Iris Rainbow

by Ilona Fridl

  One evening, a television program drilled into her brain as she took a drag on a joint. It was a report on Virgin Ram reaching Europe on their grand tour, and Teri was startled to hear a screamed “No!” accompanied by shattering glass. Glancing around, she realized the scream had come out of her mouth while swinging the chair into the television. Skye and Raja quickly subdued her by forcing a downer into her throat.

  When she came to from her drug stupor, Teri didn’t know how long she had been out. A knock at the door had Skye opening it, to Willie, the drug supplier.

  “Hey, Willie, can you get rid of her? She’s gone psycho. I need another model.”

  “Yeah. I’m going to Griffith Park in LA to pick up some stuff. I’ll dump her there.”

  “Good. Here’s the bonus we agreed on.” Skye took out a wad of cash and gave it to Willie.

  “Skye, can you put her in my bus?” Teri felt herself being picked up like a sack of potatoes and carried out to the back of a VW Microbus, losing consciousness as she was unloaded in the back.

  ****

  Coming back from a date that had lasted all night, Tim whistled softly as he rode the elevator to their suite in the hotel in Munich, West Germany, thinking about pretty Heidi Weiss. The band was on their bi-monthly week off.

  Tim strolled into the hotel room, grinning, and John sat on the bed by the phone.

  Looking at Tim with amusement, John smirked. “Well, your date with Heidi must have gone all right.”

  “Man, German girls know things American girls haven’t dreamed of. What have you been doing?”

  “I’m having the switchboard operator put in a call to Carol’s parents. I haven’t been able to try a call in months, and I’d like to know what’s going on.”

  “If you’re interested, Luke, Roy, and I are going to the local beer garden tonight. Would you like to join us?”

  “I just might.”

  “Good. I’m going to take a shower.” Tim went into the bathroom and closed the door. He was glad they were booked at an American-style hotel. There wasn’t a shower to be found anywhere else. After finishing, he came out carrying his dirty clothes and put on some clean ones. As he put the dirty ones in their laundry bag, he noticed John on the bed with the phone receiver and a stunned look.

  “John, what’s wrong?”

  John glanced at Tim and drew a slow breath. “Carol’s dead.” As he hung up the phone, he struck his forehead with his fist. “If only I wasn’t on this damn tour.”

  Tim’s blood drained from his face. “What happened?”

  John stared into space. “Carol’s mother said it was several weeks ago. They got a call from a hospital in San Francisco. Carol took LSD and had an allergic reaction to the drug. It put her into cardiac arrest.” Turning his attention to Tim. “A girl with Teri’s description went with her to the hospital. Teri must have been the one to call the ambulance.”

  Tim gave an inward sigh of relief. At least Teri was all right. “I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry, man.”

  As the shock started to wear off, tears formed in John’s eyes. “I loved her so much. I should have been there.” Hitting his forehead again, he broke into sobs.

  Tim sat on his bed across from John until John gained control. “John, is there anything I can do for you?”

  John blew his nose in a handkerchief. “No. Go with the others to the beer garden and let me be alone tonight.”

  Tim clapped him on the shoulder. “The hell I will! Look, bud, I’m not leaving you alone tonight, no matter what you say.”

  “I’m going to be pretty lousy company.”

  “Not any worse than some others I’ve had.”

  Managing a weak smile, John rasped, “Thanks, Tim.”

  Tim called the others to let them know and settled in with his friend who needed him.

  Chapter 10

  Coming to on a concrete step, Teri tried to focus her eyes in the morning sun’s glare. She sweated and shook so badly it felt like an earthquake. Squinting at the building as it reflected the sunlight, she felt the warmth. That looks like the Griffith Park Observatory. But that’s crazy. I’m in San Francisco, aren’t I? The sound of a car flowed into her brain and seemed to stop nearby. Teri eased up to see what was happening, and a wave of nausea hit. She gagged and retched, but nothing came up. As the wave passed, Teri realized the car was a police cruiser. An officer got out of the car and ran up to her, talking on his hand radio.

