The next week Dick did exactly what he said he was going to do. He announced to the world of his medical issues and his intent to seek treatment. The press freaked out over the story, but Dick had the support of the band who said they would wait and start touring after Dick finished his first round of treatments. Not only did his band fully support him, but they also agreed to do a one time show for charity to raise money for people who suffered from the same condition that Dick was preparing to fight himself. Dick’s youngest son Albert convinced his band to open the show to make it a rock fan’s dream concert. It was going to be the rock concert of the year if not the decade and they booked one of the biggest stadiums in the country to host it. As promised, Dick got VIP tickets for Jenny, Gabe, and Michael. He even tossed an extra in for Tom so they could all fly over and check out the show, just in case it was Dick’s last. The band knew there was a possibility that it might be his last if treatments didn’t go as well as they hoped it would. Dick was the first to greet them when they got to the stadium. He gave them all, even Tom, a big hug as he was very happy to see everyone again.
“It’s great to see you all.” Dick said as he had genuinely missed them since he left town after that week together.
He led them backstage, and his dressing room looked like a flower shop, as people sent him all sorts of things to wish him well at the show as well for his impending treatment. Dick seemed a little embarrassed by the attention.
“Don’t mind the flowers.” Dick said, trying to be rather nonchalant about them, “I’m going get someone to get them out of here soon.”
“Not this one.” Jenny said as she picked out a specific set of flowers. It was a batch of white roses that looked simply out of this world. Jenny picked up the vase of flowers and brought them to the front of the room.
“I like that one.” She insisted, “They’re very beautiful.”
“They are,” Dick agreed as he looked at them. He was a little nervous about the show, but it wasn’t because of the show itself. He had been on stage so many times he could do it blindfolded but it was the whole sense that it could be the end if it doesn’t work out.
“I’m glad you’re all here,” Dick said, as his nerves were showing. “This show wouldn’t have been the same without your support.”
“Should I take that personally?” a voice called from the hallway. Tom and Gabe were beside themselves as two more men came into the dressing room to see Dick and his guests. The lead singers for both bands; Tony and Dick’s son Albert were there to say hello and talk to Jenny for the first time in forever.
“I guess we have you guys to thank for this effort to get Dick back on his feet and touring with us again very soon.” Tony said as he gave Dick a playful punch in the arm.
“Knock on wood, you crazy bugger.” Dick said as he didn’t want the man to jinx him before he even started.
“Hey Sis.” Albert called from the other side of the room.
“Hey Albie.” Jenny said as she waved back. “Nice to see you again.”
“Did he just call him Albie?” Tom whispered to Gabe.
“Let it go, dude.” Gabe whispered.
“Hey guys,” Albert said as he turned to face the Michael who was too shocked to speak. “I’m assuming you’re Michael, right?”
“Yes, Sir.” Michael said. He surprised Albert was speaking to him, let along knew who he was.
“I heard you broke some bully’s nose for offending your woman.” Albert said with a big smile. “Is that true?”
Michael had since apologized for everyone since the incident but couldn’t help but seize a chance to brag to Albie. “I sure did. He deserved it.”
“Fucking right he did,” Albert said as he could feel Jenny’s cold stare burning the skin on the back of his neck.
“Albert,” Jenny called out with a tone that informed everyone she wasn’t impressed with what was being said.
“What?” Albert said, “You know he’s right!”
“Uh huh,” Jenny said, with a very disappointing tone.
“Let’s get away from the wet blankets,” Albert said, “Dick asked me to give you a tour of the stage. So, let’s go check out the crowd and say hello to the early birds.”
As they left the room, Gabe felt a sense of jealousy that he couldn’t up there to check out the stage too. He had his moment years ago and never regretted it so now it was Michael’s turn to take the spotlight for a while. The concert was being televised on a cable station so there was a chance some of his classmates might see him if they’re rolling right now. Gabe had a feeling that it was going to take a few weeks to bring Michael down from the clouds after that moment. Gabe padded Dick on the shoulder.
“You alright, Dick?” Gabe asked.
“I’ll be fine.” Dick replied. “I’m just a little nervous.”
“Can’t be about the show,” Gabe said, “You should be used to that.”
“It’s the song I promised to sing for Jenny.” Dick told him. “I’ve never done much of the singing, so I’m a little tense about it.”
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“Don’t worry about it,” Gabe said, “I know exactly what’s going to happen out there.”
“Really?” Dick said with a sense of doubt. “Do tell.”
“They haven’t heard this song played live in a very, very long time.” Gabe started to explain. “So, out of respect for that everyone is going to shut the hell up and listen very carefully. For many for them, it will be the first time they’ve ever heard this song performed live. And for all of them, it will be the first time they’ve heard you sing it. They’ll be so shocked by it that they’ll all be super silent while watching in complete awe. It will be so quiet that all you have to do is pretend they’re not there; that you’re back at the campfire by the cabin, alone in the woods. Just Tom and I out there and you’re singing the song for Jenny.”
“Holy Shit, man,” Tony said as he was listening. “We should take this bugger on the road with us. I could really benefit from a pep talk like that before every show.”
“You’ll be fine, Dick.” Gabe said as he backed up. “Trust me.”
“Alright,” Dick said as he started to get ready. “Find your seats and I’ll see you guys after the show.”
