Moments after the bright light subsided, disorientation set in. The gang
looked around. They were in a large room, it was decorated in faded red
and blue. It was full of antique looking chairs and table. Good thing,
cause Chea and Karen felt a little woozy.
"Whoah." Chea said as Micky helped her what looked a fainting couch.
"I've never gotten used to that."
"Its to be expected." Mike said. "Remember, we basically change a little
everytime we go somewhere with the gadget."
"Yeah, but this is the first time we've gone somewhere we didnt want to
go." Peter said.
"What happened?" Karen asked.
"It was the gadget." Chea said. "Something went wrong."
"But what?" Davy asked.
"Wheres Brianna?" Peter asked.
"She still must be at the pad!" Davy said. "She was nowhere near us when
the gadget went berserk."
"Yeah." Peter said.
"What do we do?" Mike asked.
"Amscray, and like now." Karen said punching in their time. The gadget
made a booping sound and almost shut down. "No, not again."
"What, not again?" Micky asked.
"We had this same problem with the gadget when we went into the icky
future." Chea said. "For the moment, we're not going anywhere."
"Okay," Mike said. "Game plan. We find out where we are. Chea and Micky
can look at the gadget and find out whats wrong. They seem to be more
experienced at it than we are. Davy can watch."
"Right." Micky said.
"Karen, Peter and I will go find out where we are." Mike continued. "And
when."
"I dunno about you, but our clothing could be the key." Davy said looking
himself in a floor length mirror. "We're definately not in the future."
Chea joined him at the mirror. She was wearing a long dress. It had
buttons at the top. "Ick, you can say that again. This is definately
thrift store worthy garb."
"Itchy too." Micky said scratching his wrist.
"What we oughta do, then, is look for something with a date." Mike said.
"A newspaper." Peter said. They looked at him. "What, it works in the
movies."
"He's right." Karen said.
"Let's go." Mike said. "What time is it? We oughta come back in a few
minutes."
"Almost noon." Davy said looking at a clock. "This is funky, as you
girls might say."
"Among other things." Chea laughed.
"I wonder how Brianna is?" Davy asked as the trio left. "Does she know
we're gone?"
"If she does, does she know one of the time gadgets is gone?" Micky
asked as he looked for something to take apart the gadget. "I'll guess
we'll have to see."
1968
Brianna laid in her bed in a daze. It felt like the night had zoomed
past her in her sleep. She didn't remember a thing.She didn't even know
if Davy came up to give her her New Years Kiss. It would have been the
first one she had gotten since her last boyfriend. One thing was for sure, that icky tasting medicine had an effect on her. If she wasn't better, at least she got
a good night sleep. She roused herself and sat up in her bed. She had a
small coughing fit but it wasnt the kind she had earlier. Her lungs hurt
from the effort. She stepped out of the bed. She was told not to leave
her bed for anything, anything at all. Davy wasnt here, she said to
herself, she could do whatever she wanted.
She went downstairs in search of something to eat. It was oddly quiet,
and the glass door was wide open. She sighed and went over to shut it.
But she didn't lock it. The girls must be over at the other house,
though she wasnt sure. The Monkees held their practices at this time
inthe morning, she usually heard them from her bed. She loved music in
the morning, especially if it was Davy with his near angelic voice. It
was like a sweet kiss in the morning.
She spied the bottle of Buckleys couch medicine on the counter. Though
her fever was down due to the stuff, she opened the bottle and dumped
the rest of it down the sink. She stuck her tongue out.
"I'm gonna go over to the other pad, surprise the gang. Maybe even get
my kiss." She told herself. She bundled herself in a robe and a jacket.
She popped her sandles on and went out the door.
When she arrived at the other pad, she noticed their sliding glass door
was open too.
"Huh, must be out on the beach." She mused when she didn't see them
inside. She couldnt see anyone up and down the beach line though, it was
still a little foggy. she promised herself a second look once it lifted.
