Deaf & Dumb

Peter Talks to the Monkees

Peter knocked on the door of the pad. He could hear someone playing a bass terribly. He only assumed it was Davy attempting to play. He smiled slightly.
Mike answered the door. Mike smiled. "Oh, hey there," He said as if nothing was wrong between them.
Peter smiled too hoping that nothing was wrong between them. Despite their fight he still wanted to stay friends with all of the Monkees.
"I've got to talk with you guys about something," Peter said.
Davy popped up at the door. "Peter!" He exclaimed throwing the door all the way open and drawing his friend inside.
Micky was sitting at the drums staring at Peter. "Please tell me you're coming back for good," He said as Peter sat down on the couch.
Peter looked down at the floor. "Well, that's what I came to talk to you about," He said.
Mike looked over at Micky with a nervous look. "Well, spill, babe," He said sitting down on the couch with Peter.
Peter looked at the Texan feeling nervous. "So yesterday I was hanging out with Stephen Stills and David Crosby and Graham Nash," Peter started.
"How's Stephen doing?" Mike asked getting a feeling that this conversation wasn't going to go well.
"Really good. He's made a band with David and Graham," Peter said. "Their voices are magic together."
Davy sat down beside Peter. "That's good for them," He said.
"So they need a bassist for tours since Stephen plays it on recording, but he can't do that since he will be playing guitar," Peter said.
Micky almost leapt out from behind his drum set. "They don't want you?" He asked.
Peter nodded his head. Mike stared at Peter. "You're not gonna do it are you?" He asked.
Peter shrugged. "They're so good," He said. "I mean, instant success kind of good."
Micky stared at Peter. "Are we not talented enough for you?" He asked.
"No, it's just these three guys... you really don't get it. You've never heard them together," Peter said.
Davy shrugged without saying a word. He just looked tired. Mike frowned for a moment and thought. "I wouldn't blame you for a minute if you left," He said slowly. "I've been a major jerk."
Peter stared at Mike. "I just kept thinking about all the things that I did wrong since you left. I was the worst," Mike said. "I saw Carolina the other day and she talked to me."
Peter was silent. Mike looked like he was troubled by how he acted. He looked at Peter in the eyes. "Maybe it would be best for you to join David and Stephen," Mike said. "You're so genuinely talented, and we're just another Beatles-wannabee band."
Davy and Micky were staring at Mike like he was betraying them. Peter was silent as he thought about what Mike was saying. Peter shook his head slowly.
"Before you go though, you wanna listen to some of our new stuff?" Mike asked.
"I've only been gone for a month," Peter said frowning.
"And we wrote a couple songs," Mike insisted.
Micky and got back behind the drums.
"This is gonna sound rough since we don't have a good bass, but bear with us," Mike said grabbing his twelve string guitar.
Davy picked up a bass. It was almost as big as he was. It dwarfed him. Mike started to sing.

"Just a loud mouth Yankee I went down to Mexico
I didn't have much time to spend, about a week or so
There I lightly took advantage of a girl who loved me so
But I found myself a-thinkin' when the time had come to go

What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

She took me to the garden just for a little walk
I didn't know much Spanish and there was no time for talk
Then she told me that she loved me not with words but with a kiss
And like a fool I kept on thinkin' of a train I could not miss

What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

Well, it's been a year or so, and I want to go back again
And if I get the money, well, I'll ride the same old train
But I guess your chances come but once and boy I sure missed mine
And still I can't stop thinkin' when I hear some whistle cryin'

What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?

What am I doin' hangin' 'round?
I should be on that train and gone
I should be ridin' on that train to San Antone
What am I doin' hangin' 'round?"

Peter listened and felt himself smiling. "Bear with me a moment and pass me the bass," He said to Davy. Davy passed him the bass. "Davy get some maracas. Mike, sing it again."
Mike sang through the song again this time with Peter on bass. It sounded a lot better. Mike smiled. "See how much better we are with you?" Mike asked.
Peter shrugged. "Any decent bassist could have played that," He said. "I really just have a feeling that I need see how it goes with David and Stephen and Graham."
"Then go ahead. We can't hold you back," Mike said finally. He looked upset.
Micky tossed his drum sticks on the ground. "Good ahead. Leave. If we're not good enough for you," He said bitterly and walked up the stairs. "I never thought you'd do us like that, but it seems like we don't mean anything to you. So just go."
Peter felt his chest tighten. He stood up slowly and smiled slightly trying to look like Micky's words hadn't hurt him. Davy and Mike looked just as upset with him as Micky was, but they held their tongues.
"I'm sorry," He said stepping out the door. He shut the door softly and walked away. He almost headed to the beach, but that was too close to them. He needed to be know he did the right thing so he headed out to see David, Stephen, and Graham. He kept thinking hard about everything dumb he'd done. Was leaving the Monkees going to be one of them?