“Is this it?” he asks, confused. I look out the window and see the tour bus that we’ll be riding on for the next several months.
“Yup,” I say and drop a twenty into his outstretched hand.
I walk up to the door and rap on it lightly. I hear rustling and heavy footsteps coming toward the front of the bus. The door opens, and a large man fills the doorway.
“What?” he asks, and he looks menacing.
“I’m with the band, and I’m a little early I guess.”
He steps aside and lets me up the stairs. “You Garrett?” he asks.
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I’m the driver of your bus and your security team. It’s my job to know.”
“Oh.”
“I’m Mick. Welcome aboard.”
I step onto the bus and inhale deeply. It’s brand new inside, and the smell of fresh leather hits my nose. “Most of your gear is stored below, and I’ve put some things in the back.” We had to drop all of our stuff at the studio this morning so the crew could pack everything into the bus and small truck that will be traveling with us. It feels weird walking onto my home for the next several months with just my clothes on and a wallet in my pocket.
“Cool,” I say and walk toward the bunks.
“I can take any one of these?” I gesture to the empty bunks on either side of the narrow hallway.
“Yes, or the room in the back,” Mick responds as I push open the door.
A comfortable-looking bed is in the center of a small room. “I’ll take this,” I smirk and close the door behind me.
I climb into the bed and look down at my phone. Several missed calls and texts from different girls I’ve hooked up with over the past few months. I’m sure they’re all looking to have a goodbye fuck before I leave. I wish I had the energy to entertain them all, but I’m sure this room will see a lot of action in the coming months.
I scroll through the texts and see one from my mom.
MOM: TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND BE GOOD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND I’M SO PROUD OF YOU HAPPY BIRTHDAY
I switch off my phone and tuck it under the pillow.
I close my eyes and remember a birthday party a long time ago. It must have been when I was five or six, because my birth father was there. Mom’s singing and dad’s blowing in a noisemaker. I’m smiling and blowing out candles. My vision turns dark and my father disappears. My mom and I are all alone. I’m crying and asking “Why?”
My mother is hugging me and telling me it’s going to be okay. I remember this day when I realized my father left us for good. He deserted us and forced my mother to raise me alone.
Then he killed himself years later on this same day.
I hate this fucking day.
Sam
Present
Villanova, Pennsylvania
Age 24
“GO DOWNSTAIRS AND GET SOMETHING to eat. I’ve got things under control in here. Besides, you need a break. It’s your birthday, sweetheart.” Aunt Peggy settles into the chair with Kai sleeping in her arms.
I nod groggily and leave the room. My birthday isn’t a particularly happy time for me, but my aunt has helped me get through the toughest ones. It’s hard to celebrate happy times on the very day that my parents were murdered.
Garrett isn’t downstairs yet, and I wonder if he’s even here. He’s been in and out sporadically and I can tell the situation with Kai is really rattling him. Some days, he’s eager to help and try to participate in the various routines we have. Other times, he disappears for days on end. I try not to preoccupy myself with his irregular schedule, but I can’t help but wonder.