Round 4: Truth Round
"I call that this round is the truth round. Everybody has to answer two truths," Micky stated.
"Why?" Peter asked.
"To keep things interesting. I've already taken one of you down with a pass and I'm looking to smash the other two."
"Unlikely," Davy provoked, "I'm not afraid of your questions. After all I keep finding ways to cheat the system."
"No? We'll see about that!"
"Okay Micky," Peter interrupted, "If you could only sing one song for the rest of your life which one would it be?"
"That's easy! I'm a Believer."
"What's the reasoning behind that?" Peter inquired.
"I don't know for some reason I get the feeling like it's my anthem. Like if I was in my 70s still performing I would be ending my shows with it."
"Not what I would have expected," Peter commented. "I thought it would be Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band."
"That's not even one of our songs!" Micky exclaimed throwing his arms up.
Mike then emerged from the bathroom clutching the bottoms of his shirt sleeves with his hands.
"I need proof, Nesmith," Micky mocked.
Mike sighed and rolled up his left shirt sleeve revealing a cleanly shaven arm. The other three roared with laughter.
"You look like a shaved chimp," Micky snorted.
"Very funny," Mike pouted. "Now I've got a question for you. There's no doubt about it that you make questionable decisions, but other than yourself, who here do you think makes the worst decisions?"
Peter gasped and Davy let out a low whistle. The answer to this was bound to hurt someone's feelings or make them mad.
"Well, you did just shave your arm…"
"No, no. Don't try to get out of this with a bogus answer. Answer it seriously or pass…" Mike pushed.
"Micky Dolenz will never back down. Now honestly, Mike is the most reasonable and keeps us afloat so he's out. This leaves Peter who get suckered into things with gullibility and Davy who gets suckered into things with letting his libido think for him."
"Hey!" Peter and Davy both shouted.
"I'm going to have to say…Peter. Just because we found out he made that deal with the devil knowing that he is the devil. Also that treasure map fiasco."
"Thanks a lot, Micky," Peter said hurt that he could be on a deserted island with Micky but was not trusted to make decisions.
"Don't mention it. Now who wants to ask Davy something first?"
"Yes and if memory serves me right this turn means the end of my Southern way of life."
"We'll miss you down South. I'm on a role now with questions so I'll field this one. What's the silliest thing you have an emotional attachment to?" Mike offered.
"What kind of question is that?" Davy scratched his head.
"Well, the rest of us are attached to our instruments and to me it doesn't seem like you are immensely focused on yours. So what is it that Davy Jones can't live without?"
Davy's face started to turn red. "It's embarrassing."
"I know that's what we're all counting on," Mike badgered.
After much hesitation, "Okay, I have this pillow. I've had it since I was a kid and couldn't go anywhere without it. Now I still keep it under my other ones."
Everyone stared at Davy strangely.
"What is so special about this pillow?" Peter asked.
"Nothing, I don't know!" Davy shouted defensively as he tensed up.
"Then why keep it?" Peter continued.
"I think you're all privy to the fact that I am only answering the one question and won't go into more details."
"Should we ask him to expand for his next truth?" Peter mused.
"Nah, don't waste your questions. That's what he wants so that we don't ask something really difficult. I'm ready with the next one," Micky proposed.
"Fire away."
"What do most people think about you that's untrue?"
"How am I supposed to know things people assume about me?"
"You know the reputation that you have and things maybe others have mentioned before. I know something came to mind right away," Micky pressed.
"Hmmm…I seriously don't know what you all assume about me. That I'm fooling you all and I'm actually tall and just walking on my knees."
"Seriously, Davy," Mike said with interest.
"Fine, I'm known as a lady's man, right?"
The other three nodded.
"And I'm sure you all have ideas about what I do with girls, right?"
The other three all shrugged and didn't make eye contact.
"I'll take that as an awkward yes. Truth is though as much as you may think I do with those girls, I'm a virgin."
Everyone's mouth dropped open.
"That's right. I court all these girls but the fact of the matter is I'm waiting for the right person. I'm a complete gentleman." Davy bowed.
"There's no way that's true," Micky countered in disbelief.
"That's the name of the game isn't it? I wouldn't tell you that if it weren't true."
"I will never look at you the same again," Peter said astounded.
"I don't know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. And you probably don't look at me the same anyway after your little peep show."
"It was an accident!" Peter threw his head back in exasperation.
"With that though, the spotlight is off me."
"Okay Pete," Micky began, "You give off this very hippie, free love vibe. So are you exclusive to being heterosexual or have you considered dabbling?"
