***I re-wrote this chapter. I don't know, something just felt wrong about it. More to come soon.
As a matter of course, we arrived three hours early. Mom was clothed in full Partridge apparel, which in the beginning was embarrassing until I noticed other women, and when I say other, I mean practically everyone, wearing similar outfits. Their sparkling garments screamed inner need for attention. I almost felt sorry, but mortification muffled any further thoughts of pity.
Excitement was present around the grounds, each person either chatting or impatiently awaiting the arrival of Kieth-whats-his-face. One woman stood out from the rest, wearing boatloads of makeup and holding up a sign which read: "I Think I Love You Keith Partridge, feel free to give me a call at Echo Valley 26809." How desperate could you get?
Mom took hold of my wrist and steered us away from the large groups of people gathering around the entrance.
"Ray, sweetheart, do me a favor and find us some decent seats. You might have to put up with some complaining, just ignore it. Most of these girls are going through menopause. I would know. It comes from experience," She laughed while I grimaced. "Its gotta happen sooner or later, Ray-Ray."
In no way, shape, or form was I in the mood for this conversation. "Ohhhhkay Mom, I'll go save us some seats…"
She smiled and dropped the subject. "Take your time; I'm gonna go get something to eat. You want anything?"
"Just a pretzel," I huffed, feeling the vibration in my pocket notifying me of a received text message. "Oh, and maybe an ice tea, but only if it's unsweetened."
"Got it," She nodded, walking off towards the concession stand.
Once I'd managed to find a pair of respectable seats, I dreamt about how nice it would be if it were possible to take a nap. That option became impossible when Mom returned... followed by a large group of her incredibly obnoxious girlfriends. They made an effort to bring me into their un-intriguing conversation about Mr. Partridge and his maroon crushed velvet jumpsuits. In this day and age, if you wore a jumpsuit in public, most people would consider you a… yeah. I kindly turned them down,
At half past nine, the ticket stands closed, and everyone waited anxiously to get a glimpse of the infamous Keith Partridge. An announcer began the introductions, boasting about how lovely Mr. Partridge was to have graced us with his miraculous presence, seeing as our town was too minuscule to give a hogs-ass about.
Well... he didn't exactly put it that way, but everyone understood what he meant.
A few moments later, the mob began hooting and hollering as Keith Partridge stepped out on stage singing, "I Woke Up In Love This Morning."
Just by his appearance, you could instantly tell that time had not passed over him. Before the concert, Mother insisted on showing me some of her old Tiger Beat Magazine's, flipping to all the pages with his picture on them. At first, the long shag gave of 'creepo' vibes, but after seeing the next few pictures, my heartbeat quickened. He was beautiful. I almost felt a connection or recognition of him, somehow. As odd as it seemed, the feeling was impossible to shake and to be honest, it worried me.
Now, with his hair cut short and wrinkles dawning across his forever-adolescent face, it was made clear that his past still haunted him. Almost as if there was one thing in his life, he wished was possible to change, although obviously he still enjoyed performing.
I felt faint and my heart refused to give up its excessive hammering. He looked so familiar. Had we met before? No…that was logically impossible. He had to be at least forty years older than myself.
My eyes followed him across the stage, song after song. As the crowd's exhilaration heightened, Keith grew noticeably more at ease. His stage presence was undeniable.
Time passed and it wasn't until a volunteer from the audience was needed, that I realized I was actually enjoying myself. Hundreds of hands went up, along with my Mother's. A spotlight roamed the audience, going from left to right, deliberating its decision. It traveled over throngs of fans, wanting one chance at meeting the teenage idol. My heart raced as the light shifted to our side of the lawn, progressing in circles until it finally stopped on an elderly women sitting behind me. She, like me, had kept her hand down, and turned red when everyone applauded.
The woman shook her head and refused to get up, offering the chance to a man sitting beside her. He smiled but turned her down. She uneasily sought through the crowd, until her eyes met mine.
