You Make Me Feel So Dead by Robert Randisi Page B

three of them it was picked up and a morose voice said, ‘Hello.’ I recognized it right away.
    â€˜Hey Red, Eddie Gianelli here.’
    â€˜Yeah?’
    â€˜I’m, uh, downstairs, trying to get up.’
    â€˜So? Your name’s on the list.’
    â€˜I know, but I’ve got a friend with me.’
    â€˜What for?’
    â€˜He’s going to help me.’
    â€˜With what?’
    â€˜Red,’ I said, ‘would you do me a favor and ask Elvis if I can bring him up with me?’
    â€˜Does he want an autograph?’
    â€˜He doesn’t.’
    Red hesitated. Maybe he was shocked.
    â€˜Hold on.’
    He muffled the receiver, probably with his hand, and called out to someone, presumably Elvis.
    â€˜Yeah okay,’ he said, when he came back on, ‘just come to the top floor.’
    â€˜What room?’
    â€˜Like I said,’ Red answered, ‘the top floor.’
    I hung up and said to Jerry and Tommy Harper, ‘It’s OK.’
    â€˜What room?’ Jerry asked.

TWENTY-FIVE
    â€˜T he whole top floor?’ Jerry said again, as we went up in the elevator.
    â€˜Yep.’
    â€˜Now that’s money,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Serious juice,’ I agreed.
    The elevator door opened and Red West was standing there with his crew cut intact. He immediately looked Jerry up and down and while he may not have wanted it to show, I could see that he was impressed.
    â€˜This way,’ he said. ‘E’s waitin’.’
    I followed Red down the hallway, with Jerry bringing up the rear. Elvis had obviously taken over the Presidential Suite, which we entered, the door having been left ajar.
    â€˜â€¦ tell ’em to get it up here fast,’ I heard Elvis saying to somebody.
    We entered the suite and I saw Elvis seated on a sofa, speaking into the phone.
    â€˜There you are,’ he said to Red. He held the phone out to him. ‘We need a lot more Pepsi. A lot more.’
    Red took the phone and said, ‘I’ll take care of it.’
    â€˜Eddie!’ Elvis said. ‘I’m glad to see you. Who’s your big friend?’
    â€˜Elvis, this is Jerry Epstein,’ I said. ‘Jerry, meet Elvis Presley.’
    â€˜Pleasure to meetcha,’ Jerry said, putting out his hand.
    â€˜Wow,’ Elvis said, ‘you’re a big boy.’ He shook Jerry’s hand. ‘What a grip. You know karate?’
    â€˜No,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Too bad,’ Elvis said. ‘I’d love to work out with you.’
    â€˜Whataya mean, like, spar?’
    â€˜Yes, spar, that’s what I mean.’
    â€˜We could spar,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Really?’ Elvis asked. ‘I’m a black belt, you know.’
    Jerry grinned and said, ‘I don’t need no belt.’
    â€˜Whoa!’ Elvis said. He turned to Red, who was hanging up the phone. ‘Red, we got us a live one.’
    â€˜Yeah,’ Red said.
    â€˜That Pepsi comin’ up?’ Elvis asked.
    â€˜Yeah, E,’ he said. ‘It’s on the way.’
    â€˜It shoulda been here when we checked in.’
    â€˜I’ll tell ’em.’
    Elvis turned his attention back to us.
    â€˜What’s on your agenda, Eddie?’ he asked.
    â€˜I thought you might want to see the sights.’
    â€˜I do, but first I got a rehearsal this afternoon. How about tonight we go someplace to eat?’
    â€˜Suits me.’
    â€˜Bring Jerry, too,’ Elvis said.
    â€˜Thanks,’ Jerry said.
    â€˜Where are you from, Jerry?’ Elvis asked.
    â€˜Brooklyn,’ Jerry said, ‘just like Mr G.’
    â€˜You guys be back here at eight tonight and we’ll do it. Red, make sure Jerry’s name is on the list, hear?’
    â€˜I hear, E.’
    Elvis shook hands with both of us again.
    â€˜Where are the rest of the guys?’ I asked.
    â€˜They got other rooms on this floor.’
    â€˜Will they be with us tonight?’ I