"Dabbling?" Peter furrowed his brow.
"Yes, like being with men too."
"Oh!" Peter understood. "I've already done that before, so yes."
Mike and Davy stared wide eyed.
"I knew it!" Micky exclaimed.
"When? How? What?" Mike stumbled over his question.
"I'm going to follow Davy's lead on this and not answer any further questions on this," Peter stated diplomatically.
"That's okay because I've got another question lined up…Which of us do you find the most attractive?" Micky continued.
"I don't know if I want to know the truth to this one," Davy said cautiously.
"I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings because you're all lovely in your own way."
"That's very noble of you, Peter, but inquiring minds want to know," Micky leaned forward.
"You're inquiring mind, not mine," Mike said.
Peter shrugged, "I have always had a little crush on Davy."
Davy turned a scarlet shade and faced away from everyone else.
"Why him and not me? Am I not good enough for you? I'm adorable!" Micky demanded.
"I don't know. I think it's the way he carries himself and his striking features, the accent. Who could resist?" Peter explained.
"Thanks, Peter, I think," Davy answered. "This gives a whole new view of you spying on me from the closet."
"I was right, my inquiring mind did not need to know about this," Mike said rubbing his temples.
"You can get your mind off of it by answering your own questions," Peter offered.
"Oh goody," Mike laid the sarcasm on thick.
"If you could trade lives with any of us who would you choose?" Davy took the lead.
Mike scrunched up his face. "I don't know, I live with you guys and I've gotta say I'm not impressed. You're all in just as rough of shape as I am."
"Quit stalling and pick," Micky whined.
"Alright, alright. I can't be Davy I need to be able to reach things…"
"I can't believe I keep getting criticized for my height! At least Peter picked me," Davy pouted.
"Sorry Peter, but you're too naïve for me…"
"That means me!" Micky interrupted.
"Don't let it go to your head, Mick. I'd pick myself if I could, the rest of you are a jumbled mess," Mike joked.
"Why Micky?" Peter asked.
"Sometimes, I can be uptight, so having a carefree attitude where I don't take others into consideration may do me some good."
"Thanks, Mike. My life is like a never ending carnival ride. Be sure you'd be ready for it though, because the faint of heart shouldn't partake."
"I don't necessarily think that he was complimenting you," Davy said.
"Hopefully this next question doesn't sour your opinion of me," Micky started ignoring Davy. "What is the other reason, besides legal that you won't go to Saginaw?"
Mike's face dropped. Davy and Peter looked at Micky in stunned silence.
"What? This is what the game's all about. Digging for the real dirt, and I brought a shovel."
"Some things were meant to be private," Mike stumbled to find the words.
"Micky, Mike looks very uncomfortable. I don't think this is the right move…" Peter reasoned.
"No, I agree with Micky. This is what the game's all about," Davy said leaning forward in anticipation.
Mike shook his head and seemed to be struggling to find the courage to answer the question. "Alright," he said keeping his eyes glued to the floor, "but I'm requesting no judgment with what I have to say."
Peter nodded reassuringly.
"Yeah, sure, sure," Davy agreed chomping at the bit in anticipation.
"Who am I to judge anyone else?" Micky asked rhetorically.
Mike took a deep breath. "If I go to Saginaw again, I'll be seeing a girl I abandoned all those years back. She knows why I've never ventured back, since we were so young and in love. That love made me make some poor choices. So if I went back I would get to see the son who bears my name."
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Micky's once energetic persona had recoiled into a blank stare. Davy who had moments before been leaning forward expectantly now had fallen back with mouth agape. And Peter laid a heavy hand on Mike's shoulder for comfort. Mike looked downtrodden at the admittance of being an absentee father.
Time seemed to stand still in the space. No one appeared to know quite what to say now. The energy in the room had deflated.
"Mike…" Micky began. "I had no idea. I wouldn't have asked if…"
"I know."
"How do you know?" Peter asked.
"I left town after the legal issues and we would write. I found out she was expecting and made all these promises. Eventually, I just slowly started fading away in my letters and the care I had for responsibility. I was a dumb kid. Only 17."
"Have you ever thought of checking things out?" Davy inquired.
"I've thought about it. Going back to see the little man that he became and then I would probably withdraw out of his life again. I can't keep going in and out like that. It's been too long, even though I do wonder if maybe he had his father's love it would help him to not repeat the sad mistakes of many men like myself."
Everyone was quiet again.
"Well, this took a depressing turn," Micky stated.
"Let's not dwell on it then," Mike said straightening up and sucking the emotions back deep down inside. "I propose the dare round."