Karen awoke with a start. She then quickly looked around. For a minute she hoped it was a dream and that she really wasnt in Peters bed. But it wasnt.
After sleeping arrangements had been made the night before, Chea and herself had flipped a coin over who would get the top bunk. After several ties Karen decided to take the top bunk. She was tired, so she wasnt in the mood to boost her up anyway.
Karen hopped down from the top bunk. They had no clothes to wear to sleep in last night so they had to sleep in what they arrived at the pad in. Karen opened the door. No one else was up yet, and it was about 9:30 according to a big clock in the living room.
"God I'm hungry." She thought as she felt her stomach rumble. "I hope they still have food in this dimension."
She walked out the door. She stepped down the stairs quietly in order not to wake Davy, the Monkee was sleeping soundly on the couch. He clutched the pillow in one hand, his head not really on the pillow. Karen figured it must be so he doesn’t muss up his hair. She looked him for a minute. She couldnt help noticing how cute he looked. Oh for a camera.
Karen turned quickly and ran into something. She looked up a little bit. There he was. Mike. He looked down at her as he put on his hat. What is it with that hat? She always wondered. Its JULY now isnt it?
"Oh I'm sorry." She started to say. He quickly hushed her, gesturing to Davy who had just squirmed. The name Marjorie escaped his lips. He pointed out onto the deck. She nodded.
After dodging Peter in his hammock in the corner they went out door onto the deck.
"You're up early." Mike said, he shifted around.
"I'm always up early." Karen said. "It was pretty hard to sleep in these clothes."
"I did wonder why you only had those with you." He said.
"Oh the plane." She said. Quick, think of a good story. Mike isn’t dumb, she reminded herself. "The airport lost our luggage." She said. "They'll let us know if they find it."
"But they don't know you're here." He said thinking this over. She could imagine the wheels turning under the hat. What a weird image.
"We were gonna go over later." Karen said.
He seemed to take this under consideration. There was was long pause. "Oh ok." He said finally. Karen slowly let out the breath that she was holding. Of all the guys, he was the one who made her the most nervous. Why? she couldnt tell.
"We got a gig this afternoon." Mike explained. "At the Vincent Van Go-Go. Would you like to come? We could use someone we know in the audience."
"Sure." Karen said. "Chea and I would love to be there." Chea will jump for joy because of this, she knew.
"Great."
There was another silence. "I'm gonna make breakfast." Karen said.
"That's why I got up." Mike said as they walked back in.
They started to whisper. Karen opened up the fridge. It was practically empty.
"Well this is nice." She whispered.
"We haven’t had work in so long, we haven’t been eating good." He explained.
Karen nodded. "I'll handle it." She said as she grabbed her coat. "I'll be back."
"Oh no, if you are planning on going shopping I should come with you." He said. He started to follow her out. She turned and placed her hand flat on his chest.
"Stay." She said. "I'll be back, I know a great little place. And I have that thing which is known as money." She said patting her pockets. She realized she had Cheas jacket on but her cash would be a lot more useful if they didnt starve to death in Monkee land.
"Ok." Mike reluctantly agreed.
"Wake the others." Karen said as she left. "I'll be back.
Karen hoped against hopes that the store she usually shopped at would be here. She was in luck. The store she shopped at for Chea and herself was still there. She also remembered that since it was the 60's, the thirty buck she had would go a lot further. Though she could buy as much food as they wanted, she decided to get only as much as they needed at the moment. After all how much longer would they be there?
Mike and the others were gathered around the kitchen table.
"Wheres Karen?" Chea asked.
"She went out for groceries, which was nice." Mike said. "We'll have some food in the house for a change!"
"Mike?" Micky asked with Chea on his arm. "What is...food?"
Mike looked at him. There was a loud knock at the door.
"I'll get it." Davy said. "Hope its not Babbitt. Seems like he pulls a weekly appearance!"
"You don't know the half of it!" Chea thought.
Davy opened the door to a woman with bags in her hands.
"Oh I'm sorry." Micky said. "We filled the bag lady position last week!"
"You're a laugh riot Mick." Karen said. "It's me Karen. Can I get a little help here?"
"I'll help 'uv." Davy said.
"Are you sure?" Karen said and started to hand him one.
"Sure." Davy said. "I been working out."
"Ok." She said uncertainly. She handed him the bag. He took it, then suddenly fell back towards the floor. He sat on the couch with the bag.
Peter came over. "Here I'll help you." He said getting the bag. Davy slumped back onto the couch.
"What you got in there? Cement?" He asked.
"I got enough food for all of us." She said as Peter helped her fill the fridge.
"Wow, a full fridge, its almost like a mirage." Peter smiled at her.
"I'll make you something." Karen said. "Chea. Help me."
"Okay." She said and went over to the kitchen. "So what do you think?"
"I dunno." Karen said. "Its still hard to believe."
"Mickys such a great guy, and really funny." Chea said. "I think I could like it here."
Karen looked at her. "I'm not so sure." She thought.
A few minutes later they ate. The food was good and well appreciated. You can tell the guys havent had anything really good for a while. It seemed like Karen would never stop cooking as they guys had seconds, thirds for Davy. For a small fella, he ate the most out of the guys.
"I'm a growing boy!" He protested when Karen gave him his third serving of eggs toast and bacon. "I need me strength!"
The other guys had gone to prepare for the gig. Chea was getting some fresh air. Karen started to clear the table. Mike put his hand on her arm. "Let me help." he offered. "After all you did cook for us."
