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| *CHAPTER ONE*
TARYN HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PHOTOGRAPHER. SINCE SHE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD, SHE DREAMED OF TAKING PICTURES OF BIG STARS. BY THE TIME SHE WAS TWELVE, SHE HAD HER OWN CAMERA, AND TOOK PICTURES FOR SCHOOL EVENTS. SHE WAS BORN IN A SMALL, COZY TOWN CALLED SPRINGFIELD, CALIFORNIA ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1946.TARYN HAD ONE YOUNGER SISTER, TAYLOR, WHO WAS THREE YEARS YOUNGER. THE TWO SISTERS SHARED A BIG ROOM, AND LIVED WITH THEIR PARENTS IN A RANCH-STYLE HOUSE ON A BIG 20-ACRE FIELD OF GRASS, FLOWERS, AND BUTTER FLIES. THE TWO GIRLS SHARED EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
TARYN HATED SCHOOL. THERE WASNT ONE SUBJECT SHE LIKED, OR WAS GOOD AT. THE BEST GRADE SHE EVER GOT WAS A B, AND THAT WAS JUST BY LUCK, IN SCIENCE. TARYN FELT THAT "SCOOL WAS A BORING WASTE OF TIME AND THE ONLY THING ITS USELFULL FOR WAS IF YOU WERE GOING TO BE A DOCTOR, LAWYER, OR TEACHER." EVERYONE ELSEMUSICIANS, MODELS, PHOTOPGRAPHERSSHE THOUGHT DIDNT NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL.
HIGH SCHOOL WAS EVEN WORSE! BY THE AGE OF 16 (JUST TWO MORE YEARS AND SHE WOULD HAVE GRADUATED) SHE DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AND BEGAN HER CAREER AS A PROFFESIONAL PHOTOPGRAPHER. TARYN STARTED OUT LOCALLY. HER PARENTS PAYED FOR A FULL TRIP TO LOS ANELES, SO SHE COULD GET STARTED THERE. WORK WAS GOOD, BUT SHE WAS JUST BARELY GETTING BY, SO MOVED BACK UP TO SPRINGFIELD. THEY NEXT SENT TARYN TO NEW YORK CITY... AND THATS WHERE HER CAREER OFFICIALLY STARTED.
SHE HAD A PHOTO SHOP ON FIFTH AVENUE AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 19, IN 1965. AT HER SHOP, SHE TOOK PICTURES, SOLD CAMERA EQUIPMENT, AND SOMETIMES GOT TO MEET MODELS. SHE MET TWIGGY ONCE! HER LIFE WAS CHANGED ON A COLD FALL DAY IN 65. SHE HAD HER RADIO PLAYING AND HEARD 'MY GENERATION' BY A SOMEWHAT NEW BAND CALLED THE WHO. TARYN HAD IT BLASTING FROM THE SPEAKERS, SHAKING HER BOOTY. SHED FROM THEN ON BE A MAJOR WHO FAN, FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE.
HER CAREER GREW BIGGER AND BETTER WITH BETTER PAY AND MORE STARS TO PHOTOGRAPH, AND BY 1968, WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 20, SHE WAS A WORLD FAMOUS PHOTOGRAPHER. SHE'D TAKEN PICTURES OF THE BEATLES, JIMI HENDRIX, THE DOORS, THE ROLLING STONES, THE MONKEES (WHO SHE DIDNT PARTICULARILY LIKE), AND MANY OTHER SIXTIES STARS. SHE BECAME REAL GOOD FRIENDS WITH JANIS JOPLIN. SHE HADN'T PROGRESSED TO THE WHO (HER FAVORITE BAND) UNTIL 1971. HERE'S WHERE HER STORY GETS EXCITING...
1971. TARYN MET HER SOUL MATE. SHE AWOKE ONE MORNING IN HER FLAT IN NEW YORK JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DAY. TARYN GOT UP, TOOK HER MORNING SHOWER, DRESSED, CAREFULLY APPLIED HER MAKEUP, ATE BREAKFAST, AND READ A PASSAGE FROM THE BIBLE. WHEN SHE SET DOWN HER BIBLE, AS IF MAGIC, THE PHONE RANG WITH WHAT WOULD CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER.
