Two Different Roads

Moving Out

The first person Ellen wanted to speak to when she returned home besides her sister was Mike. Just the SOUND of his voice comforted her. Heedless of the bill she must be incurring, they talked for hours. She poured her heart out to him in a way she was rarely able to do with anyone else, and he left her feeling the first glimmer of hope she'd experienced in some time.
He rang HER the next night, and he was even able to make her laugh once. They ended the call with her lying in bed allowing his voice to calm her, lull her into a state of blissful sleepiness as he sang to her tunes he hadn't visited in years, tunes he once played in clubs around Texas. She drifted off contentedly Mike's last words still echoing in her ears. "Good night Darlin'"
II
A few days later-"Monkee central, Peter Tork speaking."
"Well hello there Peter Tork."
"Ellen?"
"None other. How is the soon to be tv star?"
"I'm great, but I'm guessing you really called to talk to Nez."
"Is he there?"
"Just came in...Mike...here he is himself."
"Himself," he answered.
"Hello Michael."
"You sound a bit better than you did the last time we talked."
"I'm trying."
"Our phone bills are gonna be astronomical."
"I don't care."
"You should. You're out of work, remember?"
"How could I forget?"
"I actually wanted to talk to you about that. (Don't say no before you hear me out.) One of the guys who created the show (I guess you'd call him my boss.), Bob Rafelson, is looking for a personal assistant. I thought you might be interested."
"I definitely would be, but I'm HERE, and the JOB is there in California."
"I know."
"Michael..."
"You should really think about it. A fresh start might be just what you need."
She'd been wondering what she was going to do when John returned home from filming and showed up at her door as he was bound to do. Suddenly moving to another continent didn't sound all that bad.
"You know what Michael, I'll seriously consider it."
"What? I don't believe I heard that correctly."
"I said I'll think about it Cowboy."
"Don't start that again."
"Sing for me."
"You're asking for favors after that?"
"Please."
She heard him pick up his guitar. "I wrote this a couple of years ago. I wanted The Monkees to record it, but I don't think the powers that be are interested. I call it Different Drum."

"That's probably the best 'I'm really not into you' song I've ever heard," she chuckled when he'd finished. "I love it. 'We'll both live a lot longer if you live without me.' Too funny-thats just perfect."
"Well at least YOU appreciate it."
"Oh I'm sure you'll win over those powers that be eventually. By the way, when does the the first episode of the show air?"
"It already did on the twelfth."
"And?"
"I guess we're a hit."
"That's wonderful!"
"Yeah it's pretty great."
"I should go. Vicky is paying for this."

"All right Darlin'. Let me know what you decide about the job. If it helps influence your decision, you could stay with me and Peter until you get on your feet."
"He's living with you again?"
"Yeah. He got tired of his other place and wants to look for something else. We've got this big old house. Davy's here too and another friend."
"You'd want me to move in with a bunch of men?" She laughed.
"Just until you save the money for your own place. We'd all be perfect gentlemen I swear."
"What if I don't get the job?"
"I'll make sure you do."
"You're very persuasive Mr. Nesmith. I'll talk to you soon."
"I look forward to it."

III
"I hope you know what you're doing Nez."
"I really do think it would be good for her to get away Peter."
"I'm sure you've got lots of other ideas about what would be good for her too. What if she's not into that?"
"Peter I don't expect anything. I'm not saying I don't WANT it, I'm just not EXPECTING it."
"Just be careful Man, for your sake AND hers."

IV
Vicky was not thrilled with the idea at all, but Ellen decided rather quickly that a change of scenery was exactly what she needed. The prospect of a job waiting for her was an added incentive as was the idea that Mike was there waiting for her truth be told. Their recent conversations had brought her a great deal of comfort. She was really looking forward to seeing him again, Peter too.
Within days she was on her way.

Mike used to sing this old song Wynkyn, Blynkyn, and Nod when he played in the early days. I thought it would make a perfect song for him to sing to Ellen as a kind of lullabye. The other song he sings to her is of course "Different Drum." Linda Ronstadt does a decent version, but in my not so humble opinion, nobody does it like Nez himself. Check out the one on his album "The Hits Just Keep On Coming"