The Dolenz Circus: Season One: It's Great, It's Terrific!

Episode 13 : Good Company

  For about the fifth time that day, Jimmy Page tried to strum along to a song playing on the radio. It was a practice that he had performed since he was a young boy- listening for the right sound, the right finger placement, the right rhythm, the switch of count. It helped him to focus on something bigger than himself, but smaller than his issues. Besides this, guitar was the only other thing he accepted as an extension of himself- other than his wand, that is. But then again, he often thought that music was a sort of magic. A more ancient, primal magic. But a form of it nonetheless.

  Today's tune was Brand New Key, by Melanie. He was listening to some station called KNUS FM, which Page tolerated due to it being accepting of more alternate tastes, or, it had before. Youngbloods and The Nice, Ten Wheel Drive. Lots of strange psychedelic things, too. But Jimmy turned the radio off for those.

  As Melanie started to sing about roller skates and bicycles, the magician's hand slipped. He lost his pick into the old Spanish acoustic he had managed to pack. Jimmy huffed as he slumped forward. He didn't even attempt to shake it out.

  "What'chu doo-ing?" Bimbo cawed from the head post of the bed. She shimmied from side to side, eyeing her owner.

  Jimmy knew he was making her anxious just by his attitude alone. He frowned and reached over to pet over her bright scarlet head.

  "I know, I know... I'm sorry, Bimbo." He sat the instrument to the side of the bed, tucking his long legs up so he could curl up better.

  The old parrot opened her wings and hopped down to the bed. She waddled herself up to his legs, jumped up, and settled in his lap. Page smiled and pet her like he would any cat- down her sleek back and her tail.

  Jimmy had locked himself into his car since the meeting with Spector. It was going on four o'clock, and he'd not been out once for lunch, or now, supper.

  He was a bit hungry. All he had now was the fruit he'd bought for Bimbo, a loaf of bread, and a box of black tea. That, and some provisions he had set aside, thinking he'd at least try to pitch in with lunch at some point during the week. But he hadn't even been able to get out and sign up for it.

  Worrying over Phil had made Page go shaky in anxiety. He'd drawn up all the curtains to every window in the car, just for safe measures.

  He could not get over the fact that Spector had known Micky wanted Jimmy to practice later. He had to have been listening into the car somehow. Micky had only asked Jimmy to do it just then!

  But... It didn't look like Phil had been snooping close by the car. Had he run away just to stroll up, casual and smug? Besides that, how did Jimmy get on Spector's bad side? He had worked so hard to stay out of his way. It all seemed useless, now.

  And now he was so scared of pushing a bad thing to be worse by proximity, he locked himself up. So much for a productive day.

  He was very heavily considering taking a nap, when he heard the sound of the phone ringing in the other room.

  Bimbo perked up, flapping her wings and looking excitedly about as she hollered, "What's 'at! What's 'at!" 

  "Ah- come on, Boo." Jimmy scooped her up and carried her under the arm. 

  He stepped up to the receiver, and picked up the old earpiece. "Hello?"

  Who was it? Micky? Roger? If it was Spector, Jimmy just might-

  "Pagey!" 

  Oh thank god. Robert.

  "Oh, hi, Robert. How ha-"