Fandemonium, part 3
The room was pitch black when Danny awakened. Rolling over, he looked at the clock on the nightstand between his and Chris's bed and Keith's. Squinting, he made the time out to be just slightly after midnight. Chris slept soundly beside him, for he could feel the warmth of his body and Danny rubbed his eyes, trying to get them used to the darkness. He looked over at Keith's bed. It was empty and Danny frowned, sitting up. It was then that he saw the light shining from underneath the bathroom door, and he lay back, thinking that everything was okay.
He was wrong.
The sound of retching and coughing made him sit up again. Pushing off the covers, Danny stumbled to the door. "Keith?" he called, trying not to wake Chris.
A moan, then, "Go away…" It was agonizing.
Danny tried the door. The handle turned and he peered inside. Keith was on the floor, next to the commode, his back against the tub. He was pale and appeared to be in a lot of pain.
Danny came forward. "Are you okay? Do you want me to get Mom?" He got a glass of water from the sink, handing it to his brother.
Keith shook his head, drinking the water down, then drawing his knees up and running a shaky hand through his hair. "No…" He flinched, both hands pressing into his ribs.
Danny sat on the floor beside him, watching him intently, worriedly. "Want to talk about it?"
Keith pulled another face. Why was everybody so interested in talking?
"Are you worried about the show?" Danny stared at him.
Keith shook his head, closing his eyes. "Look, it's not your problem, so just go on back to bed, okay?"
Defiantly, Danny shook his head. "Not until you do."
He was fighting a losing battle with this kid. With a sigh, Keith crawled to his feet with Danny's help. Leaning on the counter in front of the mirror, Keith still held his midsection, trying to hide the pain from the redhead.
Danny was not fooled. "Keith?" He grabbed his brother's arm.
"Oh, god," Keith whispered. "Danny, get my pills. They're on the dresser."
Danny did as he was told as Keith leaned harder on the counter, fighting the urge to cry out. The purging had done a number on his ribs, and the pain was so bad it took his breath away.
Danny pulled the cap off the bottle, quickly dumping two capsules into Keith's hand, his heart pounding as his brother swallowed them and chased them with more water. He massaged Keith's arm, staring up at him. "Okay?"
Still tensing from the pain, Keith nodded.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed. Here, lean on me," Danny looped Keith's arm around his shoulders while holding on to his brother's robe.
It was only a short distance to the bed, and Keith crawled onto it, moaning.
Working with the light emitting from the bathroom, Danny pulled the covers around up around Keith as Chris stirred in the nearby bed.
"What's going on?" the boy murmured, sitting up.
"Nothing, go back to sleep." Danny whispered as Keith moaned again.
"Is Keith okay?" Chris's eyes were wide in the dimly lit room.
"Yes. I said, go back to sleep."
"No. I'm scared." Chris could tell they were keeping something from him.
"Come on over here, Chris, and keep me company," Keith said tiredly.
"Hey," Danny frowned. "I got your pills for you."
"You, too," Keith patted the bed as Chris crawled in next to him.
Danny grinned. "Lemme turn out the light." He dashed into the bathroom, flipping the switch, and the room went dark again.
It was a perfect day to just loll by the pool, so that's what most of the Partridges did. Laurie absorbed herself in her book once again and tried to get a decent tan in her halter top and shorts. Danny's swim trunks never had a chance to dry as he played constantly in the water. Chris and Tracy batted a huge colorful beach ball back and forth as they easily floated on a pair of blow-up toys. Even Keith was there, sprawled out on a lounge chair not far from Laurie's, wearing his swim trunks, sunglasses and a tank top to hide the bandages around his ribs. All was peaceful; no one bothered any of them, for which Keith was most grateful.
Reuben, looking like an outcast in his suit and tie, approached the kids, dodging the splashes from the pool's occupants. As he passed Keith, he slapped his foot. "How's it going?"
"Okay," Keith didn't move.
