A PARTRIDGE FAMILY REUNION, Part7
The purging had left him weak, so weak he couldn't even get up off the floor without Chris and Danny's help. He had vomited until there was nothing left to come up, yet still he felt sick, hardly even able to stand despite his brothers' strong holds.
"Come on…lie down. Mom's brewing the tea," Chris said from his left, his hands gingerly holding Keith's wounded arm.
Keith shook his head, feeling the tears streaming down his face. "I don't want to lie down, and I don't want any tea…oh, god, just let me die…" He tried to wriggle out of their hold, but they weren't about to give in.
"You're exhausted," Danny told him, his deep voice resonating in Keith's right ear. "You've gotta lie down, Keith."
They moved him forward, propelling him into the hallway, past Laurie and Tracy, who watched with worried looks on their pale faces.
"Wait," Keith gulped, trying to shake Danny off.
They stopped, and Danny let go. "What?"
"I can't…gotta rest…"
Chris still held his left arm as Keith shakily ran his right hand through his hair and leaned back against the wall, wincing. "I can't do this, Chris," he told his younger brother, shaking his head.
"It won't last forever. You'll be back to normal by the morning, I promise," Chris assured him.
"Yeah, from this one. But six weeks…"
"It'll be easier as time goes on. Your body will adjust to the radiation and you won't be as sick. You've gotta hang in there, buddy. You're already winning this." Chris gave his back a little rub. "Ready?"
Keith nodded wearily, letting them take him down the hall and to his room. Danny knew he'd want some privacy now that the treatments had begun, so he'd traded places with him.
They got him into the bed and covered him up as the girls watched from the doorway, their faces still pale and sad.
"Do you need anything, Keith?" Laurie asked tearfully.
On his right side, Keith cringed into the pillow. "Just a knife, so I can slit my wrists," he moaned.
The four younger Partridges exchanged worried looks.
Shirley was at the door with a tray of crackers and a steaming teacup. "Here's some tea, honey, it should settle your stomach."
"I don't think that's gonna do it, Mom," Keith muttered, moving under the covers.
"Got cramps?" Chris asked, leaning down.
"Yeah." He cringed. "All the way into my back. Oh, god, what's next, cholera?"
"I'll get the heating pad for your back. Come on, try to sit up and drink this tea. It'll work, you'll be surprised," Chris ordered.
Danny and Tracy helped Keith adjust, putting pillows behind him as Shirley carefully sat the tray on the bed and Chris went to find the heating pad.
"It's hot, Keith, be careful," Shirley helped him raise the cup to his lips, as his hand was shaking.
He sipped on it, feeling the gentle liquid slipping down his throat. It was quite relaxing and he swallowed, going right back for more, to Shirley's delight. When he was able to hold the cup alone, she let go, petting the side of his head and watching him intently as he downed the whole thing. He lay back against the pillows, closing his eyes.
"It's not helping," he breathed.
"Give it time, honey," Shirley squeezed his hand.
Chris entered with the heating pad. He plugged it in, flipped on the switch and Shirley and Laurie eased Keith forward while Chris slipped it behind him.
"That should take care of your back, and the tea should help with the nausea. All this should be gone by morning," Chris rubbed his shoulder. "Want anything else, before we turn in?"
"No…thanks you guys…sorry to be so much trouble. This is all Chris's fault, you know."
"Really? How do you figure that?" Chris smiled.
"You had to go to medical school and be a doctor. I wanted you to be my drummer in my backup band, but no, you chose the easy job." Keith blinked at him with very sleepy eyes.
Chris grinned. "I know, I'm sorry, but I did it for Mom." He put his arm around Shirley.
"Come to think of it, it would have been cheaper had you taken Keith up on his offer," Shirley smiled up at him.
Everyone, including Keith laughed, then he cringed, drawing up his knees. "Don't, it hurts to laugh."
"I'm just grateful you still can," Shirley said softly, reaching over and touching his face.
He smiled tiredly. "Me, too," he answered quietly as she went forward, kissing his forehead.
"Sleep well, sweetheart."
