Dick Mitchell was the kind of performer who would go out of his way to make sure the show always went on. There was a show time during one of his earlier tours when Dick caught a serious bout of food poisoning. Rather than stay in bed and skip the concert, the band just made sure there was a bucket on stage for him to barf in. It was that kind of worth ethic that earned the fan’s respect and admiration. To the band, unless you were on your deathbed there was no excuse to miss a gig. For that reason fans never hesitated to buy tickets, because they knew that only in the most extreme cases would a show ever be cancelled. It was because of that reputation that the fans never griped whenever a show was cancelled. So, when Dick made an appearance at Jenny’s wedding, he did what any good performer would do when he wasn’t 100%, he would go on stage and make best with what he had and still put on a good show. Dick did everything that was expected of the father of the bride. He walked his beautiful daughter down the aisle, made a killer toast at the reception, and had a lovely dance with his little girl, all that jazz. Considering all the brutal treatments he had gone through, no one said a thing when Dick retired to his hotel early to call it a night. Everyone was just happy to see him there and understood what was going on. Dick was always the kind of man who played his cards very close to his chest and that night was no different. He kept the details of his treatments very hush hush so that there was no way anyone could spoil or distract away the attention from Jenny and Gabe’s big day. For the truth would have been distracting.
The treatments had failed.
Dick waited two months after the wedding before making the news public, and then passed away less than two months after that. When the new of his passing was first reported, people could hardly believe it. Everyone knew Dick was seeking treatments, but the results of those treatments had been kept so secret that not even the band themselves had any idea what was going on until it was to late.
When Jenny heard the news she was devastated. She took a leave of absence so she could be with Dick during his final weeks. Gabe also put Tom in charge of the business so he could be there as well. When Dick passed away, he was in the company of those he loved. His children, his grandchildren, and the band mates he worked with for so long. Richard Mitchel was at peace when he drifted off this mortal coil.
Seven days later, all of his children were present for the reading of Dick’s final will and testament. Jenny didn’t care about the estate and honestly didn’t want to be there. She was in her third trimester and honestly wasn’t up to doing something like that. Gabe was told the lawyer insisted that all parties be present in person because Dick had set something up for them. When they arrived at the lawyer’s offices, they were led into a large conference room. All five of Dick’s children were seated at the conference table. At one corner of that table was a large plasma screen television. Gabe had a feeling what was going to happen but kept quiet just in case that TV had always been there.
After the lawyer came in, he held up a Disc. “This is a video of Dick Mitchell personally giving his last will and testament. Are there any questions before we start?”
No one in the room said a single word.
“All right then, let’s get to it.” The lawyer put the disc into the machine and started the video.
Much to no one’s surprise, the video had a sweet intro with hard rock in the background and even some effects to start it all out. Always the showman, Dick was sitting on a very fancy throne. It was clear that this video was made before the treatments started because he had a full head of hair and hadn’t lost any weight. This was the way Dick wanted his kids to see him when he said his goodbyes and final wishes.
“Greetings from the afterlife losers!” he started with his usual mischievous grin. While the joke was lost on many, Albert and Gabe snickered a little understanding that Dick was trying to lighten the mood in the room.
“Why the gloomy faces, did somebody die?” he paused for a moment. “That’s right, I did. Sorry about that by the way. I’m doing this on video because I wanted to take one more chance to remind you guys how much I love you, and address each and every one of you before letting you know my final wishes concerning my estate. I am sorry I wasn’t able to hang out just a little longer, but I hope I was able to make the best out of the time I had left before kicking the bucket. If I had my way I would have tried to stay as long as I could. The treatments probably didn’t work and that’s just life. I was happy for the time we had and leave this world with no regrets. So, with that being said, let’s get to the good part.”
Everyone shifted in their seats as they watched Dick pick up a piece of paper and start to read it. “I Dick Mitchell, with this last will and testament, blah, blah, blah… alright, here we go. To my first son Logan: as per your request, the only thing I leave to you is my first mansion, which was the home you were raised in. Everything inside it is also yours.”
Logan didn’t seem phased by this as it was his request. He didn’t care about riches or royalties as he was well set all on his own. The only thing he wanted was his childhood home, and Dick had respected his wishes.
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“Now,” Dick said as he skipped ahead. “To the other side of the extreme: Albert. As per your request, I leave you two things: Jack and shit. Your cut of the Horsemen royalties will be put into a trust fund to give scholarships to kids who want to become musicians.”
“Fucking eh!” Albert said as he gave an enthusiastic fist pump. Albert didn’t need the money as his band was just as successful and rich as Dick’s. Albert told Dick on many occasions that he was going to donate his share away to charity anyway. He was pleased to see that Dick had taken care of it for him.
