Chapter ten: As we go along
A few days later Mike and Tixie came by the house to help with more packing. This time they were packing up Micky's belongings. This would turn out to be the biggest moving day for them with Micky moving out and Tulip and Brownie moving in. Things certainly had changed quite a bit around the beach house but the guys were starting to feel completely ready to embrace the changes that were being made. The overall atmosphere was bittersweet that day, but mainly sweet. There was also a lot of discussion going about the group within the house. The Monkees shared some of their stories about living in the house together. These stories included their tales about how they all met and when they first moved into the house.
Those stories got the other three to share their own stories of origin such as how Tulip and Brownie once hated each other when they met, and how back then neither of them had even dreamt of smoking pot. Brownie even confessed how he was always so clean-cut and on the "pure" side. Tulip said how he personally was a little more rebellious than Brownie was, but still clean-cut. However, he was the one who convinced Brownie that the two of them should smoke pot, but at the same time he claimed that Brownie was the one who smoke first and influenced him. Brownie corrected him by saying that he may have been the one to actually hit the joint first, but it was Tulip's idea all day long to even smoke.
After the pot discussion Trixie began telling them about how she met August. However, because of their current feelings towards the guy, she only gave them the condensed version of the story. She quickly moved on to her version of the origin of The Nuggets. Tulip and Brownie also chimed into the story where ever they saw fit. Tulip also ended the story with what turned out to be the all ready known description of Micky singing for them.
"…and then one day out of the blue, some curly-haired weirdo showed up and started singing for the band. Man I tell ya he could not sing worth shit and he told the worst jokes. And he was so energetic that sometimes I wanted to smash him over the head with my guitar. That guy was a real drag to have around. You know what I mean, Micky?"
"Yeah I know a guy like that." Micky said while trying to keep a straight face "That reminds me of the time when I went to sing for another band. There was this guitar player who had no business playing the guitar. He stunk so bad and half the time he looked as though he couldn't figure out where to place his fingers. But in his mind he thought he was Hendrix. I wanted to take his guitar away from him and smash it into pieces on the floor."
For just a short moment the drummer and the guitarist put on matching fake scowls directed at one another. Their scowls melted into smiles as they shared a laugh. Tulip patted Micky's back.
"You're alright, man."
Micky rested his elbow on Tulip's shoulder "Thanks. So are you."
"If you two are through," Mike said while trying to remain straight-faced "We should help these two dirty hippies move into the house."
"Oh I'm already moved in." Brownie stated, picking up his stuffed backpack "Just point me to my room and I'll be golden."
"Don't you have a drum set somewhere?" Asked Trixie
"Oh yeah. I already stored it in the garage."
"All we really have to move in is my stuff." Said Tulip "And that won't take long at all."
"Great." Mike turned to look at Micky "What about you?"
"All set. Once Donnie gets here I'll pack my stuff into his car."
"You're not taking the Monkeemobile?" Davy asked, wide-eyed
"But you love that car!" Added the equally surprised Peter
"I thought about taking it with me. But then I thought it was our car to share and that if I took it, you guys would be left to walk everywhere." He placed his hand on the side of his face and spoke in a dramatic whisper "Especially since I know how you two feel about Tulip's driving." He finished with a wink
Davy and Peter grinned as they both snickered.
"What's wrong with my driving?" Everyone else laughed over Tulip's question. "Seriously what's wrong with it?" They all looked at him like he was crazy. At first he looked at them seriously but then his face cracked into a smile as he let out a laugh "I'm just kidding. My driving scares myself sometimes. I often wonder about the dumbass who gave me a license and what he was thinking that day."
The others fired back with expressions and laughter that read "Good one." With all the kidding aside the group separated into two smaller groups one of four and the other of three. The four Monkees had gathered together to discuss something very important. They had to decide what to do about the band. It was understood that getting together for band practice was now going to be rather difficult now that two of them were going to be living elsewhere. But then the thought occurred to them that most bands around don't live together like the four of them had. When it came down to it, it was unanimous they didn't want the band to come to an end. They were willing to work a little harder to keep the band going, knowing that it would be worth it to all of them. The two groups then came together and shared what they had been discussing. Tulip, Brownie and Trixie, at the same time The Monkees were discussing their band, had decided to re-form The Nuggets as a trio. Trixie said that she would be the singer, which was what she wanted for a while. And the others said that she really was the best candidate for the roll.