"You too, Mom. Thanks guys," Keith waved a hand at his brothers and sisters.
They all expressed their love one by one, going out the door. Shirley left last, flipping off the light and watching for a moment as he settled down in the bed. Swallowing tearfully, she gently closed the door.
###
Danny peered through the curtain at the audience gathered for the day's show. There had to be 2000 people or more, all there to see them. He was impressed. Even after all these years, they still had quite a following! He knew the main reason for such a crowd, besides the charity draw, was Keith's presence; his older brother's solo career had been going strong for years, but still Danny was taken aback by just the sheer number of people out there. He just hoped they didn't mess up! Not only would the crowd be disappointed, but Keith would be livid!
He turned to look at the others. Everyone was dressed alike -typical Partridge Family fashion - in billowy white shirts and black suspenders, black slacks and boots. At least the shirts didn't have wild patterns on them like they did a decade ago!
Danny wondered if anyone else was as nervous as he was; no one looked it, but he could usually tell. Tracy was talking to Ken, Laurie was fussing with her hair, and Shirley and Reuben were talking to the Mayor. Chris was working with his drum kit and Keith was doing everything else that needed to be done before the curtain went up: checking connections, adjusting microphones.
Danny sauntered up to him, trying to ignore the weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Need any help?" He could see it was awkward doing everything with one arm in a sling.
"Nope. Think I've got it." Keith smiled at him. He was definitely not nervous, but then why would he be? He did this stuff practically every day! In a way, so did Danny, but the listeners to his radio program couldn't SEE him. "Nervous, eh, Danny?" Keith noted.
"How could you tell?"
"Well, you usually don't have beads of sweat rolling down your face for one thing."
Danny reached up and swiped at his forehead. He hadn't even been aware of it! "Well, it's warm in this shirt."
Keith grinned. "Okay, if you say so." He put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "You'll do just fine. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you do it, it all comes back to you."
"Yeah, well, if you recall, I never really had a bicycle," Danny told him.
"Oh, yeah," Keith nodded. "When I totaled mine, Mom wouldn't buy another one."
Danny chuckled. "Yeah. Hey, how are you doin'?" Danny hadn't been the only Partridge to be surprised from the change in Keith's physical appearance from the night before.
"Okay. I'm not nauseous like you, but I'll manage. Only thing is, is this stupid sling. It's really getting to be a drag, you know?"
Danny shrugged. "Take it off."
"Yeah, right, with Dr. Partridge back there?"
"Ask him if it would be okay, just for the show."
Keith glanced back at Chris, who was busy tightening a drumhead. "Yeah, I guess I could." He nodded Danny forward with him and the two boys approached their brother.
"Keith wants his sling off," Danny announced as Chris looked up.
Keith shook his head, sighing. "Danny…"
"Well, I knew you'd be wishy-washy about it, so …" Danny shrugged.
"No." Chris went back to the drum.
"Why not?" Keith frowned.
Chris raised his head, looking right at him. "Because one wrong move and you'll see stars. It's not healed yet."
"But it's in the way and it clashes with my costume," Keith complained. "Look, suppose I keep my arm real close to my body. I won't move it at all." He felt like he was seven years old and asking Mom for a puppy!
Chris looked skeptical. "If we take it off now, it's gonna hurt like the dickens later."
"So, I'll take a painkiller. Come on. It's my arm."
"Well, I suppose we can try it," Chris said, still a bit uneasily. "But only two songs. If I see ANY sign of pain on your face, we're stopping and putting it right back on."
Keith grinned. "Fair enough."
Chris shook his head. He got out from behind the drum set and went to him. "Okay, here goes. If it hurts, let me know."
"Oh, don't you worry." Keith nodded as Chris gently took his arm.
"Here, hold your arm so it doesn't drop when I loosen the band."
Keith obeyed, watching as Chris reached up, unbuckling the sling by his neck.
The sheer weight of his arm suddenly not being suspended surprised him and he gripped his wrist, trying not to show the initial pain it caused.
"Okay?" Chris asked, easing the sling down off his shoulder.
