As the sun started to set in the distance The Monkees relaxed around the Pad, happy that the sun wasn't sending them a heat wave anymore. Mike decided that it was best if they rehearse some of their songs, in case they did get the gig, but when Micky tried to play the drums and sing 'I'm A Believer' he sneezed, a lot.
"I'm a-aaahhh-CHOO!! Not a-aaahhh-CHOO!! Of doubt in my-i-aaahhh-CHOO!!"
After three songs full of sneezing and saying gesundheit countless times Mike told Micky to rest upstairs until he was better. Of course the drummer didn't want to rest but after he let out a sneeze that was so powerful it caused his drums and friends to fall over he finally agreed and went upstairs. But Micky wasn't the only one who was making it hard to rehearse. Peter couldn't stop looking at his poor plant and he would stop playing in the middle of the song then run to it, thinking that maybe it was lonely.
"Maybe we should do this later." Davy suggested.
"Yeah, I think you're right." Mike put his guitar down. "I just hope we do get that gig, man. We're a month late on the rent."
"How we gonna pay last month's rent?"
Mike quickly shushed him. "Don't do that! The last time one of us said that we all started singin'."
"Yeah, that was kinda weird. Where was that music coming from?"
Mike shrugged then the two of them started to head for their bedrooms, but Mike stopped at the bottom of the stairs. "Ya goin' to bed Pete?"
"I will soon Mike."
The leader of the group then went upstairs to get some rest as Peter stared at the green plant in front of him. Why did it look so sickly? The leafs were turning brown and the head of the plant was drooping. As he continued to pet it music started to play and he sang to his plant.
"I've given you sunshine, I've given you dirt. You've given me nothing, but heartache and hurt. I'm begging you sweetly. I'm down on my knees. Oh, please grow for me." Peter suddenly put on a face of confusion. "Wait. Where's that music coming from?"
Peter looked under the table, as if expecting a violinist to be under there but found nothing as the music continued to play. He scratched his head then shrugged it off before heading for the room that he and Davy shared.
Before entering he looked up at the ceiling. "Um, could you please stop? My friends are trying to sleep." The music came to a halt and he smiled. "Thank you."
He looked at his plant again and watched one of it's leafs fall off and slowly land on the table. He let out a sigh then went into the bedroom to get some sleep. A few moments after the door closed the plant started to move as if it was checking out the area. All was quiet as its small vines started to grow longer and longer with each passing second and the green arms slithered to the instruments that The Monkees had forgotten to put away. The thorn covered vines rapped themselves around the guitar and bass strings, maracas and drumsticks then the vines broke away from the plant itself and what sounded like a low and gravely chuckle filled the room as the plant grew still again.
~~~~
Everyone was happy to find that this day was much cooler then the day before. People were now outside and enjoying the weather instead of locking themselves inside and sticking their heads in their iceboxes. But The Monkees didn't have time to play outside and jump around on the beach like everybody else, they had to rehearse for the upcoming gig. After they had eaten their corn flakes they had gotten the phone call they were waiting for. Mr. Thornton told them they were to play at his discotheque tonight. The night had come and they were ready to go, but there was only one problem. Micky was still sneezing up a storm every three seconds.
"You guys go ahead." Micky told them before sneezing again. "Davy can play the drums and I'll-i-aaahhh-CHOO!! Stay here and get better for the next gi-i-aaahhh-CHOO!! Gig."
"But we can't do it without you Micky." Peter told him.
"Sure you ca-a-aaahhh-CHOO!!"
Mike didn't want to leave Micky here but he also knew that once his friend decided on something then there was no stopping him. "Well, if you're sure..."
Micky nodded while covering his mouth, trying to not sneeze again, and the drummer started to go cross eyed as he continued to hold it in. His friends stepped back, not wanting to be blown over again, and when Micky started to turn blue he finally let out another large sneeze and clips of a statue falling, a plane crashing and a chicken falling flashed by. It was settled, Micky would stay and hopefully get better before the gig after this one. Besides, they couldn't risk their friend sneezing the discotheque away. Soon Mike, Davy and Peter got all their instruments into the Monkeemobile. They were ready to go and they all hoped they would get enough money to pay the rent.
As they drove away Peter watched the Pad until it was out of sight. "I hope Micky and Valerie 2 will be okay."
"Valerie 2?" Davy asked. "Who's that?"
"My plant. I named him."
"Him?"
"Yeah."
Davy rolled his eyes and Mike decided to change the subject. "I'm sure they'll both be fine." Mike said as he turned the corner. "In fact, Valerie 2 looked a lot better this morning."
"You noticed it too?" Peter asked, a grin appearing on his face.
"Yep. So don't worry, everything will be okay."
"Thanks Michael."
Chapter 1
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