Prompt: Copy
Clyde was in London and Sharon had the flu. Jay felt isolated and vulnerable, especially since Kenny was hovering around the corridors. He would like nothing more than to see Kenny at the bottom of the Potomac, an appetizer for the fishies. But he “knew things” and had “insurance”. Jay had never been so careless, before or since. That didn’t matter now.
In front of him, a file containing a letter from a concerned parent.
Naturally there were more insidious threats to national security to attend to. Like King, that Kennedy kid, those relentless, misguided protesters, and, very importantly, keeping his own methods and sources unbreakable and unscrutinized.
But he knew that everything was connected. Everything. Politics, religion, family, art. Once things started rotting from the inside out, the tumor spread as slow and deadly as a lava flow. The world was on the brink of disaster, and he was not about to let the country spin out of control on his watch.
And now an issue almost two years old, was resurfacing.
We all know there is obscene materials available for those who seek it, the letter read, but when they start sneaking in this material in the guise of the latest ‘teen age rock & roll hit record these morons have gone to far.
Indeed. Still, this letter had been forwarded from Bobby’s office. Jay never knew if he was being provoked, or mocked, or what. He read on:
This land of ours is headed for an extreme state of moral degradation what with this record, the biggest hit movies and the sex and violence exploited on T.V.
How can we stamp out this menace? ? ? ? ?
The concern was focused on one song, which his lab had already investigated at some length, and had found nothing prosecutable.
But, said another parent, in another letter which was sent directly to Jay, whether the lyrics are obscene doesn’t matter. Because the words are indecipherable, teenagers hear the obscene lyric whether it is there or not.
At that moment, Kenny burst into his office. Jay felt his body tense with anger and frustration. “I’m busy,” he said, “Get out.”
“I have a message for you from Dotty!” Kenny said breathlessly.
“Why would she contact you?”
“Because you are busy.”
“Get out.” Blackmail or no blackmail, he couldn’t abide the sight of Kenneth.
“Yes sir, I mean, no sir,” said Kenny. “I see you are reading those silly letters.” He relaxed into a chair opposite Jay’s desk, without asking permission.
“The morals of this country are hardly silly,” said Jay, closing the file folder.
“Why don’t you just contact the Copyright Office? Don’t they have to register the lyrics? I can check for you if you like, it’s only down the road.” Kenny held out his hand.
A week later, Jay opened the file containing the letters and added a new sheet of paper, freshly typed by Sharon, back from her leave of absence.
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH NO, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH YEAH I SAID
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH BABY, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
A FINE LITTLE GIRL, SHE WAITS FOR ME
ME CATCH A SHIP ACROSS THE SEA
ME SAIL THAT SHIP ALL ALONE
ME NEVER THINK HOW I’LL MAKE IT HOME
LOUIE, LOUIE, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
OH NO, I SAID
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH BABY, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
THREE NIGHTS AND DAYS I SAIL THE SEA
I THINK OF GIRL CONSTANTLY
ON THAT SHIP, I DREAM SHE THERE
I SMELL THE ROSE IN HER HAIR
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH NO, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I SAID
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH BABY, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
OKAY, LET’S GIVE IT TO ‘EM, RIGHT NOW!
ME SEE
ME SEE JAMAICAN MOON ABOVE
IT WON’T BE LONG ME SEE ME LOVE
ME TAKE HER IN MY ARMS AND THEN
I TELL HER I’LL NEVER LEAVE AGAIN
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH NO, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH I SAID
LOUIE, LOUIE, OH BABY, I SAID WE GOTTA GO
I SAID WE GOTTA GO NOW
LET’S GET ON OUTTA HERE
LET’S GO!
- Original Prompt: Music, May 2, 2016.
Fluffy Pool 