I DON'T OWN ANYTHING EXCEPT FOR DANNI. THE COUNTRY BEARS BELONGS TO DISNEY
Chapter 3
It took us awhile to find Tennessee's office but we eventually did see it. Actually it was me that saw the sign.
It read: TENNESSEE O'NEAL: MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
When I saw it, I said, "Look there it is! Right there, Roadie!"
"Okay, I see it," Roadie said, turning into the parking lot. We walked in and Henry walked up to the receptionist.
"Hello, miss, we're here to see Tennessee," he said. She looked up at Henry and said, "Do you have an appointment?"
"Well, uh, no, but we're old friends, and…" Henry trailed off, gesturing to the rest of our group. I was standing with Zeb (surprise, surprise), and Beary was with Fred. It's not like I was stalking Zeb, I just liked to be around him. He had this aura, I suppose you'd call it, that made me feel completely at ease. And he didn't seem to mind me being around him all the time, because he hadn't told me to bugger off or anything. In fact, if anything, he seemed exceptionally happier when I was around him.
The receptionist's eyes got wide when she saw Fred and Zeb. "Oh my god; you're the Country Bears, right? Oh well, you go right ahead. He has an appointment right now, but once the couple exits his office, you're free to go in."
"Thank you, miss," Henry said with a smile. She nodded and we went past her desk and into the hallway that led to Tennessee's office. Zeb snorted when we reached the door and I looked at him in confusion.
"What's so funny?" I asked him. He pointed to the plaque on the door and I read it: "Dr. Tennessee O'Neal."
"What's so funny about that? It's just his name, Zeb."
Zeb was shaking with laughter and said, "Yeah, but…Doctor! I never thought I see the day when the word Doctor came before Tennessee's name!"
His laughter was infectious and I couldn't help but laugh along with him. Henry rolled his eyes and we sat down in the chairs that were outside Tennessee's office. Not five minutes later, a couple came out and closed the door behind them. Before they did, however, we could hear crying and blubbering sounds coming from inside the office.
"I feel better," the wife said. The husband looked at her and said, "He's good." They walked off and Henry stood up and the rest of us followed. He knocked on the door and we heard, "Oh…come in…" accompanied by some sniffles.
We entered the office and when Tennessee turned around in his chair, his eyes widened and he said, "Huh? Don't tell me you're getting' the band back together?"
Henry smiled and said, "Tennessee, we're getting the band back together!"
Tennessee blinked a couple of times like he was in shock and then he got up. He was still young and by the looks of it, Zeb was the same age as Tennessee, which looked to be about 37 years old. He smiled and hugged Henry, Fred, and Zeb all in turn.
"I gotta say, it is good to see you guys again. I mean, I saw Zeb a couple years ago, but still…"
"So, Tennessee, why don't you come with us?"
"I don't know guys. I've got a career now; I can't just walk away from it."
"Come on, Tennessee. We need you."
"Alright, look, how about we go to Johnie's for breakfast and you can tell me what this is all about, alright?" Tennessee said. We nodded and got Tennessee in the tour bus and he told Roadie where to go.
While Roadie was driving, Tennessee looked at me and Beary as though he only just realized that we were there. "Who are you two, now?"
I smiled at him and said, "I'm Danni, and this is Beary."
"Ah. And why are you here?"
Henry turned to Tennessee and said, "Well, this whole thing was these kids' idea. They arrived at Country Bear Hall and…well, you see, boys…they're gonna tear down Country Bear Hall."
"What?" the three former Country Bears yelped. Henry nodded and said, "Yeah, well, anyway these kids showed up and Reed Thimple, the man who owns the bank, was kinda mean to them, Danni told him to shove it, and then they came up with the plan to save Country Bear Hall with a benefit concert and getting you guys back together."
"Wow," Zeb said. Then he turned to me, "So you actually told that weasel banker to shove it?"
I nodded and he laughed. "Well, actually, it was better than that," Beary said. "What she actually said was 'up yours' after he laughed at us for trying to help."
Everyone laughed then and I said, "Then he said, 'What?' like he didn't understand me and I said, 'What are you deaf as well as stupid? I said, 'Up yours.''."
Henry said, "Honestly, though, I've wanted to tell Reed that for years. Just didn't have the guts. Glad someone did, though."
I smiled at Henry and then we reached the diner. We got inside and we were seated. We told Tennessee the whole plan and he said, "I'm sorry, guys. I just can't play the Thang, not without Trixie there, I…"
He trailed off miserably and Beary asked, "Why'd she break up with you?"
