Reunion (The Monkees Family Vol. 3)

Chapter 68

Micky and Gabby were back in L.A. in April in time for Peter and Micky to start recording the new tracks for the greatest hits album and also for all three guys to begin rehearsing for the upcoming tour. Gabby's presence alongside Micky instead of staying at home in England was the result of some heavy contemplation and soul searching on her part. As she and Micky had feared, Schmooshy's health had declined abruptly and his unreliable prostate that had transformed him into an annoyingly leaky faucet eventually developed full-blown cancer. They had made the heartrending decision to end his suffering and said their final goodbyes to him on a cold, rainy January morning, as Gabby stroked his velvety ears one last time while Micky ruffled his bristly fur and counted the rolls of fat on his midriff to distract himself from the apparatus the veterinarian was using to end his fur baby's life.

After Schmooshy passed away, Gabby felt a situational depression overtake her. Another malaise that already had been building up in her consciousness – that she wasn't satisfied at her job – compounded the problem because it didn't give her anything to sufficiently distract her from her sorrow about losing her firstborn child. Overhanging all of her emotional turmoil was an intense longing to return to the bosom of the family, both to be taken care of and to take care of them. Whenever Gabby was feeling down, she knew that the cure for her self-centered feelings of pity and woe was to be of service to others. Dawn had a new baby, as did Jan, and Della had one on the way, and she knew they could all use a helping hand or just a sympathetic ear. Plus, Wendy had mentioned that Robbie was becoming quite moody and troublesome, and perhaps now was the time for her and Micky to step up and fulfill their godparent duties. She also reasoned that she could be of support to Micky as he waded back into the fray of being an entertainer, a profession that was fraught with emotional triggers for his old traumas and ongoing addiction. It was time to go home, at least for a little while.

So they hired a caretaker for their property and polo ponies and wrapped up (or rather unraveled) Micky's remaining production and directing commitments. They packed a few months' worth of clothes and Micky's guitar and hit the road. Just like the old days. Except for the mansion and the polo ponies.

As it had ever been, Dawn and Peter's house was still the party house, and they threw a grand celebration on a Saturday afternoon to welcome Gabby and Micky home. While the party was going on, a call was placed to Robert and Lynda so that they could be symbolically included and everyone passed the phone around and had their twopenny's worth of chit chat with them. It was as close to a real family reunion they had had in years. Gabby's heart swelled with satisfaction and joy.

Peter invited Davy and Micky into his studio to have a quick convo about setting up a rehearsal schedule. Davy seemed like a loaded spring, waiting for this conference to happen, and had an expectant look on his face. Sensing this, Peter invited him to kick things off and say his peace.

"Well, chaps, I think we ought to make this a real show, like the ones we used to do. You know, a bit of comedy, a bit of shtick and back and forth between us, all pre-planned like our original concert presentations. Not just us up on a stage holding instruments and just playing our old hits one after another. The original format is what our old audience remembers and would expect, and it's what made us so appealing back then – our personalities and the chemistry between us. The new generation is going to wonder what makes us such hot stuff and frankly, let's face it, we don't sound in person like we do on the records, so let's give 'em a bit of the old razzle dazzle. And of course we can make a bit of fun of ourselves, so people know that we get it that this is a nostalgia trip and we don't take ourselves too seriously. What do you think?"

Peter and Micky had expressions indicating they were quite stunned at Davy's perspicacity and acuity. He obviously had given this a lot of thought and was operating on excellent instincts. Clearly, getting sober had done him a lot of good and had restored his former talents to him.