Monday, May 2, 2011

Hep Me! Hep Me! Hep !

You could hear the jaws slapping the ground when the gold and black clad Omaha Drum and Dance Corp strutted, marched and danced up Pennsylvania Avenue that Neewollah afternoon. Eyes popped, bulged and rolled when the scantily young ladies slow rolled it, popped that thang and shook what their mama gave them while the Omaha Drum Corp provided a syncopated drumbeat funkier thank a sack of gym socks.
Everyone just looked. There was no applause, just silence. Then the crown let go in one prolonged gang of applause and shouts. The team was unexpected and in a majority white town who would book such a group? It didn’t take long to find out who booked the group—Jim Halsey. Jim was the local boy done good. He was a true star and worked with stars regularly. In fact, that year he had Roy Clarke and Glen Campbell performing in our little funky ass town. For those too young to remember, both performers were million sellers and had their own television shows.
They danced in precision as well as the drummers who did not miss a beat, danced along with the girls. We followed them the length of the parade route and were lad we did, because when the routine finally ended, they came right into the crowd where all the young folks in Independence were waiting. There they were all colors from creamy coffee and honey brown to sweet Hershey’s and black coffee. I don’t recall ever seeing as many pretty girls in one place.
The girls evidently found some of the drummers attractive, but we didn’t care. These girls were pretty, friendly and available—that is until we found out they had a chaperone. Shit! They would be there until Sunday. Nevertheless, we stayed until they had to leave and even went to a party at the Shelter House Saturday night. We still managed a little slow grind and short kisses, but getting out the doors was like trying to leave Fort Knox with a pocket of gold.
Well, it finally ended and everyone said their goodbyes and promised to write. At least we still had the memories of the action. If they had been playing football, the ref would have had to through a flag for backfield in motion.

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