"Yeah…feels a little funny, but…" Keith kept the grip on his wrist tight.
Chris massaged his arm, starting with the shoulder and working down to his hand. "How's that feel?"
"Okay. I just don't dare unbend it."
"Try not to, anyway. The more pressure you keep off your shoulder the better."
Danny stepped back, observing the 'new' Keith. "You're right, it was clashing with your outfit. Just don't forget and try and pick up your guitar."
Keith pulled a painful face. "Don't worry. Besides, you'll be doing a lot of the guitar playing. I managed to program some of it into the synthesizer, though."
"You did? When was this?" Chris asked.
"Early this morning. Wait'll you hear it. It's cool. I can make it sound like anything. Guitars, horns…just a flip of the switch and voila, we have an entire symphony."
"Then you don't need me," Danny raised a hopeful eyebrow.
"Technically, no, but you're not getting out of it that easy. If I have to do it, so do you." Keith grinned.
"Yeah, but you're used to it. It's your life, man. My so-called fans can just turn me off if they don't like me. These people can boo and throw things!"
Keith shook his head. "You're gonna do okay, Danny, trust me. Any mistakes will be lost in the crowd noise. Believe me, I should know."
The Mayor and Shirley approached them. "Is everyone ready to start?" Mayor Jenkins, a balding older man in a three-piece suit, smiled at them.
"Guess so, Mayor. Thanks for giving us our own day. We're honored," Keith extended his hand.
"Well, it's the least I could do, Keith," the Mayor accepted the handshake. "Your family's done a lot for this community. I felt it was time to pay you back." He nodded at Shirley. "I'll go make a brief speech, Mrs. Partridge, then you can start the show."
"Thank you," Shirley shook his hand as well, smiling as he moved off. Looking surprised at Keith, she exclaimed, "Keith, where's your sling?"
"I'm gonna try to do this without it, Mom. I'll put it back on if it starts hurting."
"Remember, two songs, and I'm checkin'," Chris waved the sling at him.
"Okay, okay. Laurie, Tracy, come here for a second." Keith motioned his sisters over. They could hear parts of the Mayor's speech beyond the curtain, but Keith had something more important to say.
They circled around him. "Okay, guys and gals, this is it. I know it's been a long time, but we've overcome a lot of rough spots. You guys are good, you always have been and you always will be. Don't be nervous; if you make a mistake, it's not gonna matter. Contrary to popular belief, Danny," he emphasized, "I'm not gonna get upset if things go wrong. You're my family first and my bandmates second. Understand?" His dark eyes scoured the circle.
Everyone nodded, feeling just a little better. The Mayor droned on in the background and Keith lost his smile.
"And another thing. This just may be the last show we ever do together. I don't know what the future holds for me, or for any of you, either, for that matter. I just want you to know that no matter what happens today, I am gonna remember this for the rest of my life, however long that it is. I love you, and I know that you're only doing this for me, which makes it even sweeter." He looked hard into their eyes, one by one.
It brought them all to tears. Darn him for being so sentimental, Laurie thought. Her mascara was probably running now!
She reached over, giving him a hug. When they parted, she was promptly followed by the others, surrounding him.
Then came the words no one had heard for ten years: "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome The Partridge Family!"
Keith looked up as his bandmates clutched at him, still weeping. "Okay, kids. Let's blow 'em all away!"
###
It was like they'd never left. Song after song, a little patter here and there, and the crowd ate it up like it was 1972. Keith could just feel the love pouring out, not only from the audience, but from his family as well. He was euphoric. He tried to reciprocate that feeling by putting all he had into each song, singing them like they were meant to be sung. If anything, his voice had gotten even better over the years, were that possible. And behind him, Mom and the kids never had sounded better. It truly was a concert to remember.
Two hours later, Keith ended the show, dedicating a solo to the family: a song he had written entitled, "Someone." He'd pre -programmed the music into the synthesizer and sang his heart out to his stunned family. As the words poured out, so did the tears, from both sides.
Then, suddenly, it was over and they stood hand in hand, bowing as a family to the thundering applause that reverberated through the evening air.
