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Night Fever
by Dana
Credits to KC and The Sunshine Band for the lyrics, and The Bee Gees for my story’s title. Big thanks to my friend Bernard F. Lopez of www.discomusic.com.
The disco era hit its peak, and the consequences spiraled Station 51 into a frenzy. Chet, Marco and Johnny weren’t trend setters, but they closely followed the latest craze. Chet even kept a pocket transistor tuned to a popular radio station.
After station 51 returned from a structure fire, Johnny and Roy were polishing the squad, and Mike checked over the engine. Hank was in the kitchen heating up his homemade clam chowder, and Marco and Chet were setting the table. As Chet put down soup spoons, a sudden urge came over him, “I wonder what’s playing now?” He reached into his pocket, took out the small transistor and turned it on. He held it to his ear and started to rhythmically sway. The radio emitted a popular tune, “Shake Your Booty, Shake Your Booty, oh, Shake Shake Shake…”
Marco was placing napkins on the table when he delightfully looked over at Chet, “Hey, I heard that song this morning! Makes me want to dance.”
“Chet, why do you listen to that junk? It’s horrible!” Hank commented while stirring his chowder. Chet spoke with exasperation, “Come on Cap, disco’s the greatest!” He then began humming as his hips swung left to right, much to Hank’s displeasure.
“It won’t last,” Hank said, matter of fact. “Whatever happened to good old country music? I’m a Roy Clark fan.”
Just then, Mike, Roy and Johnny entered. Mike went to the canteen and poured himself a cup of coffee. Roy went over to the boiling pot of chowder and admired the aroma. He flattered Hank by saying, “Smells really good, Cap.”
“Thanks Roy. It tastes as good as it smells.”
Johnny was drying his hands with a towel when he noticed Chet, “What’s on the radio?”
“’Shake Your Booty’ topped the charts this week,” Chet answered proudly as he sat at the table. He glanced whimsically over at Hank.
“Chet, I don’t care if it topped a mountain and fell off,” started Hank. “Disco is the worse music I ever heard.”
“Cap, you can’t be serious?” Johnny exclaimed.
Roy knew this was leading to another heated debate about disco. He put in his two cents, “Cap’s right. I don’t like passing fads, and disco’s exactly that.”
Everyone already seated himself as Hank served the chowder. The anti-disco remarks annoyed Chet. He raised the volume on his transistor before resting it near his soup bowl. “You guys don’t have to like it, just don’t knock it,” he said defensively.
Mike appreciated rock icons such as The Who and Led Zeppelin. Disco made him nauseous, “I can’t stand music that sounds the same.”
“Mike, that’s unfair,” retorted Marco. “Disco’s where it’s at. If Chet and Johnny like it, I like it.” “Johnny likes anything I don’t,” Roy complained. Johnny swallowed a spoonful of chowder, “Give me a break, Roy.”
Another disco song resonated after a few commercials, ”I’m your Boogie Man…I’ll do whatever I can…” “Another chart topper by the same band,” Johnny let his disco knowledge out of the bag. “By the way, a new discotheque just opened on the Boulevard called Escapes. I heard it’s a one floor sanctuary of groovy chicks and late night partying.”
Chet leaned back in his chair, grinning like a Cheshire Cat. “Gage, my pal Frank told me that chicks at Escapes don’t want to know your name. They just want to go home with you.”
Johnny’s smile broadened, “Oh man, really?”
“You can have it,” Roy found the conversation disturbing, and the music from Chet’s radio irritating. “Do you mind turning that down? Some of us would like to eat in peace.”
“I agree,” Stanley motioned towards Chet, pointing his forefinger. “I’m ordering you to shut it off!”
“Okay! Don’t be testy,” Chet snapped the off button. “Johnny, we’re off tomorrow night. Why don’t you, Marco and I check out Escapes?”
Johnny replied, “Chet, are you thinking what I’m thinking? How about it, Marco?”
Marco weighed his options before answering, “Well, I’d like to bring Tina with me.”
“Do that. We’re dying to meet her,” Johnny encouraged Marco to accompany his long-time girlfriend.
Hank interrupted with a hint of agitation, “Wait a second guys. Clubs like those serve tons of alcohol. I don’t want any of my guys coming here the next day with a hangover!”
“We won’t drink all night, Cap,” Chet began. “We just want to…mingle a little.”
“NO ALCOHOL!” Hank sternly admonished.
