Note: Some information on this fanfic; like dates, places and names, might
go against information given in the original show. Keep in mind this is fan
FICTION.
"Before We Loved Lucy"
Chapter 4 "Ricky"
The day was rainy and cold in Havana. Ricky was telling his Dad that no one was going to watch his first show.
"Dad, it's my first show and there will be no one there, because no one leaves home with this awful weather!" Ricky said, very quickly and nervous, almost yelling.
"Calm, down, Ricky! My God, if you don't change this heated temper of yours, I don't know what's going to happen to you."
"Oh, Father, how can you expect me to be calm? How?" Ricky was even more nervous.
"Ay ay ay ay ay..." Rick's dad said. "Stop that and go practice on your bongo drums for a while."
"Alright, but I don't know why!"
"Just go Ricky!" his Dad said laughing.
Ricky was always like that, any little thing made him tense. When it had something to do with music, then it was worse. Music was his passion since he was a child, and his parents always encouraged him to develop his singing abilities. Because of that, now, at age 18, Rick had already got a steady work at a restaurant in Havana, called 'Mi Amada Cuba'. That day was his premiere at the place, and he wanted everything to be perfect. Nothing could stand on the way to his biggest dream: one day, having his very own orchestra.
"Ladies and Gentleman," the manager said, "today we have a new singer to present to you. We guarantee you'll have a wonderful time tonight. Please, welcome Ricky Ricardo,"
Ricky then appeared. He was totally shaking, but managed to look relaxed. He then began to sing a few popular Cuban songs. It was almost closing time when he said he was going to sing his favorite song, called "Babalu". His wonderful voice and the passion with which he sang this song and played his bongo drums were so amazing that after he finished everyone stood up to clap his performance.
So, for another three years, Ricky sang almost every night at 'Mi Amada Cuba'. Occasionally, he would do some performances at parties and festivals. But, after that time, Ricky's work was not satisfying him anymore. He felt he had reached a point in his career were he deserved bigger challenges. And besides that, things were not that nice at the restaurant, as his success began to raise jealousy among some of the men that played there.
So, one day he made the decision of his lifetime: it was the moment to start a band of his own. For that, he called all the guys during a rehearsal at the restaurant and talked to them.
"Guys, I know some of you want to do something different with your lives. I just want you to know that I'm starting my own orchestra, I want you guys to be with me in that. What do you think?"
To his surprise, only two guys wanted to join him: Pedro and Horacio, his best friends.
"What's wrong, guys? I thought you all wanted a better work! I have already two performances scheduled at the best night clubs of Havana!"
But envy is a terrible thing, and most of them preferred to see Ricky's failure than to be with him in his success. However, luck is always with good people, an in less than a month, Rick found other people and his orchestra was among the most wanted in town.
"Ricky, Ricky, you have no idea who I was talking to," Pedro said as he arrived at the rehearsal one day. On those four years of the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra, Pedro always helped Ricky in the band management.
"I'll never know if you don't tell me."
'OK, I was talking to Paul Thompson. He's the owner of a cruise company."
"That's very good for him."
"Here comes the best part: he has two cruise which will be arriving here in Havana and staying for a couple of days, and he wants our band to perform at the ships!"
"Oh my God!"
"Yes, can you imagine? Performing to hundreds of Americans! We might even get a chance of being asked to go to America for a few shows!"
"Pedro, you're the best!"
"Yes, I know!" Pedro said. Ricky looked at him, smiling.
The two cruises were arriving in two weeks, so Ricky and the others had very little time to get everything ready, and this included getting new clothes and new haircuts. Besides that, they even gave an interview to a local newspaper.
The day of the first show quickly arrived, and they were very nervous, but confident because they had rehearsed a lot on the last two days. The orchestra guys took their place on the stage, and the host announced the beginning of the show.
"Ladies and Gentleman, we have the honor to present a genuine Cuban orchestra. And, as its leader and singer, Ricky Ricardo!"
Ricky entered on the stage and thanked the host. He then quickly looked around at the audience, sighed happily and gave the orchestra their cue to begin.
