A PARTRIDGE FAMILY
REUNION:
PART II
CHAPTER ONE
Jay Levinson was one happy man. The final leg of this tour had just ended, and he was getting plenty of attention from all sides. Not as much as his superstar client, mind you, but just enough to make him feel noticed for a change.
Keith had already been whisked into the cavernous backstage area, breathless and drenched with sweat. Jay was hoping he was resting, but he had a good idea what was going on back there. There would be at least two groupies chosen personally by the roadies to…help with the celebration of this last show, and plenty of champagne to go around, though Keith would not personally imbibe. The diagnosis of the singer's Hodgkin's disease eight months ago would see to that. No alcohol; it only made his symptoms worse. The disease had been in remission, now, for two months, but one could never be too careful.
The blending of the music and the screaming crowd was still echoing in his ears as Jay made his way back to the dressing room. He didn't understand how Keith and the band could stand it, every night up there on that stage under those lights, listening to the feedback of the amplifiers and the audience. They must have nerves of steel.
"Jay!" Artie, one of the equipment roadies confronted him in the hall, his young face flushed.
"What's up, kid? Won't they give you any champagne?" Jay grinned.
"Jay, it's Keith. Something's wrong, man."
The smile disappeared as Jay followed Artie down the hall and around the corner. The two girls were standing in the hallway with a couple of the band members. One of the girls was crying, and the looks on their faces made Jay's stomach knot.
He pushed into the room and found Keith sitting, of all places, on the floor, one knee up, the other leg straight out. His shirt was off and there was a look of pure agony on his face.
"Keith! Hey, man, what's going on?" Jay knelt beside him.
The singer looked at him, the pain he was feeling very evident in his eyes. "It's back, Jay…" Keith puffed.
Jay didn't have to ask what he meant. He put a hand on Keith's shoulder. "Can you get up? Let's at least get you off the floor, then I'll call Dr. Shapiro." He got his hands under Keith's arms and carefully pulled him to his feet. Jay eased him onto the sofa, where the singer folded over, moaning and nearly falling back off. Jay made some adjustments, then hesitantly went to the phone, which was thankfully, not two feet away.
Not taking his eyes off of Keith for one moment, Jay waited for the doctor's answering service to pick up. Damn them; why were they taking so long! Finally, a voice on the other end.
"This is Jay Levinson, calling in behalf of Keith Partridge. Please tell Dr. Shapiro we need him over at the Auditorium. Keith's in a lot of pain. Thank you." Jay hung up and went back over to his client, putting his hand on Keith's back.
"They'll send him right over. Can I get you anything?"
His arms around his stomach, Keith coughed into the leather beneath his face. "No, just apologize to everyone, okay?" His voice was strained as he writhed there on the sofa.
Jay smiled. Leave it to Keith to be concerned over everyone else's feelings. He was by far, the most professional, most considerate rock star he'd ever managed. He chalked that up to his upbringing. Shirley Partridge would be so proud of her son right now…
Shirley!
Jay looked down at Keith. "Want me to call your Mom?"
Keith drew in a hard breath, rolling over more onto his back. "No. Not…not until I find out what's going on for sure…" He was hoping that this pain was the result of maybe a muscle sprain he'd gotten onstage, but he had an inkling that he was completely 100% wrong.
Jay nodded.
****
Having gotten rid of the extra players in this celebration-turned-vigil, Jay paced the hallway. Dr. Shapiro had been in the dressing room, now, for over an hour. What was he doing? Surgery? Finally, the door opened, and the doctor's white head popped out. "Jay, can you come in here for a minute?"
He didn't have to be asked twice. He bolted for the room, and found Keith still on the sofa, reclining against a pillow and a look of pure misery on his face. Jay's heart sank.
"Looks like I was right," Keith tried to laugh it off, but failed. "I tried to hide from it, but it found me."
Jay saw the kid's eyes well with tears. He looked at the doctor.
Dr. Shapiro nodded. "He is out of remission. But that doesn't mean he can't go back in."
"What…what can we do?" Jay shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Just see to it that he gets his regular radiation treatments, takes all his medication…"
"No." Keith almost sobbed it.
The older men turned. "What?"
The singer pushed himself forward. "Why should I go through that crap again? I did it before and look where it got me. Back to square one!"
