The Shadow of My Father by J.P.G.

The Shadow of My Father
THE SOPHOMORE YEARS

By: J.P.G.
(© 2009-2014 by the author)

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 40

As the song came to a close, the fans wouldn’t stopped singing along, which no one minded. Josh stood out there in the middle of the stage and didn’t start the next song because he was asked not to. Then when he saw his family, Ivan and the President of his label walk onto the stage, he knew something was up. He knew this had to be one of the surprises his father was talking about earlier.

He couldn’t help but think how his day had been going up till that moment. Yeah he had a rough night, but once he got out of bed and started his day he forgot all about not getting much sleep and how he didn’t feel it. From the back and forth at breakfast to the back and forth on the ride to the airport, Josh was pumped and anxious to get to Dallas and kick start the first leg of his solo tour.

Cesar tried to keep Josh’s mind off what was before him, but had no luck. Josh kept drifting into his own little world thinking about the two shows he’s about to put on. Not meaning to be rude to Cesar, he kept apologizing each time Cesar brought him back into the conversation. After the sixth or so time, Cesar lost count trying to keep Josh’s mind off what is to come, he asked him what was needed and Josh started to go through his lineup.

While Cesar was helping Josh get ready for his concert, Daniel Sr. was pulled off to a phone call away from Barbara, Isaac and his mother. He wasn’t happy and was going to ask whoever it was to call back, but when he heard who it was he excused himself and took the call.

“Mr. President! What a pleasant surprise to have calls from you two days in a row.” Daniel chuckled as he sat down in the seat he had moved to. “I know you are a very busy man running this country and of course running for reelection. So by you taking time out of your schedule to make this call to me today means that it has to be important.”

“Yes it is!” President Bush said in a concern voice. “I know we didn’t do too well in yesterday’s phone call, but I thought you were still going to be on board with your party publically.” Daniel knew exactly where this phone call was heading. “What’s this we’re hearing about Governor Clinton and his family making their way to Dallas to attend your son’s concert? Please tell me this isn’t true! Please tell me that you didn’t give them tickets to attend?”

“Mr. President, this thing with Governor Clinton and his family coming down to attend my son’s concert has nothing to do with the call we had yesterday. He called me up late yesterday afternoon asking me if I knew where he could get tickets to the concert since they were sold out. I didn’t want to be rude and say nothing to him and then hang up since he was asking for his daughter. I won’t be rude and disrespectful to the man’s daughter just because of who he is. That I won’t do because I hope and pray it won’t ever happen to my kids because of who I am.”

“You are green, man you are very green under the ears still.” The concern was gone from the Presidents voice. “Governor Clinton played you! If you would have told him what you should of and that is you’ll get back with him with an answer and then get a hold of me or someone from my staff for guidance, we could have told you what he was up to. He is….”

Daniel wasn’t about to let this man talk down to him like a little child no matter who he is. His father didn’t do it as he was growing up, and he isn’t about to let this guy do it now. “With all due respect President Bush, I will never check with you or your staff on anything and by you suggesting that shows me how much you really do respect me. I’m the elected Governor of the state of Texas and I did it without the parties help or yours. So don’t sit there and verbally spank me!”

President Bush was not only stunned on how Governor Lopez jumped down his throat for simply suggesting for common courtesy, at least that was what he thought he was asking for, but in the matter in which he did it. Even though he didn’t agree, Bush thought Daniel should have still held respect for the office he holds. By the way he responded that respect wasn’t there. There was hatred and plain disrespect for him and his office.

“Governor Lopez I can see we are not going to agree on how you handled the Clinton call. I and many others in our party felt you were wrong and knowing those in our party the way I do they are going to react to this when you least expect it. For me I don’t care at this point. You are my friend and I will like at the end of the day to keep our friendship intact. I just hope Clinton, or should I say Mrs. Clinton doesn’t put you in a position that breaks the promise that was made.”

Daniel didn’t think about Mrs. Clinton. He has heard rumors about her, but never paid any mind to them because she wasn’t the one running for office. Now being reminded about the kind of person she is known to be, Daniel is a little worried, but at the same time will prepare himself. He will make sure to keep her at arm’s length at all times throughout the night so she can’t put him and her husband in a position that breaks the agreement they made the day before.

“You were right when you said we’re not going to see eye to eye on how I dealt with Governor Clinton. So the best thing we can do at this point is just let it be since it’s already been done. There is no way I will call the Governor and his family up at this point and go back on my word, no way! Because I won’t, let’s just stop talking about a subject that won’t change.”

Both of them were trying their best to salvage their friendship. They knew once there was a front runner on the Democrat side their friendship was going to be tested. Daniel hoped that at the end President Bush would know he had his full support and backing. President Bush on the other side knew that, and also knew the other side was going to reach out to Daniel and try to get him on their side because of how popular he has become. There wasn’t a doubt in Bush’s mind there was going to be times that Daniel was going to be himself, gracious to the opposition.

Remembering all that and more, the tone of the conversation quickly changed. “Daniel I will sit down with the party elders and tell them to knock their crap off!” Bush spoke once again with a calm voice. “You are going to have to be gracious to the Democrats that come into your state to campaign, but in the end your support is squarely in my corner. That and a lot more other colorful things I will be telling the elders of our party. Hopefully after that they will see their errors.”

Bush didn’t get any objection from Daniel on anything he had just said. “I would as well like to attend one of your son’s concerts if that’s at all possible.” That sent shivers down Daniel’s spine because what came to his mind immediately was tonight’s concert. He thought that the President was going to ask to attend tonight’s concert, but was relieved when Bush went on. “I understand his going to be performing Thursday evening in Denver.” Hearing Denver got Daniel to breath again. “I’m scheduled to be in Wyoming giving a stump speech a couple hundred miles away on that day. If I understand the schedule correctly I’ll be able to make it for his second show. What do you say, can Barbara and I be your guest on that evening?”

Daniel knew he couldn’t say no and there wasn’t a doubt in his mind the President knew that. Not after him giving tickets to the Clintons for the Dallas show. Basically he was screwed and had no way out except to say yes and somehow come up with tickets for George and Barbara. Tickets he has, but really doesn’t want to give to the Bush’s under these circumstances.

“Yes it would be an honor for me and my family if you and Mrs. Bush would be our guest at the Denver Concert of my son Josh.” Daniel forced out not meaning a word of it. “I’ll make sure when you arrive in Denver that you are met by someone from my staff or my son’s record label with the tickets. That way you are not waiting in line or at the gates for them to be brought to you.”

Not meaning to Bush started to laugh. “You know I can’t remember the last time I have held tickets in my hand to a show. I have gotten so used to going to a concert or whatever that took tickets and being escorted to my seat without being asked for a ticket. So where…”

Daniel interrupted the President polity. “It’s just words Mr. President. Each seat has a ticket and you and Mrs. Bush are going to take two of those up front. When you arrive at the coliseum you won’t be asked to present those tickets. No sir you will drive in through the back, like me and my family, and be escorted to your seats if you and Mrs. Bush want to go there first. If you arrive with time to spare before the show and want to go backstage to be with me and my family, you are more than welcome to do so. Nothing will change as far as how your treatment will be that night.”

