Road Doc
Chapter 20
“Bright light city gonna set my soul, Gonna set my soul on fire”
Theresa stirred, being drawn from a deep sleep.
“Got a whole lot of money that’s ready to burn, So get those stakes up higher”
The singing got louder in Theresa’s mind, bringing her closer to wakefulness.
“There’s a thousand pretty women waitin’ out there, And they’re all livin’ devil may care”
Theresa was awake, and without opening her eyes, laid on her bunk on the tour bus, trying to decide whether the singing had been real or in her head.
“And I’m just the devil with love to spare”
The privacy curtain that closed off her bunk was suddenly ripped open.
“Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas” Howie sang into a hair brush at the top of his lungs.
Theresa stared unblinking at Howie.
“How I wish that there were more than the twenty-four hours in the day. ‘Cause even if there were forty more, I wouldn’t sleep a minute away” Howie continued to sing, doing his best Elvis imitation.
“Howie” Theresa croaked, her heavy sleep leaving her a bit hoarse.
“Oh, there's black jack and poker and the roulette wheel. A fortune won and lost on ev'ry deal. All you need's a strong heart and a nerve of steel” Howie sang, a little softer now.
Theresa laughed.
“Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas” he sang softly, taking her hand and guiding her out of her bunk.
“Howie, what are you doing on this bus?” Theresa asked as Howie led her towards the front of the moving bus.
“Viva Las Vegas with your neon flashin’” Howie sang.
“Howie, what are you doing? It’s still dark outside” Theresa protested. Howie only smiled brightly and continued to sing.
“And your one armbandits crashin'. All those hopes down the drain” Howie sang as the got to the front of the bus.
Theresa just stared at him like he was a mad man.
Howie pointed to the horizon, pulled Theresa close, wrapping his arm around her.
“Viva Las Vegas turnin’ day into nighttime, turning night into day” he sang softly as they watched the horizon begin to glow.
“If you see it once you’ll never be the same again” he sang looking into Theresa's eyes as the lights of Las Vegas peered over the horizon.
21