Fandemonium, part 4
He wouldn't sleep, he knew that, and the hotel room was just too stuffy, so he went outside. Perhaps a walk would clear his mind and help him think. He knew he hadn't meant it; the quitting part. It just came out in the heat of the moment. He was just tired, that was it. Between the fans and his music and the family, he was spreading himself thin. Yet, he didn't know what he'd do without any of it. And Laurie and the others, they meant well, but darn it all, he knew they wouldn't understand…! Now he was feeling confused…if only Dr. Farrell were here! It was all so much for one so young to comprehend. He was crazy! Or going there. Suddenly, he was terrified.
He'd gone maybe two blocks when the feeling really overwhelmed him and his legs began to shake. 'What was going on?' he thought, his heart and mind racing. He eased down onto a bench just as his whole body started trembling. Frightened, he pulled his jacket around him, beginning to cry. Why was he feeling like this?
He looked skyward, feeling the tears stream down his face and letting the soft breeze blow them away. A strange feeling formed in the pit of his stomach and for a second there, he almost felt sick.
"Hey, mister, are you okay?"
It was a child's voice, coming from his left, and Keith instinctively wiped his eyes, looking in the voice's direction.
A young girl of about seven years old was there. She wore thick glasses, pigtails and a faded jumper. Her knees were skinned and her socks were at different heights on her calves. Just your typical kid.
She smiled, revealing a missing tooth or two. "My name's Heidi, what's yours?"
Keith cleared his throat. He really didn't need conversation right now, but he answered her anyway. "Keith. You know, you really shouldn't talk to strangers."
She rolled her eyes. "You're not a stranger, you're Keith." She looked serious, now. "Why are you crying? Are you lost?" She planted herself down next to him on the bench.
Her curiosity was charming, not to mention the fact that she had no idea who he was.
"No." He had to smile. "I'm…just worried about something."
"Oh." Heidi cocked her head. "It must be pretty bad if it made you cry. Can I help?"
Chuckling, he shook his head. "No, it's all right, really."
She grinned, her hand on his arm. "I know. My papa works over there at the ice cream parlor. Let's go get a soda, and maybe he can help you."
Keith shook his head. "I don't have any money with me."
"I'll buy." Heidi held out a handful of coins. "I got my allowance yesterday." She pulled on his arm. "Come on!"
He decided he had no choice. With her holding his hand, they crossed the street.
The bell on the parlor door tinkled happily as Keith and Heidi entered. The place practically reeked of sugar and somewhere in the background a jukebox played softly. Everything was red and white striped and just standing there made Keith feel better.
"Hi, Pop," Heidi was pulling Keith toward the metal and red leather stools at the counter, behind which stood an older man, hair graying at the temples. "Keith and I want sodas." She slapped her money down onto the counter.
As if his daughter always brought strangers in off the street, the man smiled kindly at Keith, who suddenly felt very awkward. What was he doing, letting a seven-year-old buy him a soda? The whole scenario was very bizarre.
Keith cleared his throat. "I…really don't have time -"
The man flapped his rag at him. "Nonsense. What'll it be? Chocolate, vanilla? We've got 29 flavors."
"Chocolate!" Heidi decided for the both of them, twisting her seat around to face her newfound friend. "Keith loves chocolate, huh, Keith?"
He nodded, smiling. "Yeah, sure. Look, mister -"
"Call me Al. Al Dresden. You got a last name, Keith?" Al asked, dishing out the ice cream.
"Yeah…" Keith hesitated.
"Well?"
"It's Partridge." There; he'd said it.
But if Al had heard of him, he didn't react. He just hummed softly as he added soda water to the ice cream. It forced the frozen goo up over the edge of the tall glass, yet the ice cream stayed put.
Slapping two napkins down, Al sat the sodas on top.
"That's eighty cents, and…with the employee discount, it comes to…exactly one quarter." He winked at his daughter.
Heidi proudly pushed the coin towards him, and as he rang it up, she grabbed two straws from the holder, handing one to Keith. "Just don't slurp when you get to the end. Pop hates that." She giggled, slipping the straw into the mountain of chocolate.
"I'll be sure and watch that," Keith smiled, following suit and watching as Al busied himself behind the counter.
"You got a job, young man? I could use an extra hand around here."
