THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509010177
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
Thursday, Aug. 24
9:15 p.m. - Meadowbridge Court.
A group of friends sits around on ivory leather couches and sip cold Coronas while a 5-year-old named Samantha plays with her talking Barney toy.
While the females discuss the evening's plans, the single guy in the group decides to give the purple dinosaur a try and squeezes its fuzzy tummy - to the delight of the little blond-haired girl.
After a few minutes of play time, he tells Barney ``goodbye,'' hugs the animal and kisses it on the nose.
``Barney's a boy - you can't kiss him!,'' Samantha shouts. ``You must be gay!''
- Holly Wester
Friday, Aug. 25
12:15 p.m. - Taste Unlimited parking lot on Pacific Avenue.
While a man opens the door to his convertible for his riders, a woman and little girl, a small boy peers out of the window of the van next to them.
``Hey, dad,'' he exclaims, ``those people don't have a top to their car!''
As the people in the convertible laugh and prepare to drive off, the little boy waves and shouts ``Have a nice day!''
- David B. Hollingsworth
5 p.m. - Interstate 64.
A contractor's dirt-streaked van inches its way through the Friday afternoon going-home traffic.
The driver's side of the rear window has been wiped clean, but the passenger's side still has a thick covering of mud and dust in which some creative soul has scratched the words ``TEST DIRT DO NOT REMOVE.''
- Jo-Ann Clegg
5:25 p.m. - Hair Cuttery at Pleasant Valley Marketplace.
Half the shop is dark due to a partial power failure that's affecting the whole shopping center. The nearby Food Lion has had to shut its doors, but the three stylists working this evening at the Hair Cuttery have simply moved their customers to the chairs nearest the windows to take advantage of the available light.
After a few minutes, though, the power goes out altogether. Any equipment that's plugged into an outlet is now useless, and the water heater is no longer functioning.
Still, the stylists continue their work. At least one customer has benefited from the outage, however.
Jason, who appears to be about 5, is seated in the chair closest to the window. ``How do you want it cut?'' the stylist asks Jason's mom.
``No, mom, not all of it!'' he shrieks upon hearing his mom's response.
``Use the No. 2 clippers,'' she adds to the stylist.
The stylist prepares for the shearing when a co-worker gently reminds her that her task is impossible. ``Oh, no, I can't use the No. 2 clippers - the power's out,'' Jason's stylist explains to the youngster's mom.
With that said, Jason has been granted a reprieve - and an extra lollipop.
Jason's sister, Kelly, takes her turn in the chair instead.
The toddler with stringy blond tufts climbs up without a fuss - much to surprise of her mother. The yellow lollipop in one hand and an orange one in the other may have something to do with her contentment.
Just then a security guard patrolling the sidewalk pokes his head into the doorway.
``Boy, you're like the post office - nothing stops you,'' he hollers to no one in particular. ``Felix couldn't stop you last week, but mankind might!''
- Kevin Armstrong
Wednesday, Aug. 30
7:50 p.m. - Ocean Eddie's parking lot at 14th street.
A woman is climbing over a wooden rail fence when her male friend, who has already crossed, reaches out his hand to help her.
A group of scraggly men sitting on a nearby picnic table start applauding. ``Look at Prince Gallant,'' one shouts.
The man finishes helping his friend over the rail, then turns and takes a bow.
- David B. Hollingsworth
9:20 p.m. - 17th Street stage.
Wicked Wilson Pickett is belting his way through a rocking version of ``Mustang Sally'' on opening night of the American Music Festival when a woman near the back of the crowd begins bopping to the music.
Her son, who looks about 12 or 13, is horrified, obviously appalled at his mom's uncool behavior. He reaches his arms around her and hugs her in a tight embrace until she quits dancing.
As soon as he releases her, she starts shuffling her feet and swaying again. He wraps his arms around her again until she stops. This process is repeated, with the embarrassed boy uttering a pained ``Mommmm, quit it'' each time.
Finally, dad steps in - but only to add insult to injury. He grabs his adolescent son in a bearhug and gives him a big, noisy kiss on the cheek.
- Melinda Forbes ILLUSTRATION: For once, they were at a loss for words
Staff photo by DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH
As a multitude of bathing beauties wait patiently on stage, Henry
``The Bull'' Del Toro and Holly Williams, both morning disc jockeys
on 96X, look over the rules of last Saturday's swimsuit competition
during the East Coast Surfing Championships. This is the first year
that the radio station has co-sponsored the event, and the two DJs
kept wondering out loud, ``What do we do next,'' as they tried to
entertain the predominantly male audience on a special stage set up
at 4th Street on the beach.
by CNB