Chapter 70

Eventually, we all changed into rehearsal clothes again. We had less than four full months before we leave on ‘The Next-Generation Tour’, and these routines needed to be automatic.

I introduced the third set into our regimen, two weeks later we added set number four. Six weeks later all seven sets were worked into the rotation.

Sammi was right — the kids were catching on, smiling as they were barely out of breath after a day’s rehearsal. My daily workout did its job; I was back in the best condition of my life, dropping almost 30 pounds in the process.

Michael had gotten a six-pack, which both Annette and Rose giggled every time they saw him without a shirt. During that same time, I gave us a day off to go SUV shopping.

After discussing either renting a pair of Winnebago’s or simply buying a couple of new 12-seat stretch SUVs, we ended up ordering two 16-seat 2031 MTMCC Model Q’s that we would caravan everywhere we went. With five drivers available, this should work out just fine.

We went to Roscoe Martin’s Auto Dealership and were greeted by the prettiest brunette ever ... it was Roscoe’s daughter Carolyn. She inherited the business from her father and jumped in with both feet.

She showed us their showroom, now carrying the whole line of Michal Thomas vehicles with a shining bright red original Model K, that was remarkable. She explained that it is all electric, didn’t need to be recharged, ever ... due to a breakthrough in technology from Mr. Thomas who shared the technology with every company making electric vehicles. It used something called an Uber Battery.

No cost of gas made me very happy!

Each held 16 comfortably, with baggage in our case, and I ordered two of them right on the spot both dark-blue.

Man, was she a doll now? Cute when she was little, but boy. My wife saw how I was looking at her and gave me the go-ahead to flirt and deal.

“Carolyn - Can we get them with signs like before? We need them to say, ‘Charles & Kalista: The Next-Generation Tour with Rose, Michael & Annette.’”

My young cousin Annette came up to me and pulled me away.

“Yes, Dear, what is it?”

“Well, Michael, this might sound silly, but I don’t feel like an ‘Annette’ anymore, could you call me Annie, or would that be disrespectful to your mother?”

“NO, she wouldn’t mind, and neither would I!”

Heading back over to Carolyn, I said, “We need them to say, ‘Charles & Kalista: The Next-Generation Tour with Rose, Michael & Annie.’”

“No problem Charles, I had such a bad crush on you — I drove my dad crazy talking about you all the time. How soon do you need them, Good-looking?”

I looked over at Kalista and Sammi, who were grinning really big. K put up two fingers.

“Can you do it in two weeks, Beautiful?” I asked.

She got up really close and said, “I can do it ... right here. I can have two of these with the signs — no problem, any pictures this time?”

“Nope — Just the signage. What’s the price per?” I asked suggestively.

“They’ll cost me $44,800 each — I can let you have them both for a total of $75,300 — out the door. Have we got a deal, Lover?”

I gave her the kiss she wanted ... slapped her on her butt and said - “Make it happen, Gorgeous!”

She laughed out loud and waved good-bye.

We left, as Michael stopped to give me a high five, and they all were laughing at my deal-making skill set. Kallie wiped my lips off, as I drove us home.

We had our new travel vehicles, we had our music - we had our routines in great shape, and so we were ready to start. In Journey One, was Charles, Sammi, Lily and Xavier — In Journey Two, was Kalista, Annie, Michael, Rose, and Claire. We made sure both vehicles had at least two fully charged cell phones, although the vehicles had places to charge phones inside. Even with all of our luggage, there was room left for all the things we may purchase.

Our first stop was in Columbus, at the Celeste Center, where they could hold 10,200 people. Apparently, they sold out the place in a week. There was a generously-sized dance floor put down. This would be a wonderful place for the first of our two nights there.

We would be staying at the Candlewood Suites, which was nearby. I sent Sammi and Annie plus Claire and Xavier on ahead to it, first giving them all kisses.

This would be the first time; K and I were not within reach of Claire and Xavier. It was four pm, and our show was at eight pm that night. We did a complete run-through of sets one and three, finding no problems. It was only five-thirty, and we had time to head toward the hotel ourselves.

K and I had determined that we needed three rooms, one for her, Claire and me. One for Sammi, Annie and Xavier, and Michael, Rose and Lily would be together. That room needed to be two beds, one for Michael and the other for the girls.

As Michael headed to his room, I stopped him and got his attention.

“Michael, I trust you to be a gentleman. Let them always have the bathroom first, and you are to sleep alone and completely clothed, Got that?”

“Dad, I don’t know what you think may happen between us, but I love and respect both girls. I promise you that nothing will happen, except sleep,” he responded.

“Great,” I said. “Personally, I would expect some kissing, but please no more than that. The solution would be to put you and me in the same room — that ain’t gonna happen, is it?”

“No, Sir — it will not!” he answered.

I went to see Kallie, first setting a timer, then lying down to get some rest. Little Claire picked that time to be quiet, so K joined me.

***

The timer went off; we got up and called the other rooms, getting them up. We changed into our matching blue outfits. I opened the door, letting Lily in to watch the baby. Sammi came in with Xavier, letting us give him a kiss. One more knock on the door and the trio of our Next Generation looked fabulous, and ready to Rhumba!

I gave my speech about how well things should go tonight, including telling how to contact us, if there is an emergency. A final kiss to them all, and we took Journey One back to the performance venue.

Besides our show clothes, I carried a bag, with our music and a headset cordless mike to introduce everyone as needed.

We arrived, and bunches of both younger and older people were showing up. They were taking pictures of us as we walked by. Quite a few had Charles & Claire T-shirts on, with a poster in hand for later.
We went into the backstage area and milled around. A person came and took my flash drives, with the song order, and headset element.

I explained what I wanted, and he said: “Mr. Newman, I completely understand. I volunteered to work tonight — just to meet you. The tech will be fine. Here is the remote for you to change music, as you need. Your headset will go hot as soon as you appear on stage. What will be my cue to cut off your mike?”

“I will put my hand on my hip in a fist — does that work for you?” I said demonstrating the move once.

“Yes sir got it! Break a leg, everyone!”

I gathered everyone in a circle and said: “Tonight starts almost two solid years of being on the road, performing in a different city five nights a week. I did not allow for many rehearsals because we all know everything so well. There is an old adage in theater that applies to all of us:

‘If you make a mistake in your dance routine, go on to the next move’ ... No one knows these routines, but us five. Have fun, remember to smile, OK Annie?”

“Yes Sir, I will. Charles, I have known you longer than I knew my own Daddy. Would it be all right with you, if I called you Daddy?”

K clutched my arm, as I answered, “Go ahead if you’d like. I feel the same way too.”

Here we go!

I went out to the crowd alone. They started to make noise. After letting it go on for a couple of moments, I spoke.

“Welcome to Charles & Kallie, The Next Generation!”

The cheers started again, but I got them to quiet down.

“Everyone, Columbus, Ohio was our home for a very long time. That’s why we’re starting this two-year tour tonight in this wonderful facility called the Celeste Palace.”

They started screaming again, as I said: “I’d like you to meet my wife, Kalista?”

She came out and the cheers, and wolf whistles started in earnest. I touched the remote to start ‘Johnny Mambo,’ and gave the cut-off move to my tech.

I threw her into a spin, then we began to dance for this lively crowd. Near the end, I did the move again, turning on my mike.

The crowd loved it.

“Everybody, our son Michael, and his cousin, Annie,” I said, starting the next number. We ran off, and their dance began. I was worried about Annie, but she was great — as was Michael. Their moves were quietly in perfect sync, as they finished.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that my daughter Rose will be dancing the next number with her twin brother.”