Rock Radio - By Lisa Wainland Page 0,4

throughout his body.

“Radiohead. That one’s gonna be a classic. Love that song.” His voice was smooth. “It’s Tuesday afternoon and you’re hangin’ with me, Jonny Rock, and I love you.” And I love you was his catch phrase, a clever gimmick that forced his loyal listeners to predictably start every call ‘Hey Jonny, it’s Kim and I love you, too!’ It was ego stroking at its finest. “I’ve got lots more rock coming up for you, but first,” Jonny reached for the liner card in front of him, “let me tell you where the lovely Dana Drew will be tomorrow night.” He paused and briefly glanced over the bullet points on the card. He was doing this cold, he hadn’t read ahead. “Join Dana tomorrow night at Scully’s Bar and Grill. She’ll be broadcasting live for their Thursday night happy hour that lasts not one hour, but three hours! Dana’ll have lots of prizes to giveaway, plus your chance to register to win a trip for two to the Bahamas with your favorite rock station’s own, Dana Drew! Wow! Dana’s a busy chick these days! You don’t want to miss it, Dana Drew live at Scully’s in downtown Miami from seven to ten. Be there.” He pushed the button on the board that fired back up the computer and the commercials began to play. With that Dana strutted into the studio.

“Hey, Jonny.” Dana Drew was a radio pro. Tall and slender with wavy long black hair, olive skin and killer green eyes, Dana was the token female on an all-male staff, but she had balls.

“Dana.” Jonny jokingly bowed his head.

“Thanks for the respect, too bad you don’t show me any on the air.” Dana had heard his lousy break.

“Hey, it wasn’t so bad.”

“Well, if you read the card ahead of time, maybe you wouldn’t have made such rough transitions,” she replied, half teasing, half scolding.

“Noted, noted. What are you doing here so early?” Dana went on the air after Jonny, from six to ten, it was now three fifteen.

“I wanted to do some research for my show tonight. Some people call it show prep,” she said sarcastically.

“Oh, they do, do they.” He smiled.

Jonny and Dana started their usual rhythm of playful banter laced with her frustration. Dana knew she was better than Jonny, worked harder than Jonny, but would never be the drive time jock on a rock station because she was a woman and this was still a male dominated business.

Jonny just enjoyed ruffling her feathers.

“Yes they do. In fact,” she raised her index finger triumphantly, “four out of five disc jockeys think being prepared is important. Go figure. Maybe you need a refresher course in Radio 101.”

“Did you just come in here to harass me or do you really have a purpose for this visit?”

“I have a purpose,” she said, addressing more than just his question, “I want to talk to you about getting better appearances. You’ve been scheduling me at all these late night events at seedy bars. How about some afternoon gigs at places with sober patrons?”

“C’mon Dana, all the bars want you. You’re the sexy Dana Drew, you help bring all the men in.”

“I know, that’s the problem, some of them really creep me out.”

Jonny shrugged. “Call it job hazard.”

The studio door swung open and Heather flew in, her face flushed, red hair trailing in the air.

“Jonny,” Heather said breathlessly walking around the console to him. “Oh, hi Dana.”

“Hi,” she replied curtly, taking in the young intern.

“Jonny, here are those papers you asked for,” Heather said making sure to brush his arm as she spoke.

“Thanks...Heather, is it?” he questioned with a wink.

“Yeah, Heather.” She played along, loving their shared secret, but the moment was over fast.

“Okay, thanks,” he dismissed, turning back to the board.

Heather, wishing for more, but not wanting to push it, turned dejectedly and breezed past Dana out of the studio.

“You’re screwing her!”

“Dana Drew, watch your mouth!”

“I have eyes Jonny. I see how she looks at you. Admit it.”

“Dana, I’m married,” Jonny said matter-of-factly, pointing to his simple gold wedding band.

“That’s never stopped you before.”

“I resent that.”

“So do I.”

They stood in silence, two cowboys at high noon, weapons drawn.

“Whatever Dana,” Jonny retreated. “I’ll take your request into consideration. Why don’t you go do your show prep.”

“Whatever you say Mr. Assistant Program Director,” Dana said leaving the studio. “Whatever you say.”

Chapter 3

Cody Blue Smith was born to be somebody. His mother Jane, bored at becoming plain Jane Smith by marriage, vowed her son would