Part 1:

The Gang's All Here

Most kids look forward to summer vacation.  Not the kids of Kids Incorporated.  To them, summer meant saying goodbye.  To Richie, to Devyn (periodically, at least), and perhaps even to the band itself, if they didn't step up their recruiting methods.  Had they really drained the entire neighborhood of its talent already?  Lack of enthusiasm for the band as a whole was disheartening, especially considering how much they'd given back to the community.  What would all the other Kids think?  It was like giving a priceless heirloom to a baby.   They'd failed to take care of it.

Of the four that remained, only Kenny and Robin would be left by summer's end.  Things did not look good.  Flip tried to be upbeat and positive around them, but after a while, even he gave up.  The loss of the band would also mean the loss of customers, which wasn't good for The P*lace. He'd already heard people whispering when they thought he wasn't listening.

The school day ended, and the Kids slunk into The P*lace for another day of sleepwalking through rehearsal.  "So, how many more days have you kids got left in school?" Flip asked them.

"Two." replied Kenny.  "It's weird.  I never thought I'd be sad to see school end."

"How'd recruiting go this weekend?"

"Three Maybes, two I Don't Knows," said Robin, counting them off on her fingers, "one I'll Think About It, and one Not Unless I Get Paid."

"Kids these days would rather spend time playing video games than being in a band." Richie said.

"Well, I thought having an open mike night was a good idea." said Flip.

"It was," Devyn said, "but we hoped it would show people how much fun it was performing, so they'd want to do it again."

"Hang in there, guys." was all Flip could offer.  What else was there to say?

Out of habit, they rehearsed a few numbers, but no one's heart was in it.  They were sitting around moping when the door opened and a familiar voice called out, "Hey, what's the special?"

"Riley!" They'd forgotten that college was already out for the summer. 

Riley'd brought them all campus sweatshirts. "Boy, have I missed spending time with you guys!" he said.

"Well, the infamous Riley." said Flip, coming out from behind the counter.  "Hi, I'm Flip, I just bought The P*lace.  From what I heard, you sure left a pretty big apron for me to fill."

"Well, you've done a good job so far.  The P*lace looks great!  A little empty, though."

"We've...kinda hit a slump." Richie told him.

"Aw, you'll bounce back.  If there's one thing I learned working here, it's that Kids Incorporated never says die." said Riley confidenly.

"You see?" Flip patted Richie on the shoulder.   "What do I keep telling you?  This is all just a temporary setback.   Everything's gonna work out great.  You can get back to worrying about normal kid stuff - like passing."

Oh! That reminds me." Devyn said suddenly.  "Pete's doing a graduation special down at the station, and I said I'd help.  I gotta go."  She hugged Riley and left.

"I'd better go, too." said Robin.  "My cousin and her mom are coming to live with us, and I have to help clean the entire house."

"Can your cousin sing?" Kenny asked.

"Maybe!  I'll ask her!"

"Hey, you were right, Flip! Things do seem to be looking up!" said Richie.

"Told you."

A cab pulled up to the front of The P*lace.  The young woman who got out was a stranger to Flip and the boys, but Riley smiled and waved. "Gloria!" he called out.  "Hey, Gloria!  Long time no see.  How are you?"

"Hi, Riley! My gosh, it's been ages!  I kept meaning to get out here and see all my friends again.  Wow, so much has changed since I've been here."

"Tell me about it.  I've been gone myself."

"Oh, so you finally got to college?  That's great, Riley!"

"Well, I wouldn't have made it without the encouragement from you kids.   Oh, and speaking of kids!" said Riley, suddenly remembering the boys.   "Meet half of today's Kids Incorporated, Richie and Kenny.  Boys, Gloria here was one of the first Kids."

"Oh, wow, so we're kinda here because of you." said Kenny.

"All the kids used to talk about you." Richie told her. "How was music school?"

"Grueling, at first." replied Gloria.  "I mean, I always thought I was a really good singer, but I knew nothing compared to what I know now."

"Hey, maybe you could help us out.  We could use a few pointers."

"We could use some more members, too." Kenny said.   "You showed up at just the right time."

So Kids Incorporated got a blast from the past at the perfect moment.  Gloria agreed to join in on a few numbers.  Her return brought back former fans who were excited to see old faces again.  She also was able to give the band the boost in morale it sorely needed.  No one was late for rehearsal if they knew Gloria would be there.  Even Riley had started hanging around, and he actually took a turn behind the counter when Flip was short-handed.

At one point, they noticed that the normally pre-teen and teen crowd had expanded to include a few more mature patrons.  "Not that I'm complaining," said Devyn once they'd taken a break, "but what's with all the older people?"

"I thought I heard somebody say they were exchange students." Robin said.

"No, they're gone." Kenny told her.  "Remember that girl from Denmark that was staying next door to me? She went home."

Gloria suddenly began scanning the crowd.  "Richie, isn't that what you said The Kid went and did?" Riley and the Kids had explained to her where everyone else had gone.

"That's right.   Hey, if the foreign kids went home, then the American kids must be back, too!" he realized. 

"Well, I haven't seen Kid today." said Riley.  "You sure he'd come back here?"

"We must be talking about two different Kids." Gloria laughed.   "Wild horses couldn't keep our Kid away!"

Sure enough, the next day the Kids were getting ready for a show when Riley came into the storeroom beaming.  "Look who I found!" he exclaimed.

"Heyyy, I'm back!" crowed The Kid, making a dramatic entrance.   "The Kid has arrived!  Hold your applause."

"I hardly recognized you without your hat." Gloria quipped. 

Kid rolled his eyes at her.  "I'm a man of the world, Gloria!" he scoffed.  "I don't need no hat!"

"Well, I for one am glad you're back." said Richie.  "It was getting a little too girly around here."

"Hey!" Gloria, Devyn, and Robin said together.

"See, I don't make that mistake anymore." Kid said quietly.

"He's right, though.  We'd love to have you back on board." said Devyn.  Robin and Kenny nodded their agreement.

"Well, then, what are we waiting for?  Let's go make some music!"

And six kids proceeded to the stage.

A few blocks away at the local newspaper offices, an editor was busy piecing together articles for the front page.  He looked at his watch.  "Five minutes to quitting time." he noted.  "Hey, Ryan, could you take this downstairs for me?"

"Yeah, sure." said Ryan.  He finished the last of his soda, crushed the can, and tossed it into the trash before taking the copy.  Whistling a song, he perused the articles on his way to the elevator.  Then he stopped cold.   "Oh, no!" he said.  One of the headlines read Local landmark's days as day care are history, says City Hall.

"I've gotta tell the gang!"

"Whoo!  That was fun!" whooped The Kid as he leapt off the stage.   "Been a long time since I've done that!"

"And yet, it never gets old, does it?" Gloria asked.

"You know, if I ever leave here," said Robin thoughtfully, "I'm gonna come back here as often as I can, to see who's here following in my footsteps."

"If there is anyone here." Richie reminded them.

"Of course there will be!" said Gloria.  "We're a part of The P*lace, and as long as its doors are open, just let them try to keep us out!"

"Funny you should say that." said a voice.

"Hey, Ryan!  Where you been, man?  We're having a reunion!" Kid joked.

Ryan looked from him to Riley to Gloria.  "I can see that." he said.

"What's the scoop, Ryan?" Devyn teased him.  But when Ryan didn't laugh, she added, "Why do you look so sad?"

"Got a sneak peek at tomorrow's paper." said Ryan.  "And guys, it's not pretty.  The P*lace is about to be closed - for good."

                                    Is it???  Check out Part 2!