Welcome to Day Two of the Flowers and Stone celebration!
Darlina Flowers came from a very strict religious upbringing. She’d been sheltered and deprived of worldly knowledge, leaving her ill-prepared to strike out on her own at eighteen. Because of her lifestyle choices, she was estranged from her mother for a few years.
But she always had a fire in her gut, a strong desire for freedom. And Darlina loved music.
So, it was only natural for her to seek out live music once she arrived in Abilene. Because she was not old enough yet to get into the nightclubs, she spent a lot of time at the Faded Rose Club, where Marketa had lost her liquor license for serving minors. She always had live music on the weekend, satisfying Darlina’s craving. But then, when she wanted to go to a different club to hear Luke Stone and his band, her sister stepped up and made a fake I.D. to get her in the door. Here’s an excerpt:
Norma entered the club first, flashing her driver’s license. Darlina followed, presenting hers.
The man working the door glanced at the I.D., then at Darlina, back at the license, then back at her. “I’ve seen you before. Aren’t you one of Marketa’s dancin’ girls?”
Darlina squirmed uncomfortably. “Yes, I work for Marketa at the Faded Rose.”
The man scratched his chin. “Young lady, I don’t think you’re old enough to get in here, but this card says you are, so I’m lettin’ you in on one condition.”
“What’s that?” She twisted the I.D. back and forth in her hand.
“That you’ll let me introduce you to the boss man. He’s been talking about recruiting some of you girls to work over here. That’s how come I recognized you. I’ve seen you dance at Marketa’s.”
“Oh, you have? Well, I don’t have any objections to meeting your boss, and by the way, I won’t be drinkin’ tonight.”
“You ladies go right on in and have yourselves a real good time. You’re gonna love this band. I’ll come around and find you as soon as my relief shows up.”
Darlina nodded, and they entered the darkened club.
The first thing Darlina heard was Luke Stone’s creamy, smooth baritone voice singing a Marty Robbins ballad. “It’s a sin, a sin the way I love you. Because I know our love could never be…”
While I would never advocate for breaking the law with a fake I.D., at the time, it never crossed my mind that was what I was doing. I used it several more times to get into clubs around town. And it always worked.
What’s the most risque thing you’ve ever done that could be considered crossing the line of law and order? Let’s talk.
