. Then Corey protectively watched out for us as gangs of kids walked past. Everyone was all excited for the concert.
Mary Ellen hands everyone their tickets and passes the radio station had given to her. We place the passes around our necks. I glance down at the tickets. We were in the front row. In the middle. Perfect seats. I feel a rush of excitement go in me as I glance down at the ticket in my hand.
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"Time to see handsome Ricky" Mary Ellen teases me.
"I can't wait" I say softly.
She smiles at me. Everyone was chatting about Ricky. His songs. His outfits and his hair style. He was really the envy around here. Not many men climbed the Hollywood success latter to fame. But here Ricky had surpassed it. He was getting his music up there with Elvis Presley. Topping the charts. I was so proud of him to. Now it was time to go in.
We are heading in. Everyone is going to find their seats. Corey helps ups down to the front. We finally are sitting down. The curtains are closed on the stage. Happiness floods in me. Here it was time. I was going to see Ricky. At long last. This was really happening for me.
Wow!
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"You ladies want a drink or something to eat before the show starts?" offers Corey.
I shake my head. "None, for me thanks" I answer.
"Cola for me please" says Mary Ellen. "This is it" she tells me.
"I know" I say back to her.
"I can't wait to hear his music live" I tell her. "I want to buy his new record before we go and a button" I say. "maybe a poster"
"All of it?" she teases.
I blush. "Sure" I giggle.
Soon the lights flicker. Mary Ellen and I squeal with delight. She grabs my arm. Soon the lights dim. Corey makes his way back with the drinks for him and Mary Ellen. We all stand as the band began to play. Some band was playing before Ricky. Everyone claps and dances. I had heard this band before. But I did not remember them that well.
Then it was time for Ricky to play for us all. He comes out on the stage with his band behind him. Ready to play for us. Mary Ellen wolf whistles with her fingers between her lips. Nearly breaking my eardrums.
Then everyone is cheering now. Ricky opens with the song "You'll Never Know What Your Missing" from his new album. My heart is racing. He looks so fantastic. I could not take my eyes off him. He was electric on the stage. He had a way about him as he danced and played music for us all. Keeping rock a billy alive for us.
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"You'll never know what your missin till you try, you'll never know what your missin and that's no lie, so you better listen to what I say if you want to kiss her goodnight, go ahead and hold her close kiss her with all your might" he croons in the mic.
I listened to the lyrics. You'll never know what your missing? Was this about my sister perhaps? Was she the one who got away? Was she the one he was singing about?
Was she the one he was missing out there? Suddenly I feel a pair of eyes on me. He smiles and his lip curls up a little Elvis style. His blue eyes are shimmering with joy as he croons in the mic.
Suddenly a girl gets past the guards and climbs up on the stage. Startling us all. She flings her arms around Ricky. And we can hear her saying "I love you!" she is planting kisses on his cheek before the guards drag her off.
We all kind of laugh at that. Poor Ricky wow that was crazy. I notice someone flings a pair of panties on the stage right beside his feet.
Of course, he notices but moves away from him.
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"This concert is nuts" I whisper to Mary Ellen who was not paying attention to me.
Maybe she could not hear me over the loud music. After the concert ended, I was a little sad. I loved hearing him sing live. We went to the booth and bought posters for him to sign. I bought a new record of his as well. Then we made our way to the back of the stage with our passes. This was it. This was so exciting! Time to see Ricky.
Mary Ellen went back first. There were a ton of people in the dressing room. Surrounding Ricky. I figured there would be when we got in there. Smoke was in the place. Someone was smoking a cigar. One of Ricky's guards it looked like was smoking as he stood there. Happy chatter went through out the room.
"Wow, we are in his dressing room" Mary Ellen gushes.
"Willow?" I hear someone speak my name.
Ricky.
I glance up. Our eyes meet. Those electric blue eyes. His smile spread joyfully on his face. He makes his way to my side past the crowd. He yanks me in his embrace. He holds me close.
"I would know that face anywhere!" he exclaims. "Willow!" he laughs as he hugs me.
He smelled so good. I wrap my arms around him as he held me for a brief moment. Then we pull apart. "What are you doing here Willow? At a place like this?" he worries.
Treating me like a kid. AS though he were my brother. Somethings never change.
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I frown. "Ricky, my friend won tickets" I tell him. "Or should I say Eric?" I tease.
He laughs then shakes his head. "No one calls me that. I have not heard that in years" he laughs.
"You really know each other" whistles Corey.
"These are my best friends. "Mary Ellen and Corey" I introduce them to Ricky.
"Mary Ellen won the tickets?" he asks her.
"The one and only" jokes Mary Ellen to Ricky. "Pleasure to meet you"
"How are you doing these days Willow?" he asks me.
"Fine looks like you are doing really well these days" I tease.
"Want me to sign that for you?" he offers when he notices my items in my hands. He grabs a pen.
"That will be ten dollars an autograph and ten for photos with Ricky" warns someone suddenly stepping in.
"No charge. These are old family friends" Ricky tells the worker.
They back off.
There I had it. Family friend.
I knew where I stood huh??
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Ricky signs my record. I glance down at what he wrote. I groan. It read "Hey kid stay sweet. Eric Aka Ricky" I shake my head.
"I am not a kid" I say as I swat him on the arm.
"I am sorry I did not mean it like that. I always called you kid back then or kiddo" he boyishly remarks playfully.
He is blushing now.
"Sorry I am an adult" I mutter.
"You are making a scene" Mary Ellen warns me softly.
"I don't care" I warn her.
"Childish...." she hisses back.
I elbow her in the side to shut up.
"You look fantastic in that dress Willow" Ricky says paying me a compliment.
I am blushing now. "Thanks bro" I joke.
"Ricky some fans want to meet you" someone calls out. "You are needed"
"We should get together. Here is my number. Can I get yours?" asks Ricky. "I better get going. I am sorry"
"Oh sure" I agree as I jot down my phone number. I hand it to him. He hands me his.
"Thanks, great. I will be in touch" he promises me.
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Our eyes meet. He had crystal clear blue eyes. I loved those blue eyes. That smile. It was the same after all these years. He reaches over grasping my arm with his hand gently.
Our eyes still locked on one another. Then in a blink of an eye he surprised me. He leaned in stealing a kiss on my cheek. Soft lips pucker along my cheek bone and warmth floods in me. He smiles after causing butterflies to scatter inside of the pit of my stomach once more.
"See you soon I hope" Ricky says before he leaves. He looks back at me with a wink.
"That went well" Mary Ellen giggles.
"Can we leave now ladies? This smoke is getting to me. And the crowd" complains Corey.
"Sure, sure" I say softly.
I glance down. I had his phone number. He asked for mine. Wow what a great night after all. That went better than I had hoped. We all head out of there. Getting out of the crowd.
The butterflies were not settling down anytime soon. Ricky caused new emotions to jolt and awake in me. I could not wait to see what he had to say over the phone. What did he want from me? Me or my sister? Time would tell.
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- Writer