Swallowing a mouthful of frozen treat, Keith nodded. "I do. I sing with my family. We're playing over at Harold's tonight." Again, he waited for the recognition, but none came.
"Your family, huh? Got a big one?"
Keith shrugged. "There are five of us, plus Mom. Dad died a couple of years ago. That's when we started the group, just to make ends meet."
"Been to a lot of places, I bet." Al's eyes lit up.
"Everywhere. All fifty states, Canada…we just finished a tour in Europe. It's pretty groovy."
Al leaned on the counter. "You like that kind of life? Travelling, living out of a suitcase?"
Keith hesitated. Did he? "Well, yeah, I do. It's hard sometimes, but it's certainly not lonely."
"Not with your family there, huh? Family's gotta be the most important thing, right? They're there for you no matter what. I think it's great that in this day and age a kid your age would even admit he had a family, let alone make a living with them." Al's smile was infectious, and Keith returned it. 'He's right. Family is the most important thing. So, he was mobbed a couple of times. It wasn't the first time, and it probably wouldn't be the last. And who was there to help him through it? His family. So, stop being selfish, Partridge, and think of them for once.'
It was all becoming so clear now, and he had a little girl to thank.
Al went on, not knowing the revelation he'd just given. "Heidi here, she plays the piano. Her Mama taught her. She's good, too."
Heidi looked a little embarrassed at his praise as Keith smiled down at her. "Really? I'd like to hear you sometime."
"Well, that'd be fine and good, if we could find a piano to play on. See, when Heidi's Mama died, we had to sell everything and leave Kansas City. We were on our way to San Francisco to stay with some family, but our car broke down here, and we've been here ever since." Al rattled on.
Keith's mind was racing, now. "You know, I've got an idea. We live in San Pueblo…it's about 40 miles from San Francisco. If you wanted, we could take you with us when we leave." He was surprised at his words. Here he was asking total strangers to give up their lives they'd made and go with them. Mom and the others would not be happy, especially when they found out he'd known these people for less than fifteen minutes!
Al smiled. "Well, now, that's pretty nice of you, Keith, but we're happy right where we are, right, Heidiho? Besides, I doubt your family would appreciate it."
Keith laughed sheepishly. 'Thanks for getting me out of that one, Al.' He looked down at Heidi. "Well, the least I could do is repay you for the soda. Can you two come to our show tonight? I'll see to it that you get the best table in the house. Then afterwards, Heidi can play the piano for me. We just happen to have one with us."
Heidi and her father exchanged pleased glances. "You've got yourself a date," Al said, clapping Keith on the shoulder.
Keith grinned, going back to his soda.
Shirley was pacing the stage, looking at the giant clock in the sound booth high above them at the back of the showroom. It read 4:31, and Keith was nowhere in sight.
"He's probably sleeping," Danny sat on the edge of the piano bench. "He took a painkiller and it knocked him out, is all."
"But the phone would have wakened him; I called fifteen minutes ago and it rang thirty times!" Shirley was just a little irritated.
"Mr. Kincaid will find him. He's a good detective. Remember when I lost my baseball glove?" Chris piped up from behind the drum set that was four times as big as he was.
"Keith's hardly a baseball glove. He's your brother, and right now, he's not thinking too clearly." Shirley admonished her youngest son.
"Has he ever?" Danny grinned, then, to Shirley's wilting look, he lost the smile. "I'm kidding!"
Reuben plowed through the showroom doors - alone, much to Shirley's dismay - and approached them. "He's gone. He's not anywhere in the hotel. I had him paged, I checked out all the restaurants, even the pool. Nobody's seen him." He looked flustered. "He's really not going on tonight!" His voice was on the verge of panic.
Once again, the doors parted and this time it was Keith who hurried in. "Sorry I'm late. I had to take care of some important business," he announced, making his way to the stage.
Shirley and the kids looked completely relieved, and then almost angry.
"Where have you been?" they chorused.
"I'll explain later. Can we get to the rehearsal?" He joined them on stage and picked up his guitar.
"Yeah, sure…how's your back? Do you need something to sit on?" Reuben was just glad to see him.
"Yeah, I probably should. A bar stool with a back would be best," Keith looked down, concentrating on the instrument in his hands.
Shirley went to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Is everything okay, honey?"