Not long after this, Donnie arrived. After Donnie gave his boyfriend a kiss and greeted the others, he and Micky packed Micky's belongings into the car. Then the time had come for Micky to say his goodbyes to everyone. He stood in front of the door with an expression that was a mixture between smug and sad, and looked almost as though he was going to give a bow or speech.
"Well looks like you won't be seeing me sliding down the banister any more." He paused with a sigh and then looked at the stairs "What the hell. One more for the road."
He trotted up to the top of the spiral stairs and then slid down the railing one final time. The others simply smiled and thought to themselves that this day would not have been complete if they hadn't seen Micky slide down the banister at some point. Micky then went up to everyone, giving them each a hug and said goodbye to them once more before heading back over to the door. He and Donnie then stepped outside and got into Donnie's car. Inside the house Mike stood with his arms wrapped around Trixie and a gentle, proud smile on his lips.
"He'll do just fine."
"Our Micky's all grown up and moving out on his own." Trixie said while imitating Mike's southern drawl. To this Mike only brightened his smile
At this point Tulip and Brownie had gone off to explore their new home together. Davy and Peter grinned at each other before walking over to Mike and Trixie. All four of them then met in a group hug. A couple seconds into the hug someone commented that if Micky was there the hug would have been complete. This caused the four of them to chorus together in laughter.
Just a week later The Monkees had gathered together in the house for the first band practice since Mike and Micky had moved out. Trixie had come over with Mike but left shortly before the practice had started, without letting them know what she was up to. However, they decided that they wouldn't question anything about it since they knew that she would explain once she returned. Instead they jumped right into their band practice. This had actually been their first time practicing since right before the wedding but they played as though they had just done it the day before.
Part way through the practice Trixie strolled in through the front door with a smile. She sat on the couch and happily listened to them as they finished the song they were in the middle of. When the song was done all four guys approached her at once, all but Mike speaking to her. Davy and Peter finished what they were saying, Mike greeted her with a kiss, and Micky continued his ramble to whoever would pretend to listen. Once they were certain that Micky was finished talking, Mike asked Trixie where she had gone to.
"I was actually at my old house." She stood up "I have been keeping a surprise for all of you guys. Well mainly for Michael but you guys will like it too."
"Well what is it?"
"Tell us!"
"I was able to get my old house back since it has not been sold. It has officially been put into mine and Michael's names. Michael the house is ours!"
"Are you serious?" Mike asked with a smile "We have a house here in LA?"
Trixie nodded vigorously with a smile "Yes Michael! At the end of this month we can move in!"
"That's wonderful honey!" he gave her a big kiss
Meanwhile the other three guys stood there watching with matching expressions of glee. The three of them then linked together and jumped up and down as they shouted in celebration. Trixie whistled loudly to get their attention. They stopped and looked at her.
"There's one more thing. I also happened to talk to Donnie the other day." She said
"My Donnie?" Asked Micky "You're not stealing him away from me, are you?" He joked
"Oh yes, Micky. Donnie and I have been having a secret affair. It's now out in the open."
"I knew it!" Micky dramatically exclaimed
"You hussy!" Mike yelled in mock-disgust
Trixie laughed and the two guys retained their normal expressions "Any way. As I was saying, Donnie and I were talking the other day about you guys and The Nuggets. I originally was going to ask him if he was interested in becoming the forth member of The Nuggets."
"That would be a disaster." stated Micky "I love him but, man, he's got no music talent whatsoever. In fact he has the opposite of music talent."
"Exactly what he said. But then… wait did you just say you love Donnie?" She smirked
"Yeah I did." He smiled with a slight blush "But that's not what we're waiting to hear about."
"Oh alright. Any way, long story short, Donnie has agreed to manage both The Monkees and The Nuggets."
The guys showed their enthusiasm over the news Trixie had brought them. Not only did they all get to be closer together but thanks to Micky's boyfriend the bands would be able to get more, and better paid gigs. And since Donnie would be managing both bands that meant there was a good chance they would play together at the gigs. This caused them to all celebrate. In just a few months the lives of this group of young people had dramatically changed, but to them it looked as though it was for the better.
Just a few months ago The Monkees were still sharing their beloved beach house as a struggling band. It occurred to them that if the events of the summer had not taken place they would not have been on their way out of this perpetual struggle they had been in for the past few years, Micky would not have felt comfortable to finally come out as a bisexual, they would not have met their newest friends, and Mike would not have made Trixie his wife. They all were more than glad that these changes had taken place when they had. They also felt that this wasn't an end of an era, but rather a great start to a brand new era. And this new beginning for them they were ready to embrace.