Melanie
After knowing Red Young for many years and working with him during the Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle and His Orchestra world tour, I started mixing shows for Red's band. We would travel to do one show somewhere and return home, which made it perfect for daddy time with my kid.
I recorded a record with Red & the Red Hots in Dallas that winter.
https://www.discogs.com/Red-The-Red-Hots-Red-The-Red-Hots/release/11266723
In December 1985, I recorded Peter Case with T-Bone Burnett at Eagle Audio.
This is about my second wife; no, we never made it to the ring & words. Close, but no turkey. If you indulge me, let's read & listen as I walk up to her front door. When she opens that door, the world will turn magical.
Preamble: Melanie had never met a black person before schooling at TCU. Not to be rude, but I find the next bit hard to believe: She had never heard the word "p**sy” before, no kidding. Melanie had never had Mexican food!
Melanie went to one of her TCU girlfriend's houses that lived in Fort Worth, and when her friend's father served "grits," Melanie not only had never tasted grits but had never heard of grits. The girl's father called Melanie's father and said something like, "What do you mean raising a girl to college age without offering her grits?" Go figure.
Perfect: A Courtship by a Texas Gentleman:
So let's see… it's December 1985, and I have been recording with T-Bone at Eagle Audio in Fort Worth. I have a Star-Telegram tag about it. I'll scan that sometime.
I think T-Bone booked two shows as a solo act, for he also had his own record out that year. He asked me if I would mix him at the Caravan of Dreams. Sure I would. The house sound guy did not do such an excellent job on night one.
T-Bone & I had been working long hours in the studio daily, and a live show would be fun. So a little before the show, I am looking down at the mixing board getting prepped for the show, and the waitress asks if I would like something to drink.
I looked up. Lighting strikes!
As soon as I see this woman's face. And honestly, in under one-second involuntary words are spewing from my mouth:
"You'll do just fine."
"Excuse Me?" She said.
"Oh, sorry!" as I put my hand over my mouth.
"What did you say, sir?"
"Ah… Well, ah… I said you will do just fine for my next girlfriend."
"You're awfully rude!" She exclaimed.
She turned, put her nose in the air, and with that, she was gone. As she heads to the bar, I cup my hands and yell to her: "It's only the truth!"
I did not want to get caught looking during the show. I did steal a glance or two, but I was there to mix T-Bone, so I kept my eyes front & center on both the stage and the mixing console. Thirty minutes into the set, I am getting thirsty, so when she passes the mixing board, I cup my hands and yell to her: "Sure would like a Dr. Pepper Miss!" I watch her walk away toward the bar.
Ten minutes later, it looks like my refreshing DP is on the tray and on the way. I look down at the console and stay that way. She presents my drink. I take it with only a glance at the plastic DP, not at her. I offer up a twenty and hold my left hand up & open, letting her know no change was needed or asked.
I did not look at her again until after the show. I returned to the dressing room to see how T-Bone was and returned to the stage to pack our gear. Then I had the chance to have one long stare, for she was talking to the bartender. I know that stance. This chick is a dancer. She's a fucking ballet dancer.
As we began to roll up mic cables and put things away, I asked the house sound guy who's that waitress? Oh, that's Melanie; she's some ballerina who is dancing upstairs in the theater on New Year's Eve.
No shit. My big hope went to some hope, then went to no hope. Shit. No chance. I continued working. When I returned to the stage from the backstage mic locker, I paused and leaned to the door frame. Wow, what a babe.
Too bad… Oh well…
Then… I notice Melanie is cleaning the table that's right in front of the stage, which is ALREADY CLEAN!
Are you fucking kidding me? ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!
I roll into the backstage area and ask the sound guy if he knows when the ballet starts on New Years' Eve? 8 pm, Bob. Are you sure? It's on the playbills in the front lobby. No way I'm walking back out there…
What's cooler than being cool?
ICE COLD.
I asked the sound guy if he would mind finishing up. With that, I'm out the backstage door into the night.
