SUMMER TOUR
Shirley Partridge glanced at the clock in the kitchen. It read 3:00 p.m. and she braced herself. Any moment now, her five offspring would be traipsing in with their books and jackets and lunchpails and depositing everything in the kitchen and/or living room; anywhere there was a space to be had. It was the last day of school, after all, and all remnants of civility would be banished to the far reaches of September future.
She sighed heavily. At least it would be a busy summer. Reuben had the Family scheduled from one coast to the other, 22 cities in three months. No time for the usual arguments, dating sagas or boredom of any kind. Their lives for the next 90 days would revolve around rehearsals, driving, interviews, autograph sessions, and for Keith, songwriting and arranging. It would be exhausting but rewarding. It was the kind of life to which Shirley and the others had become accustomed, and almost looked forward to. Almost. The front door slammed; a sure sign that one of the kids was home. Shirley waited for a voice to call her. "Mom!" Sure enough; it was Danny.
"I'm in the kitchen," Shirley replied.
Her middle son ploughed through the kitchen door, An expression of exuberance on his freckled face. "What's there to eat?" He headed for the fridge.
"There's milk, and Mrs. Monahan sent over some cookies to thank me for helping out on the clothing drive." Shirley answered, indicating the plate piled with cookies there on the table. "Where did you put your school books? On the sofa, I suppose."
Pouring himself a tall glass of milk, Danny shrugged. "Yeah, but there's only two books. The teachers took back all the rest. My report card's in my jacket pocket."
Shirley eyed him. "Which is…on the floor, right?"
Danny grinned, taking a bite out of the cookie in his hand. "How'd you guess?"
"Intuition." Shirley sighed again as the front door opened and closed once more. "Mom!"
This time it was Laurie, and again Shirley indicated her whereabouts. "Kitchen!"
Laurie pushed the door open far gentler than Danny had done. She was still carrying her books, and her sweater was tied neatly around her shoulders. "Hi. Any mail?"
"It's on the piano." Shirley told her. Laurie always was the tidiest of the brood.
"Great!" Laurie plopped the books onto the counter and tossed the sweater on top. Well, so much for neatness… "I'm looking for my Tomorrow's Woman."
"Me, too," Danny chimed in, still chomping on his cookie.
The back door flung open and Keith entered, looking frazzled. "I swear, if I see one more test paper I'm gonna die!" he moaned. His books skidded across the table, narrowly missing Danny's milk glass.
"Tests? On the last day of school? Isn't that a bit odd?" Shirley queried.
"I'll say. I had two make-up tests. Two! You know, for the ones I missed earlier this quarter when I had the flu." Keith took a cookie from the plate on the table. "I'm pretty sure I aced them. Did Reuben bring over the tour schedule?"
"Yes, it's on the bulletin board. As soon as Chris and Tracy come home, we're going to have a family caucus," Shirley said. She knew as fond as Keith was of school (okay, so 'fond' was a little strong), the music end of his life was even more important; exciting, even. It was tough keeping his feet on the ground. Perspective was very important to someone in Keith's position. Seventeen and the center of a very popular rock band…a dream come true. He was a very level-headed boy, but like all children of his generation, he would occasionally stray from the principles Shirley had done her best to instill in him and the others. Nothing serious thus far, but one never knew.
"Great," Keith stepped around the table and snatched the paper from off of the corkboard. He sat down at the table, his eyes scanning the itinerary, lost in his own world once more.
The front door opened again, this time bringing with it Reuben's voice. "Anybody home?"
"In the kitchen!" Danny, Shirley and Laurie chorused.
They were surprised to see not only Reuben enter, but Chris and Tracy as well.
"Hi, Mom, guess what? Mr. Kincaid gave us a ride home!" Tracy hoisted her lunch pail and several disorderly papers up onto the counter.
"How nice!" Shirley said, taking Chris's books and lunch box from him just before he dumped them on the floor.
"Well, they were only a couple of blocks away from home, but Tracy here was losing her artwork all along the street, so…" Reuben instinctively reached for a cookie from the plate. Noting Keith's concentration on the paper in his hand, he asked, "Is that the tour schedule?"
"Mmmm-hmm," Keith murmured without missing a beat. Finally he looked up. "Looks okay, except for the jump from Santa Fe to Tampa and back to Phoenix. In five days? The bus will never make it back and forth like that."