"Hi, Reuben. What's up?" Laurie looked up from her novel.
"There's a supermarket opening over in Sparks and they asked for some of the family to cut the ribbon. Your mother said she'd go, and asked for a couple more volunteers." Reuben pulled out a webbed chair, sitting down.
Keith just grunted, and Laurie bit her lower lip. "Gee, I'd love to, but the lifeguard asked me to lunch."
Sighing, Reuben turned to the last three, who had come to the side of the pool in curiosity. "Okay, how about you guys?"
"Will there be food?" Danny asked ravenously.
"Probably. If not, there's always some drive-in we can hit. How about it? For your mother."
The boys and Tracy looked at one another. "Okay, I guess we can. But who'll watch Keith and Laurie?" Danny jerked his thumb in their direction.
"Well, the lifeguard can take care of Laurie, and I guess Keith will have to fend for himself," Reuben answered.
Now Danny looked concerned. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" His voice dropped to a whisper.
Reuben leaned down, whispering back. "I think he'll be okay for a couple of hours," he said, looking back over his shoulder.
The kids climbed out of the pool, each grabbing a towel. "I think I'd better stay. He might need me." Danny said after some thought.
"Suit yourself," Reuben smiled. He turned to Keith and Laurie. "We should be back by two, then you can rehearse."
"Okay," Laurie waved, looking over at Keith. He was either asleep or too comfortable to move, because he hadn't so much as twitched a muscle. "Do you want me to cancel my lunch date?" she asked.
Keith lifted up his sunglasses. "No, why?"
"Well, in case you need anything…"
Danny, the towel around his neck, joined them. "What do you think I'm here for?"
Keith laid back. "Oh, great, just great. Look, I'm not crippled, for cripe's sake."
"I know, but…" Laurie began. Keith finished for her.
"But if I want to talk about it, you're here, right?" He pulled a face.
She smiled. "Okay, okay, I get it. Lay off the psychology talk."
"Yeah," Danny frowned. "You just go on with your reading and your date. I'll take care of Keith."
"That does it…" Keith tried to sit up, but the tightness of the bandages under his shirt made it difficult. Both Danny and Laurie reached over, pulling him up. He shook them off.
"What are you doing?" Laurie asked.
"I'm going upstairs and take a shower. It's too crowded out here." Keith groused, finally getting to his feet.
"Wait, we'll go with you." Danny motioned to Laurie.
Keith was already halfway to the hotel entrance before the two of them caught up with him. "Why are you following me?" Keith asked, exasperated. "I'm just going to take a shower, for Pete's sake…"
He pulled the door open and the action caused a pain in his ribcage. He flinched, grabbing his side as Danny nodded, his freckled face all too serious. "That's why we're following you."
Shaking his head, Keith moved on to the elevators. Pressing the button, he kept his hand on his tank top as the pain slowly dissipated.
It was then that they heard the scream. All three Partridges looked up and were surprised to see about half a dozen teenage girls running at them full speed.
"Oh, no…" Keith moaned, turning and punching the elevator button once again. The doors remained closed, and all he could do was back up against a wall as they charged toward them, crying his name and squealing even louder.
"My gosh!" Laurie exclaimed as they practically trampled over her to get to Keith.
Photos and autograph books extended, they swarmed him, while flashbulbs popped in his face, virtually blinding him. A pen somehow ended up in his hand and he began scribbling his name on anything that didn't move, just trying to get through this alive. Young, freshly manicured hands began to grab at him. He did his best to fend them off, starting to panic. He was suffocating again, even as Danny and Laurie tried to intervene, trying to get between him and the overly excited girls.
Then the elevator doors slid open and Laurie pushed Keith inside as Danny began to politely push the girls back. They voiced their disappointment, waiting until the doors closed in their faces before moving away.
Huddled in the corner of the elevator, Keith sank slowly down to the carpet, totally exhausted.
Laurie and Danny exchanged worried looks, joining him on the floor. "Are you okay?" Laurie put a gentle hand on his shoulder as Danny gave him the once over.