He looked up, his eyes just a tad watery. "Everything's great, Mom." A grin split his face, defying the waterworks. "Just great."
Shirley's heart jumped. He was back. She pulled him toward her, wanting to hug the stuffing out of him, but remembered the broken ribs.
He flashed her a silent thank you with his eyes as he pulled away, turning to the others. "Okay, let's start with "Money, Money."
Reuben produced the requested stool and Keith eased onto it. The rehearsal was on.
The final note rang out, echoing through the sold-out showroom and Keith joined his family in a bow to the audience as they cheered and applauded. As the curtain closed down around them, he caught Al and Heidi's attention, waving to them and stepping back out of the curtain's path.
The lights on the stage lowered and the Partridges remained in their places for the customary encore, hearing the crowd's cries for more.
Shirley spoke from his left. "Can you do one more, Keith?"
Taking a deep breath, Keith nodded. He was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. He waved to Reuben standing back in the wings and the curtain rose once more.
The familiar strains to their biggest hit began.
**'I'm sleeping, and right in the middle of a good dream, like all at once I wake up from something that keeps knocking at my brain…before I go insane, I hold my pillow to my head, and spring up in my bed, screaming out the words I dread…I think I love you!'**
He looked over at Shirley, flashing her the biggest grin he could muster and she giggled in between notes, wrinkling her nose at him.
The song went on, much to the audience's delight and before the Partridges could finish it, the crowd was on its feet and the applause was deafening. Keith ended the song with his usual flourish, taking another hard-earned bow and waving to the crowd. He blew a kiss in Heidi's direction and she returned it, adoration apparent in her eyes.
The curtain went down again and Keith found himself surrounded by family. "That was wonderful!" Shirley threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek.
"Well done, big brother!" Laurie tousled his hair.
"Hey, come on, we're the Partridge Family, remember?" Keith played with Tracy's hair as she hugged his legs.
"That's right, and we're going to stay that way for a very long time," Shirley touched his head with hers. "Right?"
He sighed. "Right."
"And if any one of us has a problem, he -or she- should share it with the rest of us, right?" Laurie nodded.
Keith groaned and the others laughed while Laurie looked defensive. "What?"
"When are you gonna give that psychology crapola a rest, huh?" Danny poked her.
"When I finally figure you out, little brother."
"Good luck," Keith nudged Danny with his knee. "It could take decades."
"Ha, ha," Danny rolled his eyes as Reuben peeked in from backstage.
"Can you please be on your best behavior? You have guests, you know." He stepped forward, leading Al and Heidi onto the stage.
Heidi ran to Keith, her pigtails flying. He bent down and she flew into his arms, hugging him with all she had.
She clutched his hand as he stood up for the introductions: "Mom, Reuben, kids, this is Heidi and Al Dresden. I met Heidi today on my walk, and she took me over to the ice cream parlor where her dad works and bought me a soda. I decided to repay her by inviting them to the show."
"You got the raw end of that deal," Danny joked.
Shirley shot him another withering look, shaking Al's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dresden."
"Oh, call me Al."
Shirley nodded, smiling. "All right, Al. This is Laurie, Chris, Tracy, Danny, our manager Reuben Kincaid, and you know Keith."
"You folks sing real good; I was impressed. No wonder you're so popular. When Keith told me he sang with his family, I was expecting a little folksy show, but this was great!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Shirley smiled.
"I told Heidi she could play on our piano. Al says she's pretty good." Keith grinned down at his new fan. "Are you ready, kiddo?"
"Sure, I guess." She suddenly was shy in front of all these strangers.
Keith sensed her uneasiness, and he bent down by her, taking her face in his hands. "Don't be nervous. Just pretend you're playing for me," he said softly.
She nodded as he led her to the piano, helping her onto the bench. The others hung back so as not to distract her, and Keith leaned on the piano, grinning down at her. With a look at her father and another at Keith, she began to play.
'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' it was not, although it was actually what Keith had expected. A concerto came forth from her small hands and Keith pulled back, amazed and not a little surprised.
He glanced over at Al, who was smiling as big as could be. Reuben and the rest were also left open-mouthed as the little girl put Liberace to shame.
When she finished, she put her hands in her lap, looking up at Keith, her eyes huge behind the thick lenses. "Was that okay?" she asked.
