Chapter 37. I've Finally Seen My Way
"Mom's worried," Clara told Mike, noting he was still awake as she entered the room.
Mike nodded. "I know. She don't need to be, though. I'm good."
"Oh, yeah, you look real good," Clara shot back, noting his pallor. "Still in pain?"
"Nah," Mike almost laughed. "Just kind of floatin' now."
Clara could help but smile. "Good. You could use some time above all this mess. " Sobering, she shook her head. "Think it'll ever stop?"
"It did once. I reckon it will again." Mike shrugged.
"It didn't stop. Mike. It just couldn't find you.." Clara corrected sadly. "Now it's like they can find you wherever you go."
"We knew they wasn't done," Mike pointed out with a sigh. "They're Nesmiths."
"Hey, I resemble that remark," Clara laughed humorlessly. "And so do you."
"Speak for yourself," he smirked. "It keeps going like it is, I might just change my name to Smith or somethin'.".
"Won't change who you are inside." Clara pointed out. Before he could argue, she added,"And it won't need to. You're not like them at all."
Mike smiled. "Thank you." Drawing a breath, he asked, "What are they all up to now?"
"Plottin' for your wellbein', of course." Clara replied.
Michael groaned. "Dangit," he sighed, rising up from the bed. "This has got to stop. Let's go."
"Um...Mike. I'm supposed to stay here with you." Clara reminded him.
"Pick one." He replied. "stay here or stay with me. You can't do both." Reaching the door he suggested, "Decide quick."
"Michael!" she exclaimed, jumping up and following him to the room the girls shared. "I'm sorry, Mama, he just up and went."
"I'm told y'all are over here plottin' for me, and as much as I appreciate the sentiment, you need to just let this one go." Mike announced, holding up a hand to forestall the arguments. "I ain't so all-fired fragile as y'all seem to think anymore, alright? Now, just...just please... let me handle this."
"Michael, you were clearly in pain when you got back, and obviously upset," Aunt Kate protested.
"Yes, I was in pain and it had me settin' back a minute, but it's gonna do that. Doc Parsons warned us it could be months doin' that and you can't get all twisted up every time it does. Now, I know how to sit back a spell if I need to and I know where them dang pills for that are if I need them. I can't be taken them things every time, though. Just settin' a spell and givin' myself a chance to breathe might have got me to the same place. Well, almost. Maybe not quite so spacy." Mike had the good grace to look a bit sheepish at that.
Davy looked at Mike and sighed. "You can't blame us for wanting to look out for you after everything that happened, Mike. We're probably going to want to for a long time. You might as well accept that. I mean...it's not like we can really help it."
He looked around at his family, both those he'd been born to and those he'd been fortunate enough to find. "I know. And I imagine there'll be days I might still need all this fussin' over, but this just ain't one of'em." Seating himself between Peter and Davy one one of the beds, he wrapped an arm around each of them, nodding toward Micky as he went on. "I know you'll be here when I do, though, and that means everything to me. You're the ones who reminded me what bein' family really meant, and I'm grateful for that. Them three parasites who showed up today - they can't hurt me anymore. They don't matter. I'm done gettin' all tied up in knots every time they come near me. When that ranch house burned down, it took all that evil with it. Can't none of it touch me anymore. I don't never have to go back to that again. "
"But you seemed upset when you got back," Peter pointed out. "And you were moving so slow and you looked pale, like you kind of still do, and you weren't talking to anyone."
"I was in pain, Pete. That's all. I just needed to get myself together so I could breathe straight then I'd have been alright." Mike reassured him.
"Did they hurt you?" Pete needed to know.
Mike looked at his friend and shook his head, patting his shoulder, he answered honestly, "Nah, Babe. Not really. I wasn't feelin' great when I got to movin' around this mornin', Micky can tell ya. They got a few licks in, I won't lie, but most I was feelin' b'fore we ever left," Holding up a hand, he attempted to forestall Aunt Kate's admonitions. "I remember our conversation the other mornin' and I know, I got to be more careful. I will. I'm thick, but I do learn."