“We’ll be off duty Cap.” Chet raised his left hand and placed the other across his heart, “I promise, we’ll only have a couple of beers and dance, right guys?”
Johnny and Marco nodded in unison. Roy rolled his eyes, “Seeing is believing.”
Johnny realized his civilian attire was casual, but not hip enough for a disco. “Look Chet, I need new threads. Why don’t we hit some trendy stores tomorrow?”
“John Gage, you are a genius,” Chet finished his bowl of chowder. “We can do that before going to Escapes.”
Marco spoke for himself, “I already have a suit. It’s nice but not polyester.”
“Marco!” Johnny expressed. “You have to wear polyester to a disco. It helps you dance better.”
“It also tears,” Roy couldn’t believe the best laid plans of mice and disco before him.
Johnny raised his eyebrow, “What do you know about polyester?”
Mike, who was quiet during dinner, finally quipped at Johnny, “What do you know about dancing?”
Johnny’s voice escalated, “I can dance…and I was talking to Roy!”
Mike definitely hit a nerve. “Whatever you say.”
“I heard polyester’s a tight fit and rips like paper,” Roy answered as he slowly ate his bowl of chowder.
“Don’t listen to Roy,” Chet smirked. “Johnny, let Marco dress the way he wants to. You and I have shopping to do, got it?”
“Got it.” Johnny added thoughtfully, “It’s been a while since I went to a disco. Chet, remember Suave?”
Chet remembered Johnny’s story, “Oh yeah, you tried picking up that blonde but she threw her drink at you.”
Johnny moved uneasily in his chair, “She didn’t throw the drink, Chet! She was dancing towards me and tripped, that’s all.”
Chet didn’t believe Johnny’s tale, “Sure. But didn’t you ask her if she dances as good as she…?”
Before Chet completed his sentence, tones sounded throughout station 51. The dispatcher announced a structure fire that required both the engine and squad.
“Chet, we’ll finish our plans later,” Johnny said as they made their way to the trucks.
“You bet, Disco Johnny,” Chet remarked as he donned his turnout coat.
The next day, 51 responded to various emergency situations. The squad rescued a toddler who was choking on a quarter, then minutes later, Roy and Johnny helped an elderly woman who fell as she was crossing the street. As the day wound down, B shift reported for duty. That allowed Johnny, Chet and Marco freedom from work. Roy volunteered to help out the B shift so he remained. He decided to pay his comrades a visit in the locker room while they were changing clothes. Roy leaned against his locker, arms crossed over his chest. “I can’t believe you guys are doing this.”
Marco asked with a drip of sarcasm, “Believe what?”
“That disco place you’re going to tonight!”
“Guys, I think Roy is jealous,” Johnny teased.
Chet joined in on the torment, “Yea, Gage, perhaps you’re right.”
“Believe me, going to a loud, dark nightclub is nothing to get envious about.”
Johnny remarked, “So why did you bring it up?”
Roy shrugged, “I just think it’s a big waste of time, but it’s your night off.”
“It is our night off,” Chet repeated abruptly.
Marco closed his locker and put on his jacket, “Listen, Tina and I will meet you in front Escapes at 9:30, okay?”
“Be sure to dress sharp,” Johnny answered as Marco left.
“Nine-thirty? That’s pretty late for a weeknight,” Roy wondered.
Chet stammered while tying his shoes, “For Pete’s sake, Roy, we’re not kids going out on school night!”
Johnny slammed his locker shut and addressed his squad partner. “Roy, you have a wife and two kids, so whenever you’re home, you turn in early.”
“When I’m home, Joanne and I stay up late talking. We like to play cards, you know.”
“Really exciting,” Chet directed towards Roy. “And you do that past midnight?”
Roy took on a heated edge. “That’s none of your business, Kelly.”
Johnny chuckled, “Roy’s not as square as you think. He and Joanne are not playing cards past midnight.”
Roy’s glare nearly cut Johnny in half, “Quiet, Junior.”
Mike stopped by the locker room before heading home. “You guys have a good time tonight. Johnny, don’t bore us with girl stories tomorrow.”
Johnny cleared his throat, “Yes, we intend to have a good time, Mike. You find my stories boring?”
Roy muttered, “If the shoe fits…”
Mike snickered at Roy’s gibe.
Johnny ignored them, “Speaking of shoes, Chet and I are shopping at Magnifique for our threads.”
“Gage, I’d like to see you buy a Halston with your salary,” Chet joked.