The curtains came down and Keith found himself being nearly hugged to death. It was a good thing the mikes were off, because the sobbing would have been heard into the next county.
No one got a full sentence out; they weren't able to. And when Reuben and Ken got backstage, they wisely stayed back, letting the Partridges celebrate in their own, touching way. It was a sight to behold, and one, as Keith had said, they would never forget.
###
Still on a high from the performance, Keith found it hard to sleep that night. It had been an incredible feeling, being up there with the family again after doing solo shows for so long. Though he loved being on his own, doing just what songs he felt like doing, arranging them, writing more explicit 'rock n roll' songs, he had missed the camaraderie of being with a group. Life on the road as a single act could be very lonely. He didn't really have the chemistry with his back up band as he'd had with his brothers, sisters and mother. All the guys in the band led very different lives off-stage than he did; some were married, some weren't, yet none of them were extremely close, only onstage, where they meshed, of course, but it just wasn't the same.
Keith sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He wondered just what it would take to get the family to consent to getting back together, however temporarily? No, he told himself. It wouldn't work. They already had their lives, too. Laurie and her law practice, Danny and his radio show, Chris's medical career, and what with Tracy getting married, a family would most likely follow soon. And Mom, well, she seemed pretty content just being retired. Nope, he thought. It would be nice, but…
He drifted off to sleep and eased right into a dream. Well, that's what it started out to be; a dream. They were in the Hollywood Bowl. Mom, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy. They were on the stage in front of a huge crowd. But where was he? Oddly enough, he wasn't there, at least not on stage. He was, watching, but from a distance. From somewhere back in the back. And another thing, the crowd was quiet; hushed. Strange, for a Partridge Family concert. Or was it a concert? It certainly was subdued, if so. He began to move down toward the stage. No one looked at him, nobody even noticed him as he went by. What in the heck was going on? As he drew closer to the stage, he stopped, seeing a giant banner draped on the curtain behind the family as they stood there. The words blared at him, huge white letters on a black background: KEITH PARTRIDGE MEMORIAL CONCERT. Memorial? What was this? That meant he was….dead! And he was right there!
He stepped up onto the stage. All the Partridges were crying, standing there, unable to play. A lone microphone stand stood at the stage's edge, a large black bow tied to it, and he began to panic.
"Mom!" he went to her as she stood by her piano. "Mom, what's going on?"
She didn't move or look at him. She just wept. Everyone was weeping, and it gave him the willies.
"Laurie! Danny, come on! I'm right here! There's been a mistake. I haven't died; I'm right here! Come on, you guys! Chris, Tracy, please! Look at me!" he pleaded, to no avail. They just kept right on sobbing.
"Keith," he heard a vaguely familiar voice behind him.
Whirling, he gasped. He had to be looking into a mirror, except that the face looking back at him was just a little older. The feeling was almost ungodly.
"Keith," the image said again, this time reaching a hand in his direction. "Come to me."
It hit him. This was his father. His father that had died 19 horrible years ago!
Keith shook his head, his face reflecting utter terror.
His father took a step closer. "Come, son. It's time."
Keith took a step backwards. "No! No, I can't! I have to sing, to be with them!" He indicated the others, who still had not moved.
His father smiled sadly. "No, Keith, you have to come with me, now."
He was suddenly next to him, and Keith found himself unable to move. He watched anxiously as his father took his hand, smiling.
"No!" Keith cried, trying in vain to pull away. "No, please! I'm not dead! I have to stay here! No!"
The cry woke him. He sat up in the bed, drenched in sweat and his heart pounding nearly out of his chest.
The door opened and the light came on. It was Shirley. "Keith!" she cried, going to him.
"Mom!" he reached for her blindly.
"What happened?"
He just shook his head, starting to cry and she sat down next to him, taking him in her arms. He melted into her, sobbing, and soon the rest of the kids were in the doorway.
"What's the matter?" Laurie stepped in.
"He must have had a nightmare," Shirley answered, rubbing Keith's back as he continued to cry. She kissed his head, cradling him as they watched the tender scene worriedly.
continued...