Grinning, Keith sat down beside her on the bench. "Okay?! Heidi, that was terrific!" he hugged her.
The others crowded around, all voicing their opinions at once.
"Mr. Dresden, you have the makings of a child prodigy here." Shirley still couldn't believe her ears.
"I do?" Al looked interested, then asked meekly, "What's that?"
Shirley laughed. "It means that she has remarkable talent that should not be wasted. You need to enroll her in a special school for musicians."
"Well, that's all fine and good, but…I don't make that kind of money…I just have my job at the ice cream parlor, and well, those schools probably cost a lot."
"You could get her in on a scholarship," Laurie suggested.
"How do you do that?"
Shirley smiled. "Don't worry, I'd be glad to help you with it tomorrow before we leave."
Heidi looked up at Keith. "You're leaving?"
He put his hand on her head. "'Fraid so, kiddo. We have a couple more shows to do in California."
She put her head down, and his heart went with it.
"I don't want you to go." Heidi's lower lip quivered, and he put his arm around her.
"Well, sweetie, I have to. I have to be with my family." He looked up at Shirley and the kids, smiling. "Remember what you and your dad taught me? Family is the most important thing."
After a moment, she nodded, then reached up, kissing his cheek. "Will you write to me?"
He grinned. "I'll write you every week. I'll even send a picture once in a while, if you'll do the same for me, okay?"
She giggled. "Okay."
"Come on, Heidiho, It's getting late and these people need their rest." Al approached, taking her hand. He clapped Keith on the shoulder. "Thanks again, Keith."
"Thank you, Al," Keith shook his hand.
"I'll drop by the parlor at…ten?" Shirley asked.
"Sounds good." Al cleared his throat. "You folks take care now, okay? Keep an eye on that older brother of yours. He's one in a million." He and Heidi started for the wings.
"He sure is," Shirley agreed. "And so is your little one."
"'Bye, Keith," Heidi threw him a kiss and he returned it with both hands, watching until she was out of sight, then he turned back to the piano.
"That little girl was amazing." Shirley shook her head as Keith ran his fingers along the keys.
"She was, wasn't she?" He smiled.
"I just hope that when she becomes famous, she doesn't forget us little people," Danny mused. "We could be billionaires."
"What?" Laurie frowned.
"Well, Keith discovered her, and since I get ten percent of his earnings…"
"You what?" Keith whirled, bellowing.
"Oh, I have been for years. It's in my contract," Danny said simply.
"Is it?" Keith looked up at Shirley, his eyes wide.
She shrugged, looking confused. "I don't know…is it, Reuben?"
"Probably, knowing Danny," Laurie muttered under her breath.
"I…I don't know. I'll have to check." Even Reuben looked flustered.
"Hey, don't sweat it. You said yourself that family was the most important thing," Danny grinned at his brother, whose anger was becoming more and more evident. "Besides, I've been investing it for your future."
"Oh, you have, have you?" Keith rose from the piano bench, his fingers itching to be around Danny's throat at the moment.
"Sure. A stock here and there, mutual funds…let's see, I think you're up to about a hundred dollars right now."
"A hundred dollars?!" Keith was beside himself. "With all the money I've made in the past two years, and all you've built up a lousy hundred bucks?"
"Well, I made a bad investment last year that nearly wiped you out. Remember the lemon crop in Nova Scotia?"
Keith wanted to scream. His hands formed claws and his teeth were bared as he went forward, ready to kill.
Danny found refuge behind Laurie, Chris and Tracy, looking just a bit nervous. "Now, Keith…" he soothed. "You're gonna hurt your ribs again…"
All this drama was entertaining for the others, as they just watched it unfold.
"Don't start with me, Danny Partridge," Keith hissed.
"Family, Keith, family." Now Danny's voice was beginning to squeak.
Keith stopped, rubbing his palms together. "You're right. Family. Who votes for my removing Danny from this family?" He looked around.
Every hand went up, including Reuben's.
Danny frowned. "Traitors."
Keith lunged forward and Danny took off like a streak, hollering, with Keith close on his heels.
Laurie began to laugh. "I know, maybe Heidi can learn to play the bass."
Shaking her head, Shirley sank down onto the piano bench.
Family.
What more was there to say?