The next day I wake a bit early and head back downtown. I found the florist nearest the Caravan, parked, and went in. I spent a long time, a very long time looking for the correct roses for Melanie. I never knew anyone named Melanie before. Imagine that.
With help from the lady florist, I picked flowers. With an extra Ben Franklin, I explained that the $100 was for the flowers to be delivered no earlier than 7:30 pm and no later than 7:45 pm on New Years' Eve to the dressing room of Melanie at the Caravan of Dreams.
Now I wait. It's weeks until New Year's Eve. So… I wait. I wait, and I wait. I know I am already booked on New Year because ALL BANDS PLAY ON NEW YEAR'S EVE. That December, I had also been doing a record and mixing a lot of shows with Fort Worth's own Red Young and his 40's band "Red and the Red Hots." We were booked to play at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis.
Once at the Peabody Hotel, we will play during the midnight hour; therefore, I call the Caravan on the break before the midnight set. I hope the ballet is over and miss ballerina is enjoying an after-show drink at the bar. I know, folks… It's a real, really long shot. What else could I do?
Time to melt…
"Hello? Caravan bar!"
"Do you know if Melanie is at the bar right now?"
"She is"
Oh shit… Ah… "Would you please tell her she has a phone call?
"Hello?"
"Did you get your flowers before the ballet?"
"I did. I wondered, then suspected that they might be from you."
"My name is Bobby Hickey. I hope you had a great show."
"I did, and those flowers helped my dance. Thank you."
"I want to let you know that I had every wish to kiss you at midnight tonight, but I'm afraid that is not possible. So I wanted to know if I could get a rain check on that kiss?"
"Your different, I'll give you that."
"I know that. Well, I have to go to mix a show now. I'm out of town and on show break. That's why I called you for a rain check."
"Where are you? If you don't mind me asking."
"I am somewhere where the main attraction paddles in the lobby."
"Oh My god! OH MY GOD! You're at the Peabody! You're at the Peabody!"
"Yes, I am. Heard of that, have you?"
"Haha! Heard of it? My parents live right behind the Peabody. I grew up there. Right there!"
"I could stop by your home about 3 am and ask your parents if they mind if I could maybe, just maybe, give their beautiful daughter a kiss for New Year's Eve."
Cold silence on the phone line.
"Sorry, that was to be a joke. Melanie, how about this? How about you go on a date with me once I return?"
"No sir, Thank you."
"Never hurts to try. I've thought a lot about you. In fact, you are all I think about all the time. It was great to finally speak with you, and I wish you a happy New Year's Eve. Goodbye"
"Hey!"
"Yea?"
"Is it Bobby?"
"Yes, it is."
"What you could do, if you want to, I'm off for a few days, but then I'll be back waitressing at the Caravan. We all go to Denny's after work."
I interrupt: "Denny's? Denny's! Which Denny's?"
"The one on that big street, what's it called?"
“Hulen… Denny’s on Hulen?”
"That's it."
"Melanie? In that case, I will see you there after bar hours in three days. Okay?"
"Okay."
"Happy New Year's"
"Happy New Year's"
Wow. Ha! Wow! Dang! Ever seen a grown man dancing down the halls of a hotel? Yes, folks, the people thought I was raving drunk. I was raving drunk in love at first sight. In one split second. Love! Falling in love with a girl! What's better than that? Nothing! That's what!
I arrive at Denny's and find the Caravan group already engaged in ordering and loud with after-bar talk. Melanie had invited her ballet teacher, who sat next to her, holding a stern look my way. After introductions, he quickly tried the tasty question: "So you're a sound man at the club?" I replied, "Only for one night in December" He snorted: "Then you don't have a permanent job?" I tell him: "That's right, sir." I flatly add: "In fact, I live at my mother's house too." He gives Melanie the: I told you, so look.
That did not sway me, and I wanted to stand on only my feet without blurting out stuff about just getting back four weeks ago from touring the world all year with Mr. James Taylor. I engaged the conversation with the others, always returning my eyes to hers but looking at others so she could look. I needed to add to the conversion, not dominate the conversion or sit silent. Mr. Ballet teacher tried to embarrass Melanie a few times, but I only looked at her, showing I didn't even hear him.