**RIIING!**
"HELLO?" SAID TARYN SOFTLY INTO THE PHONE. SHED LIVED IN NEW YORK FOR SO LONG, SHE HAD A REGULAR NEW YORK ACCENT.
"TARYN! THIS IS JIM. I HAVE THE BEST NEWS. YOURE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ME!" JIM WAS HER PARTNER. HE HELPED HER GET JOBS TO PHOTOGRAPH PEOPLE LIKE THE BEATLES. HE WAS ON THE OTHER END, HOLDING A PICTURE OF THE WHO, EXCITEDLY.
"WHAT?!? TELL ME!" TARYN GOT HYSTERICAL.
"GUESS WHO MISS TARYN LARSON IS GOING TO PHOTOGRAPH IN FOUR DAYS??" JIM SAID MYSTERIOUSLY. TARYN SCREACHED INTO THE PHONE "WHO?!?!"
"THE WHO!"
"NO WAY! AAAUGH!" TARYN JUMPED UP AND DOWN, AND HER HEART SKIPPED A BEAT. "ME?? OH MY GOD!" TARYN HAD THE BIGGEST CRUSH ON KEITH MOON, THE DRUMMER. SHE COULD NOT BELIEVE HER EARS.
"YES YOU. THEIR BUSINESS MANAGER HAS SEEN YOUR WORK AND LOVED IT. HE CALLED ME, AND I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM SO I AUTOMATICALLY GOT YOU THE JOB. ISNT THIS GREAT?!"
"OH MY GOD, JIM! THANK YOU SO MUCH! WHEN AND WHERE DO I HAVE TO BE?? OH MY, WHAT SHOULD I WEAR! WAIT TILL I TELL TAYLOR!"
TARYN AND TAYLOR WERE BOTH BIG WHO FANATICS. TAYLOR LIKED THE GUITARIST, PETE TOWNSHEND. TARYN CALMED HERSELF A LITTLE AND SAID, "CAN I BRING TAYLOR?? JIM, SHELL KILL ME IF I DONT LET HER COME!"
"I THINK THATD BE ALRIGHT. OKAY, YOU NEED TO BE AT SPEKE AIRPORT IN LONDON IN THREE DAYS. THEY HAVE IT ARRANGED: YOUR GOING TO BE PICKED UP BY ALL FOUR OF THE WHO IN THEIR VAN AND BE TAKEN TO THE HOTEL WHERE THEY ARE STAYING. I'M 'GUNNA LET YA' GO, SO CALL TAYLOR AND TELL HER TO BE THERE IN TWO DAYS, OKAY??"
"OKAY. MY GOD, I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!! THANKS A BUNCH! SEE YA' LATER. BYE!"
"BYE."
TARYN JUMPED UP AND DOWN LIKE A MANIAC AND RAN INTO HER ROOM. SHE KISSED THE GIANT POSTER SHE HAD POSTED ON HER WALL AND LEAPED ONTO HER BED. "KEITH MOON, I'M GOING TO MEET YOU FINALLY!" SHE SAID TO HERSELF. SHE SHOOK HERSELF OUT OF A DAY DREAM AND REACHED OVER TO THE PHONE NEXT TO HER BED, AND DIALED HER SISTER'S NUMBER.
"HELLO??" TAYLOR STILL HAD A CALIFORNIAN ACCENT.
"TAY-TAY!" TARYN SQUEALED. TAY-TAY WAS TAYLORS NICKNAME. "HEY, TARYN! HOW'S IT IN NEW YORK"
"GREAT! OH MY GOD,GUESS WHAT?? YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE THIS..."
"WHAT??"
"YOU HAVE TO COME TO NEW YORK. IN TWO DAYS, OR YOURE DREAM WILL NEVER COME TRUE."
"WHAT, WHY??"
"I GOT A JOB, AND I GET TO PHOTOGRAPH... THE WHO!!"
"OH MY GOD! WHEN?! WHERE?!"