"Before We Loved Lucy"
Chapter 4 "Ricky"
The day was rainy and cold in Havana. Ricky was telling his Dad that no one was going to watch his first show.
"Dad, it's my first show and there will be no one there, because no one leaves home with this awful weather!" Ricky said, very quickly and nervous, almost yelling.
"Calm, down, Ricky! My God, if you don't change this heated temper of yours, I don't know what's going to happen to you."
"Oh, Father, how can you expect me to be calm? How?" Ricky was even more nervous.
"Ay ay ay ay ay..." Rick's dad said. "Stop that and go practice on your bongo drums for a while."
"Alright, but I don't know why!"
"Just go Ricky!" his Dad said laughing.
Ricky was always like that, any little thing made him tense. When it had something to do with music, then it was worse. Music was his passion since he was a child, and his parents always encouraged him to develop his singing abilities. Because of that, now, at age 18, Rick had already got a steady work at a restaurant in Havana, called 'Mi Amada Cuba'. That day was his premiere at the place, and he wanted everything to be perfect. Nothing could stand on the way to his biggest dream: one day, having his very own orchestra.
"Ladies and Gentleman," the manager said, "today we have a new singer to present to you. We guarantee you'll have a wonderful time tonight. Please, welcome Ricky Ricardo,"
Ricky then appeared. He was totally shaking, but managed to look relaxed. He then began to sing a few popular Cuban songs. It was almost closing time when he said he was going to sing his favorite song, called "Babalu". His wonderful voice and the passion with which he sang this song and played his bongo drums were so amazing that after he finished everyone stood up to clap his performance.
So, for another three years, Ricky sang almost every night at 'Mi Amada Cuba'. Occasionally, he would do some performances at parties and festivals. But, after that time, Ricky's work was not satisfying him anymore. He felt he had reached a point in his career were he deserved bigger challenges. And besides that, things were not that nice at the restaurant, as his success began to raise jealousy among some of the men that played there.
So, one day he made the decision of his lifetime: it was the moment to start a band of his own. For that, he called all the guys during a rehearsal at the restaurant and talked to them.
"Guys, I know some of you want to do something different with your lives. I just want you to know that I'm starting my own orchestra, I want you guys to be with me in that. What do you think?"
To his surprise, only two guys wanted to join him: Pedro and Horacio, his best friends.
"What's wrong, guys? I thought you all wanted a better work! I have already two performances scheduled at the best night clubs of Havana!"
But envy is a terrible thing, and most of them preferred to see Ricky's failure than to be with him in his success. However, luck is always with good people, an in less than a month, Rick found other people and his orchestra was among the most wanted in town.
"Ricky, Ricky, you have no idea who I was talking to," Pedro said as he arrived at the rehearsal one day. On those four years of the Ricky Ricardo Orchestra, Pedro always helped Ricky in the band management.
"I'll never know if you don't tell me."
'OK, I was talking to Paul Thompson. He's the owner of a cruise company."
"That's very good for him."
"Here comes the best part: he has two cruise which will be arriving here in Havana and staying for a couple of days, and he wants our band to perform at the ships!"
"Oh my God!"
"Yes, can you imagine? Performing to hundreds of Americans! We might even get a chance of being asked to go to America for a few shows!"
"Pedro, you're the best!"
"Yes, I know!" Pedro said. Ricky looked at him, smiling.
The two cruises were arriving in two weeks, so Ricky and the others had very little time to get everything ready, and this included getting new clothes and new haircuts. Besides that, they even gave an interview to a local newspaper.
The day of the first show quickly arrived, and they were very nervous, but confident because they had rehearsed a lot on the last two days. The orchestra guys took their place on the stage, and the host announced the beginning of the show.
"Ladies and Gentleman, we have the honor to present a genuine Cuban orchestra. And, as its leader and singer, Ricky Ricardo!"
Ricky entered on the stage and thanked the host. He then quickly looked around at the audience, sighed happily and gave the orchestra their cue to begin.