"But what about if they come at you again?" Davy pressed.
"It don't matter if they do or don't, Davy. It didn't change nothing, and that got them heated and they acted out like they always done, just like I expect we all knew they would. And it still didn't change nothing. I told Micky to let it go, though, and now I'm telling you." Mike replied. "It just don't matter anymore."
"I don't like it." Aunt Kate grumbled. "I don't like them all a'comin' at you like that."
"Me neither, but we knew they would. I got done what I needed to do there." MIke shrugged. "Now, soon as we get things finished up tonight we can get on home, and leave all this behind us and just get on back to our lives. Not that I ain't enjoyed your hospitality, Aunt Kate, but I'm just about done with this whole bag. "Seeing the objection in her eyes, he quickly implored, "Before you say anything, I do know I still gotta lean on folks some and yes, I learned it ain't all on me, but this once can we all just remember I'm a grown man and stop all tryin' to all be mother hens, please?"
"Don't you even want to know Mama's idea for handlin' em?" Lucy asked, a slow smile illuminating her features.
"Seriously, MIke, you gotta hear this." MIcky grinned. "Now we know where you get this from. You'll love it."
Mike lowered his head, trying not to laugh as he shook his head. "Y'all are impossible, you know that, right?" Sighing dramatically, he looked over at his aunt and conceded gracefully. "Alright. Let's hear it."
"Well, I was just thinking how you told Jen they was th'wicked witches." Aunt Kate waited to be sure he remembered saying that. "And you know old Irma done conned Sadie into making dinner tonight into a pot luck so's all your people down there can say goodbye and wish you well and all right good and proper this time." Seeing Mike's objection, she held up her hand. "Now don't you say no, Michael, don't you dare. They got their ghosts to lay to rest too, boy. What happened to your mama and you kids done left its mark on them, too. Them people loved your mama and you kids and they lost all of you that night and didn't none of them get a chance to say goodbye proper. When they got news of what happened in California - you gettin' shot and nearly killed and your own kinfolk being involved and all...well, they done a whole lot of prayin' for you , young man. You had a whole lot of people prayin' and fearin' and hurtin' for you all over again. They need to see you and hear you and touch you and know for themselves that you're okay. And them babies...they all know'd as how you saved them and that they all but you got to go to good homes and all, but that don't mean they didn't miss seein' them growin' and all. Don't you deny them this, boy. Give them this."
Mike averted his gaze, shamed at his thoughtlessness. Of course it had affected all of them, too. Reluctantly he nodded, promising he'd cooperate.
"Anyhow, we ain't none of us been too silent about the plan tonight, so I reckon them three'll turn up somewhere along the line tryin' to lord high above everyone and get what they come for, seein' as folks just don't ever tell them no." Aunt Kate went on describing the plan now that they'd settled that. "and the kids'll be playin' and tryin' to keep cool and all. "
Mike's eyes went wide and he tried not to laugh. "Oh, now Aunt Kate I know you ain't meanin' we should let'em…"
"I most certainly am." Aunt Kate corrected. "I admit at first I thought me and the ladies might all have our go at'em, but I know'd that wouldn't sit well with ya. So instead I figure if they want to follow you around acting like a bunch o'witches, then it's only right to see to it the young are protected right and proper, right?"
"Come on, Mike. You have to admit it's poetic justice, right?" Micky urged his friend.
Mike couldn't help but laugh. "Shame they won't actually melt," he grinned, shaking his head.
"Now, how do you know they won't?" Clara nudged him with her foot. "Never know until you try it."
Mike looked at the faces of his fellow Monkees, seeing the same joy and mischief in each. "I reckon you're right," he agreed at last.
"Hey, MIke," Peter began, looking at his bandmate hopefully. "Can we still sing 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead' even if they don't? Please?"
At that point, everyone lost it. When at last Mike could catch his breath, he gave Peter's shoulder a squeeze as he answered, "Sure thing, Shotgun. You go right on ahead."