As people are standing, stretching, and paying, I ask: "Well, you going to go on a date with me?" She is slowly shaking her head from side to side, no. Sinking each side of my mouth into a slight frown and pouch my bottom lip. A small smile appears on her beautiful face, and she says: "Not yet."
"There's a possible yet? Yea? That might lead to a future, yes? So… maybe it is possible then." She raises her eyebrows, nods, and quietly says: "Maybe."
"Like ah… see you here tomorrow for more tests? Same time? Same dumpy Dennys?" She nods, and now I see her genuinely smile for the first time.
"See you tomorrow Melanie."
"See you tomorrow Bobby."
With a polite handshake, I'm gone.
Ever seen a grown man dance in the back parking lot of a Denny's?
Again I return to Denny's. This time I seat Melanie just like a proper Texas gentleman does. I sit next to Melanie and not across the table. I talk it up for a bit with the Caravan crowd, but soon, their conversation fades to the back of the mix in a sea of echoes.
My eyes lock on her. Only her, the rest of the world, dissolves. The video clip below is so: "Denny's Night Two" I get teary-eyed every time I see "us" in the clip. And the very first time I saw the series, I knew it was "us."
The night's end is filled with hopeful expectations of a "yes" to the question we both know I will be asking. Before I finish the words, she is nodding a smile that I can see right now. She gave me her number and told me to call her tomorrow, and we could talk then.
Oh my God! Thank you so much!
When I called, I explained that I had an ex-wife and a kid, plus a girlfriend in Florida and that if any of that was a problem, not much I could do about it now except break up with my girlfriend. I told her to think it over, but she made no deal of it. However, she asked me to clearly say "divorced" three times, then gave me a time and an address for our date. I was so excited that I didn't really notice the address she provided.
Looking at my seven-year-old BMW in the driveway, I drove to Charlie Hillard's on University. I had seen the new Mazda 1986 RX7 Rotary driving on University drive the night I returned from the last leg of our '85 tours. I told the salesman that I'd like to buy the black one in the showroom. We haggled on price for a minute. No time to delay over a few bucks. This one was Melanie's car.
Being past bank hours, we agreed to finish the deal tomorrow and shook hands. Melanie is gonna look great in black. The next day I got a trade-in price for my tan 1977 320i, signed a note with Ford Motor Credit, started up my new sports car, and went home to get ready for the big date.
Like Dorthy said: "If I can't find happiness in my own backyard, then I guess it was never there"…something like that.
Heading to the address she had given me over the phone, I turned left the street before the little store over the bridge on Hulen. I was told to go until you couldn't go anymore. She said the road will be a "T," and the apt is right across the street, a few doors to the left. Driving down the street, I realized I was heading to the road I once lived on. Not only that but the identical apartments I lived in. Not only that again, but her apartment was one door to the right of my old place. The two front doors shared the same front porch and awning!
Oh man, she lives a few feet on the other side of the wall where Tammy & I made love? The other side of the wall where Stacy & I made love? This is a few feet on the other side of the wall from where Darla and I created life?
Who's pulling the puppet strings around here? Is this spot like the crosshairs of my heart or something? What's going on?
I fly up the stairs. The same eight stairs I have climbed a thousand times. My heart flutters as I reach out.
Ding Dong.
Once the apartment door opens, Melanie looks as beautiful as the first moment I saw her. I have the advantage of knowing all about this domain. I meet her ballet teacher again with his wife and realize this is not her apartment but theirs. Still, hiding, eh?
I gently drop a few nuggets during conversion, like too bad the air conditioner can't keep up with the afternoon sun coming thru the floor-to-ceiling tinted window facing west. I exclaim that model of the dishwasher is way too loud. Too bad the trash container is so far away etc.
When leaving the residence, I fly down the stairs eight stairs. I wait for her to complete the levels and tell her that I just bought this black sports car to match her hair and eyes. As I open her car door, I add that I know how beautiful she will look in this ride.