Pressing his head into the carpeted elevator wall, Keith just closed his eyes.
Laurie noticed that his hand was bleeding. 'Poor guy,' she thought, 'No wonder he's so paranoid.'
Danny looked up at the lighted floor buttons above them. They were approaching the twelfth floor. "We're almost there, Keith. Come on, can you stand up?"
He and Laurie carefully pulled him up just as the car stopped and the doors opened once more. Their arms around their brother, they began the long walk to the room.
Keith stood back in the shower, letting the hot water spray all over him, hoping to relieve some of the muscle pain. It felt good, the sting of the water, as it hit his skin, especially his back.
He was almost relaxed when it all came back to him: the sights and sounds of the Coliseum; the incident at the elevator. Hearing the screaming in his head, Keith put his hands over his ears, pressing back against the shower wall.
The horrifying visions of him nearly being trampled to death flashed through his mind and he shook his head, trying to crawl into a corner as if to escape it, but the flashes kept coming, one after the other. He began to cry, huddled there, naked as a jaybird, feeling more vulnerable than one could ever imagine. Luckily, the sound of the water drowned out his sobs. All he needed now was for Laurie and Danny to come rushing in.
He stayed pressed up against the wall, letting all the frustrations of the past few days come out there in his little watery haven. Was this was another step in the healing process, or was he doomed to these flashbacks forever? Still weeping, he slid to the shower floor as the hot water continued to pour down over him.
Just beyond the bathroom door, Laurie looked at her watch. "He's been in there for half an hour," she remarked to Danny, who stared blankly at the TV screen where an old Western flickered.
"He likes long showers, you know that," Danny murmured.
"He could have fallen or something."
Danny looked at her. "I think we would have heard it. Take it easy. If he's not out in ten minutes, I'll check on him."
Laurie sat on the bed next to the boy. "Aren't you the least bit worried, Danny? Keith's already feeling vulnerable because of what happened in L.A. and now this. Don't you wonder what it's doing to his psyche?"
Danny sighed. "Yes, I'm worried. He's my brother, too, you know. I'm very worried, but I don't know what to do. All I know is that if he needs me, I'll be here." He said it almost angrily. "Besides, I don't know what a psyche is!"
Laurie smiled. She'd forgotten that he was only eleven. Danny had that affect on a lot of people. In some ways, he was so much older than her, Keith and sometimes even Mom. But right now, he was just being a frustrated kid, lashing out because he was confused over Keith's situation, as was she.
She reached over, tousling his hair as the bathroom door opened, and Keith came out dressed in his robe. His face was blotched and his eyes were red, and Laurie could tell he'd been crying, but she didn't press it.
"Feel any better?" she asked.
"Yeah." Keith's voice was soft as he walked over to the window.
"You want any lunch? We could order room service," Danny offered.
Keith shook his head. He leaned on the window sill, his hands in the robe's pockets.
Laurie couldn't take it any more. "Keith, please talk to us…tell us what's bothering you…we want to help."
He turned to look at her, his dark eyes meeting her blue ones. "I'm okay." It was quick, to the point and finished. Or, so he thought.
"You're not 'okay,' Keith. You're hurting inside, and you need to share it with someone before it becomes too much to handle."
"Laurie…" Danny sounded nervous. "Leave him alone, okay? Let's wait until Mom comes back, at least."
Laurie ignored him, moving to her older brother. "Why won't you talk about it? If you did, you'd feel better." She reached for him, touching his arm.
He pulled back, almost in terror.
" Leave him alone. Can't you see he doesn't want to talk?" Danny got between them.
At that, the door opened, and Shirley, Reuben and the kids came in. Unaware of the turmoil brewing between her three eldest, Shirley smiled brightly. "You kids ready for rehearsal?"
"I'm not going," Keith muttered, stalking to the dresser and yanking out a pair of faded jeans and a tee shirt. He pushed past everyone, going back into the bathroom and slamming the door.
