It was time for me to get back to business. On the way to the Coral Ballroom I stopped at ABC and picked up a bowl of fruit. I also bought a large coffee. They probably had a way to provide utensils there, but it did not occur to me to ask. Fortunately I had a spork in my backpack from a previous trip to KFC.

When I reached the Partnership Desk I checked to make sure that the people behind the desk had my card. I told them that I was going to hang around the area. I was surprised to see Geoff Phipps in the waiting area. He appeared to be discussing a possible convention card with someone. I ate my fruit and drank my coffee.

The Tapa Pool from the second floor of the Tapa Tower.

A few minutes later Geoff came over to where I was sitting. He asked if I was looking for a partner. He said that he could only play in the Daylight Pairs because he had plans with his wife. That was fine with me (a morning person). I showed him the card that I played with Ann. He looked it over and determined that this would be a good starting point, which did not surprise me. Geoff regularly played with Randy, and Ann and I played precisely the same card that she played with Randy.

Geoff and I made a few adjustments to the card to remove conventions that he did not like. While we were doing so, someone interested in pairing up with me called on my cell phone. I explained that I had just made a commitment to play with someone else.

I went over to the desk to tell them to destroy my card. The man who had just called me was standing there. He informed me that he had just told them the same thing.

Geoff and I sat North-South in the morning session. The lighting problem had apparently been fixed since the last time that I played in the Coral Ballroom. However, there was some sort of SNAFU. I never learned the details, but we heard that some pairs were scheduled to play the same hands twice, and some to play the same pair twice.

I thought that I played pretty well in the morning session. I didn't circle a single hand. We scored 52.84%, which got us a fraction of a red point. I had a great time playing with Geoff, and I couldn't wait for the afternoon session.

I bought another sandwich at ABC. I ate it in the room with some of the chips that I had earlier bought. I spent the rest of the time trying to rest.

The afternoon session got off to a terrible start. On the very first hand (#5) I was much too timid, and we missed an easy slam. The first three bids were rote: 1♣, 1♦, 1NT. I then put in the game force, and Geoff jumped to 3NT. I knew that there was a chance of slam, but I was uncertain which tools to use to try to make that determination.

I timidly passed. I probably should have just bid 4NT, which would have been quantitative. Geoff, with 14 high-card points, would probably have bid six. At any rate I would have involved him in the decision.

On hand #10 love for my twenty-point hand blinded my intellect. East had opened 1♠, and I doubled. Geoff bid 2♣, which showed 0-8 points and something in clubs. East passed. I mulled over my options. If I raised clubs or even bid a new suit, he could pass, and we could miss a game. I threw caution to the wind and bid 4♥. Adults could never understand the kind of relationship that I and my precious hand had.

I went down three and got us a flat 0.

I am embarrassed to admit that I did not do the arithmetic. I had 20 high card points. I should have figured East for 13 or so. He could have had as many as 20! The most that anyone could realistically expect was seven lousy points for West and North combined. It was ludicrous for me to hope that North had enough for game. Moreover, what in the world made me think that he might have hearts? The only evidence that I had was to the contrary. If he had anything in hearts, he would surely have bid them rather than clubs.

I should have just passed. Several people with my cards raised clubs. That was stupid, although not as stupid as what I did. What possible seven-point hand could North have that would prompt him to do anything but pass after the raise?

I took this photo of the Tapa Bar near the playing area on the second floor.

In fact, I now am convinced that someone holding my powerhouse should pass partner's bid no matter what. Ironically, the hand is too strong to rebid. If the doubler has only 13 points, partner can show a good hand by jumping (9-11) or cue bid (12+). However, if doubler has half the deck, the chance of partner having 9 is extremely low, and 12 is completely out of the question. So, partner will nearly always show 0-8 points.

As soon as I saw the dummy I realized that I had stepped in it. Geoff was very nice about it. He said that he had expected me to have a long and strong heart suit.

I made a mental resolution to play better, and I did. We finished strongly, not quite good enough to scratch. I had a great time playing with Geoff, and I felt strongly that at the end of our game I was a better player than when it began.

I met Sue for supper at the Tapa Bar. She must have been shocked about how much my mood had improved, but she did not say anything.

In the regional events the ACBL distributed coupons worth $2 at the hotel restaurants and bars. Sue and I had amassed six of them. Before we ordered I checked with the waitress at the Tapa Bar to assure that they would accept a wad of them.

I ordered a chicken club sandwich and a Maui Mai Tai. Sue had a small pizza and a regular Mai Tai. There was nothing to celebrate, but when you are in Hawai'i you drink Mai Tais. We both enjoyed our suppers.

Another view of the bar.

The entertainment that evening was a group (which turned out to be a duo) known as the Rocky Fellers. I remembered them from the pre-Beatles sixties. They recorded a number named “Killer Joe” that was a modest hit in 1963. I had bought an album that collected songs from various artists. It included “Killer Joe.” I really liked it.

I did not know much about the Rocky Fellers. Pictures of them made me think that they were brothers. They appeared to be Asians of some denomination. My knowledge was enhanced by an article in the Hilton magazine left in our room. It was about “Little Albert” Maligmat, who performed at the Tapa Bar every Thursday. He was one of four Filipino brothers[1] who performed as the Rocky Fellers. Little Albert, who was the lead singer for the Rocky Fellers, had been performing pretty much for the intervening sixty years! The article said that he now worked with his younger brother Eddie.

Eddie is on the right. In the middle is the father. Albert is between them.

Sue and I were finishing supper as the show began. I stayed for the entire first set. I enjoyed it so much that I approached Albert during the break to let him know that “Killer Joe” was one of the very first records that I had ever bought. A big grin broke out on his face, and he said “Killer Joe? No way!” He shook my hand. For a little guy he had a very firm handshake.

The Rocky Fellers' current show is hard to describe. Both Eddie and Albert sing, and they both still have extremely good voices with remarkable ranges. In the first set Eddie also mimicked other singers. His interpretation of Al Green was a delight, and his Tina Turner was spot on (minus the legs).

For some songs Albert played the air trumpet. You have to see and hear this to believe it. He pursed his lips and blew air as if he were playing an invisible brass instrument. He was somehow able to control the tones that came out to maintain perfect pitch. I did not hear a single errant note. I have no idea how he was able to do this.

Eddie is on the left.

At one point Albert, who was sixty-nine-years old, dropped to the floor and did push-ups. It made my arms and back ache to watch him.

I found several enjoyable YouTube videos of the Rocky Fellers then and now.

During the show we were joined at our table by New England's District Director, Mark Aquino. Sue offered him a slice of pizza, which, to my surprise, he accepted. He told us that he had taken our suggestion to eat at IHOP, but the soup was cold. We explained to him that no one went to IHOP for lunch. Maybe he did not know what the P stood for.

Sue had had a remarkable game that day. She told Mark that she and her partner had improved 21 percent from the morning game to the afternoon. We posited that that might be some kind of record.[2]

Between songs I informed Mark that I had had the privilege of playing that day with Geoff Phipps.[3] He asked what I was doing on Friday, and I told him that I planned to fill out a card at the Partnership Desk. He volunteered to play with me, but he warned me that he was going snorkeling in the morning and would not be back until 12:30. He gave me a voucher to pay for his share and asked me to purchase the entry for the Open Pairs at 1 and 7:30.

Holy mackerel! I could not believe my luck. I was getting to play in the NABC on successive days with a Platinum Life Master (Geoff) and a Grand Life Master (Mark). In Hawai'i no less!