~~~THE END~~~
He wouldn't sleep, he knew that, and the hotel room was just too stuffy, so he went outside. Perhaps a walk would clear his mind and help him think. He knew he hadn't meant it; the quitting part. It just came out in the heat of the moment. He was just tired, that was it. Between the fans and his music and the family, he was spreading himself thin. Yet, he didn't know what he'd do without any of it. And Laurie and the others, they meant well, but darn it all, he knew they wouldn't understand…! Now he was feeling confused…if only Dr. Farrell were here! It was all so much for one so young to comprehend. He was crazy! Or going there. Suddenly, he was terrified.
He'd gone maybe two blocks when the feeling really overwhelmed him and his legs began to shake. 'What was going on?' he thought, his heart and mind racing. He eased down onto a bench just as his whole body started trembling. Frightened, he pulled his jacket around him, beginning to cry. Why was he feeling like this?
He looked skyward, feeling the tears stream down his face and letting the soft breeze blow them away. A strange feeling formed in the pit of his stomach and for a second there, he almost felt sick.
"Hey, mister, are you okay?"
It was a child's voice, coming from his left, and Keith instinctively wiped his eyes, looking in the voice's direction.
A young girl of about seven years old was there. She wore thick glasses, pigtails and a faded jumper. Her knees were skinned and her socks were at different heights on her calves. Just your typical kid.
She smiled, revealing a missing tooth or two. "My name's Heidi, what's yours?"
Keith cleared his throat. He really didn't need conversation right now, but he answered her anyway. "Keith. You know, you really shouldn't talk to strangers."
She rolled her eyes. "You're not a stranger, you're Keith." She looked serious, now. "Why are you crying? Are you lost?" She planted herself down next to him on the bench.
Her curiosity was charming, not to mention the fact that she had no idea who he was.
"No." He had to smile. "I'm…just worried about something."
"Oh." Heidi cocked her head. "It must be pretty bad if it made you cry. Can I help?"
Chuckling, he shook his head. "No, it's all right, really."
She grinned, her hand on his arm. "I know. My papa works over there at the ice cream parlor. Let's go get a soda, and maybe he can help you."
Keith shook his head. "I don't have any money with me."
"I'll buy." Heidi held out a handful of coins. "I got my allowance yesterday." She pulled on his arm. "Come on!"
He decided he had no choice. With her holding his hand, they crossed the street.
The bell on the parlor door tinkled happily as Keith and Heidi entered. The place practically reeked of sugar and somewhere in the background a jukebox played softly. Everything was red and white striped and just standing there made Keith feel better.
"Hi, Pop," Heidi was pulling Keith toward the metal and red leather stools at the counter, behind which stood an older man, hair graying at the temples. "Keith and I want sodas." She slapped her money down onto the counter.
As if his daughter always brought strangers in off the street, the man smiled kindly at Keith, who suddenly felt very awkward. What was he doing, letting a seven-year-old buy him a soda? The whole scenario was very bizarre.
Keith cleared his throat. "I…really don't have time -"
The man flapped his rag at him. "Nonsense. What'll it be? Chocolate, vanilla? We've got 29 flavors."
"Chocolate!" Heidi decided for the both of them, twisting her seat around to face her newfound friend. "Keith loves chocolate, huh, Keith?"
He nodded, smiling. "Yeah, sure. Look, mister -"
"Call me Al. Al Dresden. You got a last name, Keith?" Al asked, dishing out the ice cream.
"Yeah…" Keith hesitated.
"Well?"
"It's Partridge." There; he'd said it.
But if Al had heard of him, he didn't react. He just hummed softly as he added soda water to the ice cream. It forced the frozen goo up over the edge of the tall glass, yet the ice cream stayed put.
Slapping two napkins down, Al sat the sodas on top.
"That's eighty cents, and…with the employee discount, it comes to…exactly one quarter." He winked at his daughter.
Heidi proudly pushed the coin towards him, and as he rang it up, she grabbed two straws from the holder, handing one to Keith. "Just don't slurp when you get to the end. Pop hates that." She giggled, slipping the straw into the mountain of chocolate.
"I'll be sure and watch that," Keith smiled, following suit and watching as Al busied himself behind the counter.
"You got a job, young man? I could use an extra hand around here."
Swallowing a mouthful of frozen treat, Keith nodded. "I do. I sing with my family. We're playing over at Harold's tonight." Again, he waited for the recognition, but none came.
