You probably know what Brian looks like: blonde - I mean readdish brown hair (he dyed it) and bright blue eyes. I have dirty blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Brian and I used to look exactly alike. Then he dyed his hair reddish brown. The mangement said it looked better, but I don't think so.
Anyway, Brian and I ate the mac 'n' cheese. Then we headed to the driving range. No, not with cars. It's a golf thing. You practice hitting golf balls.
"Did you see how far that thing flew?!" Brian yelled. "Woohoo!" then his cell phone rang. "Hello... oh, hey... what's up...yeah, I'm good...what?! This is my vacation. I'm finally spending time with my family...but I'll be back in Florida in two weeks...it has to wait...listen, for seven years, I've put my career before my family. That's changing now...tough, I'm not coming. Bye now Keith."
During the conversation, I just stood next to Brian trying to figure out what was going on. Keith - one of the guys' managers - wanted Brian back in Florida. Now. But Brian's never said no before or argued with anyone when work had to be done. I decided not to ask him right now.
Brian and I got back from the range an hour after the mysterious phone call. I was about to knock on his bedroom door when I heard him sigh.
"I've told you a million times now - I'm not coming back to Florida yet...you people aren't ordering me around anymore...no...not a chance," Brian was saying calmly. "Nope...you can't make me...so you're giving me an ultimatum now - go back to Florida or get kicked out of the group," I gasped. "You know what - I'm not giving you the chance to kick me out. I quit!" Brian told the person.
I heard him toss his cell phone aside. I knocked softly on the door. Brian quickly answered. He took one look at my pale face and said, "You heard, didn't you?"
I nodded and hugged him tightly. Our mom walked into the room and saw me and Brian hugging. I guess we both looked pale, because she got worried. "Ok guys, what happened?" she asked.
Brian and I jsut looked at each other. Should we tell her? Brian decided quickly. "I quit the group," he said plainly.
"You did WHAT?!" my mom screamed. "But - why? I thought you loved the guys," she was just as confused as I was.
"I love the guys and I love singing, but it's too much," Brian explained slowly. "I mean, having to travel almost 24/7, hardly any vacation, not seeing you guys as much as I'd like. It all adds up. Today was the last straw," he paused.
I was hoping he'd tell us about the call he got at the range. I took a chance. "Does it have to do with the call you got at the range, Brian," I asked quietly.
Brian nodded sadly, "Yup. They wanted me back to go back to Florida tonight to start recording the new album two weeks early. What you heard at the range was me finally taking a stand. The other conversation you heard," Brian gave me a sharp look, "by eavesdropping was me blowing up and quitting."
"I didn't mean to listen," I started. "I was coming to talk to you about the range and I heard you start yelling."
"It's ok," Brian assured me. "I just had to quit. It was too much."
There was a knock on the front door. Then a key in the lock. The next thing we heard was my cousin Kevin. "Brian! Where are you? Get out here now," Kevin yelled.
I walked out first. Kevin was standing in out livingroom, his face red with anger. "Uh-oh," I muttered.
"Uh-oh is right young lady!" Kevin screamed at me. "Where is your brother? You better tell me now before I--"
Copyright Kentucky Girl 2001