"I know, but I had no choice. We'll just have to fly." Reuben folded his arms across his large chest.
"We? Does that mean you're going, too?" Danny asked.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Actually, there's a week there in July that I'll be in Canada, setting up your fall tour, so you'll have to get along without me."
"Oh, gee…I don't know…we've managed to so far, right, gang?" Laurie smirked.
"Kids," Shirley said warningly. "You're always welcome to come along with us, Reuben, you know that."
"Yeah. When I get tired of getting on Keith's nerves, I know I can always turn to you." Danny grinned.
"Thanks, kid." Reuben's sarcastic smile had a soft edge to it. "It's good to be needed."
Shirley pulled out a chair at the table. "We do need to discuss this. If it's going to interfere with anything pressing, we'll need to do some rearranging. Fair enough?"
"What…would you call 'pressing,' Mom?" Laurie asked as she, Chris, Tracy and Reuben joined their mother and brothers at the table.
"Oh, things like summer school." She looked around the table. She hadn't seen anything in the way of report cards as of yet, so the possibility was there.
Everyone shook their heads 'no' and Reuben let out the breath he'd been holding.
Shirley smiled, pleased. "All right, then…any physical problems we need to deal with? I would like everyone to get a check up before we go."
"Aw, Mom," Danny griped. "We had one before school started!"
"I realize that, but it has been nine months."
"I think I speak for everyone when I say we've never felt better, right?" Laurie spread her hands.
The others concurred, heads nodding.
Shirley glanced at Reuben. "Well, I guess we're on."
"Super!" the manager said. "I'll meet you here on Monday, and we'll be off to Denver." He stood up, reaching over to the cookie plate one more time. There was only one left and Reuben froze, feeling six icy stares. "Well, what the heck? You'd all only fight over it, anyway!" he chided, putting the cookie into his mouth.
"Gluttony is one of the seven deadliest sins, you know," Danny wisecracked.
Reuben chewed his treat. "So's being short, but I don't keep reminding you, do I?"
The others laughed at the redhead's expense as Reuben started for the door. "See you, Monday, gang!"
And with that, the door closed.
*****
The doorbell was ringing, incessantly, as if someone were leaning on it. Shirley rolled over in her bed, having been jarred out of a peaceful sleep that only started…six hours ago? She looked at the clock on the nightstand and the ungodly hour of five a.m. glowed back at her. Sitting up, she pulled her robe on and stumbled to the door. As she stepped out into the hallway, she was joined by Keith, Laurie and Danny, who looked about as wide awake as she was.
"Who could that be? It's Saturday morning!" Laurie whined.
"I don't know, but unless the house is on fire, I'm gonna be mad," Keith muttered through bleary eyes.
"Yeah. You need your beauty sleep," Danny teased.
Keith just pulled a face at him, and they followed Shirley down the stairs as the bell kept chiming.
"Who is it?" Shirley's voice was full of frustration.
"Shirley, it's me, Reuben. Open up!"
She pulled open the door. Sure enough, Reuben stood on the stoop, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. He had some nerve…
"Reuben, do you know what time it is?" Shirley squeaked as he entered the foyer.
"Yeah, or what day it is?" Danny yawned.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I've got big news that affects all of you." Reuben looked around at the four of them.
Danny suddenly brightened. "We made our first million?"
"We're number one on the charts?" Keith tried.
"No, no, nothing like that. Can I get some coffee? I was all out this morning."
Laurie's eyes widened. "That's your big news?"
"Of course not. I just thought I'd tell you over a cup or two. How about it?"
Shirley indicated the kitchen. "You know where everything is. Can we at least get dressed, or is this informal?"
"Dressed would be good," Reuben mused. "And hair combed…a little makeup…toothpaste wouldn't hurt, either…"
They just glared at him as he made his way into the kitchen, and they all traipsed back up the stairs.
*****
Steaming coffee cups and a glass of milk awaited Shirley, Danny and Laurie as they joined Reuben at the kitchen table, having shaken off a few hours of sleep. Keith, however, hadn't come down yet, and Reuben sipped his brew, almost giddy with breaking news. "Where is he?" The manager wanted to know, looking anxiously at the door.
"You know Keith. He had to take a shower and he's got to get his hair just right, or his day is shot," Laurie smiled, still a little sleepy.