"Your family, huh? Got a big one?"
Keith shrugged. "There are five of us, plus Mom. Dad died a couple of years ago. That's when we started the group, just to make ends meet."
"Been to a lot of places, I bet." Al's eyes lit up.
"Everywhere. All fifty states, Canada…we just finished a tour in Europe. It's pretty groovy."
Al leaned on the counter. "You like that kind of life? Travelling, living out of a suitcase?"
Keith hesitated. Did he? "Well, yeah, I do. It's hard sometimes, but it's certainly not lonely."
"Not with your family there, huh? Family's gotta be the most important thing, right? They're there for you no matter what. I think it's great that in this day and age a kid your age would even admit he had a family, let alone make a living with them." Al's smile was infectious, and Keith returned it. 'He's right. Family is the most important thing. So, he was mobbed a couple of times. It wasn't the first time, and it probably wouldn't be the last. And who was there to help him through it? His family. So, stop being selfish, Partridge, and think of them for once.'
It was all becoming so clear now, and he had a little girl to thank.
Al went on, not knowing the revelation he'd just given. "Heidi here, she plays the piano. Her Mama taught her. She's good, too."
Heidi looked a little embarrassed at his praise as Keith smiled down at her. "Really? I'd like to hear you sometime."
"Well, that'd be fine and good, if we could find a piano to play on. See, when Heidi's Mama died, we had to sell everything and leave Kansas City. We were on our way to San Francisco to stay with some family, but our car broke down here, and we've been here ever since." Al rattled on.
Keith's mind was racing, now. "You know, I've got an idea. We live in San Pueblo…it's about 40 miles from San Francisco. If you wanted, we could take you with us when we leave." He was surprised at his words. Here he was asking total strangers to give up their lives they'd made and go with them. Mom and the others would not be happy, especially when they found out he'd known these people for less than fifteen minutes!
Al smiled. "Well, now, that's pretty nice of you, Keith, but we're happy right where we are, right, Heidiho? Besides, I doubt your family would appreciate it."
Keith laughed sheepishly. 'Thanks for getting me out of that one, Al.' He looked down at Heidi. "Well, the least I could do is repay you for the soda. Can you two come to our show tonight? I'll see to it that you get the best table in the house. Then afterwards, Heidi can play the piano for me. We just happen to have one with us."
Heidi and her father exchanged pleased glances. "You've got yourself a date," Al said, clapping Keith on the shoulder.
Keith grinned, going back to his soda.
Shirley was pacing the stage, looking at the giant clock in the sound booth high above them at the back of the showroom. It read 4:31, and Keith was nowhere in sight.
"He's probably sleeping," Danny sat on the edge of the piano bench. "He took a painkiller and it knocked him out, is all."
"But the phone would have wakened him; I called fifteen minutes ago and it rang thirty times!" Shirley was just a little irritated.
"Mr. Kincaid will find him. He's a good detective. Remember when I lost my baseball glove?" Chris piped up from behind the drum set that was four times as big as he was.
"Keith's hardly a baseball glove. He's your brother, and right now, he's not thinking too clearly." Shirley admonished her youngest son.
"Has he ever?" Danny grinned, then, to Shirley's wilting look, he lost the smile. "I'm kidding!"
Reuben plowed through the showroom doors - alone, much to Shirley's dismay - and approached them. "He's gone. He's not anywhere in the hotel. I had him paged, I checked out all the restaurants, even the pool. Nobody's seen him." He looked flustered. "He's really not going on tonight!" His voice was on the verge of panic.
Once again, the doors parted and this time it was Keith who hurried in. "Sorry I'm late. I had to take care of some important business," he announced, making his way to the stage.
Shirley and the kids looked completely relieved, and then almost angry.
"Where have you been?" they chorused.
"I'll explain later. Can we get to the rehearsal?" He joined them on stage and picked up his guitar.
"Yeah, sure…how's your back? Do you need something to sit on?" Reuben was just glad to see him.
"Yeah, I probably should. A bar stool with a back would be best," Keith looked down, concentrating on the instrument in his hands.
Shirley went to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Is everything okay, honey?"
He looked up, his eyes just a tad watery. "Everything's great, Mom." A grin split his face, defying the waterworks. "Just great."
