the radio. You may have seen her on the Dolly Parton special last month.”
Let’s get on with it, Dave thought.
“Our own Boleta Bay songbird, Funland’s Banjo Queen, Miss Robin Travis!”
The audience went wild. Joan’s shoulder pressed against Dave. Her breath tickled his ear as she said, “Nate sure laid it on pretty thick.”
“What do you expect?”
The crowd roared as brilliant lights hit the stage. Robin stood motionless in front of her band, smiling.
She wore an outfit that Dave hadn’t seen before: a buckskin jacket with fringe swaying in the breeze, a shiny white blouse, and a short leather skirt that left her slim legs bare to the tops of her white boots.
She glanced back at her band. Drums began to pound through the noise of the cheering crowd. Robin faced forward. Her right boot tapped the stage in time with the drum. With the first notes of her banjo, a hush descended on the audience. A quick, twangy tune filled the night. A roar came up again as those in the stands recognized the intro to “Gypsy Girl.”
I am the gypsy banjo girl.
I’ve wandered far and near.
I am the gypsy banjo girl
With a song for you to hear.
It’s a mountain song,
It’s a desert song,
It’s a song of the windblown sea.
It’s a prairie song
And a woodland song—
It belongs to you and me.
Kerry bounced on Dave’s lap, and he heard her soft voice as she sang along. Joan leaned against him and slipped a warm arm around his back.
“My next number is very special to me,” Robin announced midway through the show. “I sang it for a fellow named Nate the night we met. He must’ve liked it, ’cause he married me. So this one’s for you, Nate, and for another special friend, Kerry Carson, the daughter of my two favorite cops.”
Then she began to sing:
Kelly and Kerry went off one day
For the Land of Purr where the kitty-cats play.
They packed their pockets with nacho chips,
Bubble gum, jelly, and chocolate lips…
Kerry twisted around on Dave’s lap. “It’s me!” she blurted. “I’m in it!”
After Robin’s final song and the standing ovation, she played and sang three encore numbers. Then the stage went dark. Seconds later, when the amphitheater lights came on, she and the band were gone.
Dave, Kerry, and Joan waited. When the crowd had diminished, Joan folded the old brown blanket she’d used to cover the bleacher seats. Dave took hold of Kerry’s hand, and they started down.
Debbie and Steve met them just outside the amphitheater’s entrance. The rides and attractions had already closed for the night. The bright carnival lights were dark, but lamps near the boardwalk railing still glowed to illuminate the way for the departing concertgoers. Funland seemed strangely quiet.
“You going to let me have your autograph?” Debbie asked Kerry.
“Huh?”
“Well, you’re a big celebrity now, you know.”
“Both of you,” Joan said.
“God, don’t remind me. I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. I wanted to curl up and die when he was grabbing me that way.”
“He never could’ve gotten onto the unicycle without your valuable assistance,” Dave told her.
Debbie bared her teeth and punched his shoulder.
“Now, now, children,” Joan said.
Debbie took hold of Steve’s hand. “Anyway, we’ll see you guys later, okay?”
“Where are you off to?” Joan asked.
“Pete’s Pizza. Since Steve has to go home tomorrow and everything, we thought we’d…you know, make the most of it.”
“Can I go too?” Kerry asked.
“No, you may not,” Joan told her.
“Whyyyy?”
“Because it’s late, young lady. You should’ve been home in bed hours ago.”
“I’m not sleepy.”
“You’d cramp their style, kid,” Dave explained.
“No I won’t.”
“It’s fine with me if she wants to come along,” Steve said.
“Sure,” Debbie said, rubbing the girl’s hair. “This is a big night for her. Wouldn’t want to spoil it now.”
Dave and Joan looked at each other. Joan shrugged. “It’s okay with me. If you’re sure.”
“We’ll have her home in an hour or so,” Steve said.
“Maybe we should all go to Pete’s,” Dave suggested.
Kerry looked up at him and shook her head. “You’d crump our style.”
“Besides,” Joan said, “I want to take a stroll on the beach.”
Dave caught the look in her eyes. “Me too.”
They stood together and watched their daughter walk away with Debbie and Steve.
“Two lovebirds and a duck,” Joan said.
“She’ll have fun.”
“They sure won’t get much smooching done with her around. Speaking of which…”
She faced Dave.
He looked up and down the boardwalk. It appeared deserted.
He put his arms around her, pulled her close, and kissed her mouth. While they embraced, the lamps went dark.
“Let’s go down to