Bush liked what he was hearing and thanked the Governor. “I need you to know before letting you go that I’m not one of those guys that have been in public office as long as I have and thinks that he is special. I’m not and I will never presume that I am. I’m a grateful old man that owes everything he has to the great people of this country.” The President Daniel liked and knew before this week has returned. “I will never forget who gave me what I have today as long as I live.”

The two men chatted with each other as if the last couple of days didn’t happen or the Clintons didn’t come into their lives. Not once did they talk politics. Not once did they talk about the Clintons. All they talked about before getting off the line with each other was about their families. The only difference between the two guys when it came to their kids was that President Bush’s kids were all grown up and Daniels weren’t, but they were still able to relate to one another when they did talk about their kids. They ended their conversation on a happier note than last time.

While Daniel was dealing with President Bush, a few hundred miles away in the air were his boy’s friends and girlfriends heading to Dallas. They couldn’t stop talking among themselves about what they were going to do first once they landed in Dallas. Some of them wanted to stop at a couple of places before going to the stadium, others wanted to go straight to the stadium from the airport.

In the end those that wanted to stop at stores on their way to the stadium out voted those that didn’t. The only one that really wasn’t getting into the conversation was Patrick. Everyone saw it, but no one stopped and asked Patrick what was going on. That was until he got up and walked away before they had decided on what they were going to do.

They all looked at each other to see who was going to volunteer to go and find out what was going on with Patrick. Eric wanted to, so did Bernice, but they both held back because they knew it wasn’t their spot. Plus they knew if he was going to open up to any one on the plane it would be Immanuel and Immanuel only. No one else and they all knew if they attempted to try and get Patrick to open up to them they were going to make things worse.

Immanuel knew what the others knew, but he didn’t want to push Patrick. The poor guy has gone through hell and back some many times in the last year and half, he didn’t want to poke at something that could break right open and he or anyone else for that matter on the plane would know how to fix. However he came to the same realization that he had to go and talk to his boyfriend if just to give him a chance to open up and let it all off of his chest.

As he got up to head to the back where Patrick went to sit down, those that didn’t know Patrick’s background threw out a few nasty remarks. None of Patrick’s friends liked what they heard and they all got up and walked over to Daniel and Carlos’s friends to make it clear they didn’t like it. They all met in the aisle in the middle of the plane ready to duke it out. For the first time since any of them could remember the straights were on one side and the gays were on the other ready to fight.

“Look none of you know what hell is going on here with Patrick, so before you open your fucking mouths and say the shit you just said, get the damned fucking facts.” Eric spit out. “That man over there is more of a man than any of you could dream to become. He has lost as much in a year that we get a lifetime to lose. So he deserves moments like these to feel bad.” One of Carlos’s friends reached out and poked Eric to try and shut him up, but Eric wasn’t going to stand for it. “If you want to keep your fucking finger you better keep it to your side because the next fucking time you put that finger on me or any of us I’ll break the damn thing off.”

The guy that poked Eric wasn’t about to let a fag talk to him the way Eric was talking to him. Little did he know, Eric wasn’t gay. He’s as straight as they come, but has no problem having gay friends around him. In fact he’d rather have the group of friends that he has than any of them because he knew they would never stab him in the back. They would have his back whenever he needed it.

“You little shit better watch your fucking mouth!” Eric shoved the guy, causing him to stumble back a couple of feet. The only reason he didn’t fall back any further was because his friends were behind him and held him up. “You really want me to kick your ass don’t you?” The guy walked back up to Eric and stood toe to toe with him “Come on then let’s see who here….”

Before Carlos’s friend could finish his sentence, Coach Montoya stepped between him and Eric. He looked at both of the groups in disbelief. “What’s going on here?” He yelled. “I went to the restroom for a minute and come out to find this. What is going on?” No one said a word. They just stared each other down. “Someone had better start talking or I’ll make sure once we get to Dallas I’ll tell Josh and the Governor was happened here and I promise you they’ll send you all back home. So if you want your Spring Break plans to change, you’d better start talking.”

Still no one talked. There was dead silence for a couple of minutes, which angered Coach Montoya even more. Right as he was going to say something, Eric opened up and told him everything that happened. At first he didn’t see how Patrick’s personal life would have resulted into what was going on. That was until Eric got to what they had said and that made complete sense.

“First let me say this to all of you!” Coach Montoya looked back and forth between the two groups still ready to throw down. “All of you are on this trip because Josh and the Lopez family invited you on it. They’re paying for everything. So if anything you need to respect that and do everything in your power to not make them regret what they’ve done.

With that said let me make it clear that those kind of remarks will not be tolerated from anyone in or outside this group. I don’t care why they were said. They are hateful and hurtful. Plus I can promise you if what was said here on this plane gets back to the Governor or Josh, those that said it would for sure be going home because those remarks shows disrespect to your host. You all have to know Josh is gay.”

The guys that spoke before thinking looked at each other, not wanting to look at Coach Montoya, Eric or Josh’s other friends. They knew about Josh and knew that he was gay. At the same time they knew he was the one that was paying for everyone on this plane. Being reminded of that they feel like crap for saying what they said and Coach Montoya saw the embarrassed looks on their faces. They now wish they could take what they said back.

“All right this is what I say we do.” The coach looked back and forth between the two groups with a serious look on his face. “Until we get to Dallas, you guys stay away from each other. Once we get there you guys find a way to get along. At least until we get back to El Paso. If you guys do those two things what happened here will stay right here and no further action will be taken.”

Neither of the two groups were about to object to Coach Montoya’s suggestion. Almost at the same time they agreed and before heading to their part of the plane, they shook hands. Something Coach Montoya didn’t ask for, but was surprised and happy to see at the same time. He didn’t return to his seat until all the boys and girls involved in what almost became a brawl in the sky took to their seats.

Meanwhile at the back of the plane, Patrick and Immanuel ignored what was going on in the front even though they knew it was about them. A couple of times before Coach Montoya got between Eric and Carlos’s friend they were about to go, but they held each other back. They knew they weren’t going to makes things better. If they went to help they knew they were going to make things worse and without a doubt things would have escalated more than they did.

Instead, they sat next to each other talking. At first it was small talk, but Immanuel did move the conversation over to the subject on why he went back to talk with Patrick in the first place. Patrick wasn’t forthcoming at first with any information, but little by little he opened up. Before Patrick knew it, he was telling his boyfriend about what happened the night before, not leaving a thing out. Once he was done, there was a few minutes of silence between the two of them. Patrick thought he might have said too much, but he quickly saw in Immanuel’s face how wrong he was.

“There is really nothing I can say or anyone of our friends can say for that matter. None of us have gone through half the stuff you have gone through and now this.” Immanuel pulled Patrick into him and held him tight. “With what you told me on what happened at your mother’s house last night, you were awesome. You didn’t crack under pressure or go running like most kids our age would have done. What you did last night you shouldn’t feel bad about.”

Patrick shook his head as he leaned against Immanuel’s chest. “I know what you went through last night was a lot and there’s nothing anyone can really say to get you to forget about it or move on in less than a day from it. From losing your father to your mother falling apart, you have gone through a lot this last week. So don’t let anyone tell you how you should be feeling. You do what you need to do to get through this and I promise you I’ll be here for you no matter what.”