"Oooh. Somebody's a little upset," Reuben observed.
"Okay, what's up?" Shirley read the frustration on Laurie and Danny's faces.
"We had a little run-in with some fans downstairs. I think it shook him up a little," Danny explained. "Then Laurie hits him with all this psychology stuff, and pow, he really turns off and clams up."
"Laurie, you didn't…" Shirley looked at her daughter.
"Mom, he really needs to talk to someone. It's eating him up inside."
"You don't know that. You're not an expert, honey. Besides, you're too close to the situation. Your words, Laurie, not mine."
Redressed, Keith came out of the bathroom, avoiding his sister's eyes completely. "I'm going for a walk," he muttered, sitting on the bed to put his shoes on.
"What about rehearsal?" Shirley asked.
"Have it without me." His answer was curt.
"And how do you propose we do that? You sing lead, remember?"
He sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't know," he waved his hand. "And right now, I really don't care…I can't do this anymore, Mom."
Shirley put her hand on his head. "Can't do what, anymore, honey?'
"This…whole performing thing." He looked up at her, his eyes brimming. "I don't think I can go on tonight."
Reuben jumped. "Not go on?!" the manager cried. "You have to go on! Do you want us to get sued?"
Shirley put her hand up, stopping his outburst. She touched Keith's shoulder. "Look, you've just been shaken up. Maybe you should rest awhile. We can hold off the rehearsal for another two hours or so. You go for your walk, or better yet, stay here and take a nap. Then at four o'clock, you meet us down in the showroom, and we'll talk about this, all right?"
Keith looked around at his siblings, all staring at him at once. Glancing up at Shirley, he saw the worry in her eyes, and Reuben, well, he was nearly beside himself!
"Okay," Keith agreed. He took another deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Remember, 4:00 sharp, in the showroom," Shirley's eyes pierced his.
He smiled, nodding. Shirley motioned the others toward the door.
Continued
The room was pitch black when Danny awakened. Rolling over, he looked at the clock on the nightstand between his and Chris's bed and Keith's. Squinting, he made the time out to be just slightly after midnight. Chris slept soundly beside him, for he could feel the warmth of his body and Danny rubbed his eyes, trying to get them used to the darkness. He looked over at Keith's bed. It was empty and Danny frowned, sitting up. It was then that he saw the light shining from underneath the bathroom door, and he lay back, thinking that everything was okay.
He was wrong.
The sound of retching and coughing made him sit up again. Pushing off the covers, Danny stumbled to the door. "Keith?" he called, trying not to wake Chris.
A moan, then, "Go away…" It was agonizing.
Danny tried the door. The handle turned and he peered inside. Keith was on the floor, next to the commode, his back against the tub. He was pale and appeared to be in a lot of pain.
Danny came forward. "Are you okay? Do you want me to get Mom?" He got a glass of water from the sink, handing it to his brother.
Keith shook his head, drinking the water down, then drawing his knees up and running a shaky hand through his hair. "No…" He flinched, both hands pressing into his ribs.
Danny sat on the floor beside him, watching him intently, worriedly. "Want to talk about it?"
Keith pulled another face. Why was everybody so interested in talking?
"Are you worried about the show?" Danny stared at him.
Keith shook his head, closing his eyes. "Look, it's not your problem, so just go on back to bed, okay?"
Defiantly, Danny shook his head. "Not until you do."
He was fighting a losing battle with this kid. With a sigh, Keith crawled to his feet with Danny's help. Leaning on the counter in front of the mirror, Keith still held his midsection, trying to hide the pain from the redhead.
Danny was not fooled. "Keith?" He grabbed his brother's arm.
"Oh, god," Keith whispered. "Danny, get my pills. They're on the dresser."
Danny did as he was told as Keith leaned harder on the counter, fighting the urge to cry out. The purging had done a number on his ribs, and the pain was so bad it took his breath away.