"Thanks." Karen smiled. She could see right into his eyes. She turned quickly toward the kitchen so she could hide the sudden rush of color in her cheeks. "I hope he didn't notice. The last thing I need is another man in my life right now, and here too!"
Chea sat on the deck watching the ocean. It was so big and blue and peaceful. She was still watching it before she realized that she had a guest.
Chea looked up at Peter who stood watching the waves.
"Hi." She said looking at him.
He looked down at her. "Hi." He smiled at her.
"It's such a nice day." She sighed. "I could sit here and watch the waves forever."
"I know how you feel." Peter said sitting down next to her. "I sit out here for hours watching the ocean. So natural and peaceful." He agreed. "It really could inspire the songwriter in someone."
"I wrote a song once." Chea said.
"Really?" Peter looked at her. "Could I see it?"
"Yeah but one problem. I left it at home, and thats a long way."
"Ah. Ok." He said.
"I wrote it inspired by the ocean." She said. He looked at her again. "On vacation once my family and I stayed in Atlantic City. I starting working on it then. I been trying to get it perfect ever since." Chea sat up. "I remember most of the words, I can write them down after the gig and maybe you can help."
"I'd like to." Peter said. "But right now we gotta go." He said standing. He offered his hand. "The last time we were late to a gig we were fired, and Mike was so mad!"
"I'm ready." She said and took his hand. He helped her up. As she got to her feet she could see his eyes looking down into hers. "I'll see you in the car." She suddenly stuttered. She opened the deck door and went through leaving a slightly dazed Peter on the deck. "What was that?" She asked herself.
The Vincent Van Go-Go
Chea and Karen were sitting in the front row of the dance club. They could have danced but they wanted to sit and watch the guys perform. Karen nursed an ice tea while she watched Chea. She seemed to be confused. Her eyes darted from one guy to another. Maybe she was having the same trouble she was, taking it all in. They were there a whole day and it still seemed like a dream.
The song "Steppin Stone" was being played. Karen liked it. Everyone in the room was dancing. Chea got up to join them. Karen stayed in her seat, since she didn't really know any of the dance moves associated with the songs. Chea really was more of the 60's buff.
The song ended. They stood up there and talked for a few minutes. While this was going on Chea sat back down with a new drink. She caught her breath.
"Oh this is so much fun!" She burst.
"I know." Karen said.
"You oughta dance you know." Chea said. "I'd almost swear you were staring at one guy all evening."
"I am not!" She said a little too quickly.
"Uh huh." Chea laughed. "I will get your secret. Who knows, maybe I can help you two get together. You AND your mystery crush."
"I so do not have a crush." Karen said. She thought for a minute. "Ok, if the next song is a dance song, I will get up and make an effort to like dance ok?" She said. Karen notice she was falling all over her tongue. I cant even talk.
The semi pow wow broke up and the band got to their places again. The crowd cheered and clapped.
Karen suddenly felt his eyes on her as the song "The Kind of Girl I Could Love" She looked up at him. He suddenly darted his eyes away.
"Very interesting." She thought of the "Laugh in" line.
The performed a few more songs then quit for the night. As the guys were being paid Karen talked with Chea.
"This was fun. I think I'm gonna like being here." She said. She could feel the eyes again. She looked over. IF he was looking, he wasnt anymore.
Chea sighed. "I know."
"Hey!" Micky shouted. "If we keep getting paid like this, we can like eat two meals a day."
Chea laughed.
Mike came over to the girls. He quietly pressed some money into Karens hand. Fifteen Dollars. The exact amount of the food they had today. She had forgotten to throw away the reciept.
"Oh no, you don't have to do this." Karen said as she tried to give him back the money.
"I don't want to have to owe you anything." He said refusing it.
"You need it more." She said.
"I insist." He said.
"You better take it." Davy said. "When he says insist, he really means it."
"Please?" He said.
"Oh man, he's REALLY serious." Davy said.
"Okay." Karen relented.
Mike nodded and walked back to the group with Davy. They began to pick up their things.
"Isnt that my money you used on the groceries?" Chea asked.
"It went to a better cause." Karen said handing her the wad.
"I probably would have done it too." Chea said.
As the group was about to go out to the Monkee-mobile a man stopped them.
"Hi, you don't know me." The man said. "I'm Larry Silvers."
"Hi." The group said.
"Anyway, we saw you play today, and I would like to invite you to a band contest here next week." He said.
"I don't know." Mike said.
"The prize is 1,000." Larry said.
Mike tried to keep his jaw from droppng. A thousand dollars? Thats more than they have earned in the last year!
"We'll do it!" Micky said.
The other guys looked at him.
"Great." Larry said. "It'll be here next week."
"What kind of band contest?" Davy asked.
"Oh its a mixed band contest. Girls and boys." He said. "See you next week!"
Larry walked out the door before Mike could stop him.
"A mixed band contest!" Mike said. "Micky you should have asked before you told him we'd do it."
"Yeah." Davy said. "And forget about making me wear a dress again."
Karen remembered the episode "Some like it Lukewarm" but couldnt let them know that. They didn't even know they were on tv. "That's quite an image you paint for us Davy." Karen said.
"What are we gonna do?" Micky asked. "We either have to forfeit or find a girl singer."
"Oh we don't have to quit!" Peter said. "We have our answer right here!" He pointed at the girls.
Chea and Karen looked at each other.
"Ok, either they want us to sing or I'm somehow ending up in Mickys clothes." Karen deducted.