Just as Immanuel uttered those last words Patrick started to cry. At first it was soft sobs that only they could hear, but it wasn’t long before the sobs got loud enough that everyone in the plane was able to hear them. Eric and the others wanted to go to Patrick’s aid when they heard him crying, but stayed back. They believed that by them going back there and ganging up on him, they would be doing more harm than good. So they sat back, but kept a close eye on what was going on in the back with their friends ready to jump and run to give aid if needed.

Immanuel didn’t move an inch. He kept his arms wrapped around Patrick letting him lean on him without saying a word. There wasn’t a thing he could say that would make things better or make things disappear for Patrick. So instead he sat there and comforted his boyfriend. Waited for him to speak first and he didn’t care how long it took for that to happen.

Now about a hundred miles away in the air, Daniel was making his way back to his seat next to Barbara. As he sat down he was happy to see everyone so energetic. There were several conversations going on at the same time, but Daniel didn’t care. He joined into the one that Josh and Cesar were having because he wanted to put his opinion about what they were going back and forth on. The ring on his son’s finger.

“What exactly are you two going back and forth on?” Daniel jumped in asking, interrupting Josh and Cesar conversation. The two boys looked at their father and then at each other not saying a word at first to each other of their father. They knew they could trust their father and wanted his opinion, but they also were thinking the issue they were talking about was too small for him to waste his time on. “Come on I would like to help if I can!”

Finally it was Josh who spoke first and he didn’t leave a thing out. “Well dad Cesar and I were discussing the rings we gave each other for Christmas. Ivan feels and has suggested that I take off my ring whenever I’m on stage or out and about on tour. He feels if the kids my age, mainly the girls, see the ring on my finger they’ll stop coming to my concerts and buying my records. He feels that is a group that only I can reach and the girls could change me to love the opposite sex.”

The last part put a smile on Daniel’s face. “First let me comment on the last part Ivan has told you. I agree with it to a point because I have seen the way the teenage girls look at you and why not. Look at you son, you are turning into being what they call a heartthrob.” The last part got Josh to turn all shades of red. “I’m not saying that to embarrass you. I’m just saying it because it’s true. The girls that come out to see your concerts and buy your CD’S would like to be the one that got you to come to their side, the straight side, but we all know that isn’t going to happen.

Now with that said it leads me to the main question you guys are wrestling with. Should you or shouldn’t you wear your ring on stage or out and about while you are on tour. Only you two can answer that question, but the answer is right there in front of your eyes already.” That got a reaction from his sons. A confused looked crossed their faces. “You two love each other dearly and we all know that. Those in a relationship don’t need a ring to prove that to one another. They know it. So the only reason for that ring is so you can advertise to the world that you’re spoken for, which the world in your case already knows. Everyone knows you’re deeply in love with Cesar and you two are in it for the long haul. So there’s no need for this discussion to take up more of your guy’s time. Take the ring off while on stage and put it back on when you’re off.”

Josh hated it, but he did agree with his father on everything he said. Little did he know, Cesar also agreed with everything his father had just said. They both know they belong to each other and will hopefully spend the rest of their lives together. The rings they wear are just as their father had said an advertisement for those that don’t know them to see they are spoken for. So the back and forth they are having is unneeded because at the end of the day they will be each other’s arms.

“Your right dad, thank you!” Josh looked over at his dad with a grateful smile. “I know I’m not wrong when I speak on behalf of Cesar when I say we are letting little things like a ring become a big thing. We love each other and that’s all that counts. A ring, a size of the ring, how much the ring cost or whether I wear it on stage or not doesn’t matter because I’m his and he’s mine!”

Truer words couldn’t have been said about Josh and Cesar’s relationship Daniel thought. He was proud that he was able to help his two sons see what was right in front of them. It was one of the very few positive things he has done with his day which had mostly been filled with conversations with people he didn’t want to talk to on the day he swore was going to be all about his son. It was almost destroyed or at least he hoped he saved it from being destroyed.

He was able to settle down the President, but if the President’s warnings come true that will for sure destroy the day. It will take away from his son and move into the political realm, an area Daniel swore to himself this night or any night of his son’s tour will never happen. If it does, he will fulfill the promise he made to whoever turns the spotlight away from his son and onto him or her and go out there to do whatever he can to destroy their hopes and dreams.

Just as Daniel was coming out of his daze of thoughts he heard the captain announcing that they were about to land so buckle up. As he got up to head back over to his seat, he looked over at his sons and winked at them as they buckled in and got ready for the landing. Josh mouthed thank you to his father as he left to join Barbara and his grandmother.

Once they landed and came to a complete stop, it didn’t take long for the door to open. A minute or so two later the stairs were pushed up and everyone on the plane were given the all clear. Josh and Cesar got up, grabbed their backpacks they carried onto the plane and started their way out. They weren’t the first to step out of the plane, but they weren’t the last. However, when they did step out to the top of the staircase they were met with screams and cheers from the fans that had gathered in the thousands to meet Josh and their ever popular Governor.

Josh had no idea what to do, so he stood with his brothers and Cesar once he got to the bottom of the staircase. When their father stepped out, the fans went wild again, but their chants of Daniel’s name quickly changed to Josh’s once again. Josh looked around trying to figure out what he should do, but was stuck until his father walked up to him and told him what he would do if it was him the fans came out and waited for hours to see.

“We have a few minutes to spare. Why don’t you go on over there to the rope line and shake as many hands as you can. Sign as many autographs before we have to leave.” Josh looked at his father with a scared look on his face. The others couldn’t see it, but Daniel knew that look all too well. “Why don’t I go with you? Some of the older ladies and guys are probably here to shake my hand and have a word with me, unlike the younger girls and guys.”

Once again Daniel winked at his son as he turned and started his way over to the rope line. It took a few seconds for Josh’s feet to work, but once they did he quickly caught up to his father. Together they walked to the rope line and stayed together as they made their way down it. Each of them shaking hands to those that reached out for a handshake. Every so often Josh would take a CD, poster or autograph book that was being shoved at him and signed it. And when they made their way back down the rope line he signed the ones he missed the first time.

While Josh and his father shook hands and signed autographs at the rope line, Josh and his brother’s friends were caught up above with a few other planes circling the airport. None of them were given permission to land until the Governor and his family were safely in their cars and had left the airport.

Patrick had fallen asleep as he cried on Immanuel’s shoulder. He had put his head on Immanuel’s chest and the beat of his boyfriend’s heart was enough to settle him down and put him to sleep. Immanuel knew that his boyfriend had fallen asleep, but wasn’t about to wake him up. He knew by the way Patrick was walking and talking that he didn’t get much if any sleep the night before. Since there was an hour or so left on their flight, he was going to give that to Patrick to sleep. They were the only ones happy that they got caught in the holding pattern above the airport.

When the captain finally came over the intercom to let them know that they got the go ahead to land, Immanuel reluctantly shook Patrick awake. It took a few minutes, for Patrick to rejoin the living. As he woke up, he stretched out his arms looking around the plane. He made a complete surveillance of the plane before he turned his attention to Immanuel.

Half awake and half asleep, he asked Immanuel how long he had been sleep. “A couple of hours at the most.” Immanuel smiled at Patrick as he helped him find the seat belt. “You need more than that, but we’re here.” He pointed to window to get Patrick to look out of to see that they were landing in Dallas. “Finally we have arrived and very soon we will see one of our friends perform in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans.”