Jay pushed on Keith's shoulder, trying to make him stay down. "You're not serious. It GOT you remission."
"A lot of good that did. It came back. It always comes back! Don't you see? It doesn't end, not until I do!" Keith was on the verge of hysteria. "I'm tired of this game, Jay."
"I know you are, kid, but giving up's not the answer," Jay said firmly.
"That's right, Keith. There are plenty more treatments out there. We can try some chemotherapy."
At that, Keith shook his head, looking even more miserable. "I can't. I'm sorry, but I just can't." He swallowed, looking up at Jay. "Could I have some privacy, here? I need to call home."
"Okay, sure." Jay relented. He handed him the phone. "We'll be right outside."
As the two men left, Keith stared at the telephone there in his lap. Would Shirley be up? He checked his watch. One a.m., which meant it was eleven back in San Pueblo. What would he say? Hi, Mom, it's Keith, guess what, I'm dying? Again? Still? Fighting more tears, he shakily picked up the receiver and dialed, wincing with each button he pushed.
"Hi, Mom? It's Keith." Hearing her voice, he felt the tears start to flow. Oh, how he wanted her here; not a thousand miles away…. "Mom, listen. I've got some bad news."
****
Shirley Partridge was in a panic. She hadn't been able to get hold of Laurie or Chris to tell them of their older brother's horrifying news. Tracy and Ken were already on their way up from Los Angeles, and Danny had promised to catch the next flight home as soon as he could find a replacement for his radio show. But thus far, Laurie hadn't responded to Shirley's repeated attempts at her home or office, and Chris, she was told, had taken a quick getaway to New York before he started his residency. Even Reuben was out of town, leaving the pretty mother of five to worry on her own for now.
Keith had only made vague allusions to his coming home; he hadn't decided whether to or not. Despite her pleading with him, he wouldn't commit to it, and the tone of his voice had only deepened her concern. He'd mentioned just hitting the road on his own for a while, which terrified her the most. So, she'd called Jay and begged him to at least talk Keith out of that crazy plan. The boy couldn't be thinking straight!
As Shirley sat alone there in the house, the fears she had only multiplied. Why wasn't anyone calling? Why couldn't they just all magically appear on the doorstep? She needed someone; anyone right now! As she stared hopelessly at the phone, it rang.
She grabbed the receiver, trying to stay calm. "Hello."
"Mom, what's going on? I have all these messages!" It was Laurie.
Shirley choked back her tears. "I'm so glad to hear from you, honey!"
Laurie went silent, then, softly, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Shirley was weeping, now. "It's Keith, Laurie. He's out of remission."
More silence. "Is he okay? Where is he?"
"Oklahoma City. Oh, Laurie, he sounded so forlorn, so sad."
"He's coming home, isn't he? He can't possibly tour…"
Shirley took a shaky breath. "The tour's over, now, but he wants to take some time and be by himself. I told Jay not to let him, to send him home, but you know how your brother can be."
Laurie's voice reflected a smile. "Boy, do I. Okay, Mom, just say the word. What do you want me to do?"
Taken aback by her daughter's willingness, Shirley shrugged. "I…I don't know, Laurie. I'm alone here, and…"
"I'll come up. I'm not doing anything that can't wait for a while. How about the others?"
"Ken and Tracy are on the way, Danny's waiting for a replacement and I can't get hold of Chris."
"What about Reuben?"
"Out of town. I'm not exactly batting a
thousand here," Shirley answered.
"Okay, I'll keep trying Chris. You get hold of Danny and see if he can't get a flight that stops in Oklahoma City. Maybe HE can convince Keith to get his butt back home where it belongs."
Just listening to Laurie take charge eased Shirley's mind. "Oh, wonderful, honey…thank you. You've been such a big help. You know, I'm sure Danny can convince Keith that it's the best thing to do. IF Jay can keep him there until Danny gets to him."
Laurie laughed. "Oh, how I would love to see THAT little reunion! Keith's in for it! Call me again if you hear anything, okay? And don't worry, Mom. We'll all be there for you and Keith. It might take a while, but we will."
"Thank you, darling. I'm going to call Danny, and I'll let you know when Ken and Tracy are here."
"Okay, Mom. I should be up there by tomorrow afternoon. Remember what I said. No worrying!"
As Shirley hung up, she shook her head. Easier said than done. She began to dial Danny's number.