Shirley chuckled. "He is a stickler for fashion, I'll give you that. I've bought him three blow dryers in eight months."
"Well, all he's got is his looks. He's not exactly the brains of this outfit," Danny grinned, taking his milk glass.
"Yeah, well, those looks are what's putting food into your mouth, red, so don't knock it." Reuben's eyes narrowed.
Keith entered, his long mane, shiny and intricately groomed, bouncing on his shoulders. If he heard them talking about him, he didn't mention it. He just pulled out a chair, falling into it. "Okay, Reuben, what's up? Does this have to do with the tour?"
"As a matter of fact, it does. Have you ever heard of Tagalong Productions?" Reuben's eyes scanned each face in turn.
"Sure. They tour with certain acts and film documentaries on them." Keith nodded. Then his jaw dropped, as did the penny in his brain. "Are they doing our tour?"
Reuben's smile was huge. "They're sending a messenger with the contract any second now."
Laurie squealed delightedly, as Keith and Danny 'high-fived' one another. Shirley was the only one who didn't react.
"Mom?" Laurie saw the look on her face.
"What all does this involve? Would it focus on our stage act, or will they want our backstage life as well? How much loss of privacy will we have to endure? I certainly don't want the kids' personal moments recorded for all the world to see," she said adamantly.
"I'll go over the contract with you line by line. If we have to throw in a stipulation that you approve the final production, we will. Don't worry, Shirley. You know I wouldn't do this if it weren't in your best interest."
"Yeah, Mom," Keith's eyes were practically dancing. "This could be just the thing we need. More people watch Greg Novak's documentaries than we could pack in in a year!"
"Just think of the publicity, not to mention the money." Danny leaned toward Reuben. "I trust we will get paid for this."
Reuben sighed. "Yes, yes, your usual fee, plus 50% of the gross, plus, I think they said, $500 a day for each day they shoot."
Shirley looked dumbfounded. "That sounds like a lot of money, Reuben!"
"Oh it is, it is. Enough to send Keith and Laurie to college, and get Danny out of jail to boot."
Danny rolled his eyes at Reuben's little joke as Keith and Laurie laughed. Only Shirley remained unconvinced. She just had this sinking feeling….
Shirley Partridge glanced at the clock in the kitchen. It read 3:00 p.m. and she braced herself. Any moment now, her five offspring would be traipsing in with their books and jackets and lunchpails and depositing everything in the kitchen and/or living room; anywhere there was a space to be had. It was the last day of school, after all, and all remnants of civility would be banished to the far reaches of September future.
She sighed heavily. At least it would be a busy summer. Reuben had the Family scheduled from one coast to the other, 22 cities in three months. No time for the usual arguments, dating sagas or boredom of any kind. Their lives for the next 90 days would revolve around rehearsals, driving, interviews, autograph sessions, and for Keith, songwriting and arranging. It would be exhausting but rewarding. It was the kind of life to which Shirley and the others had become accustomed, and almost looked forward to. Almost. The front door slammed; a sure sign that one of the kids was home. Shirley waited for a voice to call her. "Mom!" Sure enough; it was Danny.
"I'm in the kitchen," Shirley replied.
Her middle son ploughed through the kitchen door, An expression of exuberance on his freckled face. "What's there to eat?" He headed for the fridge.
"There's milk, and Mrs. Monahan sent over some cookies to thank me for helping out on the clothing drive." Shirley answered, indicating the plate piled with cookies there on the table. "Where did you put your school books? On the sofa, I suppose."
Pouring himself a tall glass of milk, Danny shrugged. "Yeah, but there's only two books. The teachers took back all the rest. My report card's in my jacket pocket."
Shirley eyed him. "Which is…on the floor, right?"
Danny grinned, taking a bite out of the cookie in his hand. "How'd you guess?"
"Intuition." Shirley sighed again as the front door opened and closed once more. "Mom!"
This time it was Laurie, and again Shirley indicated her whereabouts. "Kitchen!"
Laurie pushed the door open far gentler than Danny had done. She was still carrying her books, and her sweater was tied neatly around her shoulders. "Hi. Any mail?"
"It's on the piano." Shirley told her. Laurie always was the tidiest of the brood.
"Great!" Laurie plopped the books onto the counter and tossed the sweater on top. Well, so much for neatness… "I'm looking for my Tomorrow's Woman."
"Me, too," Danny chimed in, still chomping on his cookie.
