The 4th Pip: Whiplash* — Part VI

A fast whip and a slo-ho-ho lash. Red’s back on stage at the Apollo. (7 minutes)

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The Volume I Dedication

David and Carolyn sat in the front row of The Apollo Theater in Harlem absolutely gobsmacked. Red, their fellow Whip* had been called up to the world-famous stage.

Red now stood behind one of three microphone stands. Wilfred Frank, the self-proclaimed 4th Pip was instructing him. “You pull the “whoo-hoo” train horn after I sing ‘leavin’ on a midnight train.’ Tug, tug, whoo-hoo. Can you do that for me, Red?”

He could. Pulling the Midnight Train to Georgia train horn was the simplest move in his entire Volume I of My Diary of Pips Moves.

It was Move #1.

The “B” above the “G#”

Red leaned into his microphone.

"Would you prefer that I take the Edward Patten woo-hoo or Bubba Knight’s? I'd be delighted to take the tenor part if you are unable to reach the G#."

The kid was entirely too calm for an audience member up on a stage. Fear flashed in Frank’s eyes, and he overcompensated with a forced laugh, turning his back on the boy to face his audience.

“L…