Danny pulled the cap off the bottle, quickly dumping two capsules into Keith's hand, his heart pounding as his brother swallowed them and chased them with more water. He massaged Keith's arm, staring up at him. "Okay?"
Still tensing from the pain, Keith nodded.
"Come on, let's get you back to bed. Here, lean on me," Danny looped Keith's arm around his shoulders while holding on to his brother's robe.
It was only a short distance to the bed, and Keith crawled onto it, moaning.
Working with the light emitting from the bathroom, Danny pulled the covers around up around Keith as Chris stirred in the nearby bed.
"What's going on?" the boy murmured, sitting up.
"Nothing, go back to sleep." Danny whispered as Keith moaned again.
"Is Keith okay?" Chris's eyes were wide in the dimly lit room.
"Yes. I said, go back to sleep."
"No. I'm scared." Chris could tell they were keeping something from him.
"Come on over here, Chris, and keep me company," Keith said tiredly.
"Hey," Danny frowned. "I got your pills for you."
"You, too," Keith patted the bed as Chris crawled in next to him.
Danny grinned. "Lemme turn out the light." He dashed into the bathroom, flipping the switch, and the room went dark again.
It was a perfect day to just loll by the pool, so that's what most of the Partridges did. Laurie absorbed herself in her book once again and tried to get a decent tan in her halter top and shorts. Danny's swim trunks never had a chance to dry as he played constantly in the water. Chris and Tracy batted a huge colorful beach ball back and forth as they easily floated on a pair of blow-up toys. Even Keith was there, sprawled out on a lounge chair not far from Laurie's, wearing his swim trunks, sunglasses and a tank top to hide the bandages around his ribs. All was peaceful; no one bothered any of them, for which Keith was most grateful.
Reuben, looking like an outcast in his suit and tie, approached the kids, dodging the splashes from the pool's occupants. As he passed Keith, he slapped his foot. "How's it going?"
"Okay," Keith didn't move.
"Hi, Reuben. What's up?" Laurie looked up from her novel.
"There's a supermarket opening over in Sparks and they asked for some of the family to cut the ribbon. Your mother said she'd go, and asked for a couple more volunteers." Reuben pulled out a webbed chair, sitting down.
Keith just grunted, and Laurie bit her lower lip. "Gee, I'd love to, but the lifeguard asked me to lunch."
Sighing, Reuben turned to the last three, who had come to the side of the pool in curiosity. "Okay, how about you guys?"
"Will there be food?" Danny asked ravenously.
"Probably. If not, there's always some drive-in we can hit. How about it? For your mother."
The boys and Tracy looked at one another. "Okay, I guess we can. But who'll watch Keith and Laurie?" Danny jerked his thumb in their direction.
"Well, the lifeguard can take care of Laurie, and I guess Keith will have to fend for himself," Reuben answered.
Now Danny looked concerned. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" His voice dropped to a whisper.
Reuben leaned down, whispering back. "I think he'll be okay for a couple of hours," he said, looking back over his shoulder.
The kids climbed out of the pool, each grabbing a towel. "I think I'd better stay. He might need me." Danny said after some thought.
"Suit yourself," Reuben smiled. He turned to Keith and Laurie. "We should be back by two, then you can rehearse."
"Okay," Laurie waved, looking over at Keith. He was either asleep or too comfortable to move, because he hadn't so much as twitched a muscle. "Do you want me to cancel my lunch date?" she asked.
Keith lifted up his sunglasses. "No, why?"
"Well, in case you need anything…"
Danny, the towel around his neck, joined them. "What do you think I'm here for?"
Keith laid back. "Oh, great, just great. Look, I'm not crippled, for cripe's sake."
"I know, but…" Laurie began. Keith finished for her.
"But if I want to talk about it, you're here, right?" He pulled a face.
She smiled. "Okay, okay, I get it. Lay off the psychology talk."
"Yeah," Danny frowned. "You just go on with your reading and your date. I'll take care of Keith."
