Eddie was laughing so hard he couldn’t stand straight.  “OK”, he declared, “Caldonia is the winner!   No more contests tonight, folks.  Or we’ll all be dancing in the dark.”

    Eddie tried sweeping up the broken glass which took him a long time since he was still laughing so hard.  Everyone else was laughing too, except Caldonia.  As the dancers headed for the bar for drinks and snacks, Caldonia changed from being embarrassed to blaming Louie for the accident.  Louie tried to apologize, but he was laughing too much to sound sincere.

    “Caldonia”, he pleaded, “Big Eddie’s not mad so don’t worry about it.  Heck, he declared you the winner.  I think he got a kick out of it.  And I didn’t even get an honorable mention!  Listen, I’ll leave him 2 bits for the light bulbs and even buy you a drink.”

    Caldonia breathed, “OK, I’ll be back in a minute.”  When Caldonia left, Sid and Rita came over.  Rita was still giggling.  Sid slapped Louie on the back and said, “Well, you beat the pants off us, but I thought you were going to bring the house down, too!”

    Louie smiled, “It was hilarious, but Caldonia’s upset about it.  I mean it was an accident, but a pretty funny accident.  I hope she’ll still dance with me.  By the way Rita, where’s Doris tonight?  I’ve danced with every gal that comes here except her.  What’s her deal?”

    Rita finally stopped giggling and replied, “I don’t know Louie.  She’s never acted like this before.  She’s usually friendly and I know she loves to dance. 

March 2002:

A dog barked.  There was no other sound outside as three dozen coppers made their way up the hill to the throbbing house.  Inside, Big Eddie watched as Sid, Louie, Marko, and the other guys spun, dipped, and tossed the women all over the place.  The music was swinging and everyone was having a great time -- for now. 

Then, out of nowhere, the coppers rushed in, blowing their whistles.  Two of them grabbed Big Eddie, then found themselves slammed against the opposite wall.  Sid and Louie herded the women into a corner and took turns knocking down the coppers.  But there were too many of them.  Four coppers finally pinned down Eddie and handcuffed him.  Marko and a few others escaped thru a window.  The remaining coppers had Sid and Louie and everyone else cornered.  They finally surrendered.

The coppers handcuffed everyone in pairs and led them outside to the waiting paddywagons.  Louie found himself sitting inside the paddywagon next to Doris .  Handcuffed!  His head was pounding and his left ear was bleeding.  He wasn’t even aware of Doris trying to hold her scarf against his ear to stop the bleeding. 

“Louie, Louie, can you hear me?  Are you OK?” she pleaded, still shaking with fear.  She desperately needed to hear from the man who had just protected her.

As his breath normalized and he got used to the pounding in his head, Louie looked around and stared at Doris; “You okay, Doris?”

“Yes, but you’re not.  You’re bleeding all over the place.”  Doris was practically sobbing.

Louie put his hand at the center of the pounding and realized part of his ear was missing.  He took a deep breath and smiled just a little.  “We did pretty good against those coppers, didn’t we?”

“Louie, we’re going to jail!”  Doris was near hysterical now.

Louie leaned against Doris and took her free hand.  “Doris , you’re gonna be just fine.  We’ll be out of jail by morning.  Don’t you worry about a thing.  I’ll take care of you.”

Doris held tight to Louie’s hand and started to feel safe.

May 2002

    Louie was talking to all the guys, with Doris right at his side.  Rudy, the copper, was there, too.  Louie excitedly explained, "So I hit this copper - that copper being you Rudy - square in the chest.  He falls back against the wall, but comes back at me with his nightstick out.  Blam!  Right in the ear!  I nearly pass out! "

    "No, I hit you first, then you knocked me against the wall", interrupted Rudy.

    "Wait, wait, wait!" yelled Doris, "Its over, that's what matters.  Its all straightened out now, right Big Eddie?"

    "Yeah, they were looking for Minnie the Moocher and Marko.  If I knew about Marko I would have never let him in.  And if I ever see Minnie the Moocher, she'll wish the coppers got her first."  Big Eddie continued, "But we're all square now, right Rudy?"

    Rudy winked, "Yeah, we're hep to the jive, big cat.  We caught Marko the next day.  He's in the slammer for a while." 

    Caldonia came up and hugged Rudy from behind and said, "Are you guys going to brag all night or is Mr. Policeman here going to show me that cha cha thing?