  “Get an ambulance to the east steps of the observatory, and hurry!”

  Attempting to rise, she felt a sharp pain through her gut, and then blood started running down her legs.

  “Lie down, miss! I’ve got help coming!” He appeared a little younger than her father. “What’s your name?” he asked taking out his notepad.

  “Iris Rainbow.”

  “No, no. Your real name, please.”

  “Teri—Teri Darden.”

  “Where’s your family?”

  “They live…in Alhambra. My father’s name is… Ted Darden.” The blackness came over her again.

  When Teri woke, she was shaking and sweating, but now in a hospital bed. A nurse hurried out of the room and a stern-faced, gray-haired man came in.

  “Miss Darden, you’re going through drug withdrawal. What drug did you take?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You had a miscarriage, as well.”

  Teri started to cry. “I didn’t know I was pregnant.”

  The doctor shook his head. “Well, the good news is you don’t have a venereal disease. You’ll have to stay in the hospital a couple of weeks until the drugs are out of your system.”

  “Doctor, what month is this?”

  “You don’t know?”

  Teri shook her head.

  “It’s August.” He looked her in the eye. “1968.”

  My god, I’ve been gone for over a year. The doctor patted her shoulder.

  “I want you to see a psychologist friend of mine. You’re going to need some therapy and, by the way, there’s someone here to see you.” The doctor disappeared out the door. When it opened again, in walked her father.

  “Daddy!” Teri cried out. “Oh, Daddy, I’m so sorry! I want to go home. Please, let me go home.” She sobbed into her hands.

  Her father sat on the edge of the bed, holding her like he used to when she was a little girl, rocking her gently. “I’ll take you home, sweetheart. I’ll take you home.” That was the first time she’d ever seen her father cry.

  A light tapping sounded at the door and her mother came in. Her father quickly got out his handkerchief and stood up while her mother went to Teri’s side. “Teri?” she said softly.

  “Mom, I’m sorry I did so many stupid things. Help me through this.”

  “Teri, I love you very much. I prayed that you were still alive so I could tell you…” She broke down and wrapped her arms tight around her daughter.

  The next couple of weeks in the hospital were the closest thing to hell that Teri ever experienced. She felt turned inside out, being sick when she was awake and having deliriums on and off. She begged for any drug to stop this and for some reason, in her madness, she saw David. His appearance gave her a warm glow.

  The day after Teri was finally allowed to go home, she sat on the couch, wondering what to do with her life. As she finished the lunch her mother had brought her, she heard the doorbell and her mother answering it.

  “Teri, it’s for you.”

  “I don’t want to see anyone.”

  “It’s Evie. Come on, you can’t shut yourself away forever. Please, talk to her.”

  “Okay, Mom. I’ll see her.”

  Her mother went out as Evie came in. “Oh, Teri, I’m so sorry,” Evie said as the two girls embraced. “I lost track of you after you left L.A.”

  “I lost track of myself, but I really don’t want to talk about it. What have you been doing this past year?”

  Evie held up her left hand and there sparkled a wedding ring.


  “Evie, you’re married! Congratulations! To Ken?”

  Evie nodded. “I got married this spring. I wish you could have been there.”

  “I really messed up. I let everyone down, including myself. I feel so stupid.” Teri held Evie’s hands. “I should have been there for you instead of off on my own selfish pursuits.”

  “What’s past is past. Why don’t you start from here and let everything else go?”

  “I wish I could. Living with Tim was a dream come true. When he left to go on tour, it felt like everything inside of me died.”

  “What did he say to you when he left?”

  “He said he would look for me when he got back, and”―Teri’s eyes filled with tears―“that he loved me.”

  “Have you heard from him since then?”

  “No, and I don’t know if it’s my fault or his.”

  “If he did try, he probably couldn’t find you. I know none of us could.”

  “I think I ruined everything.” Then Teri started to cry, and the two friends hugged each other again before Evie pulled back.