"IN FOUR DAYS, SOMEWHERE IN THE ENGLISH COUNTRY SIDE. PACK YOUR BAGS AND GET YOUR LITTLE ASS OVER HERE IN TWO DAYS. JUST THINK... YOU WILL GET TO SOCIALIZE WITH PETE TOWNSHEND... AND ME WITH KEITH MOON!" TARYN SAID DREAMILY.
"OKAY, I AM PACKING MY BAGS, AND I'LL LEAVE IN TWO HOURS! I JUST HOPE I CAN GET A FLIGHT ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE..." TAYLORS VOICE TRAILED OFF.
"OH, I KNOW WHAT TO SAY. JUST SAY THAT YOU HAVE TO VISIT YOUR 100 YEAR OLD GRANDMOTHER BEFORE SHE DIES. IT WORKS EVERY TIME FOR ME. EVEN FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE FLIGHT IS READY TO TAKE OFF!"
"OH YOU!"
"WELL BYE! I'LL GET THE GUEST ROOM READY FOR YOU. I'LL TAKE YOU TO DINNER AND SHOPPING AT SAK'S FIFTH AVENUE. WE NEED TO CATCH UP ON SIX MONTHS OF NOT SEEING EACHOTHER."
"OOH, OKAY! YOU'RE A DOLL! BYE!"
THE TWO SISTERS HUNG UP AND TAYLOR LEFT FOR NEW YORK. WITH A SUIT CASE AND COAT IN ONE HAND, AND HER KITTEN IN THE OTHER, TAYLOR ARRIVED AT THE AIRPORT. THERE WAS A PLANE LEAVING IN A HALF AN HOUR, AND THERE WERE THREE EXTRA SEATS.
SIX HOURS LATER, TAYLOR WAS MOVED INTO TARYNS FLAT. TARYN SHOWED HER SISTER TO HER ROOM, AND HELPED TAYLOR UNPACK. TAYLORS KITTEN, ZIGGY, PLAYFULLY BATTED HER TINY PAWS AT THE FRINGE ON THE QUILT. TARYN AND TAYLOR BOTH KISSED ZIGGY GOODBYE, LEFT HER A LITTLE FOOD AND WATER, AND LEFT FOR DINNER AND SHOPPING.
"OH THIS RESTAURANT IS SIMPLY DEVINE!"
"OH I KNOW! JIM TAKES ME HERE SOMETIMES FOR COFFEE. HE'S A GOOD GUY, YA' KNOW. HES THE ONE WHO GOT ME THE JOB TO PHOTOGRAPH THE WHO."
"GOSH, I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE WERE GOING TO MEET THEM! I CAN'T WAIT!"
THE TWO GIRLS FINISHED THEIR FILET MIGNON AND WENT TO SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. THEY TALKED AND TALKED ABOUT ALL THE GOOD STUFF THAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEY SAW EACHOTHER SIX MONTHS EARLIER. TAYLOR GOT A LIME GREEN MINI SKIRT, ROYAL BLUE SHOES, AND A YELLOW PATENT LEATHER PURSE ALL TO MATCH. TARYN GOT A BLACK SLINKY DRESS, BLACK SLINGBACKS, AND A WHITE PEARL NECKLACE TO MATCH. AFTER A LONG THREE HOURS OF SHOPPING, THEY WENT HOME AND WENT TO SLEEP, HARDLY ABLE TO WAIT FOR WHAT LAY AHEAD THREE DAYS AWAY...
*CHAPTER TWO*
"TARYN! LOOK, THERE THEY ARE!" TAYLOR SHOOK HER SISTER'S ARM OBSESSIVELY, AND JUMPED. TARYN TURNED AWAY FROM THE MAGAZINE STAND, AND LOOKED TO WHERE HER SISTER WAS POINTING. SHE SAY EACH OF THE WHO GET OUT OF THE VAN, AND SIGHED.
"I CAN'T BELIEVE IT! I... ME... TARYN LARSON... IS GOING TO PHOTOGRAPH THE WHO FOR THEIR NEW ALBUM!" TARYN SET THE MAGAZINE DOWN, PICKED UP HER BAGS, AND MOTIONED FOR HER SISTER TO FOLLOW. TARYN MUMBLED "ACT NATURALLY" THOUGH SHE THOUGHT SHE MIGHT GO HYSTERICAL.
