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| "Hello?" Brian asked into the school telephone. He was sitting in History class, but the principal came onto the PA system and said that he had a phone call.
"Hi Brian, it's Kevin."
"Hey Kev, what's up?"
"I need to ask you something very important. It could effect the rest of our lives, at least I hope it will, in a good way of course."
"What are you talking about? Did you get to close to Quincys cat nip again?" he said jokingly.
"No, okay, you know I came down here to Florida to like get my name out and get some gigs and stuff, right?"
"Yeah, what's your point? What's this have to do with me?"
"Okay, I auditioned for this group. And well, I made it in. They're...were called the Backstreet Boys."
"That's a....cool name.''
"Hey, were named after some teen place around here. Or something like that. Anyway, the guy that kinda chose the group says he thinks we need another member. I
knew you loved singing and were really good, so they asked me to call you to come down here and audition."
"Really?"
"Yes really. I know you got to talk it over with your parents but, you know, if I can get in, I'm sure you can. Honestly I think you're better than me, at singing anyway."
"Aw, thanks. Hey, if you want to talk to my mom about it, call her. You can convince her better than I can. I think this sounds like fun."
"It's fun but it's hard."
"That's alright. Ma's at home. Call her."
"Okay, I will. Now get back to class!"
"Aw, shut up! Bye cuz."
"Bye. "
He put the phone back down. He turned to the secretary and said, "There may be a few more calls today."
"Hello?"
"Aunt Jackie?"
"Who is this?"
"It's Kevin. Don't you remember me? Your favorite nephew?"
"Funny son, how are you? I haven't heard from you forever....."
"....Well, I dunno. Florida is a long ways away. You said he could stay with you, right?"
"Right."
"I dunno Kevin. I trust you and all, but I, I don't know about him moving out already. Can't he finish up school here first? Its only 2 months."
"Lou wants him down here ASAP. Dont worry, Nick and Alex aren't done with school either. In fact Nick's only in Junior High. They'll get tutored and Brian will too if he comes down here."
"Well, you're going to have to talk to Uncle Harold. If he says yes, well, I guess there's nothing I can do about it."
"When's he going to be home?"
"Later tonight. I'll have him call you. Do have your current number?"
"I don't think so." He told her his number. "Don't forget."
"Don't worry. I doubt Brian will let me."
He laughed. "Okay, talk later."
"Bye, sweetie."
"Well, mom, what'd you tell him?" Brian asked immediately as he walked into his house.
"I told him he had to talk with your father."
"Aw, man, that means no."
"This is a big decision Brian. I hope you realize that."
"I know mom. I've been thinking about it all day and I know this is what I want to do."
"You're going to have to move to Florida. You're going to have to leave everything and everyone behind. Me, your dad, your friends, Natalie, everyone."
"That reminds me mom, I should call her and tell her the good news." He picked up the phone and started dialing her number.
"She's not going to think it's good." He stopped dialing and looked at his mom.
"What do you mean?"
"She'll be supportive, of course, like any girlfriend would be, but you're going to have to leave her. It has to sink into your head, you're going to have to leave her."
"No...well....maybe she can come with me. Afterall, she doesnt really have much here. She just up and left Madison, why cant she just up and leave here?"
"You'll have to talk to her and Kevin about it."
"What do you mean now?"
"You'd stay with Kevin and one of the other guys in the band, Howie I think he said his name was. Three guys in an apartment. They won't want a girl with them."
"Well, Natalie can get a cheep apartment down there, like she did here, and we'll visit her."
"Stuff is a lot more expensive down there than here. There her apartment would be three times as much."
"So, I'll find her someone to stay with."
"Honey, did you even think that maybe that Lou guy you will work for even approves of you guys saying you have girlfriends. Remember New Kids?"
"Yeah, but we'll be different. I know Kev and I can sing. They couldn't. I bet the other guys can too."
"I think it'd be best if Natalie stayed here, personally. Maybe we can have her stay here with us, and then she won't have to pay rent. That can help her get some more money and afford a place down there, down the road."
