Being a Star (Isn't Easy)
Chapter Nine
The next morning, Ezra asked the four bodyguards to meet with him in the living
room. He knew that they had tried to get some answers out of Josiah and J.D. the
night before. Josiah and J.D. had answered their questions as best as they
could.
Ezra figured that it was time that he was honest with the new bodyguards. He
didn't hide who he was to his close friends. And, he didn't like to hide who he
was to the people that were hired to protect him. If they had any problems, they
could go and he would hire new bodyguards.
After the bodyguards, Josiah, J.D., and himself had sat down, he started
explaining. "I asked you four to meet with me, because I need to be honest. You
are responsible for protectin' me, and I need to know that you have no problems.
I'm not sure but I think that some of the reason that my old bodyguards didn't
protect me was because of my homosexuality."
"You prefer men?" clarified Buck.
Ezra nodded, "Yes, I do. If any of you have a problem with that, let me know now
and you can leave."
"Why didn't one of you tell us this?" Chris demanded, directing his question to
J.D. and Josiah.
It was Ezra that answered, "Because, Chris, they don't have a tendency to go
around and tellin' everyone my business. I figured that I'd better tell you. I
don't want what happened at that CD signin' to happen again. Do any of you have
a problem with what I just told you?"
Buck and Vin shook their heads no.
"No, no problem," said Chris. "It's your life. We're just here to make sure you
keep living."
After a minute, when Nathan had still not answered, Ezra asked, "Mister
Jackson?"
"I don't have no problems," he answered. Ezra thought he sounded insincere,
though.
"Are you sure? I don't want this to turn into a problem later."
Nathan just nodded. "Good. I've got to get ready for my workout."
"Your trainer comes here, right?" asked Chris.
Ezra nodded, "Yep. We go running, so which of you will be joining us?"
"That'd be me," answered Vin.
"Alright," Ezra said before walking up the stairs to his room. He had to
restrain himself from skipping. He'd get to see Vin in workout clothes. And,
he'd be sweaty and....
Ezra shook his head to dispel the images from his mind. Then, he got into his
private shower and took a very cold shower.
CONCERT NIGHT
Ezra had just finished performing his last song before the intermission. The
concert was being held in Atlanta. He loved performing in his hometown. He was
in his dressing room, finishing tying the laces of his dress shoes. There was a
knock on the door. Opening it, he saw that it was Vin.
For the hundredth time that night, he had to stop himself from drooling. Vin had
his hair in a ponytail and was wearing black jeans, a tight t-shirt tucked in,
and black tennis shoes.
He didn't notice that Vin was checking him out. 'Man, he looks good!' Vin
thought as he took in what Ezra was wearing. He had on a black tuxedo, a white
shirt, and shiny black dress shoes.
"Stage time?"
Through his suddenly dry mouth, Vin managed to answer, "Yep. Ready?"
Ezra nodded and followed Vin to the back of the stage. He walked onto the stage,
with Rain, who was wearing a black sequined gown and her hair on top of her head
in curls, beside him. Casey and Inez were at their microphones. One on each side
of the stage. There was a string orchestra behind them.
Ezra spoke into his microphone. "I hope y'all have enjoyed the concert so far!"
The audience, of fifteen thousand, broke into cheers and applause. A few minutes
later, a smiling Ezra continued, "I'm glad. Let me introduce everyone. This
beautiful woman beside me is one of my back-up singers Rain. The other two
beautiful back-up singers behind us are Casey and Inez.
"And, behind them is the Atlanta String Orchestra. I would also like to
introduce my drummer Paul, my guitarists Ryan and Audrea, and my keyboardist
Jerri. Come on out and take a bow." The four musicians went out on stage and
took a bow for the cheering audience. They left the stage and Ezra continued.
"Alright, folks, this is the last song of the night. It's called "Whiskey
Lullaby"[1]. Hope y'all like it," he said. As the lights slightly dimmed and the
soft music from the orchestra started playing, the audience got quiet. Ezra
started to softly sing.
"She put him out like the burnin' end of a midnight cigarette.
She broke his heart, he spent his whole life tryin' to forget.
We watched him drink his pain away a little at a time.
But, he never could get drunk enough to get her off his mind.
Until the night...."
Together, looking at each other, Ezra and Rain started to sing the chorus
together.
"He put that bottle to his head and pulled the trigger.
And, finally drank away her memory.
Life is short, but this time it was bigger.
Than the strength he had to get up off his knees."
Ezra sang alone again.
"We found him with his face down in the pillow.
With a note that said, "I'll love her 'til I die".
And, when we buried him beneath the willow.
The angels sang a whiskey lullaby."
Ezra and Rain together, "La la la la la la la la la la."
The orchestra continued to play as Ezra and Rain were silent for a couple of
minutes. Then, Rain started alone.
"The rumors flew, but nobody knew how much she blamed herself.
For years and years she tried to hide the whiskey on her breath.
She finally drank her pain away a little at a time.
But, she never could get drunk enough to get him off her mind.
Until the night....."
Ezra joined Rain for the chorus.
"She put that bottle to her head and pulled the trigger.
And, finally drank away his memory.
Life is short, but this time it was bigger.
Than the strength she had to get up off her knees."
Ezra went quiet as Rain continued alone.
"We found her with her face down in the pillow.
Clinging to his picture for dear life.
We laid her next to him beneath the willow.
While the angels sang a whiskey lullaby."
Ezra joined her, "La la la la la la la la la la la."
They went silent as the orchestra continued to play the haunting tune. A minute
later, they continued, "La la la la la la la la la... la... la."
They were finished and a minute later the orchestra went silent. The audience
broke into cheers and applause.
Smiling Ezra said, "Thank you! Goodnight and God bless!"
With that said, a curtain lowered, allowing them all to go to their dressing
rooms and get ready to leave. A few minutes later, as Ezra was walking out of
the stadium's doors, he heard a voice over the loud system say, "EZRA STANDISH
HAS LEFT THE BUILDING!"