The back door flung open and Keith entered, looking frazzled. "I swear, if I see one more test paper I'm gonna die!" he moaned. His books skidded across the table, narrowly missing Danny's milk glass.
"Tests? On the last day of school? Isn't that a bit odd?" Shirley queried.
"I'll say. I had two make-up tests. Two! You know, for the ones I missed earlier this quarter when I had the flu." Keith took a cookie from the plate on the table. "I'm pretty sure I aced them. Did Reuben bring over the tour schedule?"
"Yes, it's on the bulletin board. As soon as Chris and Tracy come home, we're going to have a family caucus," Shirley said. She knew as fond as Keith was of school (okay, so 'fond' was a little strong), the music end of his life was even more important; exciting, even. It was tough keeping his feet on the ground. Perspective was very important to someone in Keith's position. Seventeen and the center of a very popular rock band…a dream come true. He was a very level-headed boy, but like all children of his generation, he would occasionally stray from the principles Shirley had done her best to instill in him and the others. Nothing serious thus far, but one never knew.
"Great," Keith stepped around the table and snatched the paper from off of the corkboard. He sat down at the table, his eyes scanning the itinerary, lost in his own world once more.
The front door opened again, this time bringing with it Reuben's voice. "Anybody home?"
"In the kitchen!" Danny, Shirley and Laurie chorused.
They were surprised to see not only Reuben enter, but Chris and Tracy as well.
"Hi, Mom, guess what? Mr. Kincaid gave us a ride home!" Tracy hoisted her lunch pail and several disorderly papers up onto the counter.
"How nice!" Shirley said, taking Chris's books and lunch box from him just before he dumped them on the floor.
"Well, they were only a couple of blocks away from home, but Tracy here was losing her artwork all along the street, so…" Reuben instinctively reached for a cookie from the plate. Noting Keith's concentration on the paper in his hand, he asked, "Is that the tour schedule?"
"Mmmm-hmm," Keith murmured without missing a beat. Finally he looked up. "Looks okay, except for the jump from Santa Fe to Tampa and back to Phoenix. In five days? The bus will never make it back and forth like that."
"I know, but I had no choice. We'll just have to fly." Reuben folded his arms across his large chest.
"We? Does that mean you're going, too?" Danny asked.
"Wouldn't miss it for the world. Actually, there's a week there in July that I'll be in Canada, setting up your fall tour, so you'll have to get along without me."
"Oh, gee…I don't know…we've managed to so far, right, gang?" Laurie smirked.
"Kids," Shirley said warningly. "You're always welcome to come along with us, Reuben, you know that."
"Yeah. When I get tired of getting on Keith's nerves, I know I can always turn to you." Danny grinned.
"Thanks, kid." Reuben's sarcastic smile had a soft edge to it. "It's good to be needed."
Shirley pulled out a chair at the table. "We do need to discuss this. If it's going to interfere with anything pressing, we'll need to do some rearranging. Fair enough?"
"What…would you call 'pressing,' Mom?" Laurie asked as she, Chris, Tracy and Reuben joined their mother and brothers at the table.
"Oh, things like summer school." She looked around the table. She hadn't seen anything in the way of report cards as of yet, so the possibility was there.
Everyone shook their heads 'no' and Reuben let out the breath he'd been holding.
Shirley smiled, pleased. "All right, then…any physical problems we need to deal with? I would like everyone to get a check up before we go."
"Aw, Mom," Danny griped. "We had one before school started!"
"I realize that, but it has been nine months."
"I think I speak for everyone when I say we've never felt better, right?" Laurie spread her hands.
The others concurred, heads nodding.
Shirley glanced at Reuben. "Well, I guess we're on."
"Super!" the manager said. "I'll meet you here on Monday, and we'll be off to Denver." He stood up, reaching over to the cookie plate one more time. There was only one left and Reuben froze, feeling six icy stares. "Well, what the heck? You'd all only fight over it, anyway!" he chided, putting the cookie into his mouth.
"Gluttony is one of the seven deadliest sins, you know," Danny wisecracked.
Reuben chewed his treat. "So's being short, but I don't keep reminding you, do I?"
The others laughed at the redhead's expense as Reuben started for the door. "See you, Monday, gang!"
And with that, the door closed.