“Yeah I know and that is why I need to buy ear plugs.” Patrick laughed as he looked out the window. “The last concert I was at that Josh sang the fans went crazy.” He quickly turned and made eye contact with Immanuel. “And man let me tell you, the girls were the worst of them all. They screamed so loud I thought I was not going to walk out of there with any hearing. Then when they went running up to the stage and threw their bras and other things at Josh…” Patrick trailed off. “Well you’ll see tonight what I’m talking about.”

“I can’t wait!” Immanuel said with a big grin on his face. “Even though we have attended a couple of shows that Josh sang with Los Tigres at school and the one at the Sun Bowl, none of those can compare to what we are about to see tonight. Just the amount of people that are going to be there is outrageous. It’s going to be loud and it’s going to be crazy.”

Just then the plane came to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign turned off. At the same time, Patrick and Immanuel unbuckled their seatbelts and got up. As they were gathering their stuff together to get off of the plane, the others were doing the same thing. By the time they had made sure they had everything, they found that they were one of the last to get in the line that had formed.

As they were waiting to be let off of the plane, Immanuel debated with himself if he should bring up what Patrick had told him before falling to sleep, but decided not to. The Patrick they all knew had returned. How long he was going to be there was anyone’s guess, but Immanuel wasn’t going to be the person that will remind him of what he left back in El Paso.

He wants his boyfriend to have fun and forget about all of what is going on back in El Paso. Even if it’s only for a week, it’s a week Patrick won’t ever forget. However, Immanuel wasn’t fooling himself on what was going to come. He knew no matter how hard they tried, reality was going to sneak up on them at the weirdest times and he needed to be prepared for it. At night when they are alone in their hotel room, less busier times that gives Patrick a chance to think or someone saying something stupid that will bring reality crashing down on them, Immanuel knows he needs to be there to console and support the guy he loves.

Meanwhile as the guys were getting off the plane and heading to the stores they wanted to go to before heading to the stadium, the Lopez family arrived at the hotel. As soon as they arrived at the hotel, they were quickly escorted to their rooms. Everyone, including Josh jumped into the showers. Josh and Cesar took their shower together to save time and also to be with each other. Nothing sexy really happened but. By the time they were done, dressed and out in the hall to meet up with the others, they took longer than anyone else

With big grins on their faces and unwillingness to really make eye contact with anyone, they all knew what made them late. Being the big brothers they were, Daniel Jr. and Carlos teased Josh and Cesar all the way down to the limousine. Even Brandon threw in a few shots, which Josh and Cesar didn’t mind. They took the jabs and wore them like a badge of honor.

Finally after they all piled into the limousine, the convoy of police vehicles in front of them began to make their way out onto the main street. When they pulled out, they were all stunned by the crowd that met them. There were a few hundred when they arrived at the hotel standing around trying to get a glimpse of either the Governor or Josh. However, in the short period of time they were getting ready, the crowd went from a few hundred to a few thousand. They were lined up and down the street on both sides for a couple of blocks.

Not wanting to be rude to those who took time to come out and meet him or his father, Josh rolled down the window and started waving at the fans. The minute he did that, the fans started to go wild, if that was even more possible. They were already screaming, throwing out kisses and yes some of the girls were actually flipping up their shirts in hopes Josh would see them before he had rolled down his window, but now they have gone berserk.

Daniel Jr., Carlos and Brandon enjoyed the sights of the pretty young girls pulling up their shirts and one or two of them had done the opposite and started to pull up their dresses. They knew their brother Josh wasn’t interested in it, so they were glued to the windows that weren’t open enjoying what was meant for him. Daniel Sr. and Barbara couldn’t help but laugh at those three. They knew that the boys were just having fun. Being young teenagers themselves, they enjoyed the sight of pretty young women doing things that they have only heard of, but never seen.

The crowd of fans started to thin out as they got closer and closer to the freeway. The closer they got to the freeway, there were a few here and there, but nothing like what they had just went through when they left the hotel. Josh finally rolled up the window and sat back as the limousine pulled onto the freeway. He didn’t want it to end, but knew what he and his family just went through was just the beginning. There is going to be a week of this and the number of fans that are going to be out to try and get close to him are going to be a lot more than they just went through.

The stadium from their hotel wasn’t far. It didn’t take them long to get there once they got on the freeway. And once there they went into the private entrance, everything was a blur for Josh till the end of the first song in his second show of the night. He couldn’t explain it, but somewhere along the line from arriving at the stadium his body went into auto pilot.

Bits and pieces started coming back to him as he watched his family making their way onto the stage. He could remember greeting his band, doing a sound check for about thirty minutes, holding a conversation with Cesar, then his father and Ivan, but what they talked about hadn’t come back to him yet. He also remembers the fans that were already lined up at the entrance when they first arrived, and then how the entire stadium being full and very loud when he came out the first time. Just like it was when he came out to start his second show.

Josh was certain though he was on auto pilot, he didn’t make any mistakes. Those that came out and paid to see the first show were loud and on their feet all through it. And when he was done, they didn’t leave until he came out and did an encore, which satisfied them just enough to leave in order to let the second audience in to take their seats.

As his family got closer to him, the audience were getting a lot louder. Then all of a sudden as if someone flipped a switch the real volume of the stadium came crashing down onto Josh. He could barely hear himself think, more so what his father said to him when he reached him. It was the same with his brother’s and Cesar when they leaned in and said something. He couldn’t hear a word they were saying over the audience’s chanting and applause

It took a few minutes for the audience to quiet down and take their seats, but once they did, Ivan took to the microphone. “Good evening guys and welcome to the first solo concert of this young man standing beside me.” The fans jumped to their feet yelling. “I’m so proud of what this guy has accomplished in such a short period of time and tonight in front of this great Texas audience.” Ivan spoke over the audience chants.

“I can’t remember a time in my professional career that I felt this honored to not only have a client like Josh, but to be up here tonight to present him with an honor that every other artist out there tries to accomplish in their professional career. Many don’t accomplish what Josh has achieved so far with his first album. Many artists don’t even get a gold record, more so that record to do even better than that. His accomplishments thanks to you the fans for going out there and buying out his first album, requesting his songs on radio and coming out here on his first solo tour.” The audience had just settled down, but jumped back to their feet louder than ever.

“It’s my great honor….” Josh felt someone walking up behind him. He turned and saw two people making their way towards Ivan carrying something covered up between the two of them. “To present to Joshua Lopez the first of what will be many certified Diamond Records.” The fans went wild when Ivan pulled off the cloth that was covering the frame of Josh’s certified Diamond Record.

Josh had no idea what to do at that moment. He was frozen where he stood. His family, Ivan and the record company executives were looking at him and waving him over, but he couldn’t move. It wasn’t until Cesar grabbed his hand and held it as he walked him over to where Ivan was standing with his Diamond Record. Once there, Josh snapped out of it.

With a big smile on his face, he thanked Ivan as he shook his hand and then went down the line shaking hands with everyone that was on the stage with him. Once he thanked his family, record company and manager personally, he took his Diamond Record in his hands for the first time and took a long look at it before raising it above his head for his band and fans to see. If it was at all possible, the fans went even crazier as Josh ran up and down the stage. Before he started making his rounds around the stage, the audience in the stadium were already so loud that everyone there was going to walk out with a hearing problem. Now the cheers and applause got so loud that they could be heard a couple miles away from the stadium, which got those outside the stadium wondering what in the world was going on inside.

