The Royos

 

 

 

 

 

Rose met the Castanettas at the Belmont. Fresh from a day at the track, in the cool retreat of the hotel bar, under a dark corner ceiling fan, they struck up a chat about a song - Abscent Heart??? ...or some such. The group that sang it, no one knew. Sad, they all agreed.
Lucy was the talker, a regular little chatterbox whereas Ben was cordial but minded his beer. Let the girls talk. He was a quiet and patient man.
All in from out of town, they from Chappaquiddick and she from St Lou' .
The bartender, Roger, white shirt sleeves rolled high, and dark suspenders, hovered patiently and wiped the bar when he was not serving.

Business was midday slow so he welcomed their company and piped in often. A colorful character, he peppered the conversation with big city tales, mostly off-color but nobody seemed to mind, in fact they came to encourage something risque.

They had a hoot.

They had a toot.

They had a rooty-toot-toot

It was just too, too, tumultuous,

rapidly spiraling downward

cascading into rage

senseless damage

senseless pain,

came -

              “Abstract Heart”......... by The Royos

 

We got Ben to blame.

 

 

 

V