The purging had left him weak, so weak he couldn't even get up off the floor without Chris and Danny's help. He had vomited until there was nothing left to come up, yet still he felt sick, hardly even able to stand despite his brothers' strong holds.
"Come on…lie down. Mom's brewing the tea," Chris said from his left, his hands gingerly holding Keith's wounded arm.
Keith shook his head, feeling the tears streaming down his face. "I don't want to lie down, and I don't want any tea…oh, god, just let me die…" He tried to wriggle out of their hold, but they weren't about to give in.
"You're exhausted," Danny told him, his deep voice resonating in Keith's right ear. "You've gotta lie down, Keith."
They moved him forward, propelling him into the hallway, past Laurie and Tracy, who watched with worried looks on their pale faces.
"Wait," Keith gulped, trying to shake Danny off.
They stopped, and Danny let go. "What?"
"I can't…gotta rest…"
Chris still held his left arm as Keith shakily ran his right hand through his hair and leaned back against the wall, wincing. "I can't do this, Chris," he told his younger brother, shaking his head.
"It won't last forever. You'll be back to normal by the morning, I promise," Chris assured him.
"Yeah, from this one. But six weeks…"
"It'll be easier as time goes on. Your body will adjust to the radiation and you won't be as sick. You've gotta hang in there, buddy. You're already winning this." Chris gave his back a little rub. "Ready?"
Keith nodded wearily, letting them take him down the hall and to his room. Danny knew he'd want some privacy now that the treatments had begun, so he'd traded places with him.
They got him into the bed and covered him up as the girls watched from the doorway, their faces still pale and sad.
"Do you need anything, Keith?" Laurie asked tearfully.
On his right side, Keith cringed into the pillow. "Just a knife, so I can slit my wrists," he moaned.
The four younger Partridges exchanged worried looks.
Shirley was at the door with a tray of crackers and a steaming teacup. "Here's some tea, honey, it should settle your stomach."
"I don't think that's gonna do it, Mom," Keith muttered, moving under the covers.
"Got cramps?" Chris asked, leaning down.
"Yeah." He cringed. "All the way into my back. Oh, god, what's next, cholera?"
"I'll get the heating pad for your back. Come on, try to sit up and drink this tea. It'll work, you'll be surprised," Chris ordered.
Danny and Tracy helped Keith adjust, putting pillows behind him as Shirley carefully sat the tray on the bed and Chris went to find the heating pad.
"It's hot, Keith, be careful," Shirley helped him raise the cup to his lips, as his hand was shaking.
He sipped on it, feeling the gentle liquid slipping down his throat. It was quite relaxing and he swallowed, going right back for more, to Shirley's delight. When he was able to hold the cup alone, she let go, petting the side of his head and watching him intently as he downed the whole thing. He lay back against the pillows, closing his eyes.
"It's not helping," he breathed.
"Give it time, honey," Shirley squeezed his hand.
Chris entered with the heating pad. He plugged it in, flipped on the switch and Shirley and Laurie eased Keith forward while Chris slipped it behind him.
"That should take care of your back, and the tea should help with the nausea. All this should be gone by morning," Chris rubbed his shoulder. "Want anything else, before we turn in?"
"No…thanks you guys…sorry to be so much trouble. This is all Chris's fault, you know."
"Really? How do you figure that?" Chris smiled.
"You had to go to medical school and be a doctor. I wanted you to be my drummer in my backup band, but no, you chose the easy job." Keith blinked at him with very sleepy eyes.
Chris grinned. "I know, I'm sorry, but I did it for Mom." He put his arm around Shirley.
"Come to think of it, it would have been cheaper had you taken Keith up on his offer," Shirley smiled up at him.
Everyone, including Keith laughed, then he cringed, drawing up his knees. "Don't, it hurts to laugh."
"I'm just grateful you still can," Shirley said softly, reaching over and touching his face.
He smiled tiredly. "Me, too," he answered quietly as she went forward, kissing his forehead.
"Sleep well, sweetheart."
"You too, Mom. Thanks guys," Keith waved a hand at his brothers and sisters.