After a couple of trips around the stage, Josh stopped at the microphone refusing to hand over the Diamond Album. He held it to his side as tightly as he could as he started to speak. “I really don’t know where to even begin. When I first embarked on this I thought I would be lucky to sell a couple thousand records and when my record went gold I was knocked off my feet. So to say here tonight that I was knocked off of my feet after hearing the same record went diamond would be an understatement. I thought I heard wrong and then I thought I was dreaming.”

The fans hadn’t settled down yet from Josh’s tour around the stage and as he talked they got louder and louder. Before he started speaking, it was already hard for anyone to hear Josh speak, and then it got to a point he had to stop and wait for the fans to calm down. It took almost ten minutes for the fans to realize what Josh was waiting on, but they did. Almost all at once the fans settled down and took their seats to allow the young man they came to see speak.

“I will never take for granted you my fans. It’s because of you guys that I have been as successful as I have been in such a short period of time.” That just got the audience back on their feet, but this time they quieted down within a couple of minutes. “The awards I’m getting are as much yours as they are mine. I’ll cherish them and will make sure you my fans will never regret believing in me the way you have the last couple of months. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Josh stepped back from the microphone as the fans jumped to their feet. He stood in place for a couple of minutes before turning and waving Cesar over. They stood there in the middle of the stage for a couple of minutes together before Josh waved his family over. All through this, the fans didn’t once sit down or quieted down. They started chanting different chants that no one understood on stage, but it didn’t matter. They were all enjoying themselves and that is all that matters to Josh and those that put together the tour.

The Lopez family stood there waving at the audience for close to six minutes, they stepped aside to let the band take center stage with Josh. They didn’t stay there too long because they knew the show had to go one and there was still one more surprise left that Josh didn’t know. So almost as quickly as they made their way to the middle of the stage, they went back to where they were.

Daniel Sr. looked over at his family and without saying a word they started making their way back down to their seats. Ivan and the record executives also exited the stage and took their seats, leaving only Josh and his father in the middle. Josh had a confused look on his face as his father walked up to the microphone and tapped on it a couple of times to try and get the audience to settle down. This time it didn’t take long, which made Daniel very happy. He didn’t want to delay his son’s concert more than he had to on waiting for the fans to settle down.

“Good evening everyone and thank you for giving me this opportunity here tonight to speak with you.” The stadium irrupted into applause. “It wasn’t a surprise when I was first told several days ago about my son’s record went diamond. I knew early probably before he did that he was not only a singer, but a performer you all have seen here on stage tonight.” Daniel looked at his son and waved him over. “Come here Josh I promise not to embarrass you more than I already have.”

The stadium broke into laughter as Josh walked over to his father. “I don’t know if you know I did a little singing myself when I was younger.” Josh looked at his dad and then out to the audience as he answered no. “Well I did! I wasn’t as good as you so I decided to go into the military and then into politics. There was no way I was going to make a living as a singer like you are.” Once again the stadium broke into laughter as Daniel gave his son a funny look.

“Josh is the first in this family to make a mark in the music industry and there is no doubt in my mind he won’t be the last.” Daniel glanced over at his son Brandon. “I’m a very lucky man to have the great kids that I have. We have been through a lot in the last year and they all have come out the other side a lot stronger and lot better than I ever thought they would. Our family isn’t what it was a year or so ago, but the changes as I said have made each and every one of us stronger.

I spent the majority of my adult life in the military as you all know. From there I went into politics and got elected your governor of the fine state of Texas.” The audience jumped to their feet chanting ‘Governor for Ever’. “I would never trade a moment of my past for anything, well almost anything.” Daniel looked over at his boys who were staring up at him.

“In my years in the military, as many other military service men and women also have, I lost out on a lot of time with my boys. I lost seeing them grow into the young men they are today. I lost out on moments in their lives that were their first moments that can’t come around again. There is no doubt in my mind you parents in the audience here today know what I mean by that. And you young adults will find out what I mean by that when you become parents. It’s hard to explain.

I lost out on precious moments in my children’s lives, but that never meant I wasn’t there. Physically I wasn’t, but I was aware of everything that was going on and I was very proud of each and every one of my boys. Even more now that they are becoming young adults. So if you all don’t mind I would like to take a few more minutes tonight and sing a song dear to my heart to my boys here in the audience tonight and on stage.” The audience went wild.

“Hold on, just hold on please!” Daniel raised his hands in the air. “I’m nowhere near my son’s level so if you would bear with me and not go screaming for the exits, I would like to sing that song I’m sure you all know and as I said hits home here with my sons.” The audience broke out in a chant louder than before. “So if someone would please bring out a couple of stools as I clear out these old wind pipes of mine.” Daniel once again got the audience to break out into laughter.

The stadium went dark for a few minutes, confusing the audience. However that confusion quickly went away as the lights started to go on and the music started to play Kenny Chesney ‘Thank God for Kids’. The fans immediately recognized the song and started to applaud, but the minute Daniel started to sing, they stopped. They couldn’t believe what they were hearing.

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If it weren't for kids have you ever thought
There wouldn't be no Santa Clause
Look what the store just brought
Thank God for Kids

Josh couldn’t stay there sitting on his butt, he had to do something. He reached over and grabbed his electric guitar and joined in. The fans were on the edge of their seats, listening to every word that Daniel was singing. It hit each and every one of them in a different way on how they all loved their fathers. As Daniel sang, they envisioned their fathers on the stage.

We'd all live in a quiet house
Without Big Bird or a Mickey Mouse
And Kool-Aid on the couch
Thank God for Kids

Thank God for kids there's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Do you ever stop to think? Or wonder why?
The dearest thing to Heaven is a child

Daniel looked down at his boys who were looking up at him. They could see the emotion in their father’s face, just like Josh could see it sitting right there next to their father on the stage. He didn’t try to hide the love he has for his children. The audience not only as well could see it on the big screen when the camera got a close up of Daniel’s face. At the same time they could hear the emotion in his voice as he sang the song to his boys. It felt as if he was singing the song directly to them. It brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the stadium.

Daddy how does this thing fly?
A hundred other where's and why's
You really don't know but we try
Thank God for Kids

Not wanting to, but couldn’t stop it, tears started to roll down Josh’s cheek. He didn’t want the audience to see him tearing up, so he started playing his guitar once again. However it wasn’t enough to stop what he was feeling to show. The audience saw what they had always knew, the first family of Texas were very close. A love so many sons in the audience wish they had with their fathers, but didn’t. Their relationships were strained or for some of them nonexistent.

When you look down in those trustin’ eyes
That look to you, you realize
Its love that you can't buy
Thank God for Kids

Thank God for there's magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Do you ever stop to think? Or wonder why?
The dearest thing to Heaven is a child

When you get down on your knees tonight
To thank the Lord for his guiding light
And pray they turn out right
Thank God for Kids

As the song started to come to an end, Josh jumped to his feet and started to applaud. At the same time the audience were on their feet as loud as ever. Daniel took a couple of bows before turning to his son who had walked up to him. Both of them embraced each other right there in the middle of the stage for all those in the audience to see. They held their hug for a couple of minutes, which the entire time the audience loved and never once stopped applauding, before breaking their hug.