"She'll come. I know her. She'll come. I'll talk Kevin and that other guy to let her stay with us until she finds a place. Then, hey! Maybe we can get a place together."
"No, Brian. You guys haven't known each other that long. I won't let you guys live together."
"But mom, you've met her. You know she wouldn't do anything bad or anything."
"I know, she's a sweet girl. But I dont think you guys need to live together yet. You've only known each other for a few weeks."
"But I feel like I've known her all my life. I love her mom. You can't take that away."
"I know you love her, Brian. Heck, I even feel like I've known her forever, but I think she should stay in Lexington."
"We'll just see what she thinks, okay?" He picked the phone back up and dialed her number again.
"Okay, but I warned you how shel'l take it."
"I know."
"Hello?" the voice answered.
"Hey Natalie. Guess what?"
"What Brian?"
"Okay, today in school, I got a call from my cousin Kevin...."
"Oh, the one in that picture?"
"Yeah, well, he lives in Florida and auditioned for a vocal harmony group and got in."
"Oh thats cool. What's it have to do with you?"
"You didn't let me finish."
"Oh sorry."
"Well, the guy that put them together says they need another member. He asked me to go down there and audition."
"Wow, Brian! Thats great!"
"He said he thought I would definately get in too."
"Awesome!"
"The thing is.."
"There's always a catch."
"Seems that way. Well, if I do get in, I have to move to Florida."
"Wha....wa...what?" her voice said nervously.
"I'd have to move to Florida. But, I want you to come with me."
"Oh Brian, Id love to, but....''
"There's always a but."
"Seems that way. I'd love to, you know that. Right?"
"Yeah, go on."
"It's just not feasible for me to do that though. I've got a job which I've only been at a week, but still pays good. I have a cheep apartment with no contract. The only thing I don't have is enough money to move down there."
"I'll talk Kevin and his roomie into letting you stay with us until you can get your own place."
"That's sweet but I know they'll say no. They probably have girlfriends they're leaving too."
"They all live in Florida."
"Well, they wouldn't probably want me there. I'll just stay here until I can afford to come down there. I'll visit you as much as I can."
"But I want you there with me, every step of the way."
"I want to be down there too Brian, believe me, but I told you, its just not feasible for me to do that now."
"Well, keep thinking about okay?"
"Okay."
"My mom offered to let you stay with them, so you dont have any rent to pay. Then you can build up some cash faster."
"That's nice of them, but here I'm only about 8 minutes from work. There I'd probably spend as much money on gas as I would on rent. It's like a half an hour from
your house. Tell them thanks but no thanks."
"Okay, well, my dad just walked in so I have to talk to him about all of this. I'll talk to you soon then, right?"
"Better."
"Bye."
"Bye." Now it was onto the hardest one of all to convince, his dad.
"But dad, you know this is what I've always wanted to do with my life!"
"I know, but what about your education?"
"I told you, I'll get a tutor."
''No, don't you want to go to college?"
"Yea, but I'd rather sing. I can wait on college. You can always go back."
"I dont know. Let me talk with your mother about this. Why dont you go outside or something."
"Okay." He grabbed the basketball sitting in the entryway to his house and went out the front door to the basketball hoop in the driveway. He had done this everyday of his life. Get home from school, shoot some hoops. He loved basketball, he wanted to play in high school, but his five-foot-seven-ness wouldn't let him. He remembered when
he and Lilly would play everyday until that aweful day in 3rd grade. He still remembered her everyday. Everything reminded him of her, especially Natalie.
It was getting dark so Brian went back inside. "So did you guys decide? This was the answer that would affect the rest of his life."
"Yes. We decided that....."
"Come on, come on. I know you doing this to make me crazy, and I am now tell me, tell me!"
"They laughed. You can go."
"Yes! Thank you, thank you thank you!" he said hugging his parents a million times over. "Did you call Kevin yet?"
"Nope. We were just about to."
"Okay." Harold picked up the phone and dialed Kevin's number. "Kevin? He'll come....."
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