Blondie EJ, does the charm say "YOU WILL SUCCEED" on it? Mbo smiles thoughtfully and massages his aching arm, after throwing all those passes with the fluidity of another big hurler, David Garrard. He slowly walks back to the rickety Nash, and renders it almost as showy as Greaseball and Blondie's rides. On goes the Pirate License plates, front and rear; administers the purple and gold plush slipcovers over the threadbare upholstery; the tiny foam Pirate is impaled on the slightly warped radio antenna; and the dual purple pirate flags are suction cupped to the roof. Mbo removes his leathern jacket, and slowly dons his prized purple and gold college jacket, the one with the big "ECU" embroidered on the lapel. As he heads for the driver's seat, he gives a rub to the rear windshield, proudly revealing the "ECU School of Art" sticker from under the 2 inches of caked dirt and sand. He slowly sits in the cockpit, door open, and feet resting on the ground outside. He grabs his guitar and pulls off a rendition of the Who's "Gettin' In Tune" as he waits for JL to get ready. Then JL appears, like a fighter pilot ready for a dogfight. Mbo stops short, chucks the guitar in the back seat. And lights up the engine. He knew it was going to be an exciting day. He gave his moustache a pompous twist as he and JL pulled out of the beach parking lot, following Elle and the BIG DAWG. He suddenly wonders if Elle remembered about Dave, who was still asleep in the car. He smiles craftily as the half empty beer keg weights his car down quite snugly...

--Mbo