"I
swear to God, Blake, I don't know what keeps the station from getting
sued." Jeanie couldn't believe it. The "backstage passes," were
backstage all right...WAY BACK, as in the parking lot behind the building in a
small, caged area.
"We
make 'em sign releases when they pick up the free tickets," he grinned.
"These
kids are going to freeze out here," Jeanie looked over the fifty prize
winners and the few brave parents accompanying them. "Take it back, I
don't think they give a rat's ass if they freeze," she laughed. Blake
smiled, "I think the idling tour buses are a nice touch!" He gestured
toward the three running buses; the fumes were nauseating.
"Don't
forget the Gestapo," she nodded toward the two women "handling"
the fans. "Who are those chicks?" She'd been in the business long
enough to know a "nobody" with a little power was usually a hell of a
lot worse than the star.
"Who
knows...some of their people," he rolled his eyes. "Scares the hell
outa me...be afraid." He watched a blonde woman shouting instructions to
the fans. "I better go run interference."
Jeanie
walked back over to where Jessie waited in line, sandwiched between two
fifteen-year old girls and a young boy.
"Man,
this bites," Jess muttered. The girls agreed. "First, we have to stand
in a straight line. Oh, then she told us to act like we're meeting the Pope or
the Queen. Be polite. No pictures. No autographs. Just smile, shake their
hands. THAT'S IT!" she pouted. "She said if we get out of line, they
would throw us out!"
"Oh,
oh..." one of the girls added, "Don't forget the bus rule...don't
touch the bus!" They started giggling. "What a bitch."
"I'm
sorry you guys. Blake said they're just running really late because a
television news crew showed up unexpectedly." Jeanie tried desperately to
get their young minds off the "no's" being shoved down their throats
and back onto the reason they were there to begin with. "So, Jess loves
Brian...the cute one," she laughed. "How about you guys?"
Both
girls began babbling at once. "Nick. Oh my God...Nick. The baby, he's so
cute. Did you see Titanic? The guy that played Jack...he sort of looks like
Nick. Seriously!" More girls quickly joined them, each arguing the
attributes of Nick or Brian or A.J.
"So,
how old are you?" One of the girls turned to Jeanie.
"I'm
old. Twenty-four..." she blushed.
"Oh
God!" A tiny girl screeched. "You get Kevin!" Jeanie smiled and
thought, "cool...I get Kevin...who the hell is Kevin?"
"Oh,
baby, you get Kevin!" Pete MacNamara gave Jeanie a quick kiss on the
cheek. "Big Mac" was the deejay from six to ten every night. He gave
them all a big smile and winked and began shouting into his cell phone,
"It's a Big Mac attack, live, backstage, Bronco Bowl...BSB BABY...and I am
getting me some LOVIN' out here tonight!" He paced furiously up and down
the line working the crowd of girls into a frenzy. "Big Mac" was one
of Jeanie's best friends. He was a lunatic, funnier than hell and a wildly
popular jock. He was also a flirt and ladies' man.
Suddenly,
the stage door was thrown open. The fans, screaming and watching
"Mac" broadcast his show live, didn't notice. When they did, there
was an immediate ripple effect. The noise level went from fairly high to almost
total silence.
Brian
was first and blew right passed a devastated Jessie. She didn't even get to
look at his face, much less shake his hand or say hello. Next was Howie; then
A.J., Nick and, bringing up the rear, Kevin.
After
Brian passed Jess up so quickly, Jeanie was determined that one of these guys
was going to stop and talk. These fans had waited almost two hours outside in
the cold wind breathing bus fumes. When A.J. neared, she offered her hand and
introduced herself. Then, to Jessie's shock, she introduced Jessie. A.J. was
charming and gracious, kissing Jessie's hand and talking for several minutes.
Because
A.J. stopped, Nick and Kevin had to stop. Jeanie was so engrossed watching
Jessie, the girls and A.J.; she was totally oblivious to Kevin. That was, until
she felt someone reach for her hand. She looked around to see a tall, tan,
extraordinarily handsome man looking at her.
"Hey,
how's it going? I'm Kevin," he smiled.
"Good.
Umm, welcome to Dallas," was all she could think of to say. She was
suddenly, painfully tongue-tied under his gaze.
"What's
your name," he politely prodded her along.
"Her
name's Jeanie!" one of Nick's fans shouted.
"Well...Jeanie,
I'm Kevin...still," he grinned. He continued to stare and refused to
release her hand. Jeanie felt her facing burning from embarrassment. She looked
at the ground, at Nick, and then finally to Jessie who was now laughing her ass
off at her. She looked anywhere and everywhere trying to avoid Kevin's green
eyes.
All
she could think was that he was staring at her. Why? Maybe a bird crapped on
her and she didn't know it...oh, no he was staring at bird crap...or maybe her
lipstick was smeared and she looked like a clown...or, worse, maybe he felt
sorry for her because she was old and size 14. She wanted to run, but he
wouldn't let go. No one was supposed to notice her...that wasn't in her plan.
How could this happen?
The
girls next to Jeanie introduced themselves. Kevin grinned and said hello, still
refusing to relinquish Jeanie's tiny hand. After what seemed to be an eternity,
the line began to move.
Giving
her hand one last squeeze, he leaned closed and whispered, "Catch ya
later, Jeanie..."
**************************
The
concert was better than she anticipated. The girls loved it. The guys
definitely gave it everything they had.
Jeanie
learned a lot that night. First, she learned who The Backstreet Boys were. She
also learned that thirteen-year old girls have an amazing lung capacity and can
sustain an ear-splitting decibel level for approximately forty-five minutes
before taking a breath.
Most
importantly, she learned that it was time to make changes in her life. She
vowed that she would never again feel ashamed about her looks. She was tired of
being sweet and shy, chubby and always the victim. Jeanie Kirkpatrick made
herself a promise that somehow someday she and Kevin would meet again. And when
that day came, she would be ready and would make an impression that Kevin
Richardson would never, never forget.