THEY GOT OUTSIDE, AND WAVED AT THE WHO. ROGER SAW TARYN, SMILED, AND POINTED AT HER, SAYING "FELLA'S, THEY ARE. LET'S PICK 'EM UP."
PETE, KEITH, ROGER, AND JOHN WALKED TOWARDS THE TWO GIRLS. KEITH WAS LAUGHING MADLY AT SOMETHING PETE HAD TOLD HIM ON THE WAY OVER. HE LOOKED UP AT TARYN AND STOPPED DEAD IN HIS TRACKS. HE NUDGED PETE AND SAID, "BLOODY HELL, SHE'S BEAUTIFUL!"
"KEITH... BEHAVE!" PETE JOKED. KEITH WOKE FROM HIS TRANCE AND KEPT ON WALKING. HE SAW TARYN SMILING AT HIM AND BLUSHED WILDLY.
"HI! YOUR THE PHOTOGRAPHER, WE ASSUME??" JOHN NODDED TO TARYN AND TAYLOR. TAYLOR, IN AWE, STARED UP AT PETE. HE LOOKED DOWN AT HER, SMILED, AND SAID HI.
TARYN WAS SPEECHLESS.
"TAYLOR! SAY HI. PETE SAID SOMETHING TO YOU." TARYN GLARED AT HER SISTER. TWO SECONDS LATER--TAYLOR FAINTED AND FELL FOREWARD. PETE COUGHT HER JUST IN TIME WOTH A LITTLE "WOO!"
"SORRY ABOUT MY SISTER, SHE'S JUST BEEN MADLY IN LOVE WITH YOU SINCE 1965!" TARYN LAUGHED. KEITH STARTED LAUGHING AGAIN AND SQUEALED "WOO HOO! PETE TOWNSHEND'S GOT 'IMSELF A BIRD!"
THEY ALL STARTED LAUGHING. TAYLOR CAME TO AFTER A FEW MINUTES, AND THEY LEFT FOR WHERE THEY WERE GOING.
THE GROUP CLIMBED INTO THE VAN, AND JOHN BEGAN DRIVING TO THE HOTEL. TARYN SAT IN THE MIDDLE ROW OF SEATS, IN BETWEEN KEITH (SIGH!) AND PETE. TAYLOR SAT IN THE LAST ROW, AND ROGER AND JOHN SAT UP FRONT.
"SO... HOW D'YA LIKE ENGLAND SO FAR??" ASKED KEITH, PUTTING HIS ARM AROUND TARYN. A TINGLE WENT UP HER SPINE AND SHE GIGGLED UNCONTROLABLY. WHEN SHE FINALLY CALMED HERSELF, SHE SAID "OH, I'S GREAT! I LOVE SEEING ALL THIS GREEN. IN NEW YORK, ALL WE HAVE ARE BUILDINGS, AND ONLY A COUPLE PARKS. GREEN IS RARE IN NYC!"
"PLAY ANY INSTRUMENTS??" WONDERED PETE.
"I CAN PLAY KEYBOARDS."
"OOH, COOL! HAVE YOU EVER TRIED GUITAR?? IT'S A FUN INSTRUMENT."
"YEAH, BUT MY FINGERS ARE VERY SENSITIVE! HEHEH!"
"AAAH, YOUR FINGERS GET USED TO IT IN NO TIME!"
"I SAY DRUMS ARE THE BEST!" KEITH LAUGHED.
"THAT'S 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE GREATEST DRUMMER IN THE WORLD!" TAYLOR SAID, FROM THE BACK SEAT.
"BASS IS PRETTY FUN..." JOHN SUGGESTED, CONCENTRATING ON HIS DRIVING.
"HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO CALIFORNIA??" ASKED TARYN.
"YEAH, A COUPLE TIMES. I LOVE THE SURF MUSIC!" KEITH ANSWERED. TARYN REMEMBERED WHEN SHE AND TAYLOR USED TO GO WITH HER DAD SURFING AND SAID "YEH, I LIKE THE BEACH BOYS TOO. MY DAD, TAYLOR, AND ME USED TO GO SURFING." KEITH THOUGHT THIS WAS SOOO COOL, SO THEY STRIKED UP A CONVERSATION.