Gabe and Tom left to give Jenny a few moments alone with her father before going to find their seats. They waited outside to also give Michael some time to make his way back to the dressing rooms after hanging out on stage with Albert for a few minutes.
“Man, it’s going to take him a while to get over this, isn’t it?” Gabe asked.
“He may never will,” Tom said. He looked back at the dressing room. “What do you think they’re talking about?”
“I’m not sure.” Gabe replied, “But I’m just happy they were able to get through that week on good terms. They needed each other, and I can tell he’s going to do just fine in treatment as long as he knows Jenny’s there to support him and his decision.”
Jenny came out of the dressing room a few minutes later and they could hear the crowd roaring as Albert and his band were the first to go on stage. Gabe put his arm around Jenny.
“How are you feeling?” Gabe asked.
“Weird,” Jenny answered. “It’s been so long since I’ve been to a concert that I’ve almost forgotten what it was like. It’s pretty cool to rediscover it.”
Minutes after that started Michael could be seen coming back after being on stage with Albert for a few minutes.
“That was so awesome!” He said out of breath.
“Let’s get to our seats,” Gabe said, as he led the way back to where they were going to be sitting for the show.
They were not in the crowd itself as that would be too dangerous to people like Jenny, but instead had box seats in the private sections of the stadium’s general seating. The best part of that was the food and drinks they could have ordered at any time to the private box, and they were at no additional charge. The show itself was epic and a once in a lifetime experience. After Albert and his band had finished that is when the crowd really began to buzz.
The Horsemen themselves hadn’t been on stage for a year or so, but the fans were extra jumpy over what significance this could have for Dick and his coming health battles. When the Horsemen came onstage the entire stadium popped and right from the beginning the crowd was rocking and right into the show. It was Michael’s first Horsemen concert, so he was in awe and enjoyed every minute of it. Gabe and Jenny had seen countless shows, but this one was a little more special because it was their first show together. It was about halfway through the Horsemen’s set when Tony told the crowd he had to drain the lizard and walked off stage. Dick took the hint and grabbed a stool and dragged it out into the middle of the stage. He sat down on the stage with his guitar, and the crowd became quiet as they wanted to hear what Dick had to say.
“We haven’t performed this song in over a decade,” Dick confessed as he started to speak to the audience. “It was kind of retired for personal reasons but tonight we’re going to make an exception. I just need a moment.”
Dick got up off the stool and he took the guitar off his shoulder and reached out for another guitar that the roadie passed to him while taking the other guitar from him. Jenny looked onstage but she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
“It can’t be.” she said to no one in particular.
“It is,” Gabe confirmed. “After everyone went to bed, Dick and I picked up every single piece. We sent it to a repair shop and just asked the old man to do his best.”
“It took him a lot of long hours to repair your brother’s guitar.” Tom said as he recalled talking to the man on the phone for updates. “But the man really did a great job.”
“He sure did,” Gabe said as they watched Dick return to the stool with the same blue guitar that Jenny had smashed into the kitchen table at the cottage earlier that year.
The old rocker paused for a moment and then spoke again. “I wrote this song seven months after my son Alex passed away. I was in a bad spot back then as it was one of the worst moments of my life. He meant a lot to me, and I miss him a great deal, so this one’s for Alex.”
As Dick started to play the tune on the blue acoustic guitar, the fans all recognized the song and starting collectively hold their arms up with cell phones lit up to mimic the whole audience doing a lighter vigil. Dick appreciated the gesture and sang the song to the best of his ability as he wasn’t the singer that Tony was. He poured out his heart singing the song about his lost boy and the audience responded exactly how Gabe said they would. They became respectively quiet and listened intently as this was one of those once in a lifetime moments that was likely to never happen again. Dick rarely sang on stage, unless doing backup vocals so this was a rare Horseman moment just for that reason. But Dick was also playing a tune that hadn’t been performed in many years, acoustically as well which was just as rare coming from a band as metal as the Horseman.
Dick went into a longer than usual solo on the blue guitar, playing his heart out for everyone in attendance. As he came to the close of his solo, the crowd cheered in surprise as two more men came out on stage to join him. Tony, the Horsemen lead singer and Dick’s son Albert came on stage with their own acoustic guitars and joined in for the final verse and chorus. Dick never told Jenny about this, hoping to at least make one surprise that she never saw coming. Fans were crying in the stands, as was Jenny as she heard all three men sing the final chorus better then anyone had ever heard before:
Up in the clouds, there’s no more tears,
so be with God and I’ll see you soon,
give’em hell and till then show no fear
I love you always; you’re my sweet angel.
At the end of the song, the entire audience jumped to their feet and gave a thunderous, standing ovation. Gabe could see the tears in Jenny’s eyes as he knew she loved every moment of it, even the little surprise at the end. Dick had been a man of his word, going out there and singing the song she asked him to perform and doing it with class. Because the show was being sent to a live audience around the world, the show would later release as a live CD as well as DVD to buy just in time for the holidays. All money that was raised by the live show generated tens of millions of dollars for medical research, something the band could be proud of as they made their mark to do better in the world. They had really done it for Dick, to show their support for the courage and guts he was showing to go a head and get the treatments he needed to save his life. There were no guarantees, but the fans knew Dick would fight to the bitter end. Even if this was to be his last show everyone walked away knowing Dick Mitchell did it the right way, going out like a king and a total badass.