June 2002

     It was blazing hot under the setting southern sun.  But inside it was even hotter.  Rudy spun Caldonia more times than she could count, Louie flipped Doris over his back, and Sid threw Rita way over his head.  Then, as if by mental telepathy, Rudy let go of Caldonia as she spun over to Louie, Louie stepped away from Doris and grabbed Caldonia, and Rudy caught Rita as she fell from the ceiling.  As Sid hooked onto Doris, all the women just screamed!  The guys could hardly keep dancing they were laughing so hard.  And Big Eddie was on the ground howling.  Yes, it was definitely hotter inside.

July 2002

    The wind howled, a dog barked, a knock at the door.  Big Eddie opened the door and there stood his long lost brother - Brooklyn John.  With his thick accent Brooklyn John said "How ya doing?"

    Big Eddie stared "How you doing?"    

    Brooklyn John repeated "No, how You doing?"

    Big Eddie insisted, "How YOU doing?"  Silence.  Finally Big Eddie said "I haven't seen you in ten years." 

    Brooklyn John flatly replied, "Overseas, the war".

    "The war was over years ago" Big Eddie answered.

    Brooklyn John stated "Right.  You got some food?"  After they both had dinner, Big Eddie invited Brooklyn John to stick around a few days.  He told him about the speakeasy and Brooklyn John thought it would be worth hanging around for.  Brooklyn John fit right in, even showing the group some new steps he picked up from overseas.  Rita and Doris really liked learning the new moves, but Louie was a bit irritated about it, or of him.  Caldonia just thought he was a show off, what she really wanted was for someone to throw her into the air.  Big Eddie was proud of his little brother, but knew he would be moving on soon.

October 2002 (story concept by John Cowin)

    Rita was trying to show Big Eddie her new swing move - the Indian rain dance.  It looked strange, this petite woman guiding a guy three times her size around in a tight circle.  Half the time you couldn't even see Rita, you just saw Big Eddie trying to kick in rhythm with the fast music.  Eddie was exasperated and finally said, "Rita, why don't I just throw you into the air a few times?" 

    Rita patiently said "It just takes practice, Eddie.  Lets try it one more time." 

    Just then the doorbell chimed.  "Saved by the bell", huffed Eddie, "Excuse me Rita, duty calls, thank goodness!"

    As he opened the door, he just stared for a second, really caught off guard, but in the next instant he had a plan.  Eddie stepped aside to let her in, facing everyone in the room and continually winking until he caught everyone's attention.  Loudly he announced, "Hey everyone, its Minnie the Moocher.  We haven't seen her in a while!"

    Sid stepped in front of Rudy, just to make sure he didn't jump the gun.  He knew what Eddie was up to.  They could do this right and have some fun doing it, too.  He then eased over to Minnie and asked her to dance.  Meanwhile, Eddie motioned to Rudy and Louie.  When they came over he quietly said, "Let Sid get her juices going, then you guys give her two drinks and she'll be singing like a bird."

    A few tunes later Sid walked Minnie off the floor, "Well Minnie, that was fun.  I'm glad you didn't get out of practice.  You remember Louie?  And this here guy is Rudy.  He ran an operation up north, if you know what I mean."

    Rudy handed her a drink.  "Pleased to meet you Minnie.  Tell me everything about yourself."  An hour later Rudy had heard enough to get her 15 years.  

    Finally he told her, "Minnie, there's only one thing you need to know about me.  I'm a cop.  And you're busted!"  As Minnie's hand left her thigh a revolver appeared in it.  But before it was level, Caldonia's foot nearly broke Minnie's hand, sending the gun into the corner.  Then Doris stepped in between them and belted Minnie so hard you could hear her jaw break.  Minnie just lay there, her dislocated jaw bleeding, her eyes wild with fright.

    Doris screamed at her "You got us all arrested and nearly closed the joint down.  If I see you again, I'll be the last thing you see - ever!" 

November 2002

    Louie came up to Big Eddie, vigorously shaking his hand.  Big Eddie remarked, "You're fashionably late tonight, bud.  Everything OK?" 

    "Oh yeah, I'm tops,"  smiled Louie, "Hey, did Backdoor Annie show up yet?  She's a petite blonde.  She just started working at our office and I told her about the joint.  She should be here by now."

