(Sequel) You and I | 70s Teen Dream Story

Chapter 80

The Carpenters had a taping of "The Phil Donahue Show" and Karen asked me to tag along. So of course, I did. The taping was in Chicago, IL.

It was nice that I could do these sorts of things without worrying anymore. I was living my best life.

So, as the usual proceedings happened at tapings, I was allowed to be in the audience while KC and RC were interviewed about their lifelong career, how they got started, how Herbie gave them break, etc.

It wasn't too long before the questions from the audience started arising. Some wanted to know how Karen learned to play drums. Other questions were not appropriate for children's ears. It was a good thing editing and cutting existed. 

Andy was in Florida working on his next album with Barry at Criteria Studios. I would not see him till later in the week once he got home.

"So how do you keep normalcy in your life?" was Phil's question for KC and RC.

"Having friends that understand you," Karen replied.

"By that you mean?" Phil asked Karen.

"Someone who doesn't judge you for you. That takes your feeling into consideration. It's rare in the business but one of my best friends in the whole world is (Y/N) Gibb," Karen told Phil.

I was shocked that Karen announced this to the world. 

"Friendship is hard to come by in this world," Richard told Phil.

"Let's go back to Karen real quick. How did you become friends with (Y/N) Gibb?" Phil asked.

"She used to work at a vinyl record shop in the Malibu area. She never was like "oh my god its Karen Carpenter!" like some people act. She was and is still genuine. We also were friends before she met and married Andy," Karen told him.

"What a small world," Phil told her.

"For sure. She doesn't even consider herself a celebrity though by most standards she is in her own right," Karen commented.

All the while this was going on, I was praying no one would snap I was in the audience. 

"Moving on to different things, how often do you two get mistaken for being a married couple?" Phil asked while he stifled a laugh.

The entire audience and I laughed too.

"Well not as often anymore," Richard commented.

"I remember this one time we were doing an interview and it was for a radio station. The guy was sincere and was like so where did you and Richard meet? I wasn't going to correct the guy so I told him we met in college," Karen replied chuckling.

Phil laughed.

"Met in college?" Phil asked.

"Well yeah I mean I wasn't gonna interrupt the poor dude giving the interview. It was easier to lie," Karen replied.

"In the early days, it was bad, the goody-four shoes image. But now, people do appreciate us for our music nowadays," Richard told Phil.

"Speaking of your image, how hard was it to come over that? Everyone back in the day would say you two were like the "apple-pie wholesome image," Phil remarked.

"I'd say A&M Records did not know how to market us.  Granted, the music sold no matter what the case was. But in those early years, we always were cheek-to-cheek smiling and that was too clean for us to keep up. We drink, we bleed when we are cut," Richard commented.

"Your image as an artist can get tainted by publicity. It's a difficult process and you have to have a backbone. Since it's been 14 years since "Close to You" came out, I think we are doing better with marketing and promotions, and photoshoots too. I was only 20 then," Karen told Phil.

This taping went on for over 2 hours. By the time it was said and done, it was nearly dinner time. 

After we left the taping, I went back to my hotel instead of going out with KC and the Carpenters family. I just wanted to enjoy some peace and quiet before I flew home tomorrow mid-day. I ordered in from the room service.

While I waited for that, I decided to call the Gibb Headquarters in Florida.

Andy did not take long to get to the phone after Linda answered it initially.

"Hi darling? How was your day?" Andy asked me.

I took a sigh after hearing his voice.

"It was good. The taping was interesting. Somehow I came up in the mix of the interview," I told him as I stared out my balcony from the bed.

"You came up? How?" Andy asked chuckling.

"Cause Phil asked about friendship and Karen mentioned how it is hard to find friends like me," I told him.

"Well it's true darling you are one of a kind," Andy replied.

I smiled at his comment though he could not see my face. Wouldn't it be neat to have some sort of video phone?

"Awww," I told him.

"So what else did you do today?" Andy asked curiously.

"Just was at the taping. We did go eat breakfast at this cute little spot. I'm now waiting on room service for dinner," I remarked as I twirled the phone cord around my finger.

"I don't remember the last time I was in Chicago," Andy commented.

"I don't think I've ever been. But aside from me, how's the album coming?" I asked Andy.

"Oh right well I got some vocals down for that one song Barry and I were working on when they flew out a few weeks ago," Andy explained.

"Did you end up scraping the drum intro like you wanted?" I asked.

"Yeah and we added synthesizers instead," Andy told me.

"Oh nice that's cool I can't wait to hear it," I replied as I heard a knock on my hotel door.

"Hold on, my food is here," I told him as I put the phone down.

I went and paid the room service person and got my grub. I got pasta and salad.

"Ok sorry about that love," I told him as I held my pasta bowl.

"What did you get for dinner?" Andy asked curiously.

"Pasta and salad," I told him.

"I miss your cooking," Andy told me.

"I miss you," I told him.

"It's been a weird week. I think this is the longest I've been away from you in a long time," Andy replied.

"True but you know what we will be together on Saturday," I reminded him.

"Good point darling. Well, I'll let you eat dinner and call me when you are done getting ready for bed," Andy told me.

"Sounds good love. Talk to you laters. Love you," I told him.

"Love you too darling," Andy replied before I hung up.

Adventures in Chicago were new in refreshing.