  “Teri, let me do some checking for you. I might be able to get some answers. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

  “Before you go, have you heard anything about David? When I was having deliriums, I thought I saw him in the hospital room.”

  “That wasn’t delirium. He was there with you several times. When Ken told him you were found, he ran over as soon as he could. He held your hand through some of your worst days.”

  Teri felt ashamed when she thought of David caring so much.

  “Thank you for coming by, and thanks for everything.” Teri hugged Evie again and watched her friend leave.

  The next day, Teri kept drifting in and out of wanting to know what Evie might have found and at the same time dreading it. About midafternoon, Evie came over with a fan magazine in her hand and, from the look on her face, Teri knew it wasn’t good.

  “Teri, I went to the fan club secretary this morning to see what she knew. She gave me this newspaper clipping and fan magazine to show you.”

  Teri scanned the entertainment gossip column dated a couple of months back, and part of it was circled. “Virgin Ram’s Tim Olson has been seen around Geneva with an attractive blonde on his arm. It seems to be the same girl, Heidi Weiss, that he dated in West Germany when the band was there. I wonder what happened to the redhead he used to be seen with in Hollywood, the one known to the press only as Iris Rainbow.” Teri started shaking. “Oh, Evie, what have I done?”

  Putting her arm around Teri, Evie picked up another. “There’s more.” She handed her the magazine, where a page was marked. Teri saw a picture of Tim and Heidi with a headline of “Engaged?” over it. “I’m so sorry,” Evie soothed as Teri began to cry. Oh, god, I wish my mother hadn’t banned booze from the house, because I need a drink now.

  After a few minutes, Teri took a tissue and blew her nose. “It’s over, I know it is. He’s found someone else, and there isn’t anything I can do.”

  Evie pulled back. “I have to go now. Are you going to be all right?”

  Teri nodded. “Yes, I guess I just had to face up to it. Thank you for everything.” The two friends hugged, and then Evie left.

  In a few minutes, her mother came in and sat beside her. “I take it Evie didn’t have good news to tell you.”

  Teri glanced at her mother. “Mom, I really loved him, and I thought he loved me, too. Why did this have to happen?”

  “Teri, I’m not going to pretend that I have all the answers. Things seem to happen for a reason, and we have to find our own way in life. Take this as a lesson and move on.” She kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Teri. If you need me, just call.”

  “Thanks, Mom.”

  Her mother started to leave the room, then turned. “Oh, Teri. I invited Laura over to dinner tonight. She wants to see you. I hope you can forgive her. She’s been very concerned about you.”

  Teri felt a flush of shame. “I hope she can forgive me.”

  When Laura arrived, she brought her fiancé with her, a man with beautiful brown eyes. She introduced him as Kyle Thompson. “Pleased to meet you.” He shook Teri’s hand.

  And then the sisters flew into each other’s arms. “Laura, I’m so sorry. You were right to tell Mom and Dad.”

  Laura cried. “Teri, I don’t ever want to be split from you again.”

  At dinner, Laura turned to Teri. “Kyle and I are getting married in three months. Will you be my maid of honor? I was hoping you would turn up so I could ask you.”

  Teri gave them both a sad smile. “I missed my best friend Evie’s wedding. I’m not going to miss my sister’s. You bet I’ll be there.”

  The doorbell rang as the family finished dinner. Her father went to answer it while Teri picked up dishes to take into the kitchen. Her father appeared at the dining room door. “Teri, it’s for you.”

  “Who is it?” she asked as her father took the plates, going past her.

  Shrugging, Teri went to the door. A man stood there in a neat suit and tie. A good-looking man with short sandy-colored hair and blue eyes. Tears blurred her vision. “Oh, David…” Her cheeks burned.

  “Teri, I need to talk to you. May I come in?” David moved toward the screen door.

  “No, I’ll come out. Let’s go sit in the back yard.” Teri called into the kitchen, “I’ll be out back.”

  Opening the gate to the yard, she and David went inside. Sitting on the wooden picnic table bench on the patio, both were awkwardly silent before Teri spoke.