***
"OKAY, YOU GUYS STAND AGAINST THE WALL, AND REACH UP, LIKE YOUR TRYING TO REACH THE TOP. 'KAY??" TARYN WAS TELLING THE WHO WHAT THEY SHOULD POSE LIKE. THEY DID AS THEY WERE TOLD AND TARYN SNAPPED THE PICTURE:
"OKAY, I JUST 'WANNA GET ONE MORE. DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!" TARYN SAID, AFTER TAKING THE PICTURE. WHEN SHE SAID 'DO WHATEVER YOU WANT', SHE HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO. THEY ALL STARTED LEAKING ON THE WALL!
"AHH... MUCH BETTER" SIGHED ROGER.
"WHAT THE?!?" TARYN SAID TO HERSELF. SHE TRIED TO GET A GLIMPSE OF KEITH, BUT THERE WAS NO SUCH LUCK. SHE SHRUGGED AND TOOK A PICTURE OF THEM WALKING AWAY FROM THE WALL, ZIPPING THEIR TROUSERS.
"SO..." KEITH STARTED, TRYING TO MAKE CONVERSATION. HE COULDN'T THINK OF ANYTHING TO SAY (STUNNED BY TARYN'S BEAUTY) SO NEVER FINISHED.
"WELL I'M READY TO GO. I THINK WE HAVE A GOOD VARIETY OF PICTURES-" (TARYN TOOK 15) "-GUYS??" SAID JOHN, LOOKING AT HIS BANDMATES.
"SURE. I'M ALMOST OUT OF FILM ANYWAY! THERE'S ONLY ONE LEFT!"
"C'MON THEN, LET'S GO BACK TO THE HOTEL."
THEY PILED BACK INTO THE VAN AND DROVE TO THE HOTEL. TARYN WAS IN THE BACK THIS TIME, SINCE A ROADIE CAME ALONG. WHEN THEY WERE ON THE HIGHWAY (GOING 65 MILES AN HOUR, MIND YOU!) KEITH THREW OFF HIS SEATBELT AND DOVE INTO THE BACK SEAT WITH TARYN.
"WOAH!! AUGGH!" KEITH FLEW THROUGH THE AIR AND LANDED SAFELY NEXT TO TARYN.
"OH MY, ARE YOU OKAY??" TARYN GOT ALL WORRIED. HE LOOKED HIMSELF OVER, FINDING NO SOARS, AND SAID "ME HURT?? KEITH MOON NEVER GETS HURT!" TARYN THREW BACK HER HEAD AND LAUGHED.
"SO, UHH... YOU... ERM... MARRIED??" KEITH ASKED HOPEFULLY. TARYN'S HEART SKIPPED A FEW BEATS AND SHE THOUGHT IN HER HEAD *OH MY GOD! HE'S GOING TO ASK ME ON A DATE!*
"NO, I'M SINGLE."
"WOOOO HOOOO!" CAME FROM THE FRONT SEATS. KEITH GOT ALL EMBARASSED. TARYN GIGGLED SHYLY.
"OKAY. UM-" KEITH WAS TRYING DESPERATLEY TO ASK TARYN FOR A DATE "-YOU WANNA GO SOMEWHE-"
"I'D LOVE TO!" TARYN THREW HER ARMS AROUND HIS NECK.
MORE "WOO HOO" CAME FROM THE FRONT SEAT. KEITH TOLD HER HE'D PICK HER UP THE NEXT DAY, AND THEY'D GO OUT FOR DINNER AND MAYBE TAKE A WALK SOMEWHERE. TARYN'S DREAM WAS FINALLY BEGINNING TO COME TRUE!
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*CHAPTER THREE*
*KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!*
KEITH WAS PICKING TARYN UP FOR THEIR DATE. HE WOULD TAKE HER TO THE FANCIEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN. KEITH HEARD TARYN'S FOOTSTEPS AND QUICKLY HID BEHIND A PLANT IN THE HOTEL'S HALL WAY.
