It's Got a Beat, Mr. Jones

Don't Be a Drag, Eugene

The car stopped in front of a large white house with green shutters and a red roof. The paint was perfect, like it had been repainted just that morning. Bobby got out of his side of the car and ran to Mary's. He opened the door and helped her out. Mary was holding Odette, who was sleeping. She stared at the green door of Bobby's family's house.
"Bobby, what are your parents like?" Mary asked.
Bobby leaned onto the car door and rested his chin on his arms. "Well, my mother is a small lady, black haired, dark eyed. She's usually really nice. She wasn't born here so she doesn't speak English right proper and has a kind of weird accent, but you can usually understand her if she isn't mad," Bobby said.
Mary nodded looking at the door still.
"My dad's also a little short, has brown hair, and green eyes. He's only a quarter Italian, but that's just what he's always considered himself since that's what my grandmother always considered herself and spoke it with him. He goes off in Italian a lot of the time, kinda quick to anger and when he's angry he speaks Italian really quick..." Bobby said. "I've never seen him hurt anybody though... Past the whippins he would give me and my sisters when we did somethin' wrong."
Mary looked at Bobby. "Do you think they'll like me?" She asked.
Bobby smiled. "I love you, they'll love you," He said.
Mary sighed. "I'm glad I already met Mona and Rosetta," She said.
Bobby laughed. "I'm glad they managed to go to the wedding," He said.
Mary nodded. She walked towards the door. Bobby ran to the door as quickly as he could. He looked so excited to see him mother and father.
When Mary reached the door, Bobby knocked. A dark haired young lady opened the door. Her face broke out into a smile. "Roberto!" She exclaimed swinging the door open wider.
"Mona!" Bobby exclaimed embracing her.
Mona was the youngest in the family. Her eyes were wide and dark and she was beautiful, but she was a little strange in the head and thought a little differently than everyone else. She was wearing a pink flowery dress that went down to her knees and was tight around her waist.
Mona turned towards Mary. Mona smiled even wider. Mona hugged Mary.
"Mama!" Mona exclaimed turning around into the house. "Roberto is here with his wife!"
A short lady walked up to the door. "Mama!" Bobby exclaimed hugging her.
She looked very surprised. "Roberto, you changed your hair," She said touching it.
"Yeah, it used to be slicked back usually, huh, mama," Bobby said laughing.
Bobby's mother nodded. She ran her fingers through it a couple of time.
"I like it better this way," She said smiling. "You always had pretty hair."
Bobby smiled. "Thanks mama," He said. Bobby turned to Mary. "Mama, this is my wife, Mary, and my daughter Odette."
Bobby's mother smiled and looked at Odette. "She is beautiful," She said.
Mary held Odette out for Bobby's mother. His mother took Odette into her arms.
"It is very nice to meet you, Mary. My name is Francesca," Bobby's mother said.
"I'm pleased to meet you," Mary said smiling.
Francesca smiled. "Come in you two," She said.
There was a man sitting on the couch. He had dark hair and large brown eyes. He was wearing jeans with a large shining belt buckle and cowboy boots and a flannel shirt which was tucked into his pants. A brown haired woman in loose black pants and a yellow shirt was sitting next to him. Mary recognized her as Rosetta, but she didn't know who the man was. Rosetta smiled at Mary.
"It's nice to see you again," Rosetta said coolly.
The man on the couch looked up at Mary. "My name's Eugene," He said. "I'm Mona's fiancé."
Mona smiled widely and nodded her head wildly. "We're gettin' married next year! We'll send out the invitations when everything's all planned out!"
Bobby stared at his little sister then he turned towards Eugene. "What do ya do?" Bobby asked Eugene.
"I own a ranch out in Kansas," Eugene replied.