Daniel took a couple more bows as he made his way to his seat. As he passed the Clintons, Hillary stopped applauding and hugged him for a few seconds. Then as she let go, he took Bill’s hand and shook it as he walked passed him. Chelsea said something to him as he passed her, but he couldn’t hear a word she or anyone was saying over the applause of the audience. However he didn’t care because his sons were waiting for him and he wanted to get to them.

Back on the stage Josh had started his second song before his father sat down next to Barbara. It wasn’t to disrespect him, and Daniel didn’t take it as a disrespect. Just like his son knew, he knew the show had to go on. He couldn’t waste much more time if the show was going to close even close to the original ending time. At the same time they both knew after what happened at the end of the first concert, the fans won’t care if the show lasted longer than scheduled. In fact, they would love it and talk about it for years to come.

The next several songs Josh sang were off of his first album. The songs the fans loved and were on their feet either singing along or dancing as Josh sang them. Even those that came to the concert to just get a glimpse at the very young and cute Lopez boy on the stage, but hated country music, were getting into it. The Clintons were no exception to that.

Chelsea loved the music and more so it is Josh singing it, but Bill and Hillary weren’t very big country fans. However Josh was now on their list of singers they would definitely listen to. His music wasn’t the old country music they grew up with. The kind that the singer sang about death and all the bad luck they have been having in their lives. Josh’s does have a story to his songs, but they are more upbeat, and those that were love ballads or sad songs weren’t sang or put to music that by listening to the song that you wouldn’t want to jump off a bridge afterwards.

Bill couldn’t help but think that maybe that was the main reason Josh’s album has successfully gone across all the music genres. His songs have a beat to them that doesn’t just solely belong in one genre. On top of that he is reaching an age genre that every country singer would love to reach, the high-schoolers. Normally that genre would never be caught dead listening to country music.

Josh’s family were already in love with Josh’s music. Unlike those who came to see him, they get to hear Josh sing his music live almost every day if they wanted to since he practices and creates at home. Sometimes when one of them has nothing to do and just wants to get lost in a peaceful world, they would sneak down to Josh’s recording studio just to listen to him sing. Most of the time they wouldn’t be the only ones sneaking in. There would be another family member or two already there listening or coming in right after them.

Almost everyone in Josh’s family was worried about Cesar. They were worried on how he was going to handle Josh being on tour and the women and yes the gay guys out there throwing themselves at his boyfriend. They all thought he was going to blow his top the minute the first girl or guy tried for his boyfriend, but to this point he has shown no indications of getting angry.

Already several girls have made their way to the stage and thrown something of their private garments at Josh. Either their bras or worse their panties they have successfully pulled off and thrown on stage. Even a couple of guys that are gay without a doubt made their way to the stage and threw something at Josh. Unlike the girls, it wasn’t their underwear, which Cesar, all of Josh’s family and even Josh were thankful for. It was some kind of flower, teddy bear or his favorite, a box of chocolates. All of which was picked up by a stage hand as soon as it was thrown onto the stage so Josh wouldn’t trip on them.

All through that, Cesar never once stopped smiling. Never once stopped singing along with the song or keeping eye contact with the guy he is madly in love with. He knew his boyfriend was going to be great out there. No matter what some of the radio hosts were saying as this day was approaching, he knew they were wrong. His boyfriend was ready to have his first solo concert and like in the first show he has given, in this show he is proving that he is a head liner.

Josh didn’t skip a beat up on stage. He was going through the playlist and giving the fans a show they have never seen before. Full of energy, which by him leaving it all on the stage, the stadium not once went quiet for a second. The fans were on their feet cheering, singing along and dancing in aisles where they could from the moment Josh took over from his father.

Finally around halfway through the concert, or what should have been the halfway point, Josh slowed down the tempo and played a couple of ballads. The fans at that point did settle down a little, but didn’t take their seats. They stood standing still singing along with Josh. Those that went with dates grabbed of hold of their date and held him or her as if there was no tomorrow. Each and every single one of them in the stadium felt that Josh was singing directly to them.

Then all the lights went out, making it impossible to see in the stadium. The security around the two governor’s jumped into action and surrounded the two men, but quickly realized the lights going out wasn’t an attack on their guy, but part of the show. They stood back a couple of feet, until they were certain, they didn’t return to the spot where they were before the lights went out.

The fans on the other hand that were not close to the stage and couldn’t see Josh moving around thought that the concert was over. So they started to chant for more music. It didn’t take long for the entire stadium to fall into the same chant, which got those that were sitting near the stage and was able to see what was going on a little agitated.

Lucky for everyone the resetting didn’t take more than a couple of minutes. Slowly the lights started to turn back on, but not as bright as they were when they went out. The whole back of the stage was kept in the dark. Enough lights around the stadium came on so the fans were able to see what was in front of them. On the stage as the music started to play, one single light came on which was a spot light that appeared over Josh. He had made his way over to edge of the stage and was sitting down in front of his family. The fans just stood there waiting to see what was going on. Then they recognized the song Josh was about to sing. It was ‘Amazed’.

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Every time our eyes meet
This feeling inside me
Is almost more than I can take
Baby when you touch me
I can feel how much you love me
And it just blows me away
I've never been this close to anyone or anything
I can hear your thoughts
I can see your dreams

Josh was not looking anywhere else except directly at Cesar as he started to sing. Everyone in Josh’s family knew he was singing to Cesar and the majority of the fans when they realized what he was singing and who he was looking at. However, that didn’t stop all the girls and gay guys in the audience from putting themselves in Cesar’s seat and day dreaming the gorgeous young man on stage was singing directly to them and only them.

I don't know how you do what you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

Just like the last time Josh sang directly to Cesar live, he brought tears to Cesar’s eyes. Josh saw it and when the camera got a close up of Cesar on the big screen, the audience saw it as well. Both of these young men, Josh and Cesar, were feeling exactly the same thing as Josh sang. The undying love that they have that no one can come between and end.

The smell of your skin
The taste of your kiss
The way you whisper in the dark
Your hair all around me
Baby you surround me
You touch every place in my heart
Oh it feels like the first time every time
I wanna spend the whole night in your eyes

The audience was loving every minute of Josh’s performance. None of them have ever been to a concert like this one that the singer puts his emotions out there for the one he loves for all to see. They now love Josh even more. The girls that love him were falling even deeply more in love with him as he sang the love song to Cesar. Even those that had boyfriends and went to the concert with their boyfriends. They didn’t attempt to try and hide how madly in love they were with Josh, which didn’t sit well with several of their boyfriends, or should be said all of them.

Somehow several girls broke through the security and made their way onto the stage, but were not able to get close enough to Josh to interrupt his performance. The security on stage got to them in time and pulled them off kicking and screaming. A few of them threw flowers and wadded paper with their phone numbers and addresses at Josh, but again none of them got near him.

As the security were pulling off the girls, Josh jumped to his feet. The emotions and hand movements he was showing left no doubt to anyone in the stadium that every single word he was singing about love to his boyfriend he meant. Tears were not only running down his cheeks, but everyone in the audience. They felt what he was feeling and no matter how much they tried to hold back, the waterworks started and they couldn’t stop the streams of tears rolling down their cheeks.