They all expressed their love one by one, going out the door. Shirley left last, flipping off the light and watching for a moment as he settled down in the bed. Swallowing tearfully, she gently closed the door.
###
Danny peered through the curtain at the audience gathered for the day's show. There had to be 2000 people or more, all there to see them. He was impressed. Even after all these years, they still had quite a following! He knew the main reason for such a crowd, besides the charity draw, was Keith's presence; his older brother's solo career had been going strong for years, but still Danny was taken aback by just the sheer number of people out there. He just hoped they didn't mess up! Not only would the crowd be disappointed, but Keith would be livid!
He turned to look at the others. Everyone was dressed alike -typical Partridge Family fashion - in billowy white shirts and black suspenders, black slacks and boots. At least the shirts didn't have wild patterns on them like they did a decade ago!
Danny wondered if anyone else was as nervous as he was; no one looked it, but he could usually tell. Tracy was talking to Ken, Laurie was fussing with her hair, and Shirley and Reuben were talking to the Mayor. Chris was working with his drum kit and Keith was doing everything else that needed to be done before the curtain went up: checking connections, adjusting microphones.
Danny sauntered up to him, trying to ignore the weird feeling in the pit of his stomach. "Need any help?" He could see it was awkward doing everything with one arm in a sling.
"Nope. Think I've got it." Keith smiled at him. He was definitely not nervous, but then why would he be? He did this stuff practically every day! In a way, so did Danny, but the listeners to his radio program couldn't SEE him. "Nervous, eh, Danny?" Keith noted.
"How could you tell?"
"Well, you usually don't have beads of sweat rolling down your face for one thing."
Danny reached up and swiped at his forehead. He hadn't even been aware of it! "Well, it's warm in this shirt."
Keith grinned. "Okay, if you say so." He put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "You'll do just fine. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you do it, it all comes back to you."
"Yeah, well, if you recall, I never really had a bicycle," Danny told him.
"Oh, yeah," Keith nodded. "When I totaled mine, Mom wouldn't buy another one."
Danny chuckled. "Yeah. Hey, how are you doin'?" Danny hadn't been the only Partridge to be surprised from the change in Keith's physical appearance from the night before.
"Okay. I'm not nauseous like you, but I'll manage. Only thing is, is this stupid sling. It's really getting to be a drag, you know?"
Danny shrugged. "Take it off."
"Yeah, right, with Dr. Partridge back there?"
"Ask him if it would be okay, just for the show."
Keith glanced back at Chris, who was busy tightening a drumhead. "Yeah, I guess I could." He nodded Danny forward with him and the two boys approached their brother.
"Keith wants his sling off," Danny announced as Chris looked up.
Keith shook his head, sighing. "Danny…"
"Well, I knew you'd be wishy-washy about it, so …" Danny shrugged.
"No." Chris went back to the drum.
"Why not?" Keith frowned.
Chris raised his head, looking right at him. "Because one wrong move and you'll see stars. It's not healed yet."
"But it's in the way and it clashes with my costume," Keith complained. "Look, suppose I keep my arm real close to my body. I won't move it at all." He felt like he was seven years old and asking Mom for a puppy!
Chris looked skeptical. "If we take it off now, it's gonna hurt like the dickens later."
"So, I'll take a painkiller. Come on. It's my arm."
"Well, I suppose we can try it," Chris said, still a bit uneasily. "But only two songs. If I see ANY sign of pain on your face, we're stopping and putting it right back on."
Keith grinned. "Fair enough."
Chris shook his head. He got out from behind the drum set and went to him. "Okay, here goes. If it hurts, let me know."
"Oh, don't you worry." Keith nodded as Chris gently took his arm.
"Here, hold your arm so it doesn't drop when I loosen the band."
Keith obeyed, watching as Chris reached up, unbuckling the sling by his neck.
The sheer weight of his arm suddenly not being suspended surprised him and he gripped his wrist, trying not to show the initial pain it caused.
"Okay?" Chris asked, easing the sling down off his shoulder.
"Yeah…feels a little funny, but…" Keith kept the grip on his wrist tight.