Shirley's heart jumped. He was back. She pulled him toward her, wanting to hug the stuffing out of him, but remembered the broken ribs.
He flashed her a silent thank you with his eyes as he pulled away, turning to the others. "Okay, let's start with "Money, Money."
Reuben produced the requested stool and Keith eased onto it. The rehearsal was on.
The final note rang out, echoing through the sold-out showroom and Keith joined his family in a bow to the audience as they cheered and applauded. As the curtain closed down around them, he caught Al and Heidi's attention, waving to them and stepping back out of the curtain's path.
The lights on the stage lowered and the Partridges remained in their places for the customary encore, hearing the crowd's cries for more.
Shirley spoke from his left. "Can you do one more, Keith?"
Taking a deep breath, Keith nodded. He was tired, but it was a good kind of tired. He waved to Reuben standing back in the wings and the curtain rose once more.
The familiar strains to their biggest hit began.
**'I'm sleeping, and right in the middle of a good dream, like all at once I wake up from something that keeps knocking at my brain…before I go insane, I hold my pillow to my head, and spring up in my bed, screaming out the words I dread…I think I love you!'**
He looked over at Shirley, flashing her the biggest grin he could muster and she giggled in between notes, wrinkling her nose at him.
The song went on, much to the audience's delight and before the Partridges could finish it, the crowd was on its feet and the applause was deafening. Keith ended the song with his usual flourish, taking another hard-earned bow and waving to the crowd. He blew a kiss in Heidi's direction and she returned it, adoration apparent in her eyes.
The curtain went down again and Keith found himself surrounded by family. "That was wonderful!" Shirley threw her arms around him, kissing his cheek.
"Well done, big brother!" Laurie tousled his hair.
"Hey, come on, we're the Partridge Family, remember?" Keith played with Tracy's hair as she hugged his legs.
"That's right, and we're going to stay that way for a very long time," Shirley touched his head with hers. "Right?"
He sighed. "Right."
"And if any one of us has a problem, he -or she- should share it with the rest of us, right?" Laurie nodded.
Keith groaned and the others laughed while Laurie looked defensive. "What?"
"When are you gonna give that psychology crapola a rest, huh?" Danny poked her.
"When I finally figure you out, little brother."
"Good luck," Keith nudged Danny with his knee. "It could take decades."
"Ha, ha," Danny rolled his eyes as Reuben peeked in from backstage.
"Can you please be on your best behavior? You have guests, you know." He stepped forward, leading Al and Heidi onto the stage.
Heidi ran to Keith, her pigtails flying. He bent down and she flew into his arms, hugging him with all she had.
She clutched his hand as he stood up for the introductions: "Mom, Reuben, kids, this is Heidi and Al Dresden. I met Heidi today on my walk, and she took me over to the ice cream parlor where her dad works and bought me a soda. I decided to repay her by inviting them to the show."
"You got the raw end of that deal," Danny joked.
Shirley shot him another withering look, shaking Al's hand. "Pleased to meet you, Mr. Dresden."
"Oh, call me Al."
Shirley nodded, smiling. "All right, Al. This is Laurie, Chris, Tracy, Danny, our manager Reuben Kincaid, and you know Keith."
"You folks sing real good; I was impressed. No wonder you're so popular. When Keith told me he sang with his family, I was expecting a little folksy show, but this was great!"
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Shirley smiled.
"I told Heidi she could play on our piano. Al says she's pretty good." Keith grinned down at his new fan. "Are you ready, kiddo?"
"Sure, I guess." She suddenly was shy in front of all these strangers.
Keith sensed her uneasiness, and he bent down by her, taking her face in his hands. "Don't be nervous. Just pretend you're playing for me," he said softly.
She nodded as he led her to the piano, helping her onto the bench. The others hung back so as not to distract her, and Keith leaned on the piano, grinning down at her. With a look at her father and another at Keith, she began to play.
'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' it was not, although it was actually what Keith had expected. A concerto came forth from her small hands and Keith pulled back, amazed and not a little surprised.
He glanced over at Al, who was smiling as big as could be. Reuben and the rest were also left open-mouthed as the little girl put Liberace to shame.
When she finished, she put her hands in her lap, looking up at Keith, her eyes huge behind the thick lenses. "Was that okay?" she asked.