Every little thing that you do
I'm so in love with you
It just keeps getting better
I wanna spend the rest of my life
With you by my side
Forever and ever
Every little thing that you do
Oh, every little thing that you do
Baby I'm amazed by you

As the song came to a close, Josh made his way down to Cesar and pulled him into his arms. The stadium once again came to life. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Everyone was on their feet applauding. They loved every word that was sung and wanted to make sure Josh knew he pulled them into his and Cesar’s world.

Wanting to spend more time than he did holding Cesar, Josh broke the hug and made his way back onto the stage. Due to all the surprises there has already been in this concert, Josh knew he was already behind schedule almost an hour. Not wanting to cheat his fans that paid to see his planned concert, he didn’t waste any more time and got the show going again.

The rest of the concert was a roller coaster ride for Josh, his band, his family and his fans. Josh took them through so many emotions when the last song of the night was approaching the majority of the fans could barely talk. From all the yelling, crying and chanting they lost their voices, but they were not about to let that stop them from letting Josh know they are loving every minute of his show. With hoarse voices, they sang along when everyone was singing, they chanted when everyone was chanting and they screamed at the top of their lungs whenever a song ended and a new one was beginning. Each and every single one in that stadium had the time of their life.

Not once did Josh slow down or stop after he sang to Cesar. When the concert was coming to a close he was drenched with sweat. He was tired, but he wasn’t about to let that stop him from giving the fans what they paid for. A lively concert from beginning to end. One he hopes they will never forget. At least until he is back putting on another one during the summer.

The second to last song was one of Josh’s number one hits from his first album. He took advantage of the last twenty or so seconds of the song to get some water in him since it was nothing but music. It was put in the lineup for just that reason. The band had a chance to show what they could do, and Josh could take a little breather and get something to drink before the last song started.

As the music ended, the audience started screaming. Josh walked up to the microphone and asked the audience how they were doing so far, which got the audience to scream even louder. Not waiting for the audience to settle down, he threw out another question, which was met with louder cheers. With a big smile on his face he told them the next song was for them and the music started to play as he walked over to his drummer and then back to the microphone playing his electric guitar. The fans went crazy once they recognized the song, “Blaze of Glory’.

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Josh didn’t miss a beat. He sang his last song as if it was his first song with a lot of emotion and energy and the fans loved every minute of it. They returned the same energy back to Josh and his band, which just got Josh more energized. Because the fans were really into the last song, he extended it a couple more chorus and verses than what was in the original recording, but like all good things in this world, the song came to an end getting the fans on their feet.

The audience went crazy when the lights started to dim and they saw Josh making his way off the stage. They refused to leave at first, just like the audience in the first show earlier that day. Josh felt bad that he didn’t go out and give them another song like he did in the first show, but this audience got more than the one before. From him being awarded his Diamond Album to his father singing to him, his brothers and sister, they got a lot more than they thought they would.

Less than a minute after he walked into his dressing room, his family came crashing through the door with the Clintons right behind them. “You were great out there son!” Daniel Sr. said with pride in his voice as he walked up to his son and pulled him into a hug. “I don’t know how you were able to stay as energetic all through the show as you did! If it was me moving around on that stage as much as you did I would have been dead on my feet by the middle of the show.”

“Well that is because you are an old man now!” That got everyone in the room to laugh. “No, not really dad. To tell you the truth I don’t know how I did it myself. All I know is that once I was out there and the music started, I was in a different place. Then I fed off the energy coming from the crowd that got me more active out there on that stage. And….” Josh trailed off. “It’s hard to explain it. I guess the right answer to that is you need to be out there and feel what I did.”

“Isn’t that true!” Bill Clinton jumped into the conversation as he made his way to Josh with his hand out. Daniel didn’t like that Bill had jumped in like he did, but he let it go and introduced the Clintons to his son. “I agree with what your father said. You did a great job out there tonight. I have been to a lot of concerts in my life, but I can honestly say I have never been to a concert with so much energy from the performer and the audience.”

“Thank you sir!” Josh couldn’t concentrate because he saw Chelsea through the corner of his eye almost jumping out of her clothes. He turned and smiled at her, which got her to turn all shades of red. “Thank you for coming to my first of what I hope will be many concerts.” Josh extended his hand to the youngest of the Clintons. “I hope you enjoyed the show!”

Chelsea didn’t answer Josh. She kept looking down at the floor not making eye contact with anyone in the room. Not wanting to embarrass her any more than he already has, he turned his attention back to Bill and Hillary Clinton. They talked a few more minutes before Eric, Bernice and the others came crashing through the doors chanting Josh’s name.

Josh thanked the Clintons for coming as he made his way across the room to his friends. They surrounded him. They were all talking at once, which made it hard for Josh to understand what any of them were saying. However they were saying almost the same thing at the same time, so Josh was able to give out general answers that satisfied them all.

None of them could leave until the stadium was cleared. Since the majority of the audience refused to leave, it extended their wait in the dressing room for almost an hour. Even then the majority of those that refused to leave hadn’t left yet, but were not showing they were a threat. The security and local police closed them off in the stadium in order for the Clintons, Josh, his family and their guest to get to their motorcades and leave.

As they walked to their cars, Daniel Sr. and Bill were talking. Nothing about politics, just talking about general things. When they reached the point where they had to say their goodbyes, Daniel thanked the Clintons for keeping their word. Bill had a satisfied look on his face, but Hillary was a different story. Daniel knew she wanted more than what they got and since they didn’t get it, she wasn’t happy at all with her husband or him for that matter.

So as he shook her hand and pulled her into a hug, Daniel whispered in her ear. “You don’t need a photo shoot with me and my family to win in the primary and then again the general. I truly believe this election is your guys to win. The American people want change and they see that change in your husband. So don’t make mistakes that will cost you guys this election like forcing something that will not happen.”

With a smile on his face, he kissed Hillary on the cheek as he pulled away. She wanted to respond to ask him if he would at least have a duel press conference, but Daniel didn’t give her a chance. He turned his attention to Chelsea to thank her for coming. Once he did, he turned and made his way to his limousine leaving Hillary standing there with her mouth wide open.

Out of respect to the Clintons on them being his guest, he waited for them to exit first before giving the driver the all clear to go. As they pulled out onto the main street they were met by thousands of fans that waited for them. They wanted to get one last glimpse of Josh, and Josh didn’t disappoint them. He rolled down his window just enough that the fans could see that it was him waiving at them as the car made its way through them and down the street.

To be continued...

WRITER’S CORNER:

{Welcome back one and all to another filled chapter of ‘Shadow of My Father’. Even though it only covered the hours before the concert and the concert, it did have a lot going on. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it. I try to put enough action and drama in each of my chapters and there are times I feel I don’t meet what I want to meet in quality of my writing.

Also when I write out chapters that Has Josh performing one way or another they take longer to get out there because of the music he sings. First I have to pick songs that will match him, not bore you, but at the same time stay within the realm he sings in. Also I need to go in and make the video. Sometimes it will have a lot of pictures and sometimes just one or two. No matter how many pictures they have, the videos do take a long time to make. And now I’m not just taking a song from the internet and putting it against the video I make. Brien is helping me here on taking the song and making them sound like the same person is singing it all the time. Thanks for your help on this Brien. So as you can see a lot of work goes into creating chapters like this one.