Eugene had a wonderfully attractive southern drawl. Mona was all giggles and smiles. Bobby figured Mona really liked Eugene. Mary had the two records she had bought for Mona and Rosetta tucked under her arm. She had had a little trouble balancing them while she was holding Odette, but now that she had been relieved of the baby she had no problems. Bobby had filled her in on the likes of his sisters on the ride to his family's house. Mary had been right on her first guess, Mona like Gene Vincent and Rosetta liked the Everly Brothers.
"I guess it's not very much an engagement present, but I got you and Rosetta something," Mary said looking over at Mona.
Rosetta stood up from the couch. She walked towards Mary. Something about the way that Rosetta moved herself made her seem extremely attractive. Rosetta had more confidence than any other person Mary had ever met. Mary couldn't help, but wonder what would happen if Eddie and Rosetta were to meet.
Mary handed Rosetta the album Mary had bought her. Rosetta's lips parted into a small, cool smile.
"Thank you," Rosetta said looking down at the pictures of the Everly Brothers that looked up at her.
Mary handed Mona her album. Mona smiled a wide, happy grin. She wrapped her arms around Mary.
"Thank you so much!!!" Mona exclaimed. "Let's play it right now!"
Mona ran to the turntable and put the record down on it then placed the needle onto the record. The familiar sound of record popping filled the room then the music started. Gene Vincent's voice enveloped the room. "Well I gotta a mama and my mama is small..."
Mona smiled at Eugene. For some reason Eugene didn't look as thrilled about the record as Mona was. Rosetta had her eyes closed. It was like she was soaking in the music much like one soak up the sun at a beach. The more the record went on the more frequently Mary would notice the unmistakable brassy vocals of Eddie Cochran singing back up for Gene Vincent.
Mona was dancing happily with the music. Eugene watched her with a slight frown on his face. Mona tried to get him to dance, but he shook his head slowly. Soon both sides of the record were over. Mona sighed in happiness.
"Rosetta! Play yours now!" Mona exclaimed.
Rosetta smiled and put her record on the turntable. She sat the needle down on the edge of the record and soon the room bursted with sound. The intricate melodies of the Everly Brothers filled the room. Rosetta smiled.
"Why do you listen to this?" Eugene asked.
Mona looked over at him. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"Rock and roll, it's the devil's music," Eugene said.
Mona was quiet for a moment. She looked over at her mother. "I like rock and roll," Mona said quietly.
Rosetta rolled her eyes. "Don't be a drag, Eugene," She said.
No one spoke for awhile. Bobby was silent because he didn't want to argue with Eugene because he felt it would hurt Mona. Rosetta was silent because she felt there was nothing more to say. Mona was silent because she was now thinking of how she felt about Eugene's opinion of her favorite music. Eugene was silent because he knew that arguing further would hurt Mona. Francesca was silent because she held similar opinions as Eugene, but she had already struggled to explain those opinions to her daughters without much success. Mary was silent because she felt she didn't know Eugene well enough to argue with him.
The door opened and a older brown haired man with green eyes walked in. He looked around the room for a moment. "Is that the Everly Brothers playing?" He asked setting a briefcase down by the door and hanging up a hat and a coat.
"Dad!" Bobby exclaimed standing up and walking towards his father.
Mona and Rosetta both jokingly shushed their brother. Eugene had moved himself so he was further away from Rosetta. He looked a little uncomfortable.
Bobby walked his father over to Mary. Mary had stood up to meet him. She stuck out her hand for a hand shake, but Bobby's father grabbed her into a hug.
"It is so nice to finally meet you!" He exclaimed. "Mona and Rosetta spoke of you so warmly."
Mary laughed slightly. "It's nice to meet you too, Mr. Rossi," She said.
Bobby pointed to Odette, who was still in his mother's arms. "That's my and Mary's daughter," He said proudly.
Mr. Rossi walked towards his wife and looked at the young child. "She is beautiful," He said.
Bobby and his father spoke for a long time. Mary felt awkward and sort of left out of Bobby's family's conversations. She looked over at Eugene. He was feeling the same way as her. He shrugged at her, and she smiled back at him. Eugene looked at his watch.
It was five forty-seven.