REUNION:
PART II
CHAPTER ONE
Jay Levinson was one happy man. The final leg of this tour had just ended, and he was getting plenty of attention from all sides. Not as much as his superstar client, mind you, but just enough to make him feel noticed for a change.
Keith had already been whisked into the cavernous backstage area, breathless and drenched with sweat. Jay was hoping he was resting, but he had a good idea what was going on back there. There would be at least two groupies chosen personally by the roadies to…help with the celebration of this last show, and plenty of champagne to go around, though Keith would not personally imbibe. The diagnosis of the singer's Hodgkin's disease eight months ago would see to that. No alcohol; it only made his symptoms worse. The disease had been in remission, now, for two months, but one could never be too careful.
The blending of the music and the screaming crowd was still echoing in his ears as Jay made his way back to the dressing room. He didn't understand how Keith and the band could stand it, every night up there on that stage under those lights, listening to the feedback of the amplifiers and the audience. They must have nerves of steel.
"Jay!" Artie, one of the equipment roadies confronted him in the hall, his young face flushed.
"What's up, kid? Won't they give you any champagne?" Jay grinned.
"Jay, it's Keith. Something's wrong, man."
The smile disappeared as Jay followed Artie down the hall and around the corner. The two girls were standing in the hallway with a couple of the band members. One of the girls was crying, and the looks on their faces made Jay's stomach knot.
He pushed into the room and found Keith sitting, of all places, on the floor, one knee up, the other leg straight out. His shirt was off and there was a look of pure agony on his face.
"Keith! Hey, man, what's going on?" Jay knelt beside him.
The singer looked at him, the pain he was feeling very evident in his eyes. "It's back, Jay…" Keith puffed.
Jay didn't have to ask what he meant. He put a hand on Keith's shoulder. "Can you get up? Let's at least get you off the floor, then I'll call Dr. Shapiro." He got his hands under Keith's arms and carefully pulled him to his feet. Jay eased him onto the sofa, where the singer folded over, moaning and nearly falling back off. Jay made some adjustments, then hesitantly went to the phone, which was thankfully, not two feet away.
Not taking his eyes off of Keith for one moment, Jay waited for the doctor's answering service to pick up. Damn them; why were they taking so long! Finally, a voice on the other end.
"This is Jay Levinson, calling in behalf of Keith Partridge. Please tell Dr. Shapiro we need him over at the Auditorium. Keith's in a lot of pain. Thank you." Jay hung up and went back over to his client, putting his hand on Keith's back.
"They'll send him right over. Can I get you anything?"
His arms around his stomach, Keith coughed into the leather beneath his face. "No, just apologize to everyone, okay?" His voice was strained as he writhed there on the sofa.
Jay smiled. Leave it to Keith to be concerned over everyone else's feelings. He was by far, the most professional, most considerate rock star he'd ever managed. He chalked that up to his upbringing. Shirley Partridge would be so proud of her son right now…
Shirley!
Jay looked down at Keith. "Want me to call your Mom?"
Keith drew in a hard breath, rolling over more onto his back. "No. Not…not until I find out what's going on for sure…" He was hoping that this pain was the result of maybe a muscle sprain he'd gotten onstage, but he had an inkling that he was completely 100% wrong.
Jay nodded.
****
Having gotten rid of the extra players in this celebration-turned-vigil, Jay paced the hallway. Dr. Shapiro had been in the dressing room, now, for over an hour. What was he doing? Surgery? Finally, the door opened, and the doctor's white head popped out. "Jay, can you come in here for a minute?"
He didn't have to be asked twice. He bolted for the room, and found Keith still on the sofa, reclining against a pillow and a look of pure misery on his face. Jay's heart sank.
"Looks like I was right," Keith tried to laugh it off, but failed. "I tried to hide from it, but it found me."
Jay saw the kid's eyes well with tears. He looked at the doctor.
Dr. Shapiro nodded. "He is out of remission. But that doesn't mean he can't go back in."
"What…what can we do?" Jay shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Just see to it that he gets his regular radiation treatments, takes all his medication…"
"No." Keith almost sobbed it.
The older men turned. "What?"
The singer pushed himself forward. "Why should I go through that crap again? I did it before and look where it got me. Back to square one!"
Jay pushed on Keith's shoulder, trying to make him stay down. "You're not serious. It GOT you remission."