With that said let me get to what this corner is all about, the summation of the chapter. I took the beginning of the chapter back a couple of hours from where the last chapter ended. I felt there was a few things left out because I rushed the last chapter to get to the concert. Also a couple readers brought up a couple of things that I felt I needed to cover in a chapter, not just in response to their emails or their comments on the site.

One of the things brought up by a reader out there, which I’m thankful for all things you guys bring up concerning my stories, is the rings Josh and Cesar wear. The reader was correct they gave each other rings during Christmas, but as many of you know many young stars today if engaged or married don’t wear their rings simply because it turns off the opposite sex of them. Like it or not in order to sell records they go for that appeal as well. Right now with Josh being a young handsome man they want him to appeal to the young girls and yes gay guys of his age if not older.

Don’t get me wrong with Josh. Unlike some out there that have a short shelf life as a singer or an actor because they got their foot in the door because of their looks and their looks faded, Josh can actually sing and perform. At least my character in my story can. It’s just the powers to be those who advise Josh feel it is best for him not to wear his ring in order to sell more records and tickets.

Now I know in this chapter I have Josh discussing it with Cesar and then eventually his father got into the conversation, but it was brought up to him by others. At the end I like the solution and that Cesar didn’t take offense. I like how Daniel Sr. jumped in and told his told his son what he told him. He is right you don’t need rings to show your love that you have for another. Or you don’t need rings to know for sure you have the one you want to spend the rest of your life with. If both love each other the same, they will stay together.

Enough of me being on my soap box on that, let’s get back to the summation of the chapter. I don’t know what is going on with President George H.W. Bush right now. I wonder if he has gotten a glimpse at what the future holds for him and knows he won’t be a two term president. If that is the case he can’t burn bridges with friends he has. Daniel Sr. can’t keep those running against him from going to Texas. He can and he has kept from public appearances with them. That is really the only thing he can do and it looks like Bush finally realized that.

I wonder in Denver will Bush want a photo op with Daniel and if so Daniel will do the same thing he did with Bill Clinton and say no. I doubt that because at the end of the day Daniel does support Bush and said he would do what he could to help him win. So he will give photo ops whenever he can in hopes to keep Bush in the running.

You can see how much Daniel loves his children. Let’s not talk right now about what he did at the concert. Let’s look at what he did on plane. He helped his son find his way to making the decision on wearing his ring. He did it without making the decision himself. Told him what he thought and left it up to Josh to decide what to do. Now that is a father.

On the other aircraft flying into Dallas Josh’s guests had a little action. First we all know what was going on with Patrick, but we don’t know what Carlos’s friends said when Patrick got up and walked away. Whatever it was it had to be bad in order to get Eric angry enough to almost start a fight. I wonder if Carlos will find out and what will he do if he finds out.

Coach Montoya did a good job defusing the situation, but if those that said what they said believe in what they said, this won’t be the last we will see these two groups toe to toe. I hope it is, but if not someone is going to get hurt. I’m afraid if it gets to the point of physical conflict the ones that will get hurt will be the wrong ones and maybe even Josh.

Immanuel dealt with what was going on with Patrick very well for a kid his age. Keep in mind everyone Patrick is still seeing a shrink and now with this set back who knows when he will ever stop seeing a shrink. From the shooting of Frank to his mother giving up and him finding her the way he did, the poor guy is going to need years of help in that arena.

What can be said about the concert except it had a few surprises? Josh’s first album has gone from gold to diamond, which is rare for any artist first album. To top it off in the time in which it happened. Josh got a big surprise there and I can only hope that he doesn’t make a fool of himself, which I don’t think the Josh I know will do that.

Then there was Daniel Sr. surprising everyone by singing out there. Now Josh had to get his singing ability from one of his parents. It was just a surprise it was from his father. And now we are not going to have a singing Governor. He did this to show his kids how thankful he is with them in his life. He knows he has made mistakes, but what parent hasn’t. It was a beautiful song and a right one that didn’t just go to one of his kids.

So many plots out there and not enough paper to write them up in one chapter! If I missed anything in this chapter in my corner Trevor will cover it in his I hope. With that said, don’t ever think a plot line is going one direction, because I have been known to do a one eighty and change where the plot was going. Never think a character is one hundred percent good, or one hundred percent bad, because I have been known on changing them as well. A character is never gone in a saga unless the character is killed. So if you haven’t seen them for a while, don’t write them off. I love to keep you all guessing in each of my chapters.

I could stay here all day long, with all the open plots already in this story, but I will not. I warn you though! Do not skip a chapter, or you will be lost. There is a so much to answer in the chapters to come. Keep reading the future chapters, and enjoy! Please email me and let me know how I am doing at jacobmillertex@aol.com, Thanks!} I have a home page for you to see what the characters look like or what the places look like. If you want to walk in their shoes, please go to: http://jacobmillertex.com/}

EDITOR’S CORNER:

First of please check out the awesome videos Jacob creates to go with some of his stories. If you haven’t already watched them from previous chapters I urge you to do so. He spends a lot of time and effort in creating these clips and they are excellent.

He asked me to make a list of the songs that Josh as already sang so that none are repeated and I was surprised at the number of songs out there so please if you haven’t already done so take the time to go into the site and check them all out.

In this chapter we see what a dirty business politics is with both Bush and Clinton vying for brownie points with the most popular Governor in the US Daniel Lopez Snr., The Governor of Texas. While officially Daniel is a Republican he keeps coming across as an independent who will cross over if it will benefit the residents of Texas who voted him in. Wouldn’t it be great if such a person really existed in modern day politics?

Poor Patrick he really is suffering right now and will do for some time to come but he appears to have a boyfriend who will stand by and support him which is what is needed right now. I also think some of those so called friends travelling at the expense of Josh and his family should stop taking everything for granted. Just because they have famous wealthy friends they shouldn’t take advantage and assume too much. I can see a bit of a problem emerging if they don’t start to realize this especially if Carlos and Daniel Jnr. Find out and take action.

This tour has been a long time coming and looks like being a big success and for a first album to go Diamond is fantastic, who knows by the end of the tour if it will go platinum.

I know I’m name dropping here but I was chatting on Skype to an old friend of mine a few days ago Tom Jones, now Sir Tom. I raised the subject of girls and women throwing articles of underwear at him when he was a singing heartthrob and he told me it really did happen and after each of his shows especially when he toured America his staff used to collect all the stuff thrown on the stage had them washed and then donated to charity stores or homeless shelters. So I hope Josh’s minders do the same.

Another thing which comes to mind is sponsorship. Every guitar company and audio equipment supplier will be chasing Josh for endorsements of their equipment. Most entertainers in Josh’s caliber will never ever have to buy another guitar, guitar pick and even the clothing worn on stage. Fender guitars along with Gibson will almost certainly be the forerunners in the race to attract Josh to their products.

Right now the world is his oyster but just spare a thought for Cesar, what is he going to do being ‘married’ to a superstar? Food for thought. Anyway I’m rambling getting caught up in this story so I will get off my soapbox and remind you to let Jacob know what you think of this and indeed all his stories.

Hugs Trevor

Posted: 07/25/14