Chapter 1
�So what do you think about that?�
�About what?�
�Have you been listening?�
�Yeah, I�ve been listening.�
�Then what were we just talking about?�
�You know...the thing....the thing, you know.�
�And what thing would that be AJ?� Howie asked.
�The thing about...the, um, you know. The other thing.� He replied stumbling over his words as he played Nick�s new Game boy Advance.
�Dude you have to use the karate kick, that�s the only way you can get pass him.� Nick announced as he watched AJ�s game. �Naw man, it gives him too much time to react. You have to do smaller moves with this guy, trust me.� AJ said as he got more into the game.
�Hello! Were trying to have a meeting here you two. Can you pay attention for just a minute?� Howie said paternally. �I swear, their attention spans are quicker then a nine year olds.� Kevin sighed. �Naw, were listening. I�m just playing the game that�s all, it doesn�t mean I�m not listening to you. I can play and listen at the same time. I can hear you perfectly.� AJ said glancing up from the screen only once.
�Yeah, I�m paying attention. You were talking about the stage, I heard you. And I think that it�s a perfect size stage, it�s fine.� Nick said looking at Brian, Howie and Kevin then quickly taking a glance down at the game screen AJ held.
�Okay then, on to the dancers. Jive said they�d give us as many as we wanted. I believe we had about 8 last time, can�t remember, not sure. But I think we should go down a bit this time. Some people felt they took a little away from the show. So how many do you guys think?� Kevin asked. �Humm, would five do?� Howie asked.
�YES! YES! Awesome.� AJ announced as he held up the game in hand. �Wow! That�s great...perfect, I can�t believe it.� Nick said as his eyes were glued to the screen.
�Gezz, didn�t know you guys were so excited about background dancers.� Brian chuckled. Both men looked at the older three and then at each other. �Umm, perfect score?� Nick let out barely as he studied the expressions on Howie and Kevin�s faces.
Kevin had told them that they needed to have a meeting. Just a small one by themselves to talk about the up coming tour stuff. They had decided to have the meeting over AJ�s house since they like to hang out there a lot anyway. But somehow the meeting wasn�t turning out the way Kevin had planned.
�I don�t understand why they have to be that way, geez. It doesn�t matter how long the stage is or how many dancers we have or what we wear in the second half of the show. The fans are going to love us no matter what. They don�t care about all that stuff. All they care about is us. We could go out there in clown suites for all they care.� Nick said to Brian as they both slouched on the couch.
AJ sat in a chair and Kevin and Howie had decided the meeting was now over and they had both gone outside. �They just want you guys to be more professional, that�s all. If this was a real business meeting with Jive and the management and all those people you guys wouldn�t have been playing Mortal Kombat.� Brian said trying to get Nick to understand. �But that�s just it. It wasn�t a real meeting with management and Jive. It was just us, chilling out over AJ�s house like we always do, eating all his chips and soda up.� He said reaching for a handful of Doritos.
�Hey you guys ate up all my chips and soda?� AJ questioned, as if he had just heard the last sentence and nothing else.
�Yeah man, your fridge is dry. These Doritos are the last of it.� Nick said taking another handful and stuffing them into his mouth. �Man, ya�ll gona have to start bringing your own food, geez. I just got groceries two days ago.� AJ blurted as he drank the last of his coke. �So man tell me how you did it. I�ve been playing with that guy for three weeks now and I�ve never been able to get a perfect score with him?� Nick questioned about the video game, completely forgetting his conversation with Brian.
�I told you, it�s all in the moves...save your special moves till the end.� He explained. �See this is what there talking about. You guys have to start growing up a little. I mean, I know it�s fun to be silly. But there is a time to joke around and be dopes and there�s a time to be serious and do business. It�s cool being silly but you have to know when to be professional too.� Brian told them. �I�m professional, I think I�m really good at business stuff.� AJ said sure of himself.
�Okay then, what opening scene did we decided on for the tour?� Brian asked him. �The...the umm, the ocean scene with the angels...and heaven and clouds and stuff.� AJ said stumbling over his words once again. Nick looked at him with a rankled face that held the expression no, on it. �Naw, naw...naw, wait. It wasn�t that scene, it was the one with the um, the playground and the kids and the..umm....� As AJ continued Brian started shaking his head no, slowly. �Was it the forest scene?� He asked hopeful. Nick shook his head quickly as he mouthed the words no.
�It was the fireball scene AJ. The playground scene was canned three months ago by Jive. And I don�t remember any angels or heaven in the Ocean scene.� Brain told him. �But I thought you guys said something about white foam or cotton or something?� He questioned. �Yeah AJ, that was for the water. It wasn�t to make heaven in the ocean.� Brain snapped. Nick let out a small giggle.
�So what, I couldn�t remember how we start the show. That just shows how forgetful I am not that I�m not serious and a good business man. Everyone already knows I can�t even remember my own age sometimes so that�s nothing new.� He turned off Nick�s game system and handed it back to him. Howie and Kevin then entered the room.
The youngest member of the group tried to read there faces to figure out what conclusions they had come to in there minds...if any. �So you guys finally done playing Nintendo?� Kevin asked a loud as he fell onto the couch. �Look man, I�m sorry about the whole game thing. I mean, it was the first time I�ve played it and I got into it I guess. It doesn�t mean I wasn�t listen to you or trying to block you out.� AJ told him.
�It�s cool. So how about we call it a day and go catch a movie or something? We might as well try to enjoy the few days we have left off before we start rehearsing for the tour.� Nick�s eyes gleamed at the sound of this. Just then the phone rang. AJ picked it up and answered. �Hello? Yes it is.�
Brian began flicking through channels on TV trying to find something to tide him over before they went to the theater.
�No,...I�m confused what�s this about?... I don�t know, can you just tell me what this is all about?� AJ asked the person on the other end of the line. Kevin looked over and rolled his eyes a little. �Hey wait, Brian that�s a cool show, turn back.� Nick protested as Brian just continued to turn.
�What! No, no, no, no....I don�t think so. Believe me, I�m not him. You�ve really got the wrong guy. Well I don�t care...I said I don�t care.� AJ retorted as his facial expression got a little more hostile. Howie looked over at him and mouthed the words, Bone, who is it? But AJ just ignored him and went on with his conversation. �Are you listening! I don�t care what the birth certificate says, it�s not true....Well I can do that, just tell me when....Okay, now is fine.� He said as his voice seemed to become more hostile as it became raised.
The rest of the guys seemed to stare at him and wonder what the conversation was about. Who was on the phone, and what had they said to get him so upset? �Okay....mmm hum, k, bye.� He said as he hung up the phone. �What was that about?� Howie asked curious. �Everything okay?� Kevin asked concerned. �Yeah, everything is fine. That was the department of social services on the phone.� He explained to them. �Department of social services? Why were they calling you? Don�t they usually deal with matters concerning...I dunno, stuff like kids and welfare.� Nick said jokingly. �Yeah, well that�s just it. The man on the phone just told me I have a 9 year old daughter.� AJ blurted as everyone stood still, eyes wide open.