TARYN OPENED THE DOOR TO FIND NO ONE THERE. SHE LOOKED AROUND HOPEFULLY AND SAW NO ONE. JUST AS SHE WAS GETTING READY TO SHUT THE DOOR, KEITH LEPT OUT FROM HIS HIDING PLACE AND SCREACHED LIKE A BANSHEE.
"OH MY GOD!" TARYN JUMPED A MILE BECAUSE SHE WAS SO SCARED. "KEITH!"
"YUP, THAT'S ME!" KEITH PURRED. "C'MON, THE BUS IS WAITING!"
"THE BUS??"
"THE MAGIC BUS!" KEITH LAUGHED. "NO, I'M JUST PULLIN' YA LEG. I RENTED US A LIMO."
"A LIMO!!!"
"YUP, NOW C'MON!" KEITH PLAYFULLY TUGGED TARYN'S ARM AND THEY LEFT.
THEY CAUSED QUITE A BIG FUSS IN THE LOBBY. KEITH HOISTED TARYN ONTO HIS LAP AND THEY SLID DOWN THE HAND RAIL ON THE STAIRS AND FELL INTO A HEAP ONCE THEY WENT OFF THE BOTTOM.
OLD WOMEN AND SNOBBY RICH MEN GAVE THEM EVIL GLANCES. (BUT WHAT DID KEITH DO?? BEING KEITH MOON, HE CROSSED HIS EYES, STUCK OUT HIS TOUNGE, AND FLIPPED THEM OFF!) TARYN JUST LAUGHED HER HEAD OFF.
"YOUNG MAN, WHAT IN GOD'S NAME DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!" ASKED A SNOOTY HOTEL MANAGER.
TARYN SPOKE UP, "JUST HAVING FUN! BUT IN A HOTEL LIKE THIS, I BET WE JUST HAVE TO BE BORING, EH?? C'MON KEITH, LET'S GO TO DINNER!"
THEY GOT UP FROM THEIR PILE ON THE FLOOR AND WALKED OUT.
"WHAT A LOSER HE WAS!" TARYN SIGHED.
"YEH..."
THE TWO HAPPY KIDS (WELL, NOT KIDS! THEY WERE 25) GOT INTO THE LIMO AND RODE TO MARTINELLI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT. (THE FANCIEST RESTAURANT IN TOWN!)
"KEITH..."
"YEH??"
"HOW DID YOU KNOW MY FAVORITE FOOD IS ITALIAN!!"
"OOOOHHH, I JUST HEARD IT FROM SOMEONE NAMED TAYLOR."
"GETTING MY PERSONAL INFO, EH??" TARYN GIGGLED.
"YEAH! EXCACTLY WHAT I'M DOIN!" KEITH LAUGHED.
***IN THE RESTAURANT***
"YES, CAN I HELP YOU??"
"I THINK SO!"
"NAME??"
"MOON, FOR TWO. IN THE ROMANTIC PART OF THE RESTAURANT!"
TARYN SIGHED. SINCE SHE WAS 19, SHE'D DREAMED THAT SHE WOULD BE ON A DATE WITH KEITH MOON, AND NOW HER DREAM WAS COMING TRUE!
THEY SAT DOWN TO DINNER AND ORDERED A BIG PLATE (TO SHARE) OF SPAGHETTI, BREAD STICKS, AND CHAMPAGNE.
"KEITH, THIS PLACE IS BEAUTIFUL!"
"A BEATIFUL RESTAURANT FOR A BEAUTIFUL GIRL." KEITH WAS TRYING TO BE ALL ROMANTIC. (HE'D SECRETLY FOLLOWED PETE ON A DATE AND WATCHED HIM SMOOTH TALK HIS LADY)
"ME!! AGH, I'M NOT BEAUTIFUL! I'M A FRECKEL FACED KID FROM A RANCH IN CALIFORNIA!"
"NAW! YOU HAVE THOSE BIG BLUE EYES..." KEITH SOOTHED.
A WAITER IN A BLACK TUXEDO CAME AND GAVE THEM THEIR MEAL. KEITH WHISPERED TO THE MAN, "CAN YOU PLAY 'SOMETHING' BY THE BEATLES??"