On closing the driver's side door and looking over at her, I can tell she looks pissed off.
"Don't like sports cars?" I ask.
Melanie lets me have it with both barrels: "Nice shine from the car wash and all, but don't you start this off by lying to me about stuff! I won't put up with it. Not for one second!"
I put one finger over my closed mouth and softly say: "Shhhh." When she finally quieted down, I turned my index finger from my lips to point at the odometer. Melanie turns her head and sees the mileage is 66.6 miles.
She relaxed a little and then asked: "What's that smell? Is that mara-you-know-what?"
"Yes, ma'am, sure is, and if you have a problem with that, I can walk you the needed steps right back to the door."
"Are you okay to drive? We won't wreck?"
"I'm okay, and we're not going to crash; besides you, this car is my new baby. I'm sorry about that, I was so nervous. I've been waiting for this date with you for a long time. I needed to calm down a little."
"Well, okay then, you're sure?"
I nod: "Yes, your protection, well-being, and happiness is my main goal." I add: "Anywhere you want to go."
She replies: "You choose."
"I know a little place right down the street on Camp Bowie, then down some stairs where we can get Italian while the waitresses sing. Okay, with you?"
We head to the Italian Inn, which, back in those days, was still pretty good. I admit I have not been there in well over thirty years. Naturally, we got a booth with swinging doors and a candle on the top of a fiasco with wax melting down the side. We begin by having wine, an appetizer, and a good conversation.
Having wanted to kiss this girl since the first moment I saw her, I asked her if she had seen Woody Allen's "Annie Hall?" There was no reply from Melanie. I explained that in the movie, on Woody's first date with Annie, he suggests that since there will be all that build-up about the first kiss heading up to the door at the end of the night, we should just kiss now.
There is no reply, and Melanie looks through me and, kinda surprised also. Oh no, I've blown it by moving too fast. Shit!
With a tinge of glassy eyes, she says: "If I ask you something? Will you swear to tell the truth? Oh, if you are, I guess you won't."
"What?"
She said, "When I was younger, the Sunday School teacher said: I was going to Hell. I told him I was just a little girl who loved to dance and collect dolls, which wouldn't send me to Hell! Then I walked out of the church and never went back! So, are you?"
"Am I what?"
Now, with real watery eyes, she says: "Are you the Devil, Bobby?"
"What did you say?"
"You heard me. Are you?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because of everything! You show up and are so cocky, telling me I'll do just fine as your next girlfriend." She continues: "Then you offer the best tip of the night, never look at me again, and disappear for weeks!
Then the flowers, oh the flowers! The flowers are there right before I leave the dressing room! I guess you were in the audience? Just watching your property, I imagine. Did you fly by my parents' house on your way to the Peabody Hotel for the call?"
"I ha..."
She stops me: "Dennys! You are such a gentleman, but you always looked at me with those eyes. Those eyes of yours! And then the apartment ( she says that word like she's from New York), you know all about the place and have never even been there. Then the car! Oh, the car! Brand new and black? With 666 on the mileage? Do you know how scared I am right now?"
I plead: "The mileage was 66.6, and that's a different number."
"No, it's not! Then, the juju smoke! Now at our first dinner, you're reading my mind!"
"What?"
"You were just talking, and I don't even know what you were saying. I was just wondering at that very moment, how in the world am I going to kiss this guy?
Then you say, "We should just kiss now," as I'm wondering the same thing. You are reading my mind! Again are you the Devil?"
"In your universe, I may, in fact, be the actual Devil, but Melanie, from my eyes and my universe, I'm just an average guy, built just like the rest of them. Who has a big crush on you."
"You swear?"
"I swear, Melanie."
"Really?"
"Really"
Slowly: "Okay, then."
I end with: "Now that's behind us, how about that kiss? The one I've worked so long and hard for?"
Without an answer, we both stand and lean over the dinner table for a long wonderful kiss.
We split apart, and she says: "You are too the devil Bobby Hickey!"
I offer: "More wine Ma'am?" and we both laugh.