"A lot of good that did. It came back. It always comes back! Don't you see? It doesn't end, not until I do!" Keith was on the verge of hysteria. "I'm tired of this game, Jay."
"I know you are, kid, but giving up's not the answer," Jay said firmly.
"That's right, Keith. There are plenty more treatments out there. We can try some chemotherapy."
At that, Keith shook his head, looking even more miserable. "I can't. I'm sorry, but I just can't." He swallowed, looking up at Jay. "Could I have some privacy, here? I need to call home."
"Okay, sure." Jay relented. He handed him the phone. "We'll be right outside."
As the two men left, Keith stared at the telephone there in his lap. Would Shirley be up? He checked his watch. One a.m., which meant it was eleven back in San Pueblo. What would he say? Hi, Mom, it's Keith, guess what, I'm dying? Again? Still? Fighting more tears, he shakily picked up the receiver and dialed, wincing with each button he pushed.
"Hi, Mom? It's Keith." Hearing her voice, he felt the tears start to flow. Oh, how he wanted her here; not a thousand miles away…. "Mom, listen. I've got some bad news."
****
Shirley Partridge was in a panic. She hadn't been able to get hold of Laurie or Chris to tell them of their older brother's horrifying news. Tracy and Ken were already on their way up from Los Angeles, and Danny had promised to catch the next flight home as soon as he could find a replacement for his radio show. But thus far, Laurie hadn't responded to Shirley's repeated attempts at her home or office, and Chris, she was told, had taken a quick getaway to New York before he started his residency. Even Reuben was out of town, leaving the pretty mother of five to worry on her own for now.
Keith had only made vague allusions to his coming home; he hadn't decided whether to or not. Despite her pleading with him, he wouldn't commit to it, and the tone of his voice had only deepened her concern. He'd mentioned just hitting the road on his own for a while, which terrified her the most. So, she'd called Jay and begged him to at least talk Keith out of that crazy plan. The boy couldn't be thinking straight!
As Shirley sat alone there in the house, the fears she had only multiplied. Why wasn't anyone calling? Why couldn't they just all magically appear on the doorstep? She needed someone; anyone right now! As she stared hopelessly at the phone, it rang.
She grabbed the receiver, trying to stay calm. "Hello."
"Mom, what's going on? I have all these messages!" It was Laurie.
Shirley choked back her tears. "I'm so glad to hear from you, honey!"
Laurie went silent, then, softly, "Mom, what's wrong?"
Shirley was weeping, now. "It's Keith, Laurie. He's out of remission."
More silence. "Is he okay? Where is he?"
"Oklahoma City. Oh, Laurie, he sounded so forlorn, so sad."
"He's coming home, isn't he? He can't possibly tour…"
Shirley took a shaky breath. "The tour's over, now, but he wants to take some time and be by himself. I told Jay not to let him, to send him home, but you know how your brother can be."
Laurie's voice reflected a smile. "Boy, do I. Okay, Mom, just say the word. What do you want me to do?"
Taken aback by her daughter's willingness, Shirley shrugged. "I…I don't know, Laurie. I'm alone here, and…"
"I'll come up. I'm not doing anything that can't wait for a while. How about the others?"
"Ken and Tracy are on the way, Danny's waiting for a replacement and I can't get hold of Chris."
"What about Reuben?"
"Out of town. I'm not exactly batting a
thousand here," Shirley answered.
"Okay, I'll keep trying Chris. You get hold of Danny and see if he can't get a flight that stops in Oklahoma City. Maybe HE can convince Keith to get his butt back home where it belongs."
Just listening to Laurie take charge eased Shirley's mind. "Oh, wonderful, honey…thank you. You've been such a big help. You know, I'm sure Danny can convince Keith that it's the best thing to do. IF Jay can keep him there until Danny gets to him."
Laurie laughed. "Oh, how I would love to see THAT little reunion! Keith's in for it! Call me again if you hear anything, okay? And don't worry, Mom. We'll all be there for you and Keith. It might take a while, but we will."
"Thank you, darling. I'm going to call Danny, and I'll let you know when Ken and Tracy are here."
"Okay, Mom. I should be up there by tomorrow afternoon. Remember what I said. No worrying!"
As Shirley hung up, she shook her head. Easier said than done. She began to dial Danny's number.