"YES, SIR." HE WHISPERED BACK. KEITH ADDED, "AND IT'S FOR TARYN, THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD."
THE MAN WALKED AWAY AND FOUND THE '45 OF "SOMETHING."
"WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM??" TARYN ASKED, HER MOUTH FULL OF SPAGHETTI. KEITH SLURPED HIS UP AND REPLIED, "OOOH... NOTHING!"
"YES YOU DI--" TARYN WAS CUT OFF BY A LOUD VOICE SAYING "AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE'RE GOING TO PLAY A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR TARYN: THE PRETTIEST GIRL IN THE WORLD. TARYN, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU!"
THE MUSIC BEGAN:
'SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE MOVES ACTRACTS ME LIKE NO OTHER LOVER. SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE WOOS ME... I DON'T WANNA LEAVE HER NOW. YOU KNOW I BELIEVER HER NOW. YOUR ASKING ME WILLL MY LOVE GORW?? I DON'T KNOW, I DON'T KNOW...'
"OH MY GOD, KEITH!" TARYN SIGHED. THEN KEITH DID SOMETHING VERY FUNNY, YET SOMETHING YOU WOULDN'T DO IN A RESTAURANT. HE TOOK THE SPAGHETTI FROM HIS PLATE, PILED IT ON HIS HEAD, WENT DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND BEGAN SINGING ALONG.
EVERYONE IN EAR SHOT WAS STARING AT HIM, SHOCKED. TARYN BURST OUT INTO A FIT OF HYSTERICAL LAUGHTER. KEITH STROCKED HER LEG WITH A 'GRRRRRRRRR!' AND WHEN THE SONG FINISHED, EVERYONE STARTED CLAPPING FOR HIM.
"HOW D'YA LIKE THAT!" KEITH SAID, AS-A-MATTER-OF-FACTLY.
"BEAUTIFUL. AHAHAHA!" TARYN LAUGHED.
"YES, I KNOW!" HE SAID SARCASTICALLY. "HEY! LET'S GO TO THE BAR! I FEEL LIKE A BEER!"
"OKAY! I COULD GO FOR A MANHATTAN RIGHT ABOUT NOW."
THEY LOCKED ARMS AND SKIPPED OUT OF THE HOTEL LIKE TWO LITTLE KIDS. WHEN THEY GOT TO THE BAR (THERE WAS ALSO DANCING) THEY ORDERED TWO MANHATTANS AND STARTED DANCING.
"AAAGH, THIS IS A CRAPPY SONG!" KEITH SAID DRUNKENLY TO TARYN. HE THREW HIS BOTTLE OF BEER AT THE SPEAKERS AND LIFTED TARYN UP.
"EY... WASH WHA YOUR DOIN... I'M GUNNA GO-BEEEELLLCCCCHHH!-REQUEST A GOOD SONG. JUST SOON'S I FINISH THIS HERE DRINK" TARYN SLURRED. THEY WERE BOTH DRUNK OFF THEIR MINDS. KEITH FOLLOWED HER (HE WASN'T AS DRUNK AS SHE WAS) TO THE D.J. AND THEY REQUESTED A SONG FROM BEETHOVEN. (SEE, I TOLD YOU THEY WERE DRUNK! NEITHER ONE LIKED BEETHOVEN!) THE D.J. SAID NO, SO THEY THREW AN ABANDONED BEER BOTTLE AT HIM AND WALKED OUT.
"MMMM... WHADDYA SAY WE GO BACK TO YER' HOTEL PLACE AND PARTY??" KEITH SUGGESTED.
"GOOD IDEA. LET'S GO."
THEY TOLD THE LIMO DRIVER TO TAKE THEM BACK TO THE HOTEL. THEY MADE ANOTHER BIG FUSS AS THEY CAME BACK INTO THE HOTEL, DRUNK. TARYN TRIPPED OVER NOTHING, AND WHEN KEITH BENT OVER TO HELP HER UP, HE THREW UP (NOT ON TARYN!) AND THEY RAN OFF, STUMBLING UP THE STAIRS. BY THE END OF THE NIGHT, TARYN WOULD BE PREGNANT WITH KEITH'S CHILD.
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