"Was it that sweater you're wearing?" Zeb asked. I had to suppress a giggle in the face of Tennessee's misery. Zeb winked at me as though he knew I was trying not to laugh.
"Took off with a rich, millionaire, real-estate guy. A panda!" Tennessee told us.
"What's with the pandas? They get everything!" Fred said.
"You're telling me!" Tennessee said.
"Personally, I think pandas are vastly overrated. I mean, yes, the colors are nice, but other than that, they aren't that great. Besides, all that ego-boosting stuff they get makes them so stuck up! I'll stick to a good Country bear, thank you very much," I said. Beary looked at me with his eyebrows raised and Zeb just said, "It's a miracle! We've found a girl who prefers bears like us to pandas!"
Everyone laughed at Zeb and while everyone was busy laughing, he whispered to me, "I'm glad you don't like the pandas better than us."
I smiled at him and said, "Well, I'm glad you're glad."
"You're sure it wasn't that sweater?" Zeb asked, once everyone stopped laughing.
"Zeb!" Henry said. Zeb shrugged and Tennessee continued.
"If I knew where she was, I'd be there in a second. But even if I could play, who'd come? No one cares about the Country Bears no more! Nobody even knows who we are!"
Just then, Tennessee was proven wrong when the waitress came over and handed us menus and said, "Hey how's everybody doing?"
Then she looked at Tennessee and said, "Oh my gosh, you're the Country Bears."
"You know who we are?" Tennessee asked hopefully.
"Sure. You guys inspired me to go after my dream to become a famous singer!"
"Did ya make it?" Fred asked.
Zeb scoffed and said, "Yeah, Fred, she made it; she just works here for the free uniform."
Fred growled at him and Zeb turned to the waitress and said, "Sorry, no offense."
"None taken. I'm still working on it. I even do one of your songs, 'Kick It into Gear'."
That was an old song, but a good one. "That old thing?" Zeb asked.
"Blow the dust off that one," Fred said.
"Well, I kinda got my own arrangement. Sometimes you just gotta kick into gear!" she sang. She was really good and it sounded as though she modernized the song.
"Hey come on, sing it! Come on!" one of the cooks yelled.
And so she did: When your grip keeps slippin' and
your clutch is gone.
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
you're tired
spinning your wheels on
your brains front lawn.
ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Well keep your asphalt under,
sunny side up
A gas credit card
and a giant coffee cup
The rest of your life is gonna
find you here
Get up on the highway and
kick it into gear,
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
That's the only way you're gonna
get em out of here
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
sometimes you just got to
kick it into gear
Hydro-matic or a turbo drive.
ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Well it ain't the destination
it's the ride, ride, ride
ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh
Put the heavy to the metal
and grab onto the road I hear your motor runnin' it's about to explode
Still be waitin' this time next year
Head on down the highway
and kick it into gear
Kick it in gear,
Kick it in gear
That's the only way you're gonna
get em out of here
Kick it in gear,
Kick it in gear
Sometimes you just got to
kick it into gear
Whoo!
Oh yeah!
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
That's the only way you're gonna
get em out of here
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
So if you want to yeah
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
That's the only way you're gonna
get em out of here
Kick it in gear,
kick it in gear
Sometimes you just got to kick it into gear.
When she was done singing, everyone was transfixed. I was the only one of our group that didn't have my mouth wide open.
"So how do you like your eggs?" she asked.
Zeb was the first one to snap out of it. "Hot!" he said.
"Yeah like us!" Fred interjected. She laughed and walked away.
"I guess people do remember us," Tennessee said.
"Yeah," Zeb said. "Henry's even on TV!"
We turned around and watched the TV. It was the news. The man was saying, "The Police believe that this man," it flashed a picture of Henry, "is involved in the abduction of this ten year old boy," it flashed a picture of Beary, "and this eighteen year old girl," it flashed a picture of me.
We couldn't believe what we were seeing. Kidnapping? Uh, no, try we went willingly with them because it was our idea!
"Police also believe that his accomplices are this man," it flashed a picture of Fred, "this man," a picture of Roadie, "and this chicken," it flashed a picture of Mr. Chicken, "who are all traveling in this bus," it flashed a picture of the tour bus.
"We'll keep you updated on Bus Watch!" the reporter finished.
We turned around and Henry sunk as low as possible in his seat and covered his face with his menu.
"You guys are kidnappers?" Zeb asked. I glared at him and he fell silent.
"Of course not, Zeb!" Henry said.
"Guys," Beary said, "I think we have a problem." We looked where Beary was pointing and gasped.
Two police officers had just entered the diner.