"You're a fine looking young woman," She gave me a frail smile, "Why don't you go on stage in my place. Besides, I'm too old for these kinds of things." The way her eyes glistened sparked a sense of familiarity in me, yet I couldn't quite place it.
"No, really, you should go…," but I was cut off.
The audience, and my Mother, began clapping for me. Giving me no chance to decline, I was whisked off towards the stage. Again, my heart picked up its consistent drumming sound. There was absolutely no reason to be nervous. He's just an old man. Just and old man…but in my heart, I knew he was something more.
When I reached the crowds breaking point, three men dressed in uniform escorted me up the steps and onto the stage. Heat flooded my face. Was it me, or did the temperature seem to have drastically increased. My hands numbed. I can't do this…
All around, people erupted in applause.
Dazzling lights were visible throughout the night sky.
My apprehension faded.
But the look on Keith Partridge's face was a look of both horror and bewilderment. It sent my mind into overdrive. My heart skipped a beat.
Never in my life had I experienced a man display such a look of alarm that made me want to comfort him. Keith seemed on the verge of tears, but not miserable tears... unbelieving tears. It was heartbreakingly painful to witness, but at the same time, it was as if I belonged there, next to him. What was happening?
"Ray?" His voice was almost in-audible over the cheering mob. "Is that you?"
My brain hit rock bottom. This man had obviously lost all sense of reality, probably due to drugs back in the day. There was no way in hell we'd ever met before. I wasn't a member of his fan club and I'd never been to a single concert or CD signing.
"I'm sorry," He whispered, reaching an arm out to touch me.
Startled, I flinched away, my entire body shaking.
"I was young and naive." He pleaded. "Did you really expect me to believe a story like that? You should have come back. I would have waited!"
My eyes darted from him to the floor every few seconds.
A well-dressed drummer, who'd been sitting behind Keith, walked over and put an arm around him, checking to see if everything was alright.
"Keith?" He patted him on the shoulder, looking puzzled, "Man, we need to finish the show." Keith's eyes never strayed from mine as if he was afraid I would vanish into thin air.
Noticing his reluctance to speak the drummer added, "But we can take five if you want?"
He slowly started guiding Keith away,
"No," Keith glowered, gently grasping my hand, "She has to remember." His eye's pleaded with my memory while I fought the urge to pull away from him. "Don't you remember the day we found you?" He whispered. I held my breath. "Or how we used to lay on the couch together for hours just talking and eating Oreo's," His lips pulled into a small smile, "Your favorite."
I should have been scared out of my wits, but his words were like a hurricane battling against my heart. By now, the crowd had stopped smiling, and a pregnant silence had erupted throughout the grounds. I stared long and hard at Keith Partridge, wondering if his sanity had gone with age, but there had been such a strong truth in his words.
"Common' Keith," The man urged, "You're scaring the kid." He attempted to pull him back, but Keith wouldn't budge.
His words were more urgent now, "Our first kiss, the accident, the day you left? You can't tell me you weren't there. I saw you, I touched you…" My cheeks burned and my gut filled with an unknown feeling of hurting. "I loved you."
I shook my head back and forth, trying to wake myself from this horrible nightmare.
Realization dawned in his eyes and he dropped his burning gaze but refused to let go of my hand."You, you truly don't you remember me...do you?"
The blank expression on my face, answered any further questions he'd wanted to inquire and his attitude went solemn. He squeezed my hand and then let it slip from his.
"I don't feel well," Keith explained, turning his back to me. "Postpone the rest of the show until next week."
That caught the drummer off guard, but he agreed, escorting Keith backstage. Once more the crowd roared, this time in undeserved booing. I was still at a loss for words.
The announcer's voice came on the speakers once again: "Due to health issue's, Keith Partridge will be post-poning the rest of his concert until Saturday, August 19th..."
Distress rang through my body, clean and strong. My mind couldn't fully process the words we'd exchanged. I'd hurt Keith Partridge in some unforgivable way... and not even I knew what to do.