Chris massaged his arm, starting with the shoulder and working down to his hand. "How's that feel?"
"Okay. I just don't dare unbend it."
"Try not to, anyway. The more pressure you keep off your shoulder the better."
Danny stepped back, observing the 'new' Keith. "You're right, it was clashing with your outfit. Just don't forget and try and pick up your guitar."
Keith pulled a painful face. "Don't worry. Besides, you'll be doing a lot of the guitar playing. I managed to program some of it into the synthesizer, though."
"You did? When was this?" Chris asked.
"Early this morning. Wait'll you hear it. It's cool. I can make it sound like anything. Guitars, horns…just a flip of the switch and voila, we have an entire symphony."
"Then you don't need me," Danny raised a hopeful eyebrow.
"Technically, no, but you're not getting out of it that easy. If I have to do it, so do you." Keith grinned.
"Yeah, but you're used to it. It's your life, man. My so-called fans can just turn me off if they don't like me. These people can boo and throw things!"
Keith shook his head. "You're gonna do okay, Danny, trust me. Any mistakes will be lost in the crowd noise. Believe me, I should know."
The Mayor and Shirley approached them. "Is everyone ready to start?" Mayor Jenkins, a balding older man in a three-piece suit, smiled at them.
"Guess so, Mayor. Thanks for giving us our own day. We're honored," Keith extended his hand.
"Well, it's the least I could do, Keith," the Mayor accepted the handshake. "Your family's done a lot for this community. I felt it was time to pay you back." He nodded at Shirley. "I'll go make a brief speech, Mrs. Partridge, then you can start the show."
"Thank you," Shirley shook his hand as well, smiling as he moved off. Looking surprised at Keith, she exclaimed, "Keith, where's your sling?"
"I'm gonna try to do this without it, Mom. I'll put it back on if it starts hurting."
"Remember, two songs, and I'm checkin'," Chris waved the sling at him.
"Okay, okay. Laurie, Tracy, come here for a second." Keith motioned his sisters over. They could hear parts of the Mayor's speech beyond the curtain, but Keith had something more important to say.
They circled around him. "Okay, guys and gals, this is it. I know it's been a long time, but we've overcome a lot of rough spots. You guys are good, you always have been and you always will be. Don't be nervous; if you make a mistake, it's not gonna matter. Contrary to popular belief, Danny," he emphasized, "I'm not gonna get upset if things go wrong. You're my family first and my bandmates second. Understand?" His dark eyes scoured the circle.
Everyone nodded, feeling just a little better. The Mayor droned on in the background and Keith lost his smile.
"And another thing. This just may be the last show we ever do together. I don't know what the future holds for me, or for any of you, either, for that matter. I just want you to know that no matter what happens today, I am gonna remember this for the rest of my life, however long that it is. I love you, and I know that you're only doing this for me, which makes it even sweeter." He looked hard into their eyes, one by one.
It brought them all to tears. Darn him for being so sentimental, Laurie thought. Her mascara was probably running now!
She reached over, giving him a hug. When they parted, she was promptly followed by the others, surrounding him.
Then came the words no one had heard for ten years: "Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome The Partridge Family!"
Keith looked up as his bandmates clutched at him, still weeping. "Okay, kids. Let's blow 'em all away!"
###
It was like they'd never left. Song after song, a little patter here and there, and the crowd ate it up like it was 1972. Keith could just feel the love pouring out, not only from the audience, but from his family as well. He was euphoric. He tried to reciprocate that feeling by putting all he had into each song, singing them like they were meant to be sung. If anything, his voice had gotten even better over the years, were that possible. And behind him, Mom and the kids never had sounded better. It truly was a concert to remember.
Two hours later, Keith ended the show, dedicating a solo to the family: a song he had written entitled, "Someone." He'd pre -programmed the music into the synthesizer and sang his heart out to his stunned family. As the words poured out, so did the tears, from both sides.
Then, suddenly, it was over and they stood hand in hand, bowing as a family to the thundering applause that reverberated through the evening air.