*****
The doorbell was ringing, incessantly, as if someone were leaning on it. Shirley rolled over in her bed, having been jarred out of a peaceful sleep that only started…six hours ago? She looked at the clock on the nightstand and the ungodly hour of five a.m. glowed back at her. Sitting up, she pulled her robe on and stumbled to the door. As she stepped out into the hallway, she was joined by Keith, Laurie and Danny, who looked about as wide awake as she was.
"Who could that be? It's Saturday morning!" Laurie whined.
"I don't know, but unless the house is on fire, I'm gonna be mad," Keith muttered through bleary eyes.
"Yeah. You need your beauty sleep," Danny teased.
Keith just pulled a face at him, and they followed Shirley down the stairs as the bell kept chiming.
"Who is it?" Shirley's voice was full of frustration.
"Shirley, it's me, Reuben. Open up!"
She pulled open the door. Sure enough, Reuben stood on the stoop, looking bright eyed and bushy tailed. He had some nerve…
"Reuben, do you know what time it is?" Shirley squeaked as he entered the foyer.
"Yeah, or what day it is?" Danny yawned.
"I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I've got big news that affects all of you." Reuben looked around at the four of them.
Danny suddenly brightened. "We made our first million?"
"We're number one on the charts?" Keith tried.
"No, no, nothing like that. Can I get some coffee? I was all out this morning."
Laurie's eyes widened. "That's your big news?"
"Of course not. I just thought I'd tell you over a cup or two. How about it?"
Shirley indicated the kitchen. "You know where everything is. Can we at least get dressed, or is this informal?"
"Dressed would be good," Reuben mused. "And hair combed…a little makeup…toothpaste wouldn't hurt, either…"
They just glared at him as he made his way into the kitchen, and they all traipsed back up the stairs.
*****
Steaming coffee cups and a glass of milk awaited Shirley, Danny and Laurie as they joined Reuben at the kitchen table, having shaken off a few hours of sleep. Keith, however, hadn't come down yet, and Reuben sipped his brew, almost giddy with breaking news. "Where is he?" The manager wanted to know, looking anxiously at the door.
"You know Keith. He had to take a shower and he's got to get his hair just right, or his day is shot," Laurie smiled, still a little sleepy.
Shirley chuckled. "He is a stickler for fashion, I'll give you that. I've bought him three blow dryers in eight months."
"Well, all he's got is his looks. He's not exactly the brains of this outfit," Danny grinned, taking his milk glass.
"Yeah, well, those looks are what's putting food into your mouth, red, so don't knock it." Reuben's eyes narrowed.
Keith entered, his long mane, shiny and intricately groomed, bouncing on his shoulders. If he heard them talking about him, he didn't mention it. He just pulled out a chair, falling into it. "Okay, Reuben, what's up? Does this have to do with the tour?"
"As a matter of fact, it does. Have you ever heard of Tagalong Productions?" Reuben's eyes scanned each face in turn.
"Sure. They tour with certain acts and film documentaries on them." Keith nodded. Then his jaw dropped, as did the penny in his brain. "Are they doing our tour?"
Reuben's smile was huge. "They're sending a messenger with the contract any second now."
Laurie squealed delightedly, as Keith and Danny 'high-fived' one another. Shirley was the only one who didn't react.
"Mom?" Laurie saw the look on her face.
"What all does this involve? Would it focus on our stage act, or will they want our backstage life as well? How much loss of privacy will we have to endure? I certainly don't want the kids' personal moments recorded for all the world to see," she said adamantly.
"I'll go over the contract with you line by line. If we have to throw in a stipulation that you approve the final production, we will. Don't worry, Shirley. You know I wouldn't do this if it weren't in your best interest."
"Yeah, Mom," Keith's eyes were practically dancing. "This could be just the thing we need. More people watch Greg Novak's documentaries than we could pack in in a year!"
"Just think of the publicity, not to mention the money." Danny leaned toward Reuben. "I trust we will get paid for this."
Reuben sighed. "Yes, yes, your usual fee, plus 50% of the gross, plus, I think they said, $500 a day for each day they shoot."
Shirley looked dumbfounded. "That sounds like a lot of money, Reuben!"
"Oh it is, it is. Enough to send Keith and Laurie to college, and get Danny out of jail to boot."
Danny rolled his eyes at Reuben's little joke as Keith and Laurie laughed. Only Shirley remained unconvinced. She just had this sinking feeling….