Grinning, Keith sat down beside her on the bench. "Okay?! Heidi, that was terrific!" he hugged her.
The others crowded around, all voicing their opinions at once.
"Mr. Dresden, you have the makings of a child prodigy here." Shirley still couldn't believe her ears.
"I do?" Al looked interested, then asked meekly, "What's that?"
Shirley laughed. "It means that she has remarkable talent that should not be wasted. You need to enroll her in a special school for musicians."
"Well, that's all fine and good, but…I don't make that kind of money…I just have my job at the ice cream parlor, and well, those schools probably cost a lot."
"You could get her in on a scholarship," Laurie suggested.
"How do you do that?"
Shirley smiled. "Don't worry, I'd be glad to help you with it tomorrow before we leave."
Heidi looked up at Keith. "You're leaving?"
He put his hand on her head. "'Fraid so, kiddo. We have a couple more shows to do in California."
She put her head down, and his heart went with it.
"I don't want you to go." Heidi's lower lip quivered, and he put his arm around her.
"Well, sweetie, I have to. I have to be with my family." He looked up at Shirley and the kids, smiling. "Remember what you and your dad taught me? Family is the most important thing."
After a moment, she nodded, then reached up, kissing his cheek. "Will you write to me?"
He grinned. "I'll write you every week. I'll even send a picture once in a while, if you'll do the same for me, okay?"
She giggled. "Okay."
"Come on, Heidiho, It's getting late and these people need their rest." Al approached, taking her hand. He clapped Keith on the shoulder. "Thanks again, Keith."
"Thank you, Al," Keith shook his hand.
"I'll drop by the parlor at…ten?" Shirley asked.
"Sounds good." Al cleared his throat. "You folks take care now, okay? Keep an eye on that older brother of yours. He's one in a million." He and Heidi started for the wings.
"He sure is," Shirley agreed. "And so is your little one."
"'Bye, Keith," Heidi threw him a kiss and he returned it with both hands, watching until she was out of sight, then he turned back to the piano.
"That little girl was amazing." Shirley shook her head as Keith ran his fingers along the keys.
"She was, wasn't she?" He smiled.
"I just hope that when she becomes famous, she doesn't forget us little people," Danny mused. "We could be billionaires."
"What?" Laurie frowned.
"Well, Keith discovered her, and since I get ten percent of his earnings…"
"You what?" Keith whirled, bellowing.
"Oh, I have been for years. It's in my contract," Danny said simply.
"Is it?" Keith looked up at Shirley, his eyes wide.
She shrugged, looking confused. "I don't know…is it, Reuben?"
"Probably, knowing Danny," Laurie muttered under her breath.
"I…I don't know. I'll have to check." Even Reuben looked flustered.
"Hey, don't sweat it. You said yourself that family was the most important thing," Danny grinned at his brother, whose anger was becoming more and more evident. "Besides, I've been investing it for your future."
"Oh, you have, have you?" Keith rose from the piano bench, his fingers itching to be around Danny's throat at the moment.
"Sure. A stock here and there, mutual funds…let's see, I think you're up to about a hundred dollars right now."
"A hundred dollars?!" Keith was beside himself. "With all the money I've made in the past two years, and all you've built up a lousy hundred bucks?"
"Well, I made a bad investment last year that nearly wiped you out. Remember the lemon crop in Nova Scotia?"
Keith wanted to scream. His hands formed claws and his teeth were bared as he went forward, ready to kill.
Danny found refuge behind Laurie, Chris and Tracy, looking just a bit nervous. "Now, Keith…" he soothed. "You're gonna hurt your ribs again…"
All this drama was entertaining for the others, as they just watched it unfold.
"Don't start with me, Danny Partridge," Keith hissed.
"Family, Keith, family." Now Danny's voice was beginning to squeak.
Keith stopped, rubbing his palms together. "You're right. Family. Who votes for my removing Danny from this family?" He looked around.
Every hand went up, including Reuben's.
Danny frowned. "Traitors."
Keith lunged forward and Danny took off like a streak, hollering, with Keith close on his heels.
Laurie began to laugh. "I know, maybe Heidi can learn to play the bass."
Shaking her head, Shirley sank down onto the piano bench.
Family.
What more was there to say?
~~~THE END~~~