The curtains came down and Keith found himself being nearly hugged to death. It was a good thing the mikes were off, because the sobbing would have been heard into the next county.
No one got a full sentence out; they weren't able to. And when Reuben and Ken got backstage, they wisely stayed back, letting the Partridges celebrate in their own, touching way. It was a sight to behold, and one, as Keith had said, they would never forget.
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Still on a high from the performance, Keith found it hard to sleep that night. It had been an incredible feeling, being up there with the family again after doing solo shows for so long. Though he loved being on his own, doing just what songs he felt like doing, arranging them, writing more explicit 'rock n roll' songs, he had missed the camaraderie of being with a group. Life on the road as a single act could be very lonely. He didn't really have the chemistry with his back up band as he'd had with his brothers, sisters and mother. All the guys in the band led very different lives off-stage than he did; some were married, some weren't, yet none of them were extremely close, only onstage, where they meshed, of course, but it just wasn't the same.
Keith sighed, looking up at the ceiling. He wondered just what it would take to get the family to consent to getting back together, however temporarily? No, he told himself. It wouldn't work. They already had their lives, too. Laurie and her law practice, Danny and his radio show, Chris's medical career, and what with Tracy getting married, a family would most likely follow soon. And Mom, well, she seemed pretty content just being retired. Nope, he thought. It would be nice, but…
He drifted off to sleep and eased right into a dream. Well, that's what it started out to be; a dream. They were in the Hollywood Bowl. Mom, Laurie, Danny, Chris and Tracy. They were on the stage in front of a huge crowd. But where was he? Oddly enough, he wasn't there, at least not on stage. He was, watching, but from a distance. From somewhere back in the back. And another thing, the crowd was quiet; hushed. Strange, for a Partridge Family concert. Or was it a concert? It certainly was subdued, if so. He began to move down toward the stage. No one looked at him, nobody even noticed him as he went by. What in the heck was going on? As he drew closer to the stage, he stopped, seeing a giant banner draped on the curtain behind the family as they stood there. The words blared at him, huge white letters on a black background: KEITH PARTRIDGE MEMORIAL CONCERT. Memorial? What was this? That meant he was….dead! And he was right there!
He stepped up onto the stage. All the Partridges were crying, standing there, unable to play. A lone microphone stand stood at the stage's edge, a large black bow tied to it, and he began to panic.
"Mom!" he went to her as she stood by her piano. "Mom, what's going on?"
She didn't move or look at him. She just wept. Everyone was weeping, and it gave him the willies.
"Laurie! Danny, come on! I'm right here! There's been a mistake. I haven't died; I'm right here! Come on, you guys! Chris, Tracy, please! Look at me!" he pleaded, to no avail. They just kept right on sobbing.
"Keith," he heard a vaguely familiar voice behind him.
Whirling, he gasped. He had to be looking into a mirror, except that the face looking back at him was just a little older. The feeling was almost ungodly.
"Keith," the image said again, this time reaching a hand in his direction. "Come to me."
It hit him. This was his father. His father that had died 19 horrible years ago!
Keith shook his head, his face reflecting utter terror.
His father took a step closer. "Come, son. It's time."
Keith took a step backwards. "No! No, I can't! I have to sing, to be with them!" He indicated the others, who still had not moved.
His father smiled sadly. "No, Keith, you have to come with me, now."
He was suddenly next to him, and Keith found himself unable to move. He watched anxiously as his father took his hand, smiling.
"No!" Keith cried, trying in vain to pull away. "No, please! I'm not dead! I have to stay here! No!"
The cry woke him. He sat up in the bed, drenched in sweat and his heart pounding nearly out of his chest.
The door opened and the light came on. It was Shirley. "Keith!" she cried, going to him.
"Mom!" he reached for her blindly.
"What happened?"
He just shook his head, starting to cry and she sat down next to him, taking him in her arms. He melted into her, sobbing, and soon the rest of the kids were in the doorway.
"What's the matter?" Laurie stepped in.
"He must have had a nightmare," Shirley answered, rubbing Keith's back as he continued to cry. She kissed his head, cradling him as they watched the tender scene worriedly.
continued...