“Now to the rest of my children, What’s left of my cut of the horsemen royalties and what not goes as follows: Everyone gets a 20% of what’s left, but Jenny gets two shares as she collects Alex’s cut. I also leave the second mansion to my daughter Jenny. It was her childhood home and I want her to have it and everything in it. As for the last house, I can’t give that away boys because your momma still lives in it. You’ll have to wait for that old bat to croak before that house gets taken care of.”
Everyone laughed at the comment, even the kids whose mother was being referenced to in the video. Dick paused for a moment and then put the letter down.
“I wanted to take a moment to tell you all how sorry I am that things didn’t work out as well as we hoped they would. While I have a few regrets, I still leave this world a very happy man. I’m happy because I know my family is united and together, the way I always hoped it always would be. I hope you all learn from my mistakes and understand that family is everything. Stick together and there is nothing you guys won’t be able to accomplish. I also want to take a moment to thank you all for being there for me right to the very end. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you, so I apologize in advance if I said some harsh things before checking out. I love you all very much and wish you nothing but the best in what I hope are the many years ahead of you. Keep on rocking guys, and we’ll get a chance to jam when your time is up. Peace!”
The picture of Dick holding up two fingers was the last shot before more hardcore rock kicked in to close out the video. The video wasn’t long winded and cut right to the chase, classic Evel Dick.
Jenny and the other kids were more pleased that it was all coming to an end and really didn’t care about the numbers. Many of Dick’s kids had good careers that made the additional riches unnecessary. They were all pretty well set and that meant any future income they would get from records and merchandise was going to be used to secure a future for their kids, which Dick was hoping would happen in the end anyway.
As everyone left the room, Jenny stayed in her seat. She was a little bloated and tired, so she really didn’t feel in a rush to leave. Gabe didn’t want to rush her either, so he stayed seated beside her and held her hand.
“Do you want to keep the video?” he asked.
Jenny was crying but she nodded. Gabe walked over and took the video from them lawyer. Everyone was given a paper copy of the will so keeping the video really wasn’t that important, but Gabe put the DVD back into a safe case and stashed it in the pocket of his coat. He sat back down and put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
“Are you all right?” Gabe inquired. He already knew the answer, but it was the best he cold come up with.
“I’m fine.” Jenny said as she wiped a tear from her cheek. “Chances are it’s just the hormones from the baby.” She said as she was being the doctor once again.
“To be fair,” Gabe replied, “I really liked the video.”
“I did too,” Jenny admitted, “It was nice to see him like that again, before the treatments had started.”
“It was,” Gabe agreed, “I think it was wise of him to film that before he started such an aggressive chemo.”
“Do you think Dad’s happy where he is now?” Jenny asked her husband.
“I’m not sure.” Gabe honestly replied. “But I’d like to think if he is in a better place, he’s out there having a jam with Alex once again.”
Jenny smiled at the thought, but something was bother her, and Gabe could tell.
“What is it?” He asked her.
“What on earth am I going to do with Alex’s share?” Jenny replied.
It was a fair question, because at no time did Dick ever tell either of them that he was planning to give his share of the estate to her. She was wondering why Dick would leave it to her rather than just give it away like Albert’s share.
“You can do whatever you want.” Gabe said, “Set up a trust fund for the kids, or whatever else you’d like to support. Or we could add an addition to the cabin if that’s what you want.”
“Or we could buy a new cabin,” Jenny added, “Or a summer home somewhere warm were we can vacation with the kids.”
“Or that,” Gabe said, as he didn’t have an issue with that idea.
Jenny gave her husband a playful slap on the arm. “Maybe we can build Tom his own cabin, so they’d be more room for our children.”
“I like that idea.” Gabe replied, “I wouldn’t mind a new project, and any additions to the old cabin could create more room for the kids too.”
“We’ll hire someone to do it, bub.” Jenny said with a mean glare she happened to inherit from her father. “You’ll be too busy helping with the baby.”
“Fair enough,” Gabe said as he didn’t mind. He had plenty of time to do what but for now he wanted to do was there for Jenny. “Let’s go.”
They left the lawyer’s office, eager to start their own chapter. The post Dick era was not going to be the same without the old man, but Gabe made sure that Jenny kept in touch with the rest of her family, especially after the baby was born. Albert seemed eager to take over for Dick as the rocker of the family and everyone seemed content to let him take the throne, literally. Jenny found that same throne when she was going through her childhood home, and never hesitated to have it shipped to her younger brother months later for his birthday. Albert was no longer the Prince but the heir apparent to the legacy that Evel Dick left behind. Jenny was content to be what she always was; a doctor to the people who need treatment, as well as a mother and wife to the people she loved most. She didn’t need fame and fortune to make her imprint in life. She had her family and the man of her dreams, and it was just the way she liked it.
THE END