She got a drink from the fridge, some orange juice. She was about to sit
herself down on the couch when she notice that everything was left where
it was last used. there was a six pack unopened on the couch. She moved
the luke warm soda aside. There was still food on the table. She reached
forward and took a handfull of potato chips and munched on them. It was
strange seeing the pad in such a mess. Mike ususally kept things as neat
as a pin. It got stranger all the time.
"Knock it off." She scolded herself. "If they went on a errand or a
trip, they would have left a note. Unless it was unexpected. A sudden
gig?" She asked herself. She stopped talking outloud. She felt like the
only player in a very bad shakespeare comedy.
A knock came at the door. Brianna jumped up and answered it. It was Mr
Babbit.
"Oh hello Mr Babbit." Brianna said. She noted her voice still sounded
like it was being fed through and organ grinder, or Harvey Firestein.
She cleared her throat. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm looking for Niswash."
"Nesmith."
"Don't get smart with me little girl." He warned.
"Oh no. It's way too late for me to get smart." She said. She laughed.
She stopped when she glimpsed at his expression.
"Do you know why I am here?" He asked coming in.
"I don't know. In fact thats been a question for a long time, why are
any of us here? There are some people in the school of existential
thought who think that we are actually here as..." She stopped as
Babbitt glared at her. "Okay, I get it, shutting up." She brought a
invisible key across her mouth.
"Rent is due little lady. I get it from Stevie and Neswad today."
"Stevie? You mean Karen." Brianna said. "They are...out...on a gig."
"A gig?" He questioned.
"Sure." Brianna said. "The better gigs we get, the more we can pay you."
She said.
"When do you expect them back?" He asked.
"You're asking me?" She thought."Anytime now."
"Good, cause I WILL be back." Babitt said.
"No doubt." Brianna said.
"And I will get my money."
"It's yours. All Mike talks about is making you happy." She said with a
weird smile. "All the guys do is talk about you."
"Hmmph." Babbit said. He walked to the door. He took one last look at
her. "Is this what passes for clothes for you kids?"
"It is when you want to sleep." She nodded.
He rolled his eyes. He went to the door and closed it on his way out.
"Oh my god." Brianna said. "Where are you guys? We don't even have the
money right now! We could lose the pads and you are no where to be seen!
Where are you?" She looked around. She sank against the door. "oohhh."
She moaned and fell asleep.
Meanwhile
"I found it!" Peter said. "I got a paper." He said walking away from the
newsie who had gladly sold him his last paper.
"What paper is it?" Mike asked.
"The Chronicle!" He said.
"The Chronicle?" Mike asked. He ran over to the kid. "What paper is
this?"
"What pape?" He asked, like Mike was a total idiot. "Ah this one. This
is the San Fransisco Chronicle. One of the best papes in the city!" He
offered one. "Buy me last pape?"
"Hey I thought I bought your last pape." Peter said.
"Uh." The kid said. "See ya!" He said and took off.
"Great kid." Karen said. "I've read this one before. I guess this means
we're in San Fransisco." She thought for a minute. "If you're going to
San Fransisco, be sure to wear flowers in your hair...." She sang. "I
love that song.
"Whats the date? Mike asked.
"I can't really tell, the type is small. I don't have any glasses on me." She read the headline area. "I can make out the year. 1906." She looked up.
"We went backwards this time." Peter said.
"I guess this means we've seen everything." Mike said. "Does anything
major happen in 1906?"
"I can't recall right now. If it was anything bad, it would stick out,
I'd think." Karen said.
"Let's get back to the guys." Mike said.
"Maybe they have some answers." Karen said. The trio walked down the street. Karen started to wobble."Sorry. Must not have me land legs yet." She said as she grabbed on to Mike.
"Its not just you." Mike said grabbing onto Peter. They hooked their
legs together in some sort of improvised Monkee walk.
"Whats going on?" Karen shouted as the shaking grew harder and the
noises around them got louder.
"Oh my god." Peter said. "Earthquake!!!"