    Eddie shook his head, "No one smaller here than Rita, but come on in."  As they entered the main dance area they both saw Sid spinning a petite blonde, who had a smile bigger than her face.

    "There's Annie" pointed Louie, "with Sid.  I guess she kinda got past you, big guy.  But don't feel bad, that's her specialty.  She's broken into homes, offices, safes, even a military installation.  But she's on the right side of the law now.  She does our security.  She's a little quirky, never uses a main doorway, always coming in the backdoor.  Backdoor Annie - that's the name the Feds gave her."

    Eddie had a troubled look on his face.  "I'm not sure I like this, Louie.  I like to keep track of what's going down."  

    The song ended, and Annie, sensing trouble, approached Eddie and Louie.  "Hi Louie!  You were right, this is a fun place.  And Mr. Mountain here must be Big Eddie."  She stuck out her hand and Eddie automatically grabbed it, hanging on while Annie briskly pumped it.  "How about a dance, Mr. Mountain?"

    Annie and Big Eddie were dancing up a storm when Eddie put Annie into the Indian Rain Dance.  Annie just started hootin' and hollerin'.  As the song faded, Eddie slid Annie down his leg to the floor.  Sid and Louie looked at each other, then back at Annie and Eddie.  They had never seen Eddie dance so well.

May 2003

    Eddie and Annie were sharing a piece of cake, Sid and Rita were sharing the dance floor with Caldonia and Rudy.  Rita kept glancing at the door.  Finally Sid said, "don't worry about Doris and Louie, they'll be here".

    At the same time, Eddie and Annie pointed out the window, "well look at that!"  A long black limo was slowly coming up the hill.  It rolled to a stop right in front of the speakeasy.  When the chauffer opened the door, two figures popped out.  It was so dark outside, the two figures were unrecognizable except for their radiant smiles.  Everyone was pressed up against the windows by the time Louie and Doris got to the door.  Doris bust in screaming, "Look at this!" with her hand extended, displaying a large gleaming object on her finger.  It was hard to tell which glowed more - her face or the big shiny ring.

January 2004

    Eddie decided to try something new, just to make sure the dancers didn't get bored.  So tonight was Latin night.  Rudy and Caldonia were perfecting their cha cha.  Annie, Sid, and Rita were on the side walking thru the rumba.  Rita really liked the rumba.  She said it made her feel tingly all over.  Doris and Louie actually dressed up in Latin style.  Louie was all black, with more grease in his hair than Sid's trucks.  Doris wore a tight fitting flowery dress with big puffy sleeves.  Her hair was pulled back, tight and smooth.  Doris brought along her neighbor, Ramona, who was from Chile.  Ramona was slender and sensual.  She wore a short colorful dress and spiked heels.

    A merengue started.  Ramona stood up, walked over to Rudy, and reached out her arm.  As Rudy stood up, Ramona pulled him to herself.  Every inch of the front of her body touched every inch of the front of his body.  Rudy was afraid to breathe.  He was afraid to not breathe.  Ramona started moving to the music.  Rudy also moved.  He was scared to death.  After a while, he looked into her eyes, trying to figure out what was going on.  He was surprised, nothing was going on.  The song seemed to go on forever.  After a while he figured this must be the way they dance in Chile.  Rudy had never been to Chile, not before tonight.

June 2005

    Louie and Doris had just exchanged vows and were floating back up the aisle.  Doris' long white flowing wedding dress gave the whole church a heavenly feeling.  Louie turned to Doris and again said, "I do!  I really do!"  Doris blushed even more and started giggling again. She giggled all the way to the reception at the speakeasy. 

    As the band started the first song, a slow wavey tune, Louie led Doris into the middle of the dance floor while everyone formed a circle around them.  As the tempo picked up, their slow dancing turned into an easy swing.  Then it picked up again.  Louie grabbed the back of Doris' dress, and as he spun her, she spun out of her wedding dress, leaving her wearing a short black and white skirt.  Things were heating up now.  Louie winked at the crowd, turned and released Doris and grabbed Caldonia.  Doris hooked onto Rudy.  The band wouldn't stop.  Then Louie exchanged Caldonia for Annie, and Doris switched to Big Eddie.  Caldonia was now swinging with Sid and Rudy was spinning Rita.  That first song lasted 20 minutes.  At the end, as everyone leaned against each other panting, with only enough strength left to smile, Sid managed to loudly declare, "to the bride and groom, may their dance never end!"