“Don’t forget those Gucci shoes,” Roy teased.
Johnny boasted, “I intend to look cool, and my wallet can afford it.”
Chet laughed, “Your wallet couldn’t afford the five-and-dime.”
“You know where you can stick your transistor,” Johnny threatened as his eyes stared angrily at Chet.
The scene outside the brand new Escapes nearly took Chet and Johnny’s breath away. The one-story, whitewashed building exhibited a broad, red awning with Escapes stitched in green lettering. Four narrow windows, each with lacy pink curtains, were on either side of the entrance. As Chet drove his late-model Ford closer, he perceived the club had valet parking. He second-guessed the notable treatment.
“Johnny, look at that Corvette over there!” Chet pointed at the high-priced vehicle. “No way I’m parking here, man.”
“So park it across the street, this area’s pretty safe,” Johnny said assuredly.
Chet confessed, “I spent half my pay at Magnifique.” He wore a two-piece mauve polyester suit, and a black button-down shirt with an extremely wide collar.
“Look at me!” Johnny outstretched his arms, displaying his two-piece black polyester suit and solid red, satin shirt.
“Let’s tell the guys tomorrow that we had VIP parking,” Chet said as he parked his car a short distance away. He took the keys out of the ignition.
“Well, make you sure you tell Marco that we did,” Johnny huffed as he exited the passenger seat.
“At least our dress shoes weren’t expensive,” Chet answered as he was getting out of the driver’s seat.
“Mine hurt like hell,” Johnny groaned as he shut the passenger side door.
They walked eagerly towards the discotheque, and Chet began having reservations. “Do you think there’s a cover charge?”
Johnny nearly exploded, “Fine thing for you to ask after we spent money on these clothes!”
“Never mind, I don’t think we need to pay.”
Marco and Tina, looking quite appropriate for the evening, waited outside the entrance as Johnny and Chet approached. Johnny praised, “You two look fantastic!”
Marco returned the compliment, “Thanks! You guys are going to thrill the ladies tonight.” He then introduced his pretty girlfriend, “I’d like for you to meet Tina.”
Johnny acknowledged with a wide grin, “Nice to meet you, Tina.”
Chet took Tina’s small hand and kissed it gently, “Pleased to meet your acquaintance.”
Chet’s politeness stunned Johnny and Marco and made Tina blush. She replied, “Thank you. Marco and I are a little nervous, because we never went to a disco before.”
Johnny’s anxiety was getting the best of him, “So what are we waiting for? Let’s go!”
A husky bouncer with protruding muscles gave them a slight look over before allowing passage.
“What the hell was that about?” Chet questioned.
Johnny answered cautiously, “He wanted to make sure we checked out.”
After passing the coat check, a full bar, already occupied by a social hodgepodge, was to the left. Johnny, Chet, Marco and Tina suddenly embarked on the sultry dance floor. The surrounding darkness opened up to a swirl of colorful, flashing lights on the walls, floor and ceiling. A mist enveloped the floor, giving a smoky affect. Dancing couples dipped, hustled and swerved to the momentum. The music was nearly deafening as the bass thundered.
Marco spoke loudly within earshot, “Tina and I are going dancing. I think you two don’t need us holding your hands, right?”
“Marco, I hope your pants split,” Johnny mused.
“See you later,” Tina hooted as Marco led her away.
“Johnny, we need chicks to dance with. There are only couples on that floor,” Chet complained.
“We can find girls at the bar. I’m in the mood for a beer anyway,” Johnny licked his dry lips.
Chet reminded Johnny of Hank’s warning, “Just remember what Cap said. We have to take it easy on the booze.”
“I know! I’m not a lush, I can handle it!”
“Bar’s that way.”
As the two approached the crowded area, they scanned attractive females for a possible rendezvous.
“Gage, these chicks are dynamite.” Chet hoped his pants weren’t too tight, “I don’t think I can control myself.”
Johnny nearly burst out laughing, “Chet, I really don’t need to know about your mister.”
Just then, two attractive brunettes arrived at the opposite end of the bar. “Heather, this place is hopping tonight!”
“Lisa, I’m just dying for a cigarette.”
“I almost didn’t believe Dixie gave us the night off. I’ve been needing this for a while.”
“Tell me about it,” Heather puffed on her cigarette. “We practically begged Nancy and Hope to cover for us.”
“Oh my goodness, Heather,” screeched Lisa. “Isn’t that John Gage, the paramedic, over there?”