"That does it…" Keith tried to sit up, but the tightness of the bandages under his shirt made it difficult. Both Danny and Laurie reached over, pulling him up. He shook them off.
"What are you doing?" Laurie asked.
"I'm going upstairs and take a shower. It's too crowded out here." Keith groused, finally getting to his feet.
"Wait, we'll go with you." Danny motioned to Laurie.
Keith was already halfway to the hotel entrance before the two of them caught up with him. "Why are you following me?" Keith asked, exasperated. "I'm just going to take a shower, for Pete's sake…"
He pulled the door open and the action caused a pain in his ribcage. He flinched, grabbing his side as Danny nodded, his freckled face all too serious. "That's why we're following you."
Shaking his head, Keith moved on to the elevators. Pressing the button, he kept his hand on his tank top as the pain slowly dissipated.
It was then that they heard the scream. All three Partridges looked up and were surprised to see about half a dozen teenage girls running at them full speed.
"Oh, no…" Keith moaned, turning and punching the elevator button once again. The doors remained closed, and all he could do was back up against a wall as they charged toward them, crying his name and squealing even louder.
"My gosh!" Laurie exclaimed as they practically trampled over her to get to Keith.
Photos and autograph books extended, they swarmed him, while flashbulbs popped in his face, virtually blinding him. A pen somehow ended up in his hand and he began scribbling his name on anything that didn't move, just trying to get through this alive. Young, freshly manicured hands began to grab at him. He did his best to fend them off, starting to panic. He was suffocating again, even as Danny and Laurie tried to intervene, trying to get between him and the overly excited girls.
Then the elevator doors slid open and Laurie pushed Keith inside as Danny began to politely push the girls back. They voiced their disappointment, waiting until the doors closed in their faces before moving away.
Huddled in the corner of the elevator, Keith sank slowly down to the carpet, totally exhausted.
Laurie and Danny exchanged worried looks, joining him on the floor. "Are you okay?" Laurie put a gentle hand on his shoulder as Danny gave him the once over.
Pressing his head into the carpeted elevator wall, Keith just closed his eyes.
Laurie noticed that his hand was bleeding. 'Poor guy,' she thought, 'No wonder he's so paranoid.'
Danny looked up at the lighted floor buttons above them. They were approaching the twelfth floor. "We're almost there, Keith. Come on, can you stand up?"
He and Laurie carefully pulled him up just as the car stopped and the doors opened once more. Their arms around their brother, they began the long walk to the room.
Keith stood back in the shower, letting the hot water spray all over him, hoping to relieve some of the muscle pain. It felt good, the sting of the water, as it hit his skin, especially his back.
He was almost relaxed when it all came back to him: the sights and sounds of the Coliseum; the incident at the elevator. Hearing the screaming in his head, Keith put his hands over his ears, pressing back against the shower wall.
The horrifying visions of him nearly being trampled to death flashed through his mind and he shook his head, trying to crawl into a corner as if to escape it, but the flashes kept coming, one after the other. He began to cry, huddled there, naked as a jaybird, feeling more vulnerable than one could ever imagine. Luckily, the sound of the water drowned out his sobs. All he needed now was for Laurie and Danny to come rushing in.
He stayed pressed up against the wall, letting all the frustrations of the past few days come out there in his little watery haven. Was this was another step in the healing process, or was he doomed to these flashbacks forever? Still weeping, he slid to the shower floor as the hot water continued to pour down over him.
Just beyond the bathroom door, Laurie looked at her watch. "He's been in there for half an hour," she remarked to Danny, who stared blankly at the TV screen where an old Western flickered.
"He likes long showers, you know that," Danny murmured.
"He could have fallen or something."
Danny looked at her. "I think we would have heard it. Take it easy. If he's not out in ten minutes, I'll check on him."
Laurie sat on the bed next to the boy. "Aren't you the least bit worried, Danny? Keith's already feeling vulnerable because of what happened in L.A. and now this. Don't you wonder what it's doing to his psyche?"