  “David, I’m really sorry for what I did to you at the graduation party. I hurt you, and it’s been bothering me ever since.”

  David gazed at her steadily. “Teri, at that point, I figured it was over between us and I should move on. And believe me, I tried. When I started college the following fall, I dated like crazy, but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. When you moved in with Tim, I hated you, but I realize now I was jealous of him.” He studied his hands. “When I heard you were missing, I didn’t know where to search for you.”

  Teri put her hand on his. “David, I’m so ashamed of what I did to you and everyone else. Please, please forgive me.” Her voice cracked, tears ran down her face, and David put his arms around her.

  “Yes, I forgive you. I love you.” He rubbed her shoulders. “Remember what you said to me one time? That no matter who you dated, you would always come back to me. Come back to me, Teri. Marry me.”

  Dumfounded, she said nothing. I wasn’t expecting a proposal right now. I don’t think David knows me anymore. She caught her breath. “But, David, I’m damaged goods. I had a miscarriage, and I don’t know what the effect of all those drugs has been. Now I’m in therapy for who knows how long. You deserve better than me.”

  “I don’t care about that. We can adopt kids if we have to. Look, I’m getting into computer programming, the next big thing on the horizon. I’ll be getting in on the ground floor, and we could be living comfortably. Please, say you will.”

  Teri thought about Tim. She didn’t know if he wanted her anymore. David was a comfortable love, like old shoes, but there still wasn’t the passion that she had with Tim. Start being practical. See what disasters happen when I follow my heart. But I wish I could talk to him one more time. I’ll give Tim one more chance. She grasped David’s hand. “I want to think about this. So much has happened to me, I need some time to clear my mind. Please understand.”

  “You can have all the time you want.” David put his arms around her and they sat that way for a few minutes, then went inside the house.

  When Laura, Kyle, and David left, Teri sat with her parents. “Mom, Dad, David proposed to me this evening.”

  Glancing at each other, then back at Teri, her mother asked, “What did you tell him?”

  “I want to think about it. I’m going to give Tim one more chance.”

  “What? Why? Look what he did to you!” her father exclaimed.

  “Wh
at happened to me was more my fault than Tim’s, although he was taking drugs, as well. I need to know if he still wants me. I do love him.”

  “What about David?”

  “I love him too. If I don’t have Tim’s love, I’ll say yes to David.”

  “How are you going to find out? Do you know where he is?” her mother questioned.

  “Linda Denton, who’s engaged to Roy Gardner, has a schedule and the hotel numbers of where they are. I want to talk to her about letting me call Tim.”

  “No!” said her father. “I’m not letting you back into that crowd again!”

  “Linda isn’t like that, Dad. She and Roy weren’t into drugs. Can I invite her over here?”

  Her father backed down. “I guess you have to know. Okay, but promise you won’t go back into using.”

  “Believe me, I don’t want to go through that again.” Although her brain was screaming for anything right now. Is he still using drugs? Can I live with that? It’s hard enough trying to silence that devil in my head without being around it again. Maybe I’ve changed.

  The next day, she made a call to Linda.

  “Teri, you’re back! We were so worried about you after hearing Carol died. Where have you been?”

  “I took a wrong turn into drugs and nearly killed myself. I’m back at my parents’ house in Alhambra. Could you do me a favor?”

  “What do you need?”

  “Could you come over to my house with the schedule so I can make a long distance call to Tim?”

  “He didn’t give you one of these?”

  “No. I want to know if he still wants me.”

  “I’ll be over tomorrow morning.”

  “Thanks, Linda.” Teri gave her the address and directions.

  When Linda arrived the following morning, the two girls embraced, just before Teri’s mother walked into the room.

  “Mom, this is Linda Denton.”

  Linda put her hand out. “Hello, Mrs. Darden.”

  “Aren’t you with the group Just Folk? I’ve seen you on TV.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Teri turned to her mother. “Can I use the phone for an overseas call?”

  “Of course you can.” She excused herself.