“Good grief. He’s a walking sex machine,” Heather flicked ashes into her ashtray.
“I wonder who’s the cute guy with him,” Lisa wondered as she tugged on her knee-length, blue cotton dress.
Johnny didn’t find any of the women as exciting as Chet, until he spotted Heather and Lisa. “Chet, we hit the jackpot!”
“Where?”
“Look, two sexy RN’s from Rampart,” Johnny jerked Chet around into the direction of Heather and Lisa.
“They’re gorgeous.” Chet’s eyes mainly fixed on Heather. Her ivory, strapless dress was so sheer that arousal stiffened his boxers.
“And very available from what I understand. Let’s say ‘hi’ to them,” Johnny suggested.
Chet leaned closer to Johnny’s ears, “Do you see the boobs on that girl with the white dress?”
“Easy, Chet!”
Heather wished she didn’t make eye contact with Johnny. “Oh great, here comes Gage and his midget friend,”
“His friend is not that short,” Lisa nudged Heather.
Heather snorted, “I think you’re taller.”
“Hi there, Heather, Lisa. Good to see you here,” Johnny greeted warmly.
Heather lit another cigarette, “I didn’t know you go to discos, Johnny.” She really didn’t want him around, mainly due to his reputation at Rampart.
Lisa agreed, “John, I can’t picture you in this type of place.”
Johnny answered, “Yeah, well, we decided to check out Escapes.” He suddenly brought Chet closer to him. “Ladies, this is my good friend Chet Kelly.”
“Hi Chet,” Heather blew smoke in Chet’s face. Instead of coughing, he inwardly moaned. He concealed the fact that Heather was turning him on. “Hi Heather.”
“Nice to meet you, Chet,” Lisa introduced herself.
Chet was more interested in Heather and her low cleavage. “Er, hi.”
Lisa conceived she had no chance with Chet as long as Heather was around. However, Johnny thought Lisa was attractive, but not as bold as Heather. Lisa believed that Johnny was quite the gentleman.
He offered, “Can we buy you ladies drinks?”
“That sounds okay to me,” Heather knew better not to pass up free drinks. “Lisa?”
“I’ll just have a Coke,” she answered.
“Let’s find ourselves a table. This bar’s noisier than the dance floor,” Chet indicated the clatter around them..
Three beers, four glasses of white wine, two cokes, and 1 ginger ale added to up $25. To impress Heather and Lisa, Johnny and Chet obligingly paid for the beverages. Heather and Lisa excused themselves as they went to the ladies room.
Chet moved over to Johnny, “Heather digs me, man. I danced with her twice already. She wants me.”
“Well, go for it. Heather never warmed up to me anyway,” said Johnny. “I think Lisa’s very pretty.”
“Pretty doesn’t get you a night with a chick like Heather!”
It was already 12:30. Even Johnny and Chet lost track of Marco and Tina. “We should be getting out of here anyway, Chet. It’s late.”
“Oh I get it.” Sexual desires were clouding Chet’s rational thinking. “Time to…hop in the sack?”
“I’m tired,” Johnny cared less at that point whether Chet scored or not.
“You and Lisa hardly danced! You guys just sat here and talked all night!”
“Well, she’s an interesting gal. If you’re going to hook up with Heather, take her home. I’ll ask Lisa if she could give me a lift in her car.”
“Sure, Gage, and a lift of her slender hips over your…”
“Shut up, Chet.”
Meanwhile, in the ladies room…
“I sort of liked Chet at first, but you two really hit it off,” Lisa admitted while applying her lipstick.
Heather retouched her eye shadow, “Chet’s really funny, Lisa. But he has a serious rock in his pants.”
“I thought Johnny was the sex fiend!”
Heather carefully chose her words, “Maybe he eased up to please you.”
Lisa laughed, “Johnny and I have a lot in common. Getting to know him was the tricky part. He probably turns on the charm at Rampart just to get girls to like him.”
“Or do him,” Heather closed her makeup case.
“Maybe. What about Chet?”
Heather prepared Lisa for the shock, “To be honest, Chet is very sexy.”
“Get out of here!”
“And it’s been a while. Maybe I’ll invite him to my place. I’ll ask him to take me home.”
“But he brought Johnny here!”
“So drive Johnny home in your car. I don’t think he’ll bite. Like you said…he just wanted girls to like him.”
The two couples converged outside Escapes and then walked near their parked cars. It was obvious among the four who was going with whom.