Danny sighed. "Yes, I'm worried. He's my brother, too, you know. I'm very worried, but I don't know what to do. All I know is that if he needs me, I'll be here." He said it almost angrily. "Besides, I don't know what a psyche is!"
Laurie smiled. She'd forgotten that he was only eleven. Danny had that affect on a lot of people. In some ways, he was so much older than her, Keith and sometimes even Mom. But right now, he was just being a frustrated kid, lashing out because he was confused over Keith's situation, as was she.
She reached over, tousling his hair as the bathroom door opened, and Keith came out dressed in his robe. His face was blotched and his eyes were red, and Laurie could tell he'd been crying, but she didn't press it.
"Feel any better?" she asked.
"Yeah." Keith's voice was soft as he walked over to the window.
"You want any lunch? We could order room service," Danny offered.
Keith shook his head. He leaned on the window sill, his hands in the robe's pockets.
Laurie couldn't take it any more. "Keith, please talk to us…tell us what's bothering you…we want to help."
He turned to look at her, his dark eyes meeting her blue ones. "I'm okay." It was quick, to the point and finished. Or, so he thought.
"You're not 'okay,' Keith. You're hurting inside, and you need to share it with someone before it becomes too much to handle."
"Laurie…" Danny sounded nervous. "Leave him alone, okay? Let's wait until Mom comes back, at least."
Laurie ignored him, moving to her older brother. "Why won't you talk about it? If you did, you'd feel better." She reached for him, touching his arm.
He pulled back, almost in terror.
" Leave him alone. Can't you see he doesn't want to talk?" Danny got between them.
At that, the door opened, and Shirley, Reuben and the kids came in. Unaware of the turmoil brewing between her three eldest, Shirley smiled brightly. "You kids ready for rehearsal?"
"I'm not going," Keith muttered, stalking to the dresser and yanking out a pair of faded jeans and a tee shirt. He pushed past everyone, going back into the bathroom and slamming the door.
"Oooh. Somebody's a little upset," Reuben observed.
"Okay, what's up?" Shirley read the frustration on Laurie and Danny's faces.
"We had a little run-in with some fans downstairs. I think it shook him up a little," Danny explained. "Then Laurie hits him with all this psychology stuff, and pow, he really turns off and clams up."
"Laurie, you didn't…" Shirley looked at her daughter.
"Mom, he really needs to talk to someone. It's eating him up inside."
"You don't know that. You're not an expert, honey. Besides, you're too close to the situation. Your words, Laurie, not mine."
Redressed, Keith came out of the bathroom, avoiding his sister's eyes completely. "I'm going for a walk," he muttered, sitting on the bed to put his shoes on.
"What about rehearsal?" Shirley asked.
"Have it without me." His answer was curt.
"And how do you propose we do that? You sing lead, remember?"
He sighed, closing his eyes. "I don't know," he waved his hand. "And right now, I really don't care…I can't do this anymore, Mom."
Shirley put her hand on his head. "Can't do what, anymore, honey?'
"This…whole performing thing." He looked up at her, his eyes brimming. "I don't think I can go on tonight."
Reuben jumped. "Not go on?!" the manager cried. "You have to go on! Do you want us to get sued?"
Shirley put her hand up, stopping his outburst. She touched Keith's shoulder. "Look, you've just been shaken up. Maybe you should rest awhile. We can hold off the rehearsal for another two hours or so. You go for your walk, or better yet, stay here and take a nap. Then at four o'clock, you meet us down in the showroom, and we'll talk about this, all right?"
Keith looked around at his siblings, all staring at him at once. Glancing up at Shirley, he saw the worry in her eyes, and Reuben, well, he was nearly beside himself!
"Okay," Keith agreed. He took another deep breath, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Remember, 4:00 sharp, in the showroom," Shirley's eyes pierced his.
He smiled, nodding. Shirley motioned the others toward the door.
Continued