The Radio Contest

Hello future readers!

This past Monday after school, I was sitting in my room listening to my radio, and playing "Dance Party" with my dolls. Sometimes I like listening to the bigger stations like KHJ in Los Angeles, but we have a local radio station here in town, KSFD. I like this station, because it has groovy contests, and the DJs come to supermarkets and schools and sign autographs or sometimes they even do the radio show from the high school gym or the drive-in and stuff like that. That day I was listening to my favorite DJ, "Madman Mike". He was playing all my favorite songs!

"You better Get It Together, or leave it alone. If you don't want my lovin', I'll be gone."

After that song, Madman Mike announced it was contest time! Yay! He asked "What 3 popular songs have the word "Baby" in the title, and who is the artist or group who sings them?" You had to be the 25th caller, and you could win a meal for you and a guest at Sam's Snack Shack! Outta site!

I ran to the T.V. room to call the station. First I was the 3rd caller, then the 10th, then the 17th! Man, I wish we had a push-button phone!

Finally, I got through! I was the 25th caller! Far out! Dynamite! Madman Mike asked my name and how old I was. I told him, and he asked the question again, "What 3 songs have the word "baby" in the title and who sings them?" I was so excited! I told him, "Baby I'm-A Want You" by Bread, "Baby Don't get Hooked On Me", by Mac Davis, and "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae. Then Madman Mike said, "Julie Ann Newman, you are a WINNER!" I couldn't believe it! I was yelling and jumping up and down!

Then I gave the station manager my name and address, so he could send me the certificate! My mom came running in to see what I was yelling about. When I told her, she started yelling too! She was so happy for me! Then came the hard part...who would be my guest? I knew I had til the certificate came in the mail to decide, but this was gonna be tough! All my friends are pretty groovy, and I didn't want anyone to feel bad. I knew at least some of the kids heard me on the radio, and they were all gonna ask me who I was gonna invite at school the next day.  No one really hounded me about it, but they were all pretty curious.

On Wednesday, we had a half-day at school so the teachers could get ready for Open House, (you know, when your parents come to school?). We got out right before lunch. When I got home, my mom told me that I got an envelope from the radio station, and it was in my room. All right!

I sat down and opened the envelope. The certificate looked real official.

This was it, I had to decide, but who would I choose? I thought about all my friends. I guess some people think it's weird that I don't have a best friend. I consider all my friends my best friends for different reasons, even the boys. But I hadn't seen too much of one of my friends lately, because she was helping her mom take care of her grandma while her dad was out of town on a business trip. That was Lisa. I figured she deserved a treat after helping her mom so much. Now that her dad was back, I knew she could probably go with me. I asked my mom and she thought it was a great idea. So I called Lisa and asked if she wanted to go, and she did!

When we got to Sam's, Jason, Danny and Jennifer were already there. Lisa and I both ordered a hamburger, french fries, and a vanilla milkshake.

Lisa thanked me for choosing her to be my guest. She told me that she's felt like she's been on another planet, since she hasn't be able to see her friends lately. I told her I figured a free lunch here at Sam's was just what she needed.

Danny and Jason were busy playing pinball (as usual), but told me they thought it was cool that I won the contest, and Lisa was a good choice since she hasn't been around much.

Jennifer was excited for us, too. She was busy choosing music on the jukebox. When she picked "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae (one of my answers in the contest), Lisa and I knew we had to get up and dance!

We had a super time. Sam even told me I could keep the certificate to remember that day with. Outta site! It was a day to remember, and so was the day I won the contest. Do kids still listen to the radio and win contests in the future? I hope you do, because I think it will always be one of my coolest memories!

Until next time, future readers,
Your friend,
Julie Newman