Johnny figured Lisa wasn’t the type a guy would take advantage of. He respected her. “I hope you don’t mind this, Lisa.”
“No, not at all. You’re actually four blocks from me.”
“And we never even met…”
“Oh gosh. Don’t look now, but the party started for our buddies.” Lisa caught a glimpse of Heather and Chet making out.
Johnny peeked over, “Let’s not bother saying good night to them.”
Lisa’s car was a few feet away from Chet’s. Johnny was in awe as he saw her jeep. He scratched his head and spoke, “I thought you were kidding!”
Lisa answered, “I told you that I own a jeep!”
“It just doesn’t seem…”
“Feminine?”
Johnny didn’t want to demonstrate his chauvinistic nature. “It’s not common for girls, you know.”
“Well, my very first car was a station wagon,” Lisa amazed Johnny more with her revelation.
While driving, Lisa couldn’t believe she was in the same car with Johnny “the stud” Gage. She hoped that he didn’t have any high expectations. “You didn’t think that I would end up with you tonight?”
Johnny was hoping she would speak first. He had been waiting for the topic to surface. “No! I mean, well, I’m not saying I don’t find you attractive. Believe me, you’re beautiful. I would like to take you out sometime.”
“Are you just saying that?”
“I said it because I meant it.”
Lisa let out her breath, “Here you are, Johnny.” She pulled up in front of Johnny’s apartment complex.
“That was fast,” Johnny said as he exited the car. He walked over to the driver’s side and leaned into the car window. “Thanks, Lisa. Say, I’m off again on Friday. Can I take you dancing at Escapes?”
Lisa smiled vividly, “Sure, I’d like that.”
Johnny concurred, “We didn’t have much of an opportunity tonight.”
Lisa said as she looked down at Johnny’s feet, “I didn’t think you were comfortable wearing those shoes.”
Embarrassment caused Johnny to fidget, “Yeah, they are a little snug.”
Johnny and Lisa then exchanged phone numbers. He gave Lisa a peck on the cheek before entering the building. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Good night.”
“Night, Johnny,” Lisa drove off.
Johnny didn’t want to raise his hopes up about a girl he fell head over heels with. However, Lisa was different. He felt good about the way things went tonight. He also enjoyed Escapes and couldn’t wait to take Lisa there again.
Johnny slipped under his bed covers when the telephone rang, “Hello?”
Chet’s voice was on the other end, “Gage…?”
“Chet, where are you?”
“Home. I just came back from dropping Heather off at her place.”
“I thought you were going to…”
“Johnny, I never made it inside!”
“What happened?”
“As I was driving, Heather complained that she was feeling sick. Next thing I knew, she threw up on my brand new jacket!”
“She did?”
Chet clarified, “She had a little too much to drink on an empty stomach.”
Johnny snickered quietly, “Terrific.”
“Yeah, terrific. Dry cleaning is going to cost me a fortune!”
“Was she okay?”
Chet continued, “Sure. She apologized for vomiting on my clothes! My clothes! She didn’t get anything on herself!”
“So what else?”
“I held my breath until I turned blue in the face, Johnny. Thank goodness her place was nearby. We got out of my smelly car, and I helped Heather get to the door. I didn’t even get my foot in when her killer German Shepherd came out of nowhere barking at me!”
Johnny sank his head further into the pillow, stifling laughter. “Shit! What did you do?”
“I ran to my car, hopped in and got away!”
“You left Heather?”
“Well I didn’t totally ditch her. Before she spewed, I got her phone number. I just hung up with her before I called you. She forgave me, so we’re going back to Escapes Friday night.”
“That’s pretty…amazing.”
“What’s so amazing about that? Did you and Lisa…?”
“No Chet. She took me home and that was it! We’re also going to Escapes on Friday.”
“A double date?”
“Looks that way,” Johnny confirmed.
“If I’m getting any action from Heather, she’s not having one single alcoholic beverage,” Chet firmly added.
“Good idea.”
“Johnny, neither of us got lucky.”
“So?”
“What are we going to tell the guys?”
“The truth.”
“Are you crazy? We’ll never hear the end of it!”
“It’s not as if we won’t have any more chances. With Lisa, I’m willing to wait,” Johnny sounded with a caring tone in his voice.
Chet spoke softly, “At least Escapes isn’t going anywhere soon, and do you know why, John Gage?”
